A letter from Gaye Evans

Dear Friends,

As you may know, I have made a transition after 26 years of working in the region and 14 years as executive director of ACF. May 31st was my last day in the office. But I wanted to write to you once more.

I’ll start with a question:

What kind of world would we be living in if there were no grassroots organizations or people’s organizations working for progressive social change?  As much as is broken in this world, our lives and our communities would be in worse shape if it wasn’t for the work of these organizations raising heck, raising cane, and slowly over years chipping away at the injustices of this world.  Grassroots organizations often stand between us and hopelessness in the face of some of the incredible problems around us. 

They stand against oppression and tyranny. They stand for people having the right and the ability to organize themselves and bring change as they define and want it.  Grassroots organizations strengthen us– they make our world better and they make our community and COMMON UNITY.  They ground us and give us voice, help us define our values and principles, educate us about issues and call us to collective action.  They protect human and civil rights. They value us and support our ideas. They work to not leave marginalized and invisible voices out.  They are strong through creating and practicing new models of working together – cooperation, collaboration, consensus, each person a leader, each person with something to say and to contribute, equality, equity, compassion and democracy. Diversity work that isn’t afraid to face issues of privilege and power within organizations, and to look at and understand what historic and structural racism, classism, gender-ism, and heterosexism have done to all of us – how these things have divided us, and how they keep us from building stronger and bigger movements for change. 

And a reminder that:

You play a key role in strengthening these very organizations. Central Appalachia is vastly underserved by resources for social change. The financial support of ACF donors goes to groups working on the issues that make us all stronger.

As I leave ACF, by no means will I stop being an ally and supporter of the work that ACF has been doing in the region since 1987.

Please join me and become a donor today. Your donation will allow ACF to continue supporting grassroots organizations that are part of a movement and to keep them thriving despite a difficult political climate and tough economic times. I ask you to give today. If you are interested in setting up a recurring gift to ACF by having a set amount donated every month or quarter, please contact Margo Miller. She will be glad to assist you.

As I leave, I want to thank each of you for being there, standing by ACF and supporting social change. You can make a difference!

Yours in solidarity,
Gaye Evans