When an entire CISPES committee tracks you down and brings their meeting to you, it's hard not to get involved. I met CISPES at the local Occupy encampment in Portland in 2010, shortly after returning from a trip to El Salvador and Honduras, where I met with war-injured people and their families to get a sense of the consequences of US-backed militarism. My trip to El Salvador and Honduras was an extension of the organizing against US intervention that I have done for several years. Since then, I have worked as a research intern with the National Office and as the Portland volunteer coordinator. Now, I have become the Seattle CISPES chapter coordinator, and I'm excited to continue agitating and building power with such a vibrant grassroots organization. For me, CISPES provides a prime example of how our communities can connect with - and taking leadership from - communities in El Salvador most affected by US intervention. As this intervention continues aggressively, being part of a group with both a strong political analysis and a plan to combat it is empowering.