A Reflection on 15 Years of NDWA

A lot can happen in 15 years.

When people think of movements, it’s easy to forget that most are a continuation of the work and sacrifice of the movements that came before us. The critical work we do here at the National Domestic Workers Alliance is no different. Long before our president Ai-jen Poo began organizing alongside nannies on New York City playgrounds, domestic workers were propelled by the enduring legacy of women of color who, from Reconstruction on, organized for labor rights. And since those playground meet-ups in the early 2000s – 20 years later to be exact – I’m confident that the progress we’ve made would make those early mothers of the labor movement proud. 

Sometimes, it’s almost impossible to fathom what we’ve accomplished in 15 years. A Domestic Worker Bill of Rights in 10 states and three major cities. The first-ever national report on the domestic workforce. A cultural and political shift that brought in supporters and allies from the halls of Congress to the red carpets of Hollywood. We Dream in Black. Caring Across Generations. Families Belong Together. NDWA Labs. Care in Action. The extension of workplace protections, from paid leave to minimum wage, across the nation. I look at my daughter Zoe, who is 15 years old herself, and think “What a world we’re leaving behind for her generation.”

This year is special. We have created a space to look back at what we’ve built and what we’re building towards – (and I’ll remind our readers of the stunning fact that we are building the largest membership-based alliance of women of color in the country!). Our moment is now. And if you think the last 15 years were impactful, just wait to see what we have in mind for the next decade. 

We all come to this table, as domestic workers, daughters and granddaughters of domestic workers, as carriers of the torch to make the impossible possible. I am honored to continue fighting alongside our members, supporters, affiliates, and champions, and I urge every single one of us to take a moment to bask in the legacy that carries us – and the future we are committed to bringing to life.

As you know, the future IS us. Let’s continue building, together.