We Dream in Black: Tiffany reflects on the Organizing Institute

Tiffany

We Dream in Black Houston Organizer

Is this your first We Dream in Black Organizing Institute?  If not, which other ones did you attend? 

I attended the in-person Institute in 2023 and virtually in 2022 and 2021.

How would you describe the energy and environment of the Organizing Institute to someone who has never been to one? How did you feel after leaving the institute?

For me, the energy is familiar because we are a family and it is many of us working together to make it all work.  The spirit of people and love reminds me of the feeling you get around the holidays. After leaving the Institute I bask in the joy of the hugs and the affection from our time together. The photos that are captured create the essence of and memories of our time together. Being in person adds the human element and interaction reminds us of the need for connection as a people.

Why are the institutes important for We Dream in Black to have?

The We Dream in Black Organizing Institutes are important for Black domestic workers because of all we face with systemic race and gender inequality it is a space to foster growth, leadership, and community. The space is intergenerational and we pay tribute to our ancestors while creating a healing space. We are the glue that keeps us connected.

What do you want people to know about the Organizing Institute?

The We Dream in Black Organizing Institutes are a wonderful opportunity to honor our movement ancestors who paved the way for us while sharing our cultural experiences to uplift and motivate each other.

What do you hope to see the Organizing Institute become in the future?

My hope is for us to continue growing in strength and numbers knowing that as a community we have folks who are fighting with us and standing in the trenches to ensure domestic work is seen as dignified work. Prioritizing Black domestic workers because we have paved the way and are rooted in the legacy of domestic work.

We Dream in Black: We Dream in Black (WeDiB) is an initiative of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and is the organizing home that centers the voices and experiences of Black, Afro-Latinx, and Afro-descendant domestic workers.