Executive Director George Luján was interviewed as a feature in an issue of Albuquerque the Magazine where he spoke on the challenges and positive outcomes of being in the social justice movement. "A lot of times we're focused on problems, and it can wear you down. You go out door knocking, canvassing in different neighborhoods, and it's kind of tough to strike up conversations with people…You can do that for hours and hours and all it takes is one nice conversation to change your whole attitude. It might be a grandmother making beans on the stove or someone working on their car. A lot of times their eyes light up because maybe they've never had anyone ask them their thoughts before."
George was a volunteer before joining the staff at SWOP, working in community gardens and on youth projects. Today, he is a leader in the network of campaigns and initiatives that SWOP partners in year after year. "We've modeled ourselves as an organizing hub…There are a lot of ways we can support other groups without taking on the full lift of the work." Empowering people to believe in themselves and their ability to make a positive difference is important. He says, "I think there are a lot of things that can break people down to feel less worthy or not enough, or that there's something wrong with their community. But when you talk this through, you can discuss the problem as a symptom of the root problem." George addresses important topics like the issue of poverty in New Mexico, and how it’s not a reflection of the value of the people, land, or culture, but rather the systems of oppression that have been present for many years. At SWOP, we believe that you should never do something for an individual that they can do for themselves. It is awesome to see our Executive Director shine in this well-written news feature. Many thanks to Albuquerque the Magazine for taking the time to cover this story! |
