In 26 days, I turn 26 years old! I can’t believe that a year ago I was traveling in Colombia, making my way to Cali to learn salsa dancing -- and now I am sitting at home in Oakland, reconnecting with old friends and exploring ways to grow my community. It has been a year of goodbye to new friends, hello to old friends, growth, reflection, new beginnings, returning to familiar places, trying new things, joy, and challenges.  To close out the year and make way for the next, I wanted to reflect on the year, who I am, what I want to focus on in the coming year – and on the qualities and the type of person I want to be. This coming year, I want to: -Practice being more vulnerable; -Explore my concepts and practice of interdependence; -Practice being more vocal about how I feel and what I think; -Explore what it means to personally support reparations and/or operate from a framework of reparations;  -Develop new skills; -Intentionally cultivate joy; and  -Take action on issues that align with my values  For these reasons and many more, I am excited to launch a fundraiser to raise $2,600 in 26 days for Al Otro Lado – a bi-national non-profit in Tijuana supporting indigent deportees, migrants and refugees. The long and short of it is that I hope you will join me in supporting this important work happening at the border — DONATE TODAY!  If you want to learn more about why I am moved to host this fundraiser and its connection to reflections on my past year, I invite you to continue reading this post and the ones that will follow in the coming few weeks.  The theme of vulnerability connects to why I chose to support organizing efforts happening at the border to support migrants and asylum seekers.          vulnerability (n): capable of being physically or emotionally wounded; open to         moral attack, criticism, temptation, etc., open to attack or damage   When I think about the migrants at or moving towards the southern U.S. border who have left their homes and traveled long distances -- usually by foot with few resources, I think about the enormous amount of vulnerability it took and continually requires to partake on a journey like that. Most people don’t leave their homes, a place of familiarity and community easily -- especially when what they are going to is unknown and the path to that place is unknown—it requires a lot of vulnerability (along with strength, courage &amp; faith) in order to decide to leave their place of home, their community, their country, their home language. I can’t even comprehend what that would feel like — leaving all you know for the hope of something better, but really not knowing what will happen or what you and your loved ones will be subjected to in the process. I am inspired by those who are in search for a better life amongst so many unknowns. There is so much to learn from their journey about the power and courage in vulnerability –- the willingness to experience the unknown and pain for the possibility of experiencing deep joy, love and growth.  Reading stories of people migrating to the United States I feel moved to do two things: 1. reflect on what role vulnerability plays in my life and 2. take action. To be clear in making space and sharing my reflections, I am not trying to equate their actions or the level of harm or challenges they are experiencing with any act of vulnerability that I actively choose to engage with. With that in mind, for me launching this fundraising campaign is an act of practicing vulnerability:   1.    As some of you know, I strive for perfectionism in many aspects of my life; before setting out to do something, I want to feel very confident that I will succeed and that I will do it “right.” When deciding to do a fundraising campaign, my inner voice is cautioning me around not to set the goal too high, make sure I pick the “perfect” organization to donate to, make sure to frame my pitch in just the right way, choose the right fundraising platform, share the idea with a few people first to see how they react…etc. So by deciding to carry this out and not listen too heavily to those voices and be scared off by the possibility of imperfection/failure, I am leaning into my vulnerability.  2.    The act of me setting out on a project that includes me sharing publicly with my Facebook community a set of posts that includes my thoughts, beliefs, and feelings is challenging and pushing me into the uncomfortable — as I can’t control who/how people will respond. Some people might not agree with how I phrase something, who I chose to fundraise for or my commitment to supporting migrants coming to the United States—and I don’t expect everyone to… I am writing to invite you to join me in supporting migrants in their journey to find a new home—a new home that doesn’t force them to constantly live in this extreme state of vulnerability but holds them in community, in empathy, in love --by making a donation that is meaningful to you. DONATE NOW.   Today is Day 1 of 26 to raise $2,600 leading up to my 26th birthday. If we reach my goal of raising $2,600, I pledge to become a monthly donor to Al Otro Lado for at least the next year.  Will you join me in my efforts to celebrate my 26thbirthday? Sure? Hell yes? Donate now.  Thank you for taking the time to read--if you feel moved by this cause and want to help me reach my goal I invite you to share this campaign with your community.  With love and appreciation,  Morgan  P.S.--In future posts I will be writing more about the work of Al Otro Lado and much more--stay tuned and donate today :)

Michael Delby

Anonymous

Giancarlo Escobar

Carol Prentice

Zoë McBride

David Rothblum

Ione Sterental 

Julia Heick

Arianna Jukes

Giancarlo  Escobar 

Disha Banik

Briana Mullen

Kaila  Marshall

cathy Harris 

Sara Marshall

Walker Davis

Morgan's birthday fundraiser for Al Otro Lado

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