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UPDATE: We are working with both organizations to track donations and handle funds such that individual donations WILL BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Donors will receive necessary information for tax deductions after we reach our goal.
Janet Lee King, a Lumbee tribal citizen, first came to the Bay Area in the 1970s, from the San Fernando Valley, where she was raised. She's been giving endlessly of herself every day since then, to support our urban Indian rez here in Oakland. My mom is an Auntie to countless people. She was a healer, a justice worker, and a teacher. But she was also a student, who took lessons offered to her from every person, be they elders or children. She sought learning every day of her life, until her very last.
My mom is a force beyond the bounds of words or thoughts or script. Each person she has touched holds in them a universe of meanings of her. In this way, she is still learning and growing. And, she is still working for our community. Our hands and our words will always be, in part, guided by the impressions she made on us, and the lessons that she taught us. In this time of sudden loss and shock, we have the power to embody her practice, by coming together to support each other, as she would. There are two organizations that are especially close to my mother’s heart, and who are carrying forward the work of protecting and empowering our community.
Mom first began working at Intertribal Friendship House (IFH) in 1979, and continued working with the organization is several different capacities throughout her lifetime. IFH is our collective home, where myself and my cousins were raised. It’s where our elders teach us who we are. In many ways IFH is the beating heart of our community, where we share meals, stories, ceremony, and comfort. It houses our joys, shelters our hope, and cradles us in times of sorrow. It will always be my family home, as it is to many others.
Mom began working at American Indian Child Resource Center (AICRC) in 1985 and, while she only remained on staff for a short time, she continued to champion the interests of Native children. She was a fierce advocate for children’s rights, and she fully embodied her belief in children’s autonomy and wisdom. She also taught others to do the same. Mom was a firm believer that each generation has the duty to unlearn its own internalized colonization, so that the young ones can inherit less suffering than their parents had. Mom’s love of children was returned to her by every child that she held, taught, and heard.
In this time of grief and loss, I am asking that we, together, channel our tears and our memories of Janet into raising much needed funds for these two organizations that meant so much to her, and that embody her lifelong efforts to support our community and our children. Today, in this time of global pandemic, both organizations are working overtime to deliver food to our hungry community members, and supporting our urban rez with safety equipment to protect the health of our families. AICRC is helping our young people survive this challenging time with one-on-one counseling, after school support, and help with college applications and financial aid. Their virtual indigenous cooking lessons will return soon, as well.
One of the best words to describe Mom would have to be, “generous.” She gave generously to so many people in so many ways. I hope that each person reading this will let her life’s work be a guiding example, and give generously as you are able. All funds raised will be split evenly between IFH and AICRC.
On behalf of my mother and myself, thank you for helping us to raise our little family. Thank you for loving us. And thank you for loving each other.
- Cora Lee Garcia
Janet Lee King, a Lumbee tribal citizen, first came to the Bay Area in the 1970s, from the San Fernando Valley, where she was raised. She's been giving endlessly of herself every day since then, to support our urban Indian rez here in Oakland. My mom is an Auntie to countless people. She was a healer, a justice worker, and a teacher. But she was also a student, who took lessons offered to her from every person, be they elders or children. She sought learning every day of her life, until her very last.
My mom is a force beyond the bounds of words or thoughts or script. Each person she has touched holds in them a universe of meanings of her. In this way, she is still learning and growing. And, she is still working for our community. Our hands and our words will always be, in part, guided by the impressions she made on us, and the lessons that she taught us. In this time of sudden loss and shock, we have the power to embody her practice, by coming together to support each other, as she would. There are two organizations that are especially close to my mother’s heart, and who are carrying forward the work of protecting and empowering our community.
Mom first began working at Intertribal Friendship House (IFH) in 1979, and continued working with the organization is several different capacities throughout her lifetime. IFH is our collective home, where myself and my cousins were raised. It’s where our elders teach us who we are. In many ways IFH is the beating heart of our community, where we share meals, stories, ceremony, and comfort. It houses our joys, shelters our hope, and cradles us in times of sorrow. It will always be my family home, as it is to many others.
Mom began working at American Indian Child Resource Center (AICRC) in 1985 and, while she only remained on staff for a short time, she continued to champion the interests of Native children. She was a fierce advocate for children’s rights, and she fully embodied her belief in children’s autonomy and wisdom. She also taught others to do the same. Mom was a firm believer that each generation has the duty to unlearn its own internalized colonization, so that the young ones can inherit less suffering than their parents had. Mom’s love of children was returned to her by every child that she held, taught, and heard.
In this time of grief and loss, I am asking that we, together, channel our tears and our memories of Janet into raising much needed funds for these two organizations that meant so much to her, and that embody her lifelong efforts to support our community and our children. Today, in this time of global pandemic, both organizations are working overtime to deliver food to our hungry community members, and supporting our urban rez with safety equipment to protect the health of our families. AICRC is helping our young people survive this challenging time with one-on-one counseling, after school support, and help with college applications and financial aid. Their virtual indigenous cooking lessons will return soon, as well.
One of the best words to describe Mom would have to be, “generous.” She gave generously to so many people in so many ways. I hope that each person reading this will let her life’s work be a guiding example, and give generously as you are able. All funds raised will be split evenly between IFH and AICRC.
On behalf of my mother and myself, thank you for helping us to raise our little family. Thank you for loving us. And thank you for loving each other.
- Cora Lee Garcia
Organizer and beneficiary
Mary Trimble Norris
Beneficiary