Giving Compass' Take:

• The author relays the mission of National Domestic Workers Alliance, an organization that fights for the rights of nannies, house cleaners, caretakers and other domestic workers. 

• The author describes domestic workers as the ones who "do all the work that makes all other work possible".  What can individuals do to reach out to these workers and strengthen connections, and show human dignity? 

• Read about the number of Latina women are domestic workers and how to expand their opportunities beyond those roles. 

How should civil society respond when the values that define who we are collectively in America—equality and inclusion, freedom of speech, a sanctuary to those in need, due process, and protecting the most vulnerable among us—appear to erode?

Through a decade of organizing at the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), I have found the answer lies in our shared dignity as human beings. The women I work with—domestic workers, who do the work that makes all other work possible—have taught me that humanity is at the core of civil society. While there are systems and rules, our values and connection to one another are at the heart of how, and whether, civil society works.

NDWA fights for the respect, dignity, and opportunity of domestic workers: the nannies who take care of our children, the house cleaners who manage our homes, and the care workers who support elderly and loved ones living with disabilities.

Decades of grassroots organizing by domestic workers and their supporters, including congregations, labor unions, employers, and others, have brought about legal and policy change.

In our years of organizing, we have seen domestic workers bring this same sense of humanity and care to their advocacy. That is why fighting for the respect and dignity of this workforce, in effect, is fighting for the respect and dignity of how we treat all members of society.

This has led NDWA to launch campaigns that engage with employers, find solutions that increase affordability for families, and simplify a complex relationship. They begin and end with the understanding that we are all interconnected, and human, with similar basic human needs.

Read the full article about National Domestic Workers Alliance by Ai-jen Poo  at Stanford Social Innovation Review