“We should be able to pay our bills, save for emergencies, and still enjoy our lives. We work hard for our money.”
Christina Diaz is a canvasser on the New Britain Action Team. She was born and raised in Connecticut and currently lives in Plainville. When thinking about how she first became involved with The Connecticut Project, she laughs.
Brianna: What was your first introduction to advocacy or community organizing?
Christina: I love telling the story to people. My first introduction was actually Mathias and Brigith knocking on the door. At first, I thought they were DoorDash. I’m looking at them, and I’m like, “who are these people?”.
Christina had just arrived home from her job at an organization focused on making child care accessible. Assuming it was a DoorDash delivery to her brother’s house, she answered without much hesitation. On the other side of the door were two organizers from The Connecticut Project inviting neighbors to a community action team meeting.
She decided to go to the meeting. Walking in, Christina expected to sit quietly at the back of the room and watch it all unfold around her. Instead, she met people who understood exactly what she was going through.
Christina: When I got there, it was a room of people having the same issues that I was having. We were having issues with rent… landlords... not being able to afford things... I didn't expect to talk or anything, but I was just raising my hand and talking, commenting, and asking questions. And then I just continuously got involved.
That feeling of belonging was powerful. It proved to her that the issues she experienced with the cost of living were not something she had to carry on her own. Rather than being talked at, she felt heard. She was invited to tell her story and that experience kept her coming back. Christina’s passion for The Connecticut Project’s mission led her to join the team as a canvasser. Now, she helps other residents discover that same sense of community.
People deserve to be heard and involved in the solution. The affordability crisis isn’t a political talking point. It’s something that is lived by working class people every day. And with the cost of living getting higher, it’s something that can make your security go from stable to unstable in one moment.
Brianna: Can you share a personal experience where affordability impacted you?
Christina: Back around December, my car needed an $800 repair. This repair was super important to get done… And it kind of just spiraled out of control. My rent became super late. You know, I was paying my rent late all the time and having to pay other bills on top of that… it just became extremely difficult, and that's when I felt the most stressed out because even to this day, it's still playing itself out where I'm getting back on track, but I'm not fully there yet. And it's frustrating, and it's scary at the same time.
Christina’s experience isn’t unique. It’s one of many reasons why The Connecticut Project fights for working class people.
In her role as a canvasser, Christina has learned that when it comes to tackling the cost of living crisis, everyone’s individual perspective is important. Some conversations may last only a few seconds, but others stay with you forever.
While conducting an affordability survey, she approached a woman experiencing homelessness who initially responded with anger and frustration. Many people would probably walk away, but Christina stayed and listened.
Christina: She told me people just walked past her. She said, “They don't treat me like a human."
The woman shared that she spent her days asking people if they could buy her food, and most people ignored her.
Christina: So, I looked at her and I said... “Okay, you want to go get some food?”
That conversation turned into something much bigger: a friendship. Today, they still keep in touch, and the woman is now on track to receive stable housing.
Christina: I just showed her that I saw her as a person.
Whether it’s advocating for economic opportunity, protecting programs families rely on, or fighting for policies like a Renter’s Tax Credit, Christina believes that people deserve more than simply surviving.
“We should be able to pay our bills, save for emergencies, and still enjoy our lives," she said. "We work hard for our money.”
Brianna: Is there a campaign that especially resonates with you?
Christina: The Renter’s Tax Credit. That allows people to get money put back into their pockets, create a savings fund, catch up on bills… it really could help people get back on track.
Brianna: What impact do you hope this work has on your community?
Christina: I hope people can understand what we're doing. There are days where I think, “What are we doing? Why are we knocking on doors?" But then you see the [Opportunity Means Everybody] rally. We got over 200 people to show up. We were able to score another $50 million for SNAP and HUSKY. Okay... this does work.
The impact of organizing can be felt in the relationships created by uniting communities. There is value in making someone feel seen. These connections have the power to spark ideas that can lead to a change in policy.
Before joining The Connecticut Project, Christina believed that she had to experience hardships on her own. Now, she understands the power of asking for help, and the responsibility each of us has to help one another. This realization reshaped Christina’s future. Answering a knock at her door has pushed her closer towards her interest in serving her community through public leadership, “People like us deserve to be in those rooms,” she said.
Change should include people who understand what working class people experience every day. Join your local Community Action Team and be a part of the conversation! Using your voice can lead to making a lasting impact on someone’s life, including your own.