How To Be An Activist Is A Way To Help Yourself

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

The Latina Love Project highlights the lives of women - mothers, daughters, sisters - who sacrifice taking care of themselves to prioritize their family life, relationships, and professional careers. In this series, sponsored by Ford, we highlight their efforts and successes, and tell us how they find time to dedicate to themselves.

If there is a word that describes this past year it is "activism". From the Women's March in early 2017 to the protests in defense of DACA, the political and social environment is more charged than usual. In response, a new generation of activists has embarked on the task of changing the world, organizing protests, marches, and collective projects aimed at protecting the dreams and rights of women, the LGBTTQ community, and immigrants.

Although the daily struggle with an administration that seems to defend an agenda contrary to the interests of these groups can be very exhausting, what if we conceive of activism as a way to help oneself? Through serving others and establishing a social connection, activism fosters the concept of community and establishes new forms of self-help. It may be a very difficult job, but for these Latina activists it is also a way to help themselves.

María Camila Montañés, activist, journalist and former Hillary Clinton campaign intern

“Since I was little I was always shocked to see so much violence and social and economic inequality in Colombia. Upon arrival in the United States, I found journalism to be the best instrument to use my voice to educate and empower the most vulnerable communities. I think there is a great space where you can do journalism as a form of activism, in which your voice and your platform serve as tools to activate, organize and mobilize people in order to make positive changes. Activism fills me with life. Seeing so much injustice does not let me sleep. The most rewarding and beautiful thing about being an activist is being able to shake hands with someone in difficult times. Activism allows you to create a movement, a community and be part of a family. And seeing that fills me with hope.”

Victoria Leandra Hernández, journalist

What led me to activism was Hurricane Maria. As a Puerto Rican in the diaspora, I felt lonely and helpless to see the tragedy that struck my home. By working in the media, I was able to realize that there was not much coverage of what was happening in Puerto Rico. I decided to join forces with the gym in my neighborhood to raise funds to help the victims on the island. For me, it was a way to maintain serenity, since I couldn't be there physically. Puerto Rico is not going to improve overnight, but it is up to all of us to inform the world of the problems that plague our community. That is why I became a journalist, to publicize the complexity of Latin American cultures and history and the problems that go unnoticed in the media.”

Stephanie Aliaga, student and founder of Mujeristas Collective

“I have always seen my family, especially my mom, help undocumented people in our community. This was what prompted me to create a feminist collective to help other Latinas my age with their experiences and their relationship with Latin American culture. Activism is a way to help me because I don't feel complete without my group and without connecting with other people around me. I feel like I can express myself holistically. Talking to other people about their stories makes me remember why I keep fighting.”

Daniela Sánchez-Herrera, People En Español social media editor and university student

“Activism has always been part of my life. When I was little, my mom introduced me to a co-worker who taught me the importance of activism in liberating African Americans in the southern United States. That's how I met activists like Rosa Parks. But, but it wasn't until I went to my first protest in college, after the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, that I became more involved in activism. For me, activism is a priority above any other responsibility, be it professional or personal, because I consider it an obligation of every human being, especially in this political environment. I like to talk to people who understand me to let off steam in difficult times, so my husband and my best friend are a great help. This is the moment when I analyze what goes through my head about the political and social struggles that we live, and I can think in the long term what I can do to change the world.”