As we approach what feels like one of the most consequential presidential elections in modern history, I find myself reflecting on my “why.” Why I’ve dedicated my life to advocating for Black and Brown women. Why I created We Are The Ones (WATO). Why the words We Are Not Going Back feel more urgent and personal than ever before.
For me, this isn’t just rhetoric or a catchy phrase—it’s a truth I’ve lived and a fight I’ve committed my life to. I’m not just building WATO. I am WATO.
I’ve faced workplace trauma that took more than a job—it tried to take my dignity, my confidence, and my hope. I’ve walked into spaces where my brilliance was questioned, my contributions undervalued, and my presence tolerated only when I didn’t disrupt the status quo. But what I’ve experienced isn’t unique.
Every Black and Brown woman I know carries stories like mine—stories of resilience and resistance in the face of systems that were never designed to see us thrive. Our pain has been ignored, our labor exploited, and our worth diminished. Yet, somehow, we’ve continued to rise. That’s what we do.
But rising shouldn’t mean surviving. We deserve to thrive.
WATO was birthed out of my refusal to go back to what once held me bound. Not just for me, but for every sister who’s ever felt powerless in the face of systemic inequities. It’s my way of reclaiming the agency that was denied to me and creating a space where others can do the same.
We Are Not Going Back is not a new sentiment for Black and Brown women. It’s a vow we’ve been making to ourselves for generations. But in this moment, as political forces threaten to dismantle the progress we’ve fought so hard to achieve, that vow feels even more urgent.
WATO is my answer to this moment. It’s my declaration that we deserve better, and we will build it together. At WATO, we provide more than services; we create pathways for women to reclaim their power, heal from trauma, and define success on their terms. It’s a movement for liberation, fueled by the understanding that true equity begins with us.
I’ve spent my life in service to my community. From helping women escape domestic violence to launching programs for underrepresented youth in STEAM, my work has always been about creating opportunities for those most often overlooked. But WATO is deeply personal. It’s my way of ensuring that no Black or Brown woman feels alone in her struggle.
As this election approaches, let’s remember what’s at stake. It’s not just policies and platforms—it’s our lives, our futures, and our freedom. We Are Not Going Back is more than a rallying cry; it’s a promise. A promise to stand in our power, to demand better, and to never again accept less than we deserve.
If you believe in this vision, join us. Share our mission. Support our work. Stand with us in building a world where Black and Brown women don’t just survive—we thrive.
Because the road to equity, restoration, and agency will not be handed to us. It will be built by us. And we are the ones to build it.
In sisterhood and solidarity, with a commitment to never stop flipping tables for the equity that is our right.
– Luckie
WATO 2025 
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