01/19/2026
On this MLK Day, I’ve been thinking about legacy, courage, and community.
This is my grandpa, Elijah Balestrin, with his brother Daniel—men who helped keep a small Italian Christian church alive in Oakland at a time when immigrant families needed refuge, belonging, and dignity. That church wasn’t just a place of worship; it was part of a larger network of immigrant institutions in Northern California that helped families put down roots, preserve culture, practice faith, and become part of American life.
In a time when our country is being tested—by fear, uncertainty, and how we show up for one another—I take strength from the quiet courage of people like them. Today, when immigrant communities are being targeted, displaced, and forced out—sometimes through policy, sometimes through silence—their lives remind me that justice often begins locally, in how we protect and stand beside our neighbors.
Their courage wasn’t loud. It was steady. It looked like opening doors, creating space, and choosing compassion when exclusion would have been easier.
I miss my grandpa deeply. And I’m especially aware today of how precious our time is with family and loved ones—how important it is to be present for one another and for our communities while we can.
Dr. King taught us that small deeds, guided by good thoughts, still matter. I try to carry that forward—believing that care, moral courage, and community are never wasted.
Honored to continue his memory and legacy in my own way.
