Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Alvarez-zabriskie
Hi MELISSA, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I think it was a bit of a culture shock when I left South Florida. The immigrant and 1st generation experience was different down there. I grew up in a very Latino community, my high school was 85% Latino, and I almost thought that the rest of the world looked like my hometown. I was taken back a bit when my first job outside of South Florida said they’d hire me if I
could prove citizenship. I was born in America. From then on, I made it a priority to work for primarily Hispanic organizations and serve the Latino community. I somewhat stayed in a bubble and continued living in just Latino spaces. I worked in the community doing primarily community based work with some immigration advocacy. I think when I moved to Nashville was the first time I was forced to step out of my bubble and face the realities we were dealing with, and it wasn’t always pretty. I love doing community focused work but gave it up when I became a mental health therapist. I focused on micro changes and made sure to provide services to a community mental health clinic. I offered my services to Spanish speaking clients and felt like I was making an impact in a new way. I enjoyed it although I missed working on a macro level, so I returned to advocacy and activism. I was always passionate about gun control and community safety and when Nashville experienced a tragedy at The Covenant school, I joined many women to demand change. The difference this time was that I was joined by women that didn’t look like me. I found company with angry White women demanding change. I protested, met with legislators, and sat in committee meetings all through special session and regular session. I recognized that many bills were passed that were anti-immigrant and harmful to the Latino community. I listened to legislators spout off atrocious lies about Latinos, and generalize them in racist speeches. I realized that no one was paying attention to the day to day discussions calling Latinos so many awful and untrue things. I realized that as other bills were being defended and activists were bringing attention to other bills, the bills that focused on Latinos flew by under the radar. I decided to start an organization that would network people and other orgs to collectively demand equity, equality, fair treatment, be treated with dignity and respect, and demand our voices be heard. That’s when the Tennessee Hispanic Action Network was born. It was born out of anger and being fed-up.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been anything but a smooth road. I like to describe the path to success for a minority to look a bit like this: imagine there are two boats racing to a finish line. Both boats have excellent paddlers, in fact one paddles stronger and faster than the other, however, the stronger paddler has to paddle with the wind at his face and the other boat paddles with the wind at his back. My boat has to fight against the wind, so sometimes I feel like I have to paddle three times as hard. I don’t get donations, no one responds to my efforts to causes that amplify Latino voices, and no one invites our org to eat at the same table that’s feeding them. It’s a struggle but I know that the people we speak to and help appreciate the work, mainly because they understand what it’s like to paddle with the wind in their faces. I am so excited about our upcoming projects and I can’t wait to embark on them because although it’s a bumpy road, I’m still very proud of it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The Tennessee Hispanic Action Network focuses onthe advancement of the Latino population in TN, so we can have access to the same opportunities as everyone else. We’re a 501c4 which means we can shed light on Latino candidates and weigh in on politicians that have previously participated in racist rhetoric against our community. I’m big on accountability, but I also believe people deserve the opportunity to learn and grow, which is why the organization offers education about facts about the Latino community so misinformation isn’t believed. We focus on safer communities from gun violence, and advocate for families who have experienced such tragedies. Ultimately, The Tn Hispanic Action Network operates similarly to Latino culture: community it another word for family and we aim and strive to see our family do well.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice would be to not rely on others to help or get the ball rolling for you. Your vision is just fine and don’t let anyone sway you from achieving it the way you want to see it done. I wish I knew all the steps needed, I feel like I’m always learning about some document you have to file here, and some other permit there. It gets confusing and can feel overwhelming at times.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tnhispanicactionnetwork.org
- Instagram: tnhispanicactionnetwork
