Seeing the injustices faced by New Americans can leave you feeling helpless, especially if you’re far from the southern border. But the fight for immigrant rights isn’t just happening in detention centers and courtrooms; it’s happening in every town and city across the country.
Financial support for organizations like ELOIM Inc. is absolutely critical. But if you’re looking for hands-on ways to make a difference, here are five powerful actions you can take right where you live.
- Volunteer with a Local Resettlement Agency: Search for refugee or immigrant resettlement agencies in your area (like Catholic Charities, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service affiliates, etc.). They often need volunteers to help with everything from airport pickups and apartment setups to tutoring English and providing transportation to appointments.
- Assemble Welcome Kits: Get your friends, family, or faith group together to assemble “welcome kits” for newly arrived families. These can include basic household items like cleaning supplies, toiletries, bedding, and kitchen essentials that help turn an empty apartment into a home. Contact a local agency to see what they need most.
- Use Your Professional Skills (Pro Bono): Are you a lawyer, doctor, dentist, therapist, or teacher? Your professional skills are invaluable. Offer pro bono legal consultations, medical check-ups, mental health support, or language tutoring. Contact local mutual aid groups or resettlement agencies to offer your services.
- Become a Community Sponsor or Host: This is one of the most impactful things you can do. As we do through our “Host an Immigrant” program, many communities have sponsorship circles that collectively support a newly arrived individual or family. This can involve finding housing, enrolling children in school, and simply being a network of friends.
- Advocate Locally: Change starts in your own backyard. Call your local elected officials (city council, mayor, school board) and ask what they are doing to make your community more welcoming to immigrants. Do your local libraries have resources in multiple languages? Do your schools have support for newcomer students? Your voice can shape local policy.
You don’t have to change the entire world to make a world of difference to one person. Start local. Start today.
Take the next step:
- Contact Us: Let us know what you’re doing in your community! We love to hear from our network of advocates.
- Share this List: Inspire others in your network to take local action.
