Dear
friends,
You don't get to see much of the
Avaaz team beyond names at the end of an email, but one of
the best of us was Meredith Alexander.
She passed away suddenly earlier this
year. She was only 42, filled with joy, determination, and a
smart thoughtfulness about how to make the world better.
Within the Avaaz team she acted as a mentor, helping many of
our staff grow personally as well as professionally. She
inspired us with her honesty and vulnerability, and never
walked away from a cause she believed in, no matter the
personal sacrifice.
I struggle to fully
honour her many years of contribution to our movement: from
campaigning for years for women's rights against the
epidemic of rape in India, to fighting against the Murdoch
mafia in the UK where she helped win a key
battle against the Sky takeover. From mobilizing US
expat voters around the world against Trump’s
election, to campaigning for safe and healthy food in the
EU.
Meredith was so full of ideas and
energy, and I know she'd want us to do more than mourn her
passing. So here is something that feels right to honour
her legacy:
Meredith's last act of generosity
was to donate her organs. At a moment when her own
family experienced so much pain, she gave hope to other
families who needed it. The woman who received Meredith's
lungs - an Avaaz member since 2007! - says that she woke from
the double lung transplant and, "
for the first time in my
life I was able to take a deep breath," this time using
Meredith's lungs!
Because of Meredith's gift, this
46-year-old mother of three will watch her children grow up
and continue Meredith's legacy as a social justice warrior. If
you’re not already a donor,
consider pledging to become
one. If you are, encourage your friends to commit to it
too:
Pledge to be an organ donorHer
passing seems so senseless, especially now, when we need her
brilliance more than ever to face the challenges of our times.
But if her light lives on in us, and strengthens us, then she
will not be gone. I don't know if there's a part of Meredith
that survives her passing, but I know there is a part of her
life that can. Her passion, her light, her dedication, her
smarts. Let's all carry that light forward
together.
Meredith was always so passionate
about Avaaz, and about smart, effective campaigning. In
addition to signing up as an organ donor you can also
donate to help establish
the Meredith Alexander fellowship, a fund
to support young organizers continuing the work closest
to Meredith's heart! Support the Meredith Alexander fellowship
