Dear SCLP familia, in the sacred narrative of the Quiche people, the Po pol Vuh, the hero twins, Xbalanque and Hunhapu, travel to Xibalba (the underworld) to avenge their ancestors who were murdered during a ballgame. They travel to Xibalba, challenge the lords of the underworld to a ballgame, defeat them and then in their glory, they become the sun and the moon respectively. A feat on its own, their victory in the ballgame is preceded by a myriad of victories where they overcome challenges in the houses of Xibalba, including a house of fire, cold, and darkness (among others).
This sacred narrative comes to mind because as a result of the recent elections, many colleagues and friends have expressed feelings of sadness, disappointment, fear, anger and disbelief to us. In the face of recent developments and the realities we'll encounter in the coming years we thought it would be important to remind you and our entire SCLP family that we remain here present with you as a community of like-minded change agents working together to right the wrongs that we and our families experienced on the path to a better life.
Though it might feel like we're walking through the houses of Xibalba remember that we, our families and our ancestors have walked through those houses before and have not only overcome those challenges but thrived. We know that it still doesn't make it right to have to face those
challenges over again, but our strength and resilience is multi-generational.
Remember, we are our ancestor's wildest dreams, so let's stand together in the new year, and help each other become the moon and the sun for our family's and our communities. - Via Miguel Leon, SCLP Co-Chair
