Living My Values
Last June I went on a trip to central Europe with my son's high school chorus. Our last stop was Munich, and on our last day we visited Dachau. I saw the first concentration camp created, which was used as the model and testing ground for all the others. We also walked the streets in Salzburg, Austria, and saw the Stolperstein with brass plates inscribed with the name and life dates of victims of Nazi extermination or persecution.Â
I have also previously visited The Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., and Holocaust Museum LA. I have seen the exhibits, I have read the signs. I have walked through with a card showing the picture and personal information of someone who was there, and found out at the end of the tour whether they survived. Spoiler alert: most of them didn't.Â
I had been warned that I would probably cry at some point when visiting Dachau. Instead of being sad, I found myself to be pissed. "Never Again" is a phrase that originated after World War II. Originally specific to the Jewish community, it has broadened to include other groups as well. Comparing the exhibits to what is happening today was enraging.
Never Again is NOW.Â
I've started seeing signs through social media and news articles that say "ICE kidnapped a community member here", an echo of the Stolperstein. I've seen countless videos of people being dragged out of their cars and homes by masked men with guns. We're only 36 days into the year and eight people have died at the hands of ICE. The president talks about taking over other sovereign countries, says voting should be nationalized, allows the DOJ to arrest reporters for doing their job, and so much more.Â
And it is so easy to feel completely helpless watching the world burn.Â
So I have to remind myself that there are things I can do. I can speak up. I can attend protests. I can vote in all elections not just the big ones. I can vote with my dollars by boycotting the businesses who don't align with my values, and shop at the ones who do. I can make donations to organizations who can do the work I personally can't.Â
My business is an extension of me
This business is a one-woman-show. I might have helpers here and there, but in the end it's just me. As such, my values are my business's values. And that means I should be doing the same things within my business as I am in my personal life. I already do most of the things, and now I will also be making donations from my business proceeds.Â
I have decided to donate my portion of the proceeds from all digital pattern sales. The designers will still get their portion, of course, the amount left from that minus the transaction fees will all be donated to organizations that align with my values.Â
I can't promise that I will be able to continue donating all of my proceeds from pattern sales forever, as they do support the expenses of my business. Right now it is more important to me to support those doing the hard work, so I will make it work for as long as I can.Â
The Organizations
Some of these will be permanent on the list, others may change from time to time. I may not be able to donate to all of them every month, but I will do as much as I can.Â
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) - The ILRC seeks to improve immigration law and policy, expand the capacity of legal service providers, and advance immigrant rights.
- The Trevor Project - The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people.
- Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) - VEAP is the Twin Cities’ (Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN) largest food pantry, providing access to healthy foods, social services, and financial assistance.
- MUST Ministries - MUST is a metro Atlanta organization that provides food, housing, clothing, and other assistance to those in need.Â
I may also add other charities to the list. Check back for updates.Â
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2026 Donations
January - Immigration Legal Resource Center (ILRC) & VEAP
February - The Trevor Project & MUST Ministries
March - Immigration Legal Resource Center (ILRC)
April - Meals on Wheels Atlanta
May - Loose Ends
