Support OA: Empowering communities for change

My name is Glicerio Zurita, and I am a community organizer with OneAmerica here in Southwest Washington. I’m originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, and I immigrated to the United States in 1999 in search of a better life.

In 2009, my family and I faced one of the darkest moments of our lives. It wasn’t just an attack on us—it was an attack on immigrants and people of color everywhere. My wife was detained and sent to the Tacoma Detention Center.

I’ll never forget the feeling of powerlessness as I stood at the Portland Police Station, desperately searching for her. When I asked about her, an officer looked me in the eye and said, “If you keep asking for your wife, I’ll kick your ass inside too.”

Then came the call I’ll never forget. My wife said, “I can’t do this anymore. I want to sign my voluntary deportation. I need to be with my kids.”

We lost contact for a week. It was the longest week of my life. I called everywhere, desperately seeking help. With her court date approaching, I felt I had no options. But then I realized I couldn’t do this alone. I reached out to my church community, gathered friends, and we drove to Tacoma. On the day of her hearing, we showed up—10 of us, standing together in that courtroom.

Because my wife had people fighting for her, she was able to get out of the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.

That day taught me a powerful lesson: when we come together, when we show up, we can change lives.

This is what we do at OneAmerica. We’re not just mobilizing people; we’re building a movement. We’re organizing communities to create power that doesn’t fade after an election—it grows stronger and endures for generations.

In 2024, we proved the power of collective action. We stopped harmful initiatives that would have cut vital programs. We secured $25 million for refugee communities and made dual-language education permanent in Washington State.

This is about power—our power.

The fight ahead won’t be easy, but we are ready. Here in Washington State, we have clear priorities: affordable childcare for every family, expanding dual-language programs so more kids have access, increasing funding for refugee communities, establishing unemployment insurance for undocumented immigrants, and continuing to advocate for all of us.

If these issues matter to you, this is your moment. With OneAmerica, you can join a movement that doesn’t just demand change—it delivers it. Together, we can shape a future where our communities thrive and our voices are heard.

Why I Give to OneAmerica on GiveBIG

I give to OneAmerica on GiveBIG because I want to support a movement for lasting change—where advocacy and collective action empower our community.

Please join me in supporting OneAmerica to build the world as it should be!

Thanks to a generous donor, the first $12,500 raised will be DOUBLED!

Gifts of all sizes will make an impact and will help build power in immigrant communities in Washington state and beyond! All gifts made are 100% tax deductible.