By: Nichole Davari

On May 6-7, Tennessee Justice For Our Neighbors is participating in a 24-hour online giving event, what we have come to know and love as The Big Payback. Over 800 non-profit organizations will participate, making it feel near impossible to decide who I’d like to support most. Given the few weird months 2020 has already served us, this decision felt more important than usual. 

And so, I thought of the moms. To the moms who are working in essential roles, the moms who are working from home, the moms who have newly become homeschool teachers and the moms beyond, I raise money for you. 

TNJFON has served more than 2,300 clients since opening, many of them moms and Latina-identifying. Mi mami is where I gained my Latinidad and much of my strength. She was an example of what it meant to be a “chingona,” a woman led by the fire within her. 

Mi mami’s life was a lot like the moms who seek TNJFON as a resource. She came to the States for an undergraduate degree, not knowing English, not knowing the culture and not knowing a soul. She faced adversity in many forms throughout her life and taught me by example how to harness my fire when it was hardest. 

Moms every day are teaching by example. They are making hard decisions and hard sacrifices, choosing what is right for them and theirs. For the times when a decision means no choice but to leave home, TNJFON is there for the moms. 

On May 6-7, I’ll be taking part in The Big Payback by raising money for TNJFON in honor of las madres. Join me at TheBigPayback.org.