To win progressive change, including a healthcare system that puts people over profit, we need to build a bigger “we” — a broad and powerful base of people who will fight for democratic control and systems that work for all of us. Center for Health Progress staff and eight of our leaders recently joined 900+ […]

Ever since I can remember, I have been providing English interpretation and translation for my parents, who are monolingual Spanish speakers. Without other options, my parents were forced to rely on me to help them communicate, not just at grocery stores or school functions, but also as they tried to navigate more serious things like doctors appointments. As young as age 10, I can remember specifically providing interpretation for my parents and younger siblings at our family clinic for our routine check-ups.  Growing up, and being the daughter of immigrants from Mexico, I always thought this was normal. I thought of it like a debt I needed to pay for the advantages of being a first generation U.S. American. But I also remember feeling very alone in my experience. I thought that only my parents struggled to communicate, and that made me think of my family as the problem.

I organize primarily among immigrant women who want to fight for a better healthcare system and society for themselves and their families. As I support our leaders to recognize their own self worth and to claim what they deserve, I need to do this difficult work alongside them. 

To win progressive change, including a healthcare system that puts people over profit, we need to build a bigger “we” — a broad and powerful base of people who will fight for democratic control and systems that work for all of us. Center for Health Progress staff and eight of our leaders recently joined 900+ […]