Rosette Ansima Mamboleo (CSPL Member and Safety and Violence Prevention Committee Co-Chair) - “These few months and weeks have been tense ones. The outcome of these elections is a product of those who spent countless hours phone banking, who participated in voter engagement meetings, who made sure that their family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers were registered to vote; and knew the various ways in which they can do that. The number of people who turned out to vote this year has been overwhelming. But also heartwarming. To know that people still have hope in their hearts for better days, that people know that they have the power and right to have a say in who gets elected as leader over them. Americans have spoken, they have made their choice. I hope that we can all put our differences aside and work towards making America a just, peaceful, and home for all. Because a president doesn't make the U.S.,, we the people do. We determine what happens next, I hope we choose the path of justice, growth, forgiveness, unity, understanding, empathy, healing, and reconciliation.”
Maria Marquez (CSPL Member and Immigration Committee Co-Chair) - “We have to continue fighting for our people and demanding change, we cannot settle. La lucha sigue!”
Maria Franco (CSPL Board Member, Vice President of Campaigns) - “Today is not only a victory for dignity, humanity, and decency but a victory for our vulnerable and marginalized sisters and brothers that their cries have been heard and we, as a nation, have responded.”
Byron Diggs (CSPL Board Member) - “Our mission and work at CSPL in dealing with societal woes and injustice is grounded in the spirit of Christ who gives us hope at this particular moment, as we think about the profound difficulties our communities faced over the past few years and the work we have in front of us. This same spirit and emphasis of our work will continue to guide our work as we strive to hold all public officials accountable to the radically just and inclusive vision that our faith calls us to create.”
Joanna Arellano (Board Member, VP of Communications) - “This is a profound moment for our nation after four nightmarish years. Let’s never forget that the momentum, energy, brilliance, and organizing work that was pivotal in this election was driven by powerful Black women in states such as Georgia and Pennsylvania and by Latina and Latinx leaders in states such as Arizona and Nevada. These guerreras of our present-day remind me of female biblical figures such as Miriam, Mary, and Ruth who exercised incredible courage in their pursuit of justice, dignity, and compassion. Throughout this pandemic, women have been on the frontlines of ensuring people are counted in a highly politicized census and organizing and energizing people who have every right to be exhausted and tired to exercise their values by voting and fighting for their communities. I am proud that our work at CSPL is driven by the type of brilliant, bold and courageous women of color who are on the front lines of God’s liberating work.”
Sue Ross - (CSPL Board Member, VP of Finances) - “The Trump Administration years have been replete with political division; encouragement of racial animosity; the disenfranchisement of the majority of voters; continued erosion of the middle class; increasing poverty rates; and sickness and death during the COVID-19 pandemic. With others in CSPL, I plan to continue to work for social and economic justice, but now we can do so with greater confidence that our President is one who is willing to compromise and negotiate as we pursue our efforts.”
Karina de Avila (CSPL Board Member) - “Today is a clear result of what happens when we organize as a community. Today is the result of four years of listening to dehumanizing statements and experiencing inhumane policies from the Trump administration. Today, we celebrate democracy.”
John DeCostanza (CSPL Board Member, President) - “The Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership celebrates an election in which the voices and values of so many in our national electorate were heard. As an organization that values the rights of all, and especially those historically marginalized and oppressed in our society, this is a moment to celebrate an outcome-driven by grassroots organizing that assembled a coalition of women, people of color, and those disaffected by the policies and rhetoric of a President that has fomented division and centered white supremacy in deed and word. The election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to lead the Executive Branch of our federal government is not an end in itself. It is an opening to demonstrate that highly motivated people of faith and values can make a demonstrable change in our public life. It is a wake-up call to accountability for all politicians. We, the people, guided by the values of community, the common good, and collective action will be heard. The Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership commits to holding all of our elected officials accountable to value and center policies and practices that ensure the health, welfare, and common destiny of all and especially the most oppressed among us.”
Michael Okinczyc-Cruz (CSPL Executive Director) - “As an organization CSPL honors and recognizes the tireless labor and sacrifices made by so many Black women, Latina and Latinx grassroots leaders, Native and Indigenous communities, and everyone who mobilized and organized over the past several years. This is their moment, this is our moment. Some will say that this election is a repudiation of the white-supremacy, xenophobia, sexism, and moral corruption we saw manifest so publicly over the past four years. The truth is - Trump’s elevation to the nation’s highest office four years ago was a symptom of a much more deeply rooted and entrenched sickness that has long infected the spiritual, social, political, and economic life of this nation since its founding. This moment further solidifies our belief at CSPL that a path forward towards a radically just and democratic society must be driven and constituted by those who have the most at stake. We must be willing to do the work to uproot the entrenched lies and structures that white supremacy, colonialism, and our extractive capitalistic economy have rooted in our nation. Jesus’ invitation to co-create the Reign of God in this present moment requires us to work for a radical redistribution of power, wealth, resources, and opportunity across the country if we are to realize a future that is life-giving. As the great liberator, Jesus invites us to walk this path.”