racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity
DearFriends,
Thisyearcallsusintomeaningfulandnecessaryreflection Throughoutournation’s history,wehavewitnessedextraordinaryprogressalongsidepainfulsetbacks-landmark civilrightsvictoriesmetwithrenewedchallenges,importantstridestowardgenderequity temperedbypersistentbarriers,andmeaningfuladvancesinracialjusticealongsidework thatremainsunfinished.Yetthrougheverychapter,oneconstantendures:theresilienceof thepeople.ThatresiliencesitsattheverycoreofYWCAPrinceton’smissionanddaily work
Aswecommemorate250yearsofournation’shistoryand100yearsofBlackHistory Month,weareremindedthatprogressisneveraccidental Itisbuiltbycourageous individualswhorefusetosurrendertoinjustice Itissustainedbycommunitiesthat understandpeace,justice,freedom,anddignityarenotoptionalideals,butessential rights.
Thisyearalsobringssolemnremembrance.WiththepassingofcivilrightsleaderJesse Jackson,wepausetohonoralifedevotedtoexpandingopportunity,uplifting marginalizedvoices,andchallengingsystemsofinequity Hisleadershipgroundedinfaith, courage,andconviction,remindsusthatprogressdemandspersistenceandmoralclarity Westandontheshouldersofleaderslikehim,whoseworkpavedthewayformanyofthe freedomswecontinuetoprotect.
Resilience,however,ismorethanendurance.Itrequiresreflection,agroundinginour sharedhumanity,andarecommitmenttoactwithpurposeandcompassion.When uncertaintyfeelsoverwhelming,wemustresistretreat Instead,weleanintoempathy, deepenourunderstanding,andchooseintegrity Reflectionstrengthensresolve Compassionfuelsaction Purposesustainsthework
AtYWCAPrinceton,weareproudoftheprogresswehavemadeandsteadfastinour commitmenttotheboldworkahead:advancingjusticeinCentralNewJerseyandbeyond, rootedinhumanityandunitedinpurpose.
Withpurposeandhope,
ecutiveOfficer
Thank you Bad Bunny
Remembering Jesse Jackson
Celebrating 100 Years of Black History Month
Meet our Tribute to Women Honorees
Contact your Senator Black History Month Screening
SuperBowlLX’s ever.Bad Bunny’sperform gs,itwasa lovelettertoth artinginthe sugarcanefield youmight haveoverlooked:
CenteringPuertoRicanPeopleandCulture-BadBunnyputrepresentationfirstand foremostonthestage.Fromfeaturingdancerswitharangeofskintones,hairtextures, andsexualorientations,BadBunnyputonashowthatdismantledtheidealofa monolithicPuertoRicanculture.Weallsawourselvesasthechildasleepacrosschairsat theweddingwhileourparentsdancethenightawayorenvisionedourgrandparents sittingaroundatableyellingandplayingdominoes.Heevenbroughtthatculture statesidewiththepiraguastandsandbodegasofNewYorkCity Benitodidallofthiswhile singingentirelyinSpanish,thefirstforaSuperBowlperformance.
PoliticalSymbolismandHistoricalReferences-IfyouthoughtthePuertoRicanflag lookedalittledifferentthanyouremembered,thatwasn’tbyaccident.Thelightblueflag thatBadBunnyhadonstagewastheoriginalflagthatistiedtotheisland’sindependence movement.LadyGagaalsoworeadressthesameshadeofBluewithalargeFlordeMaga pin,PuertoRico’snationalflower,thatsymbolizesislandprideandresilience.Butthat’s notwherethesymbolismstops.Whileperforming“ElApagon,”asongthatcelebrates PuertoRicancultureinthewakeofHurricaneMaria’sdevastation,Benitoclimbedan electricpoletodisplaythepowergridsthatwereneverreplacedandinchoosingtonot wearaharnessheshowedtheinstabilitythecountryisstillfacing
FlaggingIdentityandSolidarity-IneverexpectedtohearHaitisaidduringaSuperBowl performance,muchlessthewaynativesofthecountrypronounceit,Ayiti.Yetinthemost watchedtelevisioneventeachyear,BadBunnylistedthenamesofmorethan20countries inSouth,Central,NorthAmerica,andtheCaribbeantoshowthatAmericaismorethan justonecountryorculture.WhilemillionsofAmericanswatched,BadBunnyreminded thenationthatAmericaiscontinental,notsingular,andthatwearebettertogether.
Thepassingo eofthemost influentiallead nforjustice andequality.H mpowered generationsto
BornJesseLouisBurnsinGreenville,SouthCarolina,in1941,heovercameearlyhardships, includingexperiencingtherigidracialsegregationoftheJimCrowSouth.Hefoundhiscalling intheministryandcivilrightsactivism,workingcloselywithRev.Dr.MartinLutherKingJr.in theSouthernChristianLeadershipConference.Heparticipatedinhistoricmarches,including Selma,participatedinsit-ins,andledinitiativeslikeOperationBreadbaskettopromote economicopportunityforBlackAmericans.
In1971,Jackson’svisionextendedintopolitics HefoundedOperationPUSH,whichlater mergedintotheRainbowPUSHCoalition,anorganizationheledfordecades.Throughthis work,hepressuredcorporationstodiversifyworkforces,registeredmillionsofvoters,and supportedinitiativesthatadvancedcivilrightsandsocialjustice.Hewasalsoaglobal advocate,negotiatingthereleaseofhostagesandpromotinghumanrightsaroundtheworld.
Jacksonmadehistoryasatwo-timeDemocraticpresidentialcandidate,runningin1984 and1988.Hiscampaignenergizedvotersandexpandedpoliticalpossibilitiesforpeopleof color,pavingthewayforleaderslikeBarackObamaandcountlessothersinpublicservice.A powerfulorator,Jacksoninspiredaudiencesnationwide,andhisfamouschant,“IAm Somebody,”remindedyoungpeopleandadultsalikeoftheirdignityandpotential.
Eveninhislateryears,whilefacingprogressivesupranuclearpalsy,Jacksoncontinuedto speakoutonissuesofracialinjustice,policeviolence,andinequality.Heremainedatireless advocate,showingthatthefightforjusticerequirespersistenceandcourage.
AtYWCAPrinceton,wereflectonJesseJackson’slifeasareminderoftheongoingstruggle forequityandhumanrights.Hislegacychallengesustocontinuetheworkofcreatingamore justandinclusivesociety.AswecelebrateBlackHistoryMonth,wehonorRev.JesseJackson notonlyforhisachievementsbutfortheinspirationheleavestocarrythisworkforward.
