Collective Action Event Follow-Up: Supporting our Immigrant Communities through Uncertainty
“We are not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”
President Jimmy Carter
Thank you for joining us last night for the first of our 2025 Collective Action events, "Supporting our Immigrants through Uncertainty." A special thank you to our wonderful guest speakers: Eva Castillo, Liz Alcauskas and Martin Toe. A link to the recording is found at the bottom of this email.
Ways you and your congregations can step up to support immigrants during this tumultuous time:
1. Offer your space for community conversations and respite for immigrants. Manchester UU has worked through a process to become a Sanctuary for refugees. While we understand the nuance of the Manchester community, not all congregations are able to provide sanctuary. You can, however, build local partnerships and offer your space and time to support these communities.
Please contact me if you would like to learn more about how your congregation can provide sanctuary for refugees and other immigrants and we will connect you with the training guide.
Manchester UU is hosting a relevant convening/training this Saturday. Please contact Liz Alcauskas if you would like to attend (lizalcauskas@gmail.com)
2. Use your unique voices to counter the narrative of "immigrants take from our country", by highlighting the ways immigrants make our country and state beautiful, diverse and enriching. Consider highlighting local immigrant businesses and organizations on your community boards.
3. Engage your local communities to call your legislators around bills HB60-T and HB571 - both very timely. Please see our Facebook page for more information about these bills.
4. Participate in trainings and organizing efforts offered by our partners at Granite State Organizing Project. These trainings include "Know Your Rights", Rapid Response, and Bystander practices. The Immigrant Solidarity Network, run by GSOP, convenes for ICE vigils each Tuesday in Manchester as well. GSOP also has volunteer opportunities on their website.
5. Contract immigrant-led businesses for your local events and convenings.
Recording of January 20th event:
