First of two parts. A year of trials and tribulations can also offer a gift — the perspective to see beyond the dark days and appreciate those who brighten our lives. With this in mind, we asked residents who have contributed to our “Community Voices” feature, “What is a person, project, organization, institution or movement that you are thankful for that’s making an impact in Milwaukee?” Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing! (Photo provided by Alejandra Gonzalez) is a DACA recipient and the youth organizing statewide director for Voces de la Frontera and Voces de la Frontera Action. Read Gonzalez’s piece, “OPINION: I want undocumented youth to live their lives without fear.” Thanksgiving is a holiday rooted in the celebration of colonialism and Indigenous oppression. I, myself, am a product of colonialism and have struggled in celebrating and accepting my Indigenous roots. When my family immigrated to the United States, my brother and I were encouraged to assimilate in order to find success in this country. This is why, this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for Voces de la Frontera and Voces de la Frontera Action, specifically their youth arm, Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES) — because they have empowered me to embrace my Latinx and Indigenous roots, and allowed me to help other Latinx youth in Milwaukee do so as well. I was first introduced to YES in 2016, after becoming a member of Voces myself and supporting its efforts to pass a Safe Haven Resolution through the MPS board. I was impressed and inspired by the leaders’ passion to advocate for themselves, their friends and their families. Since then, I have had the pleasure of taking on the role as the youth organizing statewide director and developing the future leaders of Milwaukee. The YES membership in Milwaukee is largely made up of MPS high school students who have experienced family separation, religious persecution and racial injustices. Their resilience and dedication have been key in recent victories in Milwaukee. Earlier this year, they lobbied and fought to win the MPS funding referendum in April, and this fall, YES members knocked on thousands of doors in support of Voces de la Frontera Action’s endorsed candidates. They door-knocked five days a week, averaging 1,000 doors during each canvass outing. This effort culminated in our big Election Day push. We had approximately 80 MPS youth knock on over 7,000 doors.This does not include the young people who were present in our phone-banking efforts and relational voter program. Our chapter leaders played a critical role in recruiting, training and leading this very successful campaign. Their accumulated efforts to flip the state blue while balancing schoolwork and home duties and navigating a pandemic is nothing short of extraordinary. It is young people like them that inspire me to rededicate myself to the struggle every year and continue to fight toward racial justice, economic justice and immigration reform. They are a constant reminder of the power in organizing, no matter how young you may be. Through them I have found the strength to participate in the fight for social justice and shape my own identity as someone with Indigenous and Spanish roots. (Photo by Chris Siegel) is a cultural and music writer, entrepreneur and health enthusiast. Hickman recently wrote, “OPINION: I am an experienced Black female creative, and I’m done working for free.” This year, I’m most grateful for my friendships with Black women. I’ve found that aside from my faith, they’ve been my saving grace and refuge. It’s unfortunate that it took COVID for me to realize how essential these relationships are to me. Writing this piece has been a bit of a journey. My hope in writing it is that my friends who aren’t Black women don’t feel invisible or that our time together isn’t equally valuable. But there’s something about Black women sharing space together that feels sacred. It’s why when I moved into my new space, I wanted as many things made by Black women’s hands as possible. Artwork. Laundry soap. Mugs. Paintings. Throw pillows. Coasters. I’m safe with Black women in a way that I don’t experience in most other spaces. In fact, there’s a lot of spaces I don’t feel safe as a Black woman, especially as I reflect on the egregious thefts of Black lives that have bombarded us during the pandemic. It’s been a lot to take in, while still shouldering the responsibility to show up and be productive. I’ve struggled. With Black women, I don’t have to be able to articulate that. They know because they are experiencing it as well. So we can show up in spaces and not talk and still be in community with each other.