My name is Cinthia Carvajal, and I serve on the Board of The Women’s Building (TWB). I’d like to share a little about my personal journey and why I chose to join this powerful organization.
I am an immigrant woman from the Bolivian Andes, a descendant of Quechua and Aymara peoples. My journey to leadership at The Women’s Building (TWB) is deeply rooted in a legacy of courage and community, passed down from my mother—an internal migrant, a closeted feminist, and a survivor of domestic violence.
Though we experienced poverty and lived within systems designed to silence women, my mother was my first and most enduring example of strength, dignity, determination, and collective action. I grew up watching her gather with other women in our dusty backyard—knitting, sewing, learning to write and do basic math—while organizing to bring water or build a school in our neighborhood. With only a few years of formal education, she embodied solidarity, advocacy, and grassroots leadership. She taught me that leadership begins with care and community, and that our dignity never needs to come at the expense of someone else’s.
I often imagine how far she might have gone if racism, misogyny, and poverty hadn't tried to contain her brilliance.
When I migrated to the U.S. for love, I carried my mother’s lessons with me. As I learned English, I sold pupusas with a friend in parks and at fairs. Later, I trained as a medical assistant and worked at Planned Parenthood, where I saw firsthand the reproductive inequities that exist in this country. While working, I completed my undergraduate studies, engaged in student organizing, and eventually moved to San Francisco—mirroring my mother’s journey in ways I hadn’t expected.
It was here that I discovered The Women’s Building. Its murals told familiar stories—stories of courage, struggle, and strength. I accessed TWB’s services with deep gratitude and saw firsthand the transformative power of a community rooted in dignity and solidarity.
Through my work in social justice and feminist philanthropy—spanning national and global contexts with organizations like Thousand Currents, Global Fund for Women, and The Center for Cultural Power—I’ve come to understand the true power of participatory, trust-based, and solidarity-driven approaches to equity and social change.
TWB brought me full circle. It is a refuge where mutuality, self-determination, and connection aren’t just valued—they’re cultivated from the ground up. Today, I serve as both a volunteer and a Board member. It is an honor to lead alongside others who, like me, carry the struggles, the joy, and the dreams of our people. Together, we are not only rewriting our stories—we are building the future we dream of.
Now more than ever, our communities are being stigmatized, criminalized, and placed at grave risk. It is urgent that we join forces to actively resist all forms of violence and build a future rooted in dignity, justice, and care.Find out how you can collaborate with us at womensbuilding.org
Cinthia Carvajal, TWB Board Member and Volunteer
