Dear John,
Growing up, kindness, empathy, and giving back were ingrained into my family culture. Whether that was my mom translating for people she didn't know at the airport, my dad going to give blood every month, spending vacations volunteering instead of relaxing – my family held, and still holds, a deep commitment to tikkun olam. Tikkun olam is a Jewish value that means “repairing the world”. It is the mandate set forth to us as a community to lift one another up, to spread goodness, and leave the world better than we found it. For as long as I can remember, I have felt this calling deep within me to use my life and privileges to make a positive impact on the world, whether big or small.
For much of my young life, I lived out this philosophy by volunteering with various organizations or clubs and treating others as I wanted to be treated. As I approached college and was asked “what did I want to be when I grew up”, I knew that tikkun olam would play a major role, but I did not know how. My junior year, I took a class on the US/Mexico border which culminated in a 2 week class trip to Tucson, AZ where we learned first hand about the border, its history, and its people. During our trip we volunteered with various non-profits, left water in the desert, and unraveled the complicated history of the border’s creation. I felt an instant connection to this region and knew that one day, I wanted to return to do my part in creating a safer and more welcoming border for everyone. This was where I was being called.
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Flash forward to today and I have made this dream a reality and made my home along the same border I visited many years before. Now entering my fourth year living in San Diego, I have immersed myself in a new community of changemakers similar to the one that I grew up in. In my past year as advancement manager with Alliance San Diego, my contributions inch us ever closer to the bright future our communities and our future generations deserve.
When I reflect on my journey, I feel nothing but gratitude for the family who brought me up with such fierce conviction to do what is right AND for my new San Diego family who helps me grow into a better version of myself each day. It is with this spirit that I want to thank each and every one of you for your own contributions. Whether through donating, volunteering, or attending an event you have made a difference in “repairing the world” and creating the inclusive democracy that we fight for. Thank you. With your continued support, we can serve our community for years to come.
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