An Inspiring and Just Weekend

It's always hard to know how to start these entries. I can't fully explain the emotions attached to this weekend.

Friday night I went back to Evanston for our Shabbat Group dinner. It is so wonderful to be in the city and close to my family and our friends. I love listening to and engaging in their political discussions and liberal ideologies. They have all committed their lives to fighting for justice and it's wonderful to hear about it. Especially now that I've taken my first steps into the working world and am working specifically on health care. I finally have a much greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the work they do. I feel lucky to have grown up with such engaged, progressive people. They are all truly role models for me.

Saturday I volunteered at the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group benefit honoring Dr. Quentin Young. I don't even know the half of his story, but he is one of my heroes. He has dedicated his life fighting for justice in the health care system. He's one of the founders of HMPRG (happy to boast so was my father and our friend Lon). The organization is dedicated to creating innovative policy and project-based solutions to health issues affecting the under-served members of our society. I was asked the videotape the event, so I was lucky enough to be sitting feet away from Dr. Young, Rep. Danny Davis, and another hero of mine, Rep. John Conyers from Michigan -- sponsor of HR676, the single-payer bill. The room was filled with people who have dedicated their lives to fighting for a more just society. It was amazing to meet them and hear their stories and their tribute to Dr. Young and all the change he has helped create. It was a wonderful evening. I hope to follow in their path. I'm really starting to think Public Health is the route I want to take with my life.

Finally, tonight was Ta'anit Esther at JRC. We honored a modern-day Esther, a woman in our community fighting for justice. This year's recipient was Rep. Jan Schakowsky. She is a powerful woman in Congress and is very progressive. It was great to hear her speak about the fighting preventable diseases in the 'developing world' under the new administration. But perhaps one of the highlights of the evening for me was hearing Dr. Mardge Cohen speak. She is another hero of mine. A well-known Ob-Gyn doctor at Cook County Hospital; she has since moved to Boston. I first met her in Rwanda when we visited her clinic WE-ACTx. Here she is changing the lives of countless women and families by running a clinic that provides women with HIV/AIDS access to ARVs, therapy and other services. Visiting the clinic and its partner programs, it was evident the change she has made in thousands of peoples' lives. So incredible. Mardge was honored last year as our Modern Esther. This year she returned to give an update on WE-ACTx. It was great to see and hear her again. This summer I dedicated an entry to her and I'd like to include the link here so others can share my admiration for her and the work she does.

One of my favorite quotes is: "Be ashamed to die before you have won some battle for humanity." -- Horace Mann.

I wonder how I will come close to leaving a legacy comparable to those of all the individuals I met and heard this weekend. I am proud to be organizing for healthcare this year. I am invested in the community organizing model as a way to create change. It's too early to tell if this is a path I'll follow forever, but for the time being I am grateful for the opportunity to do this work and to be learning how to organize. But I am forever indebted to my parents for exposing me to such incredible people and for leading by example. I was raised in a house in which being an engaged citizen and fighting for justice was the norm. This has had an impact on me beyond measure. I hope I can go on to do with my life what so many people from this weekend have done with theirs.

Peace.