When Ale was a junior in college, she sought what many of us look for: community. Specifically, a community that understood her experience as a DACA recipient.
She found United We Dream, and what began as a simple texting shift quickly turned into an unexpected journey. In her words:
"I started my relationship with UWD by helping with texting. Then, this opened the door for me to attend the Undocumented Summit in New Mexico. The Undoc Summit helped me build relationships with both staff and members, who are now like family.
Since then, I have been able to attend training events in San Francisco and New York. Along with a canvassing opportunity in Arizona. I have cherished these moments not only because of the experience, but because of the incredible relationships and feeling of belonging that they have provided."
Ale's story is exactly why we do this work—and why we recently brought leaders together for our Mass Movement Building: Train the Trainers gathering.
United We Dream is an organizing home for young leaders nationwide. This is where the next generation builds the skills to return to their communities, organize their neighbors, and win the change our communities need. Will you chip in $5, $10, or whatever you can to support leadership development and movement-building?
The room reflected the full breadth of our movement: UWD members, affiliates from New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, school chapter representatives, U.S. citizens with undocumented family, a DACA recipient attending with her daughter, and a member completing her journey to become a trainer.
For Fatima, who's on staff, the training was a chance to sharpen the skills that turn conviction into change:
"My favorite activity was when our small group got to work together to strategize... We worked together to define our purpose, organizing structure, and the strategic goals and tactics that would help bring our outcome to life.
Strategic thinking is a muscle you have to use to keep, and understanding strategy is so important when we decide tactics in our work. It's important that organizers (like me!) learn how to think strategically, to meet our community members where they're at - and understand how to use the resources available to make real change."
That's what your gift builds: not just training, but strengthening and empowering movement leaders.
Real leadership isn't about standing at the front of the room; it's about cultivating other leaders. It's about helping each person find their purpose amidst uncertainty and fear, so they leave ready to lead.
When we invest in this next generation, we’re growing the organizers who will carry this movement forward, year after year.
Will you chip in today to help us welcome the next Ale into her organizing home?
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In community,
Matias, United We Dream
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