There is power in every one of us: the power to imagine a better future for ourselves, our families and our communities. The power to believe that change is possible and then work together to make it real.

For Emilia Gonzalez Avalos, executive director of Unidos MN, the “power of possible” begins with investing in people.

“The Power of Possible to me means investing in the potential of people, the potential of policy and the potential of community,” Emilia said.

As a mother, artist, activist and immigrant, Emilia brings her lived experiences to her work leading an organization dedicated to community organizing, immigrant rights, leadership development, and economic and social justice across Minnesota.

“Unidos is a power organization,” she said. “We organize regular people and build the collective power of working families to advance social, racial and economic justice.”

Unidos MN works with one of the largest constituencies of Latino mixed-status families across southern and central Minnesota and the seven-county Twin Cities metro area. Through grassroots organizing and advocacy, the organization has helped advance policies that expand opportunities and protections for immigrant communities, including increased access to health care, paid family and medical leave, and stronger labor protections for undocumented Minnesotans.

Those victories did not happen by chance. They happened because people came together around a shared vision and took action.

“We were proud to partner with Representative Michael Howard on legislation that will help many people who are still struggling because of the economic effects of Operation Metro Surge,” Emilia said. “That work is part of what we call Unidos’ Freedom, Democracy and Shared Prosperity Agenda for 2027-2028.”

For Emilia, the power of possible became especially visible during the height of the surge, when she witnessed neighbors, families and business owners rally around one another at El Mercado Central in Minneapolis, where Unidos MN’s offices are located.

In challenging moments, she saw what happens when people refuse to accept that hardship is inevitable and instead choose to organize, support one another and advocate for change.

“Organizing lives in that space of possibility,” Emilia said. “It is about the potential of people, the potential of our power coming together and the potential for our systems to truly meet people’s needs.”

Her belief is simple: ordinary people can achieve extraordinary change when they share a vision for a better future and have the courage to act.

When communities come together, possibilities become policies and hope becomes action.

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