As Alliance members and people across the nation struggle to understand how yesterday’s election results will impact the future of our country, our Alliance remains grounded in our mission and vision: to build healthy, just and self-reliant communities across Western Colorado. 

We know our strength lies in bringing people together at the local and regional level through community organizing grounded in our shared values and beliefs. We will stay focused on this and not lose sight of our long-term vision as we work with our communities to chart the path forward. 

We also know that a healthy democracy is built from the ground up, when everyday people have a say in the decisions that impact our lives. This work does not start or stop with elections, but is painstakingly built everyday by people like you, coming together with our neighbors across Western Colorado to solve problems and deliver meaningful solutions for our communities. 

This moment requires the grassroots community organizing we have been leading for 45 years. It is the foundation of our Alliance to bridge divides, look beyond our fences, and build relationships that can outlast any political campaign or administration.  We work hard to see people’s humanity, understand what makes them tick, and tap into our shared love for community and place.   

Too many people have been left behind by politicians and policies that ignore middle-class and working people. People feel unseen, unheard, and even disdained. Family farms and ranches are continuing to struggle and close operations. Too many of our rural communities have been hollowed out with fewer jobs and resources. Too many of our cities and towns have become unaffordable as housing prices skyrocket.

This moment is heavy and uncertain. The near-term future feels unknown and unsafe for many people. In times like this, it is easy for politicians to tap into anger and resentment, seeking to divide us. It’s our job to break that cycle. We reject efforts to divide us. We choose to embrace community and stand united for a better future for all. 

We know this is the path forward. Even in this election cycle, state and local measures Alliance members worked for won the day — from protecting civil liberties and women’s rights to providing funding for new schools in Mesa County and public transportation in Montrose. These are local and statewide wins that remind us what we can do when we work together at the community level. 

Today that work continues, and tomorrow, and the next day. Our Alliance is here, ready to dig in and work with you for the long-haul. Thank you for standing with us as we show up in our communities and participate in our democracy with integrity, love, stewardship, justice, and courage, time and again.