LETTER FROM OUR CEO: “Building Black History in Real Time”

February invites us to honor Black history not as something confined to the past, but as something unfolding in real time. Black history has always been shaped by the courage, labor, and leadership of Black women. Some are well known, many are not. Women like Mary Ellen Pleasant, whose financial power and quiet strategy helped fund freedom efforts. Their work expanded access, challenged unjust systems, and redefined what freedom could look like for generations.

That history reminds us that progress is never accidental. It is built through resistance, advocacy, and sustained action.

We remain attentive to national conversations, including the SAVE Act and other policies that may further restrict access and opportunity for women, particularly those who have been incarcerated. For communities already navigating barriers, and policies that narrow access, which continues to deepen inequity. Black history teaches us that progress is not guaranteed. It requires continued vigilance and action.

At Operation Restoration, that responsibility is lived out in tangible ways. This month, one of our rapid rehousing clients signed her lease agreement. A set of keys. A stable home. A fresh start. These are not small moments. Its evidence of what happens when women are met with dignity, support, and meaningful opportunity.

Black history is not only something we remember. It is something we carry forward. Together, we will continue advancing equity, protecting dignity and standing firm in the pursuit of justice.

In Solidarity,

Syrita Steib

Founder, President & CEO

Operation Restoration