A letter from our Executive Director
Dear community,
How do I even begin to summarize this year? After years of intense growth, I wanted us to deepen our roots this year. More importantly, I wanted to use every opportunity presented to get OUT into the community to build and strengthen the local, regional, and state-wide relationships and networks that will hold the line and protect our community against harm and injustice into an uncertain future.
Below is a brief glimpse of 2024 through my eyes. I hope you find comfort in the community that we are building here in the Shenandoah Valley. The faces you see sustain me and our community. They are welcomed reminders of the joy in this work.
I'm also excited to share our by-the-numbers impact in 2024. As I imagine what 2025 brings, I'm pulling from what I've learned and experienced in over 20 years of activism. We have a rich history and lineage of elders who have showed us endlessly that these times call for a coming together to take care of our own.
Our Center has established a Fundraising Committee dedicated to resource and network development, spearheaded by some of our most passionate supporters. Our first three months of 2025 are already full with skill-sharing workshops, mutual aid and collective care efforts, and increased opportunities for social connection and political engagement.
As we enter into the new year, continue to think about the ways to channel your energy in support. Our collective community is resourceful, innovative, and powerful. My hope is that the Center will remain a home to many and a conduit for joy, belonging, and empowerment. Thank you for showing up for yourselves and others during a time when we most need it.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year!
AnhThu Nguyen
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