It’s tempting to feel overwhelmed, to look at the enormity of the issues and think, What can I do? But it is precisely in these moments that we need people power. We have a collective responsibility to make our voices heard, to work together in our communities, to demand protections for our rights and the rights of others. This is not the time to retreat; it’s the time to act, to show up for each other, to hold tightly to our shared humanity, and to confront injustices with both courage and love. The way we respond to this period of division and uncertainty will define us for generations to come.

In 2010, controversy erupted when a Korean American organization in Los Angeles blocked the city’s recognition of Little Bangladesh as a neighborhood. At the time, Little Bangladesh overlapped with what many considered to be Koreatown, and some advocated for the area to remain undivided as Koreatown instead. Questions arose: how would the community retain its political power? How do we demonstrate that these four blocks belong to one ethnic community over another?

Stories are integral to the success of organizations and leaders. Every day, we tell stories about how and why we do the work we do. We share about impact and offer proof to secure buy-in, attract funding, and deliver results. But who do we tell these stories for? Why do we craft these stories and how?