Hitting our goal this month isn't just about Emily's birthday surprise (though it's certainly fun to celebrate!). It's about ensuring that she's back in Olympia for another four years to keep making people's lives better.

I've listened to her on phone calls and zoom meetings this month, working on bills for next session. Emily's working to protect abortion care for Washingtonians — and those who are forced to travel our state because of dangerous laws being passed around the country. She's figuring out a path for every apprenticeship graduate in Washington to also receive an associates degree, so that if folks want to go back to school later in life to grow in or pivot their career, the pathway will be easier. And she spends 10 hours some weeks in negotiation meetings to pass a transportation package that will invest in projects like fixing Gorst, our ferry system, and road maintenance and transit all across the state.

I know first hand that Emily embodies our values and that she leads with love. Every single day I get to watch her as she brings new voices into the rooms where decisions are made. Every single day I get to watch her take on big battles to make sure each one of us has access to inclusive health care, high-quality education, and living-wage jobs. It’s important that we meet this fundraising goal so we can keep Emily in Olympia fighting the good fight!

You saw my last note, the note from her mom Cynthia, the one from her guidance counselor Karen— Emily means so much not only to our family and to our community, too. Will you help us show Emily how much we appreciate her?