Thank You, Crews.
Like many Minnesotans, and Americans, we have been vacillating between feelings of despondence, pride and an obligation to act. What can we say that hasn’t been said? What words can possibly be powerful enough to express our heartbreak, our disgust, our rage, our disappointment, our capacity for love? We are not famous. We are not poets. We are not iNfLuEnCeRs. But there is no way we can be silent.
So, I woke up this morning and realized what I needed to say:
Thank you.
Thank you to Elmer, Jose, Fredy, Johnny, Nixon, Manuel, Reyna, Carlos, Julio, Jose, and Esme. Thank you for your talents. Thank you for your time, your conversation, your stories and your laughs. Thank you for trusting us with your livelihoods.
Elmer, you are a true craftsman, a levelheaded leader, and adored by clients. Over the six years we’ve known you, you and your crew have produced tens of thousands of square feet of perfectly smoothed and expertly painted walls, ceilings, and home exteriors with utmost professionalism. Your acute ability to spray cabinets, doors, and trim has been matched by no one in our memory. You make it look easy, and that is the mark of a true artist.
Manuel, how lucky we are to know you. Thank you for always bringing a smile to our faces with your wit and humor. The way you handle the tricky details and last minute changes while keeping an upbeat attitude makes our job so much easier. Thank you and your crew for your dedication to your work, your precision, your care and respect for client’s homes, and for being great people to work with.
We are steadfast in our belief that immigrants make our cities, states and nation as a whole richer — economically, culturally, and biologically.
Currently we have several painters who are choosing to stay home and others who are showing up regardless. As we continue to wade through this state-wide crisis, our simple small business wants to send the reminder of the critical role Latinos play in property maintenance and construction. If you have ever hired for painting, drywall, roofing, siding, flooring, cleaning, or landscaping you have likely relied on Latino labor.
The List is just one little example out of thousands that show how reliant on and interconnected with each other we are. The benefits of diverse backgrounds, skills, education and perspectives in any business, but especially a small business, cannot be understated. Together, we are more than the sum of our parts. That is the Minnesota we love and the Minnesota we will fight for.
Your partner in paint, paper and protest,
Leah
Allie & Leah
Co-owners of The List
We help homeowners and businesses check off their home improvement list with painting and specialty finishes that elevate their ideas and turn ‘someday I’ll get that done’ into a beautiful space you’re proud to call your own. Get in touch!
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