Hola,
So many people have heard of Miracle on Craig St. and what we have been doing here but many people do not know who the woman behind the movement is or what my story is. So spirit says I must share with you how this all even began and how I even began.
My name is Rosa E Rivera. I am 29 years young. I am from a small-ish town called Schenectady in the Capital Region of New York. I was born in St. Peters Hospital in Albany and raised here in the “ city” (it’s really too small to be a city.) I come from a strong, female, single head of household line, working class/working poor, family background. I am the oldest of four on my mom’s side and the oldest of five on my dad’s side. My identities are categorized at the intersection of many different minority groups, being brown (Puerto Rican and Dominican), being queer (with my 12 year partnership), being a womban, and being of low SES. I am a survivor of childhood sexual assault which I feel is important to say because it is a silent killer and has taken my voice from me for far too long. I’m an urban farmer, a doula, yoga instructor, a forever student, a teacher, the founder and interim director of MOC and a pretty decent human being.
I love to write. There is no critical voice, no shame, and no insecurities when pen hits paper, it’s just me and the pen. I’m a way better writer than I am a speaker and I'm totally fine with that. I am teaching myself how to love better one day at a time...reading, writing, meditating, praying, saying affirmations, doing yoga, therapy, practicing positive self talk, doing things on my own for myself, making new friends, believing in myself, exploring the world, taking missed steps along the way, practicing being still and just trying to come more and more into full awareness.
Fundraising can be daunting and really many grant processes need a revolution. As I write this I can’t believe how far we have come and how close we are to seeing this center back up and running. It has been such a powerful experience for me to see that 1. Whatever I want is waiting for me 2. Whatever I need I already have 3. We create our own reality and destiny 4. There are others out there who are giving, loving, generous, caring, and who believe. As a young person I've had to work very hard to workout past resentments towards life and come into faith and trusting the universe. I didn't always have this outlook that I'm so grateful for today.
We are renovating a monumental, historical legacy that is The Carver Community Center. Our project is estimated to be around $1.5 million dollars for our dream renovation. I have been persistent. I haven't taken any “No’s”. I just keep coming back, doing what is asked, and keep showing my work!
This project is so much bigger than me. I found out by committing to this project I was committing to being vulnerable and putting myself out there. I have to show people that I care about this place and the people here. The trauma that I have experienced and our society teaches us conflicting views, especially for women about how we’re allowed to express our vulnerabilities in public. There is so much shame around being human, having feelings and experiencing discomfort. But I have learned so much about myself through this project. I learned that I was looking to be a hero because that is what Rosa needed. I needed to be my own hero. And so that is who I have become, my own hero and I realized that has nothing to do with the outcome of my work on this project. No matter what happens my effort, faith, worth, and work ethic speaks for itself.
Our community needs this community space. It’s not just a good idea or something honorable to do. My community needs to see people like me, the amazing volunteers, residents, board members, and all folks involved, caring about each other, healing each other, healing ourselves. They need to see people from this community taking action and believing that we all can make big change, for ourselves, for our families and for our communities. The revitalization of The Carver Community Center and it’s legacy to improve the quality of life for people in this neighborhood is an absolute necessity. This project has always been for us by us and that is the most significant type of transformation and inspiration that any community can have. The reality is that our communities are fighting extermination from violence, from disease, from joblessness, from homelessness, from displacement, from mental health disorders, all rooted in lack of care, accountability and strategic intentionality!
I don’t have all the answers. I’m not perfect. I am still growing everyday. But, I know that I am a love child. I know that I was put here on this earth to teach people how to love, including myself. I surely know that “I come as one but, I stand as ten thousand.” I know that I come from generations of traumatized women and yet in my healing, I heal the trauma of my line. I also know that my personal journey and the journey of other young women are connected to this project and the vision and culture of “wellness, health and healing” that we have already began to facilitate.
My hope is that you get to read this message of pure transparency, if nothing else happens, my hope is that you know that this generation is out here---fighting for change, fighting for quality of life, fighting for equity, fighting for wellbeing, fighting to heal ourselves, fighting for our lives and we are asking for help, but we are not giving up. Our ancestor’s prayers and dreams are not lost on us. “They are our convictions.”
Abundant Love & Blessings,
Rosa E Rivera
So many people have heard of Miracle on Craig St. and what we have been doing here but many people do not know who the woman behind the movement is or what my story is. So spirit says I must share with you how this all even began and how I even began.
My name is Rosa E Rivera. I am 29 years young. I am from a small-ish town called Schenectady in the Capital Region of New York. I was born in St. Peters Hospital in Albany and raised here in the “ city” (it’s really too small to be a city.) I come from a strong, female, single head of household line, working class/working poor, family background. I am the oldest of four on my mom’s side and the oldest of five on my dad’s side. My identities are categorized at the intersection of many different minority groups, being brown (Puerto Rican and Dominican), being queer (with my 12 year partnership), being a womban, and being of low SES. I am a survivor of childhood sexual assault which I feel is important to say because it is a silent killer and has taken my voice from me for far too long. I’m an urban farmer, a doula, yoga instructor, a forever student, a teacher, the founder and interim director of MOC and a pretty decent human being.
I love to write. There is no critical voice, no shame, and no insecurities when pen hits paper, it’s just me and the pen. I’m a way better writer than I am a speaker and I'm totally fine with that. I am teaching myself how to love better one day at a time...reading, writing, meditating, praying, saying affirmations, doing yoga, therapy, practicing positive self talk, doing things on my own for myself, making new friends, believing in myself, exploring the world, taking missed steps along the way, practicing being still and just trying to come more and more into full awareness.
Fundraising can be daunting and really many grant processes need a revolution. As I write this I can’t believe how far we have come and how close we are to seeing this center back up and running. It has been such a powerful experience for me to see that 1. Whatever I want is waiting for me 2. Whatever I need I already have 3. We create our own reality and destiny 4. There are others out there who are giving, loving, generous, caring, and who believe. As a young person I've had to work very hard to workout past resentments towards life and come into faith and trusting the universe. I didn't always have this outlook that I'm so grateful for today.
We are renovating a monumental, historical legacy that is The Carver Community Center. Our project is estimated to be around $1.5 million dollars for our dream renovation. I have been persistent. I haven't taken any “No’s”. I just keep coming back, doing what is asked, and keep showing my work!
This project is so much bigger than me. I found out by committing to this project I was committing to being vulnerable and putting myself out there. I have to show people that I care about this place and the people here. The trauma that I have experienced and our society teaches us conflicting views, especially for women about how we’re allowed to express our vulnerabilities in public. There is so much shame around being human, having feelings and experiencing discomfort. But I have learned so much about myself through this project. I learned that I was looking to be a hero because that is what Rosa needed. I needed to be my own hero. And so that is who I have become, my own hero and I realized that has nothing to do with the outcome of my work on this project. No matter what happens my effort, faith, worth, and work ethic speaks for itself.
Our community needs this community space. It’s not just a good idea or something honorable to do. My community needs to see people like me, the amazing volunteers, residents, board members, and all folks involved, caring about each other, healing each other, healing ourselves. They need to see people from this community taking action and believing that we all can make big change, for ourselves, for our families and for our communities. The revitalization of The Carver Community Center and it’s legacy to improve the quality of life for people in this neighborhood is an absolute necessity. This project has always been for us by us and that is the most significant type of transformation and inspiration that any community can have. The reality is that our communities are fighting extermination from violence, from disease, from joblessness, from homelessness, from displacement, from mental health disorders, all rooted in lack of care, accountability and strategic intentionality!
I don’t have all the answers. I’m not perfect. I am still growing everyday. But, I know that I am a love child. I know that I was put here on this earth to teach people how to love, including myself. I surely know that “I come as one but, I stand as ten thousand.” I know that I come from generations of traumatized women and yet in my healing, I heal the trauma of my line. I also know that my personal journey and the journey of other young women are connected to this project and the vision and culture of “wellness, health and healing” that we have already began to facilitate.
My hope is that you get to read this message of pure transparency, if nothing else happens, my hope is that you know that this generation is out here---fighting for change, fighting for quality of life, fighting for equity, fighting for wellbeing, fighting to heal ourselves, fighting for our lives and we are asking for help, but we are not giving up. Our ancestor’s prayers and dreams are not lost on us. “They are our convictions.”
Abundant Love & Blessings,
Rosa E Rivera
