A Note from Mimi Lok Voice of Witness cofounder

A Note from Mimi Lok

Cofounder and executive director, Voice of Witness

So much has happened since we released our inaugural Voice of Witness magazine last spring. During a time of so much difficulty and loss, I’m so grateful that we are still here, and that we have been able to continue our work over the past year —thanks to our dedicated community of supporters like you, our committed staff, multiple Paycheck Protection Program loans, and our modest operational reserve. However, we are still in a state of fiscal recovery and unsure of how the next twelve months will unfold for our organization. What I do know is that we are as committed as ever to amplifying and centering unheard voices, and that we’ll continue to work in service to this mission for as long as we are able.

The work that we do at Voice of Witness has always been nuanced, multifaceted, and long-ranging, as systemic change comes neither simply nor quickly. When we confront police violence against Black communities, the inhumane treatment of incarcerated people, or the recent surge in hate crimes against Asian and Asian American Pacific Islander communities, we are also confronting complex, deeply rooted Our work serves as an essential histories of race-, gender-, and class- storytelling tool, creating based inequity. As such, VOW func- opportunities with narrator tions as part of a larger ecosystem of communities to heal and change—working in parallel with partners that provide direct social, legal, and educational services for many of strengthen through the oral history process, and forging space our narrator communities. Our work for these voices to be seen and serves as an essential storytelling tool, heard as part of broader efforts to creating opportunities with narrator dismantle systems of oppression. communities to heal and strengthen through the oral history process, and forging space for their voices to be seen and heard as part of broader efforts to dismantle systems of oppression.

Our theory of change (page 2) outlines the impetus behind all of our work. As you read through the magazine, I hope you’ll feel the intentionality and thoughtfulness behind every program and partnership. And I hope you’ll consider taking some of the actions we’ve listed throughout the magazine to further your commitment to this work, as you play such a vital role in the progress of change.

Thank you for being our partners. We truly couldn’t do this work without you.

In solidarity,

Mimi Lok