The Tahirih Justice Center has served over 34,000 immigrant survivors fleeing gender-based violence since 1997. Across our five locations, our dedicated staff members provide holistic trauma-informed services to immigrant survivors and their families through legal representation and social services, policy advocacy, and community outreach and training. Tahirih staff exhibit a high level of cultural humility, speak multiple languages, and, above all, are committed to creating a world without violence.
Tahirih’s development team is a key component in carrying out our mission. They’re passionate about building meaningful relationships with advocates and supporters, while amplifying the impact of our work. The funds they raise enable us to serve thousands of survivors each year. Meet our Greater DC-Baltimore Development Manager, Ron Lapitan.
“Think of me as a fundraiser and friendraiser.”
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and what made you want to work at Tahirih?
As a Baháʼí, working at Tahirih is very spiritual thing. When I was first learning about the Baháʼí Faith, Layli (Tahirih’s founder) was my neighbor, and a powerful example of how principles for contributing to women’s justice and striving for world transformation are translated into reality. It was a dream of mine to work at Tahirih ever since.
What do you do at Tahirih?
My title is Development Manager for our Greater DC-Baltimore Office, but think of me as a fundraiser and friendraiser. I strive to inspire people to give financially to support our clients as they chase their justice, and also to find ways to become protagonists of our mission with their full persons beyond the money.
What about your work at Tahirih do you find most inspiriting?
People at Tahirih are always making me raise my imagination for how good people can be. From how deeply care for the individual is baked into our workplace policies, to how good our Policy team is at their job (did you know there are 34 states which have passed their first laws protecting children against forced marriage in the past 10 odd years, and Tahirih’s Policy team was a part of and sometimes a leader in every one?) to my boss making a point of telling me to take vacations.
What about your work at Tahirih do you find most challenging?
Asking supporters to give big and sacrificially without feeling selfish. I have to get out of my head and remember that it’s for our superhero clients; like our Forced Marriage clients who left their families so they could go to college and have their dreams, or our single moms who risked their lives leaving abuse so they could have joy and a future for themselves and their children. It’s for people we love and who really deserve it.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned during your time in this role at Tahirih?
It’s not selfish to want things when what you want would transform humanity; and it’s a blessing, not a burden, to have the chance to spend one’s wealth to contribute to transformation.
Outside of work, what is your favorite thing to spend your time on?
Baháʼí-inspired, neighborhood community building. In the Baháʼí community, I’m known as a “homefront pioneer,” one who moved to a place specifically to help build a fabric of community where people are united in making their local piece of the world better than it is. The neighborhood I live in has 400 doors, and there are 145 that we know by name; because we’ve knocked on almost every one of those doors at least once, many of them twice and thrice.
