How do you find the words to express your heart felt thankfulness for a woman whose generous spirit and wisdom has enabled the heart to grow? Words seem such paltry things at the moment, far too small to honor the world encompassing spirit of our great hearted Denise.
What keeps running through my mind are her years long efforts to bring us together, to teach us to listen to one another, to learn, and most of all — to care.
Because she cares for all of us regardless of color, ethnicity, gender, sexual identification, religious affiliation or none — she has helped us learn to care for one another. I can think of no more important gift. That is who she is, a cherished gift beyond measure.
The world and the Daily Kos community would be a much poorer place without Dee’s decades long fight for justice and equality.
Denise Oliver-Velez is currently an adjunct Professor of Anthropology and Women’s Studies at SUNY New Paltz, and is a Contributing Editor for the progressive political blog Daily Kos. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1947, she currently lives in New York's Hudson Valley on a small farm with her husband, dogs, cats and roosters; growing garlic and roses, and spending time with her hobby of African-American genealogical research, when she isn't teaching or blogging or registering voters.
She has been a political activist and community organizer, was in the Civil Rights movement, women's movement, and AIDS activism movement, and was a member of both the Young Lords Party and the Black Panther Party in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She worked in community media and public broadcasting for many years, and was a co-founder and program director of Pacifica's first minority-controlled radio station, WPFW-FM, in Washington DC. She was the executive director of the Black Filmmaker Foundation. She has published ethnographic research as part of several HIV/AIDS intervention projects and is working on a book on the women of the Young Lords Party with co-author Iris Morales.
It is not work for the faint of heart or the easily discouraged. It is work that knows justice may bloom in another life time, but it will and must bloom none the less, no matter how deep the difficulties or how long the struggle. Denise knows that each seed of justice matters. She encourages students, friends, fellow activists, neighbors, and all of us in our own efforts, cheering us on each step of the way.
Denise embodies that nurturing of justice and its hoped for blooming, both now and in the future.
We are deeply blessed to have her. I am profoundly blessed to have her in my life.
This is for you, Sister of my Heart, a small expression of love and deepest respect from all of us to you. A Blessed and Joyful Birthday, Dee! May your new year be filled with all good things for you and those you love.
We’re going to start your new year off by celebrating you!! And of course there are yummy eatables. Heard about the pup taking your slice of cheesecake right off your plate, honey, so here’s some more.
We’re going to share music and yummy food and stories — all to celebrate you!
So let the love roll! Happy Birthday!!!
x YouTube Video x YouTube Video x YouTube Video x YouTube Video