Community Alliance of Lane County, CALC, prides itself upon being an organization empowering individuals who have been marginalized by society. Often times when we talk about empowerment, we think of giving voice-or giving an opportunity to have a voice-to folks that don't traditionally have the privilege of being heard. In order to truly give someone a voice, we cannot solely tell people to share their stories, we have to compassionately and non-judgmentally listen to their stories.

CALC is one of the only non-profits in the area that dedicates substantial time towards empowering diverse individuals on an intensely personal level through advocacy based programs and projects. When you give a gift to CALC, you are helping marginalized and struggling persons find their own self-respect and power; and when they feel empowered, they can find ways to better themselves and improve their own situations in ways that they previously never thought possible.

Through my work as a community organizer at CALC, I have had countless first-hand experiences listening to folks from un-housed communities, immigrant communities, and queer communities tell their stories. People are empowered in a range of ways by being able to recount their personal narratives to an engaged listener that views them as an individual. Being viewed as a true individual-as a whole person and nothing else- helps heal people who have experienced trauma and empowers people who think they have no political influence, to find and exercise their own political agency.

While CALC works in many different fields and arenas to support several interconnected causes and social movements, one unique, common thread that ties all of the facets of our work together is the time that we take time to listen. CALC has gained credibility throughout the community over the years as a result of the time and work that we continue to dedicate to empowering individuals and building leadership within marginalized communities. Without your invaluable support, we would not be able to listen, involve, and empower individuals from all throughout the community on such an effective and personal level.

This holiday season as you make your contribution to CALC, keep in mind how sometimes we take for granted how good it feels to be recognized and respected as an individual in society, as opposed to a nuisance, outsider, or enigma. Not everyone experiences empowerment on a daily basis like many of us do, but they should, and we at CALC are dedicated to making daily empowerment for all individuals a reality.