Progress in Dark Times
September 4, 2025
By Samantha Searls, Program Director
A Moment of Reflection
In the midst of fear, uncertainty, and exhaustion it’s important to intentionally slow down and reflect. Everyone within the immigration justice movement has been working nonstop for months to organize mutual aid, educational events, legal clinics, and case advocacy. We’ve done A LOT. Take a few moments to read about some of the amazing work happening in our community and please consider joining our efforts!
New Energy
In the 2024-2025 fiscal year, attendance at the monthly Immigrant Dignity Coalition meetings grew to an average of 70 people per meeting, up from an average of 27 per meeting last fiscal year! People are learning about the amazing connections they can make through the coalition and are finding ways to plug in. Not including the huge 200 person community meeting in November, we’ve averaged 17 new people per coalition meeting!
This year we also added 19 new organizations as members of the Immigrant Dignity Coalition, for a total of 60 organizational members!
Attend our next Immigrant Dignity Coalition meeting on September 24!
These new people are stepping up, offering their skills and resources to the Rapid Response Teams. Over 180 people have filled out our volunteer survey, offering language skills, transportation, donations of goods and services, administrative help, legal help, and so much more.
Fill out the survey and join our database of volunteers!
Preparation and Mutual Aid
Our seven rapid response teams have been meeting regularly to plan for workplace raids and mass enforcement. They’ve also been called upon to help with individual families, as more and more innocent people are detained and deported. Here’s just a snapshot of what our network has achieved so far:
- The Policy and Advocacy Team has been training volunteers to canvas businesses to inform them of their rights, and to encourage them to protect their patrons and workers. In just three weeks they’ve reached over 100 businesses! They’ve also been tracking state legislation and offering ways to push back against harmful proposed policies.
- The Legal Services Team has created a “Prepare Your Family for Immigration Enforcement” packet and has circulated hundreds of copies. They organized “Train-the-Trainer” webinars on Know Your Rights and Power of Attorney to equip everyday folks with the tools to reach more people.
- The Grassroots Organizing Team has held several Know Your Rights and Power of Attorney clinics to empower and build relationships in the immigrant community.
- The Humanitarian Services Team has organized a transportation network and a gift card donation drive for families affected by detention and deportation. They’ve already given away hundreds of dollars of gift cards to families in need! They’ve also put together a helpful handout on “Offering a Helpful Presence During Traumatic Situations” and established a protocol on child safety.
- The Communications & Media Team has a narrative document with talking points and has been gathering a list of spokespeople and trusted messengers who can speak to the media.
- The Safety and Security Team has been providing a reassuring presence at community events and rallies where vulnerable people are present.
- The Volunteer Coordination Team has been building a robust database of volunteers and has designed an onboarding training.
A lot of this wouldn’t have been possible without our partnership with Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church. Not only do they host our monthly meetings, but earlier this year they gave us a space in their building to serve as a Satellite Office for Ignite Peace! The space has been well used; hosting team meetings, trainings, and providing much needed storage.
Thank you to each and every individual person who has helped in some way. Thank you to our member organizations who lend their staff to lead committees and work on projects. Thank you to our faith partners for showing up when it matters most. Our work is far from over, but I hope you enjoyed this moment of reflection.