Shortly after September 11, a group of Hibakusha (A-bomb survivors) from Hiroshima and Nagasaki came to meet with members of 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows and encouraged us to continue our work for peace and justice and to connect with them in their global struggle against war and militarism. It was so profoundly moving to hear their stories and to witness how they have turned their grief into action for peace and justice. I hope to honor their inspiration in the work that I do.

I am also incredibly inspired by ICAN [International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons] and the feminist organizing model of Beatrice Fihn, and the fantastic Marshallese poet and activist, Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner. Also youth such as Greta Thunberg and the March for our Lives kids, who are not afraid of telling the truth, changing the narrative, and leading the way toward the bold action we need to create the world we want to see.