A Panel on Racism

I had the chance to represent Unidos South OC at a panel at a church called Oceanside Sanctuary. It was an opportunity to talk about how we deal with racism, which often isn’t obvious but is still very real in the institutions and systems we interact with every day.

Racism in our community shows up in ways that can be easy to miss. It’s in the way police officers speed through our neighborhoods, in the rules and policies that affect our air quality, and even in the overgrown vegetation that reflects how deeply these issues are rooted. The words used to describe our neighborhood and our people can either lift us up or tear us down, affecting our sense of dignity and identity.

During the panel, I was reminded that we face racism every day and that at Unidos, we are committed to recognizing and confronting it. Every day, we work to break down these barriers, fighting for justice and equality in our community. We are focused on changing the narrative and making sure our efforts aren’t just about seeing racism but about actively challenging and changing it.

-Ester Ocampo