On Labor Day and Carrying Forward the Work of Liberation

Labor Day is a reminder that every right we enjoy in the workplace - fair wages, safer conditions, the ability to organize - was fought for and won by workers who refused to accept exploitation as the cost of survival. The labor movement was built on the courage of people who knew their individual struggles were bound together, and that only collective action could bend the arc toward justice.

That legacy runs through so many of the movements we draw strength from today. Farmworkers organizing in California's fields, immigrant workers demanding dignity, and multiracial coalitions marching for racial and economic justice all reflect the same truth: when people come together across lines of race, class, and background, they can change what once seemed impossible.

This is the spirit of Labor Day - honoring the power of solidarity, and carrying forward the unfinished work of building an economy and a democracy that truly serves us all. It is also the spirit I've witnessed at Greenlining during my time as Interim President and CEO, as we work alongside communities who continue to resist injustice and build something better in its place.

When I stepped into this role, I was joining Greenlining at a pivotal moment. In the months since, I have seen firsthand both the scale of the challenges we face and the strength of the people and communities rising to meet them.

My first 100 days basically overlapped with the Trump Administration's first 100 days. Here are a few of my reflections. This is an administration that has made it clear that equity, justice, and even democracy itself are in their crosshairs. From dismantling climate protections to weakening consumer safeguards and targeting nonprofits like ours, their strategy is to sow fear and confusion - designed to push us into retreat. Communities of color, immigrants, women, LGBTQ+ and Trans people, and working families are being forced to shoulder the greatest burdens.

But history teaches us something important: repression is never the end of the story. When farmworkers organized in California's fields, when people filled the streets after George Floyd's murder, when immigrant and non-immigrant communities stood shoulder to shoulder against deportations - those moments, too, seemed impossible. And yet, coalitions formed, people organized, and history shifted. That same spirit of solidarity and possibility fuels Greenlining today.

Our Role Now: the Shield and the Seed

The political terrain is volatile. Enforcement tools that once advanced equity - from the Community Reinvestment Act to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund - have been weakened or clawed back. Federal dollars are shrinking. Even in California, we are seeing a retreat from explicit racial equity language as state leaders grow wary of federal retaliation.

But the truth is that most of what we know works to advance equity remains viable, legal, and urgently needed. Much of this administration's power lies in theater - in convincing us to self-censor or preemptively abandon equity efforts out of fear. Our job, together, is to ignore that chilling effect and insist on progress, keep advancing toward justice.

Even in this turbulence, Greenlining is not standing still. Greenlining is both a shield - protecting hard-won gains in racial, economic, and climate justice - and a seed - expanding coalitions, incubating policy frameworks and ideas, and preparing for the next generation of racial equity leadership. We're advancing policies that hold government and industry accountable for fair outcomes, whether through our work to implement a California Community Reinvestment Act, shape the next iteration of California's Cap-and-Trade Program, or advocate for equitable clean transportation initiatives. By focusing on achieving measurable results in affordability, access, resilience, we ensure equity is not symbolic but material. Even in difficult political conditions. Even as others are forced or choose to back away.

We're also building a new policy agenda - grounded in what communities are telling us they need in this moment - so we don't simply rebuild the systems that were never designed to serve us. Greenlining is aligning state and local partners, philanthropy, and community-based organizations to advance a shared vision for a just economy.

These coalitions are not just about defense - they are incubators for the policies that will shape a future where prosperity and resilience are equitably shared. This is how we move forward. Not just by withstanding attacks, but by building the infrastructure of a future economy where communities of color are leading, thriving, and shaping the rules of the game.

Preparing for the Next Season of Change

Serving as Interim CEO has been an honor. My role has been to steady Greenlining through uncertainty, create space for reflection, and prepare the organization for its next chapter. Together, we've sharpened our strategies, recommitted to our values, and fortified the foundation for the movement work ahead.

Our incoming CEO will inherit not just an organization, but a community: brilliant staff, devoted board, resilient partners, and committed allies ready to lead with boldness and vision. As I prepare to step back and welcome new leadership to the organization, I feel deep gratitude - for our board's trust, for our staff whose commitment and resilience inspire me daily; for our communities who resist and innovate even in the harshest conditions; and for our partners who remind us that our collective work is always greater than the sum of its parts.

Unidad en la lucha,

Olga