“Arely was a rare combination of joy, ferociousness, determination, love and passion for justice. This is a major loss, however, like the Phoenix we await the life that will spring forth from this tragic loss.” Pastor Julio, Congregation Action Network
Thank you for your generous gift to the Arely Andrade Family Support Fund. On Saturday, January 25 in the early morning hours, our community lost a great soul in a tragic, senseless house fire. Though the world itself may be “on fire” we pause to commemorate the courageous life of Arely Andrade, core member of the Consejo de Trabajadores Excluidos, Ward 1 Mutual Aid Food Justice leader, a tireless force in the campaign to decriminalize street vending, mother, daughter, friend, and woman of faith. Congregation Action Network, along with our partners at Ward 1 Mutual Aid, deeply embeds accompaniment in the praxis of our rapid response work and our campaigns. Please consider taking a sacred pause yourself as you make a generous contribution to Arely’s family.
Every dollar you give will either go directly to Arely’s family or pay directly for the costs to memorialize Arely’s life and send her home – all without the administrative fees and hassle frequently associated with GoFundMe fundraising campaigns.
Several generous donors have already given over $5000 in seed funding. We invite you or your congregation to provide a match, and help send Arely back home to El Salvador.
“It was an honor to witness Arely’s leadership and power through our work together on the DC Excluded Worker Campaign. During this historic campaign, Arely was part of the
leadership group of impacted workers that crafted the strategy, tactics and demands of the campaign, ultimately successfully winning $75 million in DC’s budget for direct economic assistance for residents excluded from government support during the pandemic. Arely prioritized caring for her community in beautiful ways, like when she sewed cloth masks to keep others safe in the early days of the pandemic. She fought for her voice and her demands to be heard with decision makers in DC in a way that few of us have the courage to do. Arely was someone who always showed up for the movement even as she was battling serious health issues herself. In Judaism when someone dies we say, may their memory be for a blessing. Arely’s life was certainly a blessing to anyone lucky enough to know her, and to all the people who will never know her but who have benefited from the victories she fought for and won.”
Alana Eichner, DC Chapter National Domestic Workers Alliance
“The Excluded Worker Movement was one of the funnest campaigns I have ever participated in and Arely was one of the key leaders of joy and determination. The determination came through when collectively the movement refused to take no from the Mayor or the DC Council for an answer on granting cash assistance to those hardest hit by the pandemic. We pressed on and eventually won $75 million! And Arely manifested the joy we all needed to endure through the end of a worthless administration and the pandemic they recklessly allowed to run amok. I will always remember the Car Caravan we organized down 14th Street and in front of Councilmember houses to joyfully spread news of our campaign. I drove the truck with a full Son Jarocho band in the back and Arely blowing bubbles as we stopped traffic and sang and chanted. It was a perfect image of a movement that could not be stopped and that truly changed lives. We are al l better because of Arely’s leadership and passion.
Bill Mefford, The Festival Center
News Articles about Arely
2 People Killed in 2 Separate Fires in NW DC
Events DC will give $15 million in covid-19 relief to hospitality workers, undocumented immigrants
‘She was like a mom to everybody’: Beloved matriarch of Columbia Heights dies of covid-19