As we all work together to get through the unique challenges that continue to shape the year of 2020, we'd like to share with you a series of thoughtful reflections from the Foundation of Hope team. Everyone has their own experience to share, and hopefully their words can help us all to move forward with strength, and with hope.
Thank you.
Publicist for Foundation of Hope
[email protected]
Thank you.
Publicist for Foundation of Hope
[email protected]
Mariam Estrada, Director of Marketing
So far, 2020 has been a blessing in disguise. It's been a moment in time to feel closer to God, and more attuned with the impactful realities that affect me and many in the world. When this pandemic started, It was super scary and there were so many conspiracy theories or people relating it to the bible. Being an open minded person, I wanted to learn about what everyone was thinking and doing so I started reading a lot, connecting through social media, and reaching out to my distant and close friends, and family.
I feel that COVID-19 has hit us all differently, and I’ve also accepted that mentally everyone has processed it differently. It's a perception thing, despite the fact that COVID-19 is real and it's harming many globally. I finally realized how big the world is, how diverse and hard life can be for all of us all in different ways during the same pandemic. I know some have lost, some have gained, some needed this time away, and the people of the world needed realignment. My heart still feels heavy for my friend who lost her mother, to my mother who lost her friend, to her friend who lost her brother, and to many whom I don't know in real life but have been vulnerable and courageous to share their story, and for my kids who didn't get a real graduation ceremony.
I want to believe that the law of following the process still applies, and perseverance doesn't disappoint. I haven't lost my hope, and I haven't let this crisis go to waste: I’ve spent the best days with my sons, had the best and longest conversions, I have learned so many new things about my boys, and my sons have gotten more passionate to explore their artistry. I feel at peace, and contracting enough I feel excited for change and the restoration of humanity. Along with this pandemic we are dealing with our injustice system, and even racism. These are other topics that weigh heavy in my heart, and I really feel it's vital to come together and share to rebuild unity and love in the world our God created. I do believe in the Black Lives Matter movement, because it's a movement, a shift of mindset, a shift of Love, and Love fuels us to be better in order to do better.
I want to believe that with time, and with the right leaders, we will change the world one day at a time, we will tackle all obstacles, we will solidify our purpose. I feel thankful, and honored to be part of this journey, this battle we will defeat with a God who has conquered the world.
Best Regards,
Mariam Estrada
So far, 2020 has been a blessing in disguise. It's been a moment in time to feel closer to God, and more attuned with the impactful realities that affect me and many in the world. When this pandemic started, It was super scary and there were so many conspiracy theories or people relating it to the bible. Being an open minded person, I wanted to learn about what everyone was thinking and doing so I started reading a lot, connecting through social media, and reaching out to my distant and close friends, and family.
I feel that COVID-19 has hit us all differently, and I’ve also accepted that mentally everyone has processed it differently. It's a perception thing, despite the fact that COVID-19 is real and it's harming many globally. I finally realized how big the world is, how diverse and hard life can be for all of us all in different ways during the same pandemic. I know some have lost, some have gained, some needed this time away, and the people of the world needed realignment. My heart still feels heavy for my friend who lost her mother, to my mother who lost her friend, to her friend who lost her brother, and to many whom I don't know in real life but have been vulnerable and courageous to share their story, and for my kids who didn't get a real graduation ceremony.
I want to believe that the law of following the process still applies, and perseverance doesn't disappoint. I haven't lost my hope, and I haven't let this crisis go to waste: I’ve spent the best days with my sons, had the best and longest conversions, I have learned so many new things about my boys, and my sons have gotten more passionate to explore their artistry. I feel at peace, and contracting enough I feel excited for change and the restoration of humanity. Along with this pandemic we are dealing with our injustice system, and even racism. These are other topics that weigh heavy in my heart, and I really feel it's vital to come together and share to rebuild unity and love in the world our God created. I do believe in the Black Lives Matter movement, because it's a movement, a shift of mindset, a shift of Love, and Love fuels us to be better in order to do better.
I want to believe that with time, and with the right leaders, we will change the world one day at a time, we will tackle all obstacles, we will solidify our purpose. I feel thankful, and honored to be part of this journey, this battle we will defeat with a God who has conquered the world.
Best Regards,
Mariam Estrada
Wayne Winston, Member of Board of Directors
Greetings, my Foundation of Hope family.
During this COVID lockdown, I have been fortunate to be part of a couple of rallies across the state while keeping myself safe, and have been interviewed on NEWS 12, WICC, and various online media about race relations and the search for solutions. I want to share with my Foundation of Hope Family that with crazy times like these, I'm grateful to be part of an organization that is doing the right thing and fighting for the right things prior to George Floyd and COVID-19 for our children. We have always been very diverse in participation and open to every idea of every nationality as we have been advocates for our community against police brutality and fair treatment for over 5 years. We have been working with the Norwalk Police and various national law enforcement organizations concerning community policing on a regular basis. We've been holding health fairs all across Fairfield County because we cared and understood unequal health care access and our communities for those of lesser means. We have supported food drives for the homeless and the needy and partnered with both local and national organizations to meet those ends to serve our community.
The death of George Floyd has given this country a chance to look in the mirror at the reflection and see what it truly looks like. With all of the death that COVID-19 has caused, there is still an unprecedented opportunity for amazing healing that no one could have forecasted. To correct institutionalized racism means not only dealing with police brutality but the iniquities in education, wages for people of color, housing, and the criminal justice system in general. I'm blessed that COVID-19 has not taken any of my immediate family, but it may have touched yours. I know that it's real and it's very painful as people outside the circle of people that I'm close to have lost their lives to this dangerous disease.
As we move forward as an organization, each and every one of you is important whether I've met you personally or not. The leadership of Rebecca Prosper is impeccable and with the highest degree of integrity, and I appreciate being on her team. The world is changing as we see predominantly white communities nationally marching together arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder, black-and-white to help this change even with the fear of endangering their own health. I can only imagine the amounts of protesters who would have joined in if the coronavirus wasn't limiting participation. God always has a plan even when its the darkest days that have triggered a global pandemic, he shows us light. Remember it is always the least of us that are used to truly change everything. Rest in peace to every person who has died from police brutality. I believe the world hears your voices still and I will do my best to make sure they are not forgotten.
God Bless You All. Stay Safe, and I look forward to when we can all meet face to face soon.
Wayne Winston
Greetings, my Foundation of Hope family.
During this COVID lockdown, I have been fortunate to be part of a couple of rallies across the state while keeping myself safe, and have been interviewed on NEWS 12, WICC, and various online media about race relations and the search for solutions. I want to share with my Foundation of Hope Family that with crazy times like these, I'm grateful to be part of an organization that is doing the right thing and fighting for the right things prior to George Floyd and COVID-19 for our children. We have always been very diverse in participation and open to every idea of every nationality as we have been advocates for our community against police brutality and fair treatment for over 5 years. We have been working with the Norwalk Police and various national law enforcement organizations concerning community policing on a regular basis. We've been holding health fairs all across Fairfield County because we cared and understood unequal health care access and our communities for those of lesser means. We have supported food drives for the homeless and the needy and partnered with both local and national organizations to meet those ends to serve our community.
The death of George Floyd has given this country a chance to look in the mirror at the reflection and see what it truly looks like. With all of the death that COVID-19 has caused, there is still an unprecedented opportunity for amazing healing that no one could have forecasted. To correct institutionalized racism means not only dealing with police brutality but the iniquities in education, wages for people of color, housing, and the criminal justice system in general. I'm blessed that COVID-19 has not taken any of my immediate family, but it may have touched yours. I know that it's real and it's very painful as people outside the circle of people that I'm close to have lost their lives to this dangerous disease.
As we move forward as an organization, each and every one of you is important whether I've met you personally or not. The leadership of Rebecca Prosper is impeccable and with the highest degree of integrity, and I appreciate being on her team. The world is changing as we see predominantly white communities nationally marching together arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder, black-and-white to help this change even with the fear of endangering their own health. I can only imagine the amounts of protesters who would have joined in if the coronavirus wasn't limiting participation. God always has a plan even when its the darkest days that have triggered a global pandemic, he shows us light. Remember it is always the least of us that are used to truly change everything. Rest in peace to every person who has died from police brutality. I believe the world hears your voices still and I will do my best to make sure they are not forgotten.
God Bless You All. Stay Safe, and I look forward to when we can all meet face to face soon.
Wayne Winston
Anita Li, Marketing and Social Media Intern
For my reflection of my 2020 experience so far, I feel that the world today still has room for lots of improvement. We are in an unsure time right now, especially with COVID-19 and racial injustice acts occurring. Concerning the recent events with Black Lives Matter, I believe that it is important to defund the police and allocate the funds to other aspects of society, such as to the impoverished who are struggling to get by each day.
Similar to other schools, COVID-19 has made learning entirely remote, and due to this, my learning experience has been impacted. I enrolled in lab courses, but learning lab techniques online through a simulation is not the same as if we were to do it in-person. Nonetheless, I understand that the current circumstances do not allow for it to happen.
Some positive things that have happened to me are that I have been spending more time with my family, speaking more Chinese, and having more "me time." Additionally, the organization that I am in has raised lots of funds to send PPE to those working on the front lines during this pandemic. We also hosted a Virtual Thank You Cards event in which our club members made virtual cards so that we may send them to the health workers at the UCI Medical Center (an example card is attached below).
For my reflection of my 2020 experience so far, I feel that the world today still has room for lots of improvement. We are in an unsure time right now, especially with COVID-19 and racial injustice acts occurring. Concerning the recent events with Black Lives Matter, I believe that it is important to defund the police and allocate the funds to other aspects of society, such as to the impoverished who are struggling to get by each day.
Similar to other schools, COVID-19 has made learning entirely remote, and due to this, my learning experience has been impacted. I enrolled in lab courses, but learning lab techniques online through a simulation is not the same as if we were to do it in-person. Nonetheless, I understand that the current circumstances do not allow for it to happen.
Some positive things that have happened to me are that I have been spending more time with my family, speaking more Chinese, and having more "me time." Additionally, the organization that I am in has raised lots of funds to send PPE to those working on the front lines during this pandemic. We also hosted a Virtual Thank You Cards event in which our club members made virtual cards so that we may send them to the health workers at the UCI Medical Center (an example card is attached below).
In terms of the world, I feel that individuals, especially teens, are finally starting to take voting seriously considering the events that have occurred thus far. I find this to be a positive thing because we are finally utilizing our power to seek a positive change to our world! Voting is super important because it can change the world we live in!
Warmest Regards,
Anita Li
Warmest Regards,
Anita Li