Story #42: Christina Jiménez on Community Liberation

"We must understand that our struggles are linked and so is the liberation for our communities". - Christina Jiménez

On November 1st, 2019, Cristina Jiménez, a renowned immigrant rights advocate and co-founder of United We Dream, captivated attendees as she received the 13th Robert Coles “Call of Service” Award at First Parish Church in Cambridge. Celebrated for her tireless efforts in advocating for undocumented immigrants, Jiménez has played a pivotal role in shaping the conversation around immigration policy in the United States, notably through the success of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

In her speech, Jiménez shared her personal journey from Quito, Ecuador, to New York City, recounting the challenges she faced as an undocumented student and the painful realities of racism. Throughout her address, Jiménez connected the immigrant rights movement with broader social justice causes, encouraging solidarity across various struggles, including climate change and police brutality. Reflecting on the importance of storytelling in activism, she concluded by affirming that sharing experiences is the first step to beginning a life-long journey of action.

Delve into Jiménez's powerful insights and advocacy for community liberation by reading more here.