December 27, 2020

Hey y’all, it’s Ashley, the person that’s been asking you to donate all month. One of my favorite things about my role is that I get to hear from our supporters about why you support Workers’ Dignity. In the same spirit, I think I owe it to you to tell you more about why I am a donor, too.

I grew up in a rural area in Massachusetts. My mother bounced around various retail and service jobs throughout my childhood, and now she’s worked at Walmart– one of the most anti-worker corporations ever– for almost two decades. My father has worked in a small paper and box factory my entire life. Day in and day out, I’d hear stories from them both about the grueling demands to work faster and be more productive. Now, I worry about the day my mother will catch covid while Walmart profits soar, and think about how my father will die of the same painful lung disease that his father, who also worked in the factory, died from, after working for decades without proper protection.

It shouldn’t be this way for any worker. But no one ever offered my parents another vision, or a belief that people could demand and fight together for better conditions.

At Workers’ Dignity, we make sure people know it’s unjust to work in dangerous and exploitative environments. And that it’s unjust when people don’t have resources in our neighborhoods to live full and healthy lives. And we train ordinary people to act collectively to get what we deserve.

I am inspired every day by our members who stand up for their rights– many of whom are immigrants, Black and Brown folks, and working poor people– or in other words, people who are oppressed by multiple systems every day. And I believe in our staff, who work tirelessly to support our members to develop the organizing skills and confidence to lead their own fights. The power scale in Nashville is bent so far to benefit the wealthy and elite, and the only way we’re going to change that is by building our base of people who are fighting to change the conditions of what is possible.

And we need financial resources to do the work. Grassroots fundraising is truly part of who we are. When I first came to Workers’ Dignity as a volunteer in 2017, I was immediately asked to donate. And I did– I became a monthly donor at $5 a month. And as I’ve been fortunate to have steady income, I’ve increased my monthly donations in small amounts over the years, and given larger gifts when I’m able. Our fight is about creating a world with more equitable sharing of resources, and part of my personal commitment to living those values means that as I grow personally and financially, my responsibility to give also grows.

The beautiful thing about grassroots fundraising is the same as what’s beautiful about organizing– there are always more people to bring in, and we expand our power every time we invite them to join us. If you believe in our work, and believe in our people, I ask you to make a donation today.

We can’t do it without your support. Thank you for being part of our movement.