Dear Allies Community,
This election week has been heartbreaking. While Allies for Every Child is a non-partisan organization, we remain staunchly committed to fighting for policies that allow us to advance our mission of ensuring all children have the childhood they need and deserve. There are now policies on the table that, if enacted, would have grave consequences for our Allies community and our collective freedoms, safety and stability: mass deportations; abandonment of the longstanding bipartisan commitment to Early Head Start; threats to LGBTQ+ rights (over 30% of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ+, cite homophobia/transphobia as the #1 reason they were kicked out of their homes, and too often continue to face the same bigotry once they’re in foster care); and loss of reproductive healthcare, to name just a few. Thank you to every single one of you who share these values and embrace our common humanity.
And to our incredible Allies staff, thank you. I am so moved by the way you all show up for children and families every day—your unwavering belief in every child’s worth and value is at the heart of our work. 85% of Allies staff are people of color; some of us are also members of the LGBTQ+ community; and many of our own stories are rooted in and tied to the systems we help our clients navigate every day: immigration, foster care/child welfare, homelessness, etc. At a post-election staff gathering, many shed tears fueled by grief and anger, but by the end of the discussion, our sense of shared purpose and connected resolve kicked in. We know there’s even more uncertainty for the children and families we serve, and we will be here for them.
We will not be demoralized. We know how to do this: we know how to nurture children, support parents, and help families navigate difficult times. This agency has been standing with children and families for nearly 40 years, and Allies for Every Child continues to stand with and for each of you as we make our way through this next chapter together. We know our vital services will be more necessary than ever in the months and years ahead—whether it’s critical mental health services to address trauma, support from our social workers and teachers, guidance from teams led by our pediatric occupational therapist, public health nurse, and nutritionist, or assistance with housing, job training and educational attainment.
At the end of this heartbreaking week, purpose and community is the salve. We’re in this together—staff, families, and supporters who have been with us through the years. Now’s not the time to give up or back down, and we so appreciate you for being in this fight with us.
Thank you for being an Ally,
Heather Carrigan
President & CEO, Allies for Every Child
