Dear Friend,
Building a better world goes beyond the present moment. In our work for immigrant justice, AFSC not only responds to emergencies but strives to create lasting change in our communities.
Earlier this summer, I shared an update about Know Your Rights trainings we’re conducting in New Jersey. These trainings help immigrants and organizations prepare for encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
As students go back to school this season, this work has become even more urgent. Recently, we talked with Marisol Mondaca, a bilingual clinician at Red Bank High School in New Jersey. She told us how students have been impacted by ICE raids in recent months. Some have had parents detained or deported. One mother worried every day that her son would be picked up by ICE while biking to and from school.
AFSC has worked closely with the school to help students feel safer and more supported. We have provided Know Your Rights trainings to more than 130 school staff members. We also held a community meeting to help parents understand their rights and be prepared.
“I think that we as the providers felt empowered to do something for the community, that we could show to the community: We’re behind you,” Marisol says.
With support from kind people like you, AFSC ensures that fewer people face these challenges alone. By building these networks of knowledge and support, community members are better equipped to protect themselves and one another.
In the face of harmful policies and anti-immigrant rhetoric, showing up for those around us matters. Thank you for all the ways you join us in building welcoming communities where all people can thrive.
This month, AFSC is looking for 150 people to start new monthly gifts. Monthly giving allows us to respond quickly to emergencies while working for long-term change across the U.S. and around the world. If it is within your means, please join today!
Together, we can build communities where children and families can live without fear. Together, we can build the safety and welcome that we all deserve.
In peace,
