We Must Empower Compassionate Voices to Advocate for People in Need
Our society needs more decent and hardworking individuals in positions of power
Last night my wife submitted the final paper for her Master’s program and then she burst into tears. “I can’t believe I did it!” she said. Then she sat down beside me to give me a hug, and we silently reflected on the significance of her achievement.
Earning a Master’s degree is always impressive, but it takes a special amount of resilience to study in something other than your native language. My wife is an immigrant from Peru and we speak Spanish in my household.
Four years ago, my wife found herself in a toxic work environment. She was employed as a bilingual family facilitator for the local school district. She’d been delighted to land the job, and she greatly appreciated getting to know the local Spanish speaking community. On more than one occasion, she came home glowing because she’d had a conversation with a new family that had come from Ecuador, or Colombia, or Peru.
My wife and I moved from Peru in 2009 and we immediately got pregnant. That first year was difficult for her as she transitioned from the mild climate of Lima to the frigid wasteland of Northern Wisconsin. In a very real sense, the pregnancy kept her…
