Every night, as I tuck my two daughters into bed, I think about the legacy we’re building and the sacrifices of the generations before us. When I look at my girls, I see the strength and resilience of my family—the kind of grit that shaped who I am and fuels my work today.
My abuelito’s family fled war in Mexico, seeking refuge in Texas with little more than hope for a better life. They became farmworkers, working from sunrise to sunset in the unforgiving Texas heat. Their hands were calloused from tilling the earth, planting crops, and harvesting under brutal conditions. This wasn’t just labor—it was survival, a sacrifice, and a hope for a better future. They worked tirelessly, finding dignity in the act of providing for their family, even when their work was overlooked or undervalued.
On the other side of my family, my father’s dad was a union steelworker at Lone Star Steel, a plant at the center of one of East Texas’s most violent labor struggles.The strikes there weren’t just about wages—they were about dignity, safety, and justice. My grandfather stood shoulder to shoulder with his fellow workers through years of conflict, enduring financial hardship, threats, and violence to demand better conditions for their families.
These stories of unity, courage, and sacrifice remind me that justice and opportunity are not freely given — they are fought for, through persistence and solidarity.
That’s the legacy I carry forward today. It’s the example I want my daughters to inherit — a belief that by standing together, by organizing and building, we can create a future that honors the dignity and hard work of every person.
This moment demands that we keep building — amplifying our voices, including more people in this movement, and holding steadfast in our fight for justice. The road ahead won’t be easy, but nothing worth achieving ever is. Together, we are creating something transformative— a Texas that reflects the strength and resilience of those who came before us and creates opportunity for those who come next.
Thank you for being part of this movement. Your voice and your actions honor the sacrifices of the past and pave the way for a brighter future.
With love, strength, gratitude, and juntos in solidarity,
Catina Voellinger (she/her/ella)
Executive Director, Ground Game Texas
I reside on Tonkawa, Comanche, and Lipan Apache Land
Ground Game Texas is a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Paid for by Ground Game Texas. Contributions to Ground Game Texas are not tax deductible.
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