Hey there! As we close out 2024, we’re thankful to you for sticking around and organizing alongside us.
And we’re thankful to you for continuing to mobilize and take action. From our efforts to keep our beloved community together to the struggle for Palestinian Liberation, we know you’re with us.
As we head into 2025 and a new presidential administration, like you, we’re feeling all sorts of things: anxious, worried, afraid, rage. But we know that our communities have always been present for each other. We know that it’s the continual organizing efforts, the mutual aid work, and the people mobilizing that we can lean on.
During this time of transition, we invite you to continue to share out our zines or even support our work with some merch. With the holiday season, consider redirecting funds from corporate interests, capitalism, and consumerism, into local, grassroots, organizing efforts.
And a last note – our virtual office will be closed for our winter break December 16 until just past the new year. Our team will rest up, restore, and continue to organize on the ground.
Momentum and 18 Million Rising are collaborating to bring you Asian American Momentum! During this week-long training, we will develop the Asian American left. Come learn hybrid organizing skills, dig into campaign development, and develop base building tools while deepening our analysis of power, oppression and current issues. Learn more & apply here. Have questions? Join one of our Q&A sessions here.
We’re excited to welcome two new staff members at 18MR this past year, keeping our average team height to 5 feet 1 inches.
Joining us is data nerd and resource strategist Allison. Allison is our Resource Mobilization Director, responsible for getting that coin and care! They bring a wealth of experience in baking delicious bread, creating top tier spreadsheets, and flipping the script from donor centrism to community centric fundraising.
Our newest staff member is Van, National Field Manager and chili crisp hustler. Van makes the spiciest, tastiest chili crisp, is an excellent swimmer due to dragon boat mishaps, and a bad TV show lover. They are excited to build out our 18MR membership program and build deeper relationships with our members!
Welcome Allison and Van to 18MR!
This year, we…
- organized over a dozen events. Whether you were joining us for our Digital Security training, wanting to learn more about the connections between Hindutva and Zionism, or learning how to use art in organizing, you showed up because you knew how important it was.
- mobilized a contingent to show up to the historic March on DNC, showing our people power on the ground.
- furthered our commitment to the struggle for Palestinian liberation. We mobilized Asian Americans to show up and rally against genocide, from San Francisco to D.C. We launched a critical campaign targeting The Asian American Foundation to pressure them to drop Zionist Jonathan Greenblatt – and we succeeded.
- continued our fight for immigrant justice, to tell the stories of our people, including the story of Ke, a formerly incarcerated Vietnamese community leader and activist, and his fight for freedom.
- And our cultural work became an important piece in mobilizing folks on the ground and online. We dropped zines, posters, and flags for activists on the ground to distribute and use – all with the same message: Asians for a Liberated Palestine, End U.S. Imperialism, and No Pride in Genocide.
And for the first time, we piloted a membership program!
- We launched a pilot program to build deeper relationships with 18MR members, getting to know them and creating a space for them to get to know each other. We processed difficult times without judgement, learned new tools to build up our own organizing, and got the chance to meet other partner organizations in person.
- Our staff got together to regroup and discuss this past year’s learnings and goals for the next year. And we’re excited to continue building!
2025 will be a new year for us – new staff, new programming, and ideas – and we’re excited to continue this work with you. Until next year.
In warmth & solidarity,
Irma, Sharmin, Allison, Van, Brenda, Turner, Kari, & Leyen – the 18MR Team
