To celebrate Thanksgiving this year, we asked ACLU of Michigan staff what they are most thankful for. They responded like the champs they are, pointing to family and friends, good health, their colleagues at work, and much more. One thing we all have in common is a deep and abiding appreciation for you -- along with everyone else who follows and supports this organization’s work.
We couldn’t do our work without you.
That said, here is more of what we’re thankful for.
"This year, I am thankful for the resilience and resistance of communities across our state. As an organizing strategist, I'm lucky to work with people and communities directly. Seeing people continue to show up to protect our civil liberties and rights keeps me in the fight and gives me hope." - Lily Eggers, organizing strategist
"I am thankful for my daughter, including the caring and sense of justice (even if she wouldn't define it this way) she has for all people, bringing joy to my every day, as well as hope for what can be the future in society at-large." - Paul Jeden , operations & finance coordinator
"I'm thankful for the health and wellbeing of my loved ones." - Gabrielle Dresner, policy strategist
"I am thankful that I get to work with colleagues who support me and support each other through difficult times. On a more personal level, I am thankful for all of the time I get to spend outside—even in the cold! Changing seasons bring new adventures." - Kathryn Haroney, paralegal
"In my role at the ACLU, I have a lot of personal interactions with nearly all of our clients. And I’m always so impressed by how steadfast and resolute they all are, not matter the difficulties they are facing, or how long it takes for the wheels of justice to grind, they hang in there and keep working with us. And it is not just for themselves, because they know that, when we take on a case, we’re often looking not to just win, but to make systemic change. Because I see up close how truly selfless these people are, I’d like them to know how thankful I am for them, and all they do.
I'm also thankful for my wife and kids who remind me of what really matters and reflect the lessons we are teaching them." - Giancarlo Guzman, investigator
"I am grateful that my mom's out of the hospital. I’m also grateful for my ACLU family and their steadfastness in the face of tyranny." - Lisa Gore, paralegal
"I’m always grateful for the love, protection and guidance of the one whose powers are so vast that even the most basic of his creations defy our comprehension. Who is able to wrap their minds around not only the complexity and symmetry of a grand universe, but also the simple mind-blowing fact that we exist as organisms comprised of complex integrated respiratory, circulatory, digestive, reproductive, self-healing and many other systems? Who but God can design the flesh-and -blood computers in our heads that weigh less than three pounds but fire millions of neurological signals to every part of the body, and which have the capacity to store and recall at will decades worth of information? What do we make of our God-given capacity to have emotions, including love, which, when given to the creator, comes back many times over? Taking the journey of life is itself is a profound honor and privilege. An even greater privilege is having the opportunity to, through thoughts, words and deeds make best efforts to please the one who makes life possible. I am profoundly grateful for that opportunity." - Mark Fancher, Racial Justice project staff attorney
"I am incredibly thankful for joining the ACLU team a few months ago!" - Emily Wine, administrative assistant
"I’m grateful to be associated with the ACLU of Michigan. Especially at a time like this, when our constitutional and civil rights are being ruthlessly attacked, working for an organization that not only fights back against the authoritarianism we’re seeing, but regularly wins those fights, keeps me from falling into feeling helpless. In fact, just the opposite: It is empowering!" - Curt Guyette, editor at large
"I am grateful to be on the planet for six decades – as well as for my happy, healthy kids, an adoring husband, fantastic friends, supportive, loving extended family, a flower garden, doing work that matters with outstanding colleagues, a comfy, cozy home, and the list goes on and on and on." - Ann Mullen, communications director
"I am grateful to work with such wonderful people at the ACLU who are working to make this world a better and fairer place. I’m also grateful for my family and friends, who provide an anchor during these very challenging times." – Jay Kaplan, Nancy Katz & Margo Dichtelmiller LGBTQ+ Rights Project Staff Attorney
“I’m thankful for: my family, friends, colleagues, health, and the Constitution.” - Kyle Zawacki, legislative director
“I’m thankful for this quote from the Talmud, which a friend recently shared, and which speaks to this moment:
Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief.
Do justly, now.
Love mercy, now.
Walk humbly, now.
You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”
- Miriam Aukerman, senior staff attorney
"Especially in the current world we live in, I am so grateful to be a part of such an impactful organization, filled with some of the smartest and most thoughtful people I've had the privilege of knowing. Every day, I see the power of this organization - and the people behind it - changing our world in ways that make a big difference." - Emma Salter, campaign communications strategist
"This year I am thankful for my family’s health, that is the foundation to be able to build on, with good health you can do your job, doing your job, contributes to our family's wellbeing and overall economic success. I am thankful for my work family and our passion to do our best for everyone regardless of whether they are donors or not. I am thankful to our organization and the care they give to our wellbeing. I am thankful to mine and my immediate family’s immigration status and most of all to have the privilege to be able to stand up for those that don’t count on this protection. I am thankful that my children understand that not everyone has this privilege and that they have empathy for others dealing with the stress of the current situation." - Elvira Hernandez, program associate
"I have had so much to be thankful for this year. I’m thankful for good health, for my family and loved ones - especially my daughters - and for joining this amazing team at the ACLU of Michigan." - Paulette Parker, digital strategist
"I’m thankful for the more than 11,000 Michiganders who donate monthly to the ACLU and who are protesting, speaking out, and volunteering. It takes all of us, working together with everything we have, to fight for the country we want to live in". - Mary Bejian, director of philanthropy
"I am thankful for the activism that I've seen from people that have never tried to use their voice to improve the social good before. And my daughter, but that's an every year kind of thing :)" - Elyse Lopez, communications associate
"I’m thankful for the health and wellbeing of my friends and family, and the love and support of my community around me! Also thankful for the people I get to work with (ACLU staff, volunteers, and partner orgs) who remind me that in the face of all the harm we have witnessed and experienced this year, it is possible (and integral) to move forward in collective action, hope, and resilient joy." - Alli Kelly, organizing strategist
“I am thankful for my health and the health of the people I love, for my wonderful fiancé, for the beauty I find in nature and in music, and for eating baked goods that bring me a lot of joy. I am also incredibly thankful to work at this organization with such smart, caring, and fierce colleagues, all of whom possess a backbone of steel.” Ewurama Appiagyei-Dankah, legal fellow
“I’m feeling especially thankful this year for my family, friends, and community—the people who show up, provide a sense of belonging, safety, and joy. They have made even the tougher moments this year easier to navigate. I am also thankful that I had the opportunity to see Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter tour not once, but twice this year.” - Merissa Kovach, political director