Immigrant Justice Initiative
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How to reach us with questions or to volunteer: You can email us at [email protected]
How to reach us with questions or to volunteer: You can email us at [email protected]
Our first I Walk With Immigrants walking challenge last fall was such a success, we decided to do it again. But this year we're opening it up to the entire church. If you signed up, thank you! If you bought a T-shirt, double thanks! But even if you missed the signup, we know our church members are out there hiking and strolling their neighborhoods, and we'd like to count it all to see if collectively, we can walk as far as one of our asylum-seeking families walked to reach our border. Here's the online form to log your miles (or type www.tinyurl.com/IWWIMiles), and check our table on Sunday mornings to see the progress.
The Oscar is back!
Tandem restaurant in Carrboro is once again offering the "Oscar" cocktail (named for our beloved asylum-seeker Oscar Castillo, who works at Tandem) as their "Give Back Cocktail" for the month of September. For every Oscar ordered, Tandem will donate $5 to our church's immigrant support efforts. Church members had a lot of fun last year, posting photos of themselves at Tandem enjoying a drink to support our work. It's also available as a non-alcoholic "mocktail," so everyone can join the fun!
Tandem restaurant in Carrboro is once again offering the "Oscar" cocktail (named for our beloved asylum-seeker Oscar Castillo, who works at Tandem) as their "Give Back Cocktail" for the month of September. For every Oscar ordered, Tandem will donate $5 to our church's immigrant support efforts. Church members had a lot of fun last year, posting photos of themselves at Tandem enjoying a drink to support our work. It's also available as a non-alcoholic "mocktail," so everyone can join the fun!
June 2024 News
In the past 5 years we have provided long-term support and shelter, or short term emergency housing, for 28 asylum seekers or refugees.
Maria and her sons, Emmanuel (5) and Eduardo (3) joined Tania's family in the Manse last January. Maria is Gaby's cousin. She just got her work permit and will probably start work cleaning at the preschool in Carrboro her boys attend.
She and the boys need occasional rides to doctors and dentists, she needs a weekly ride to her therapist. (Like most of our guests, Maria has survived significant trauma and abuse) We have an ongoing need for drivers to get the boys to preschool in the morning and back again in the late afternoon, especially with our volunteers drivers also having summer travels and medical concerns of their own.
It's an easy task--taking about 20-30 minutes each morning and afternoon to make the round trip to the school and back. Maria and the boys are very quick about putting in the car seats and taking them out, and always so appreciative of the drivers. Maria would also like to learn English; unfortunately all of the free ESL classes in the area got booked up before she could apply.
Each of our guest households has a liaison fluent in Spanish who meets with them frequently--generally once a week--to see how they are doing, and to help arrange medical and legal appointments. Even after our guests are "independent" we stay in touch with them and provide some support as they go through their asylum procedures, and for emergencies.
In addition to working directly with our guests, we have volunteers who go to the various places that donate food to families in need, to pick up and deliver the donations. We also put out calls for time to time for donations of needed items. At the moment we need a working blender! And soon will need some school clothes Emmanuel's size in the colors required at Frank Porter Graham. Tops can be white, navy or burgundy. Bottoms can be khaki or navy. Shorts, skirts, pants are all acceptable.
If any of our church members have swimming pools, memberships at children' museums, or are willing to take our families on outings, library trips, or out for ice cream, we can help with those arrangements.
Indirect volunteer opportunities include serving on one of the Steering Committee's task groups: logistics, fundraising, and communications. One of us tunes in to a monthly Zoom with a Unitarian Universalist Association staff member specializing in supporting congregations doing this work, and other congregations' representatives, to share encouragement ,resources and information. Occasional help is welcomed contacting lawyers, doctors, schools, and filling out official Federal forms. Now and then we have special events to raise funds and awareness and always welcome help with that.
This is a lot to digest all at once! It may seem like a lot of work, and indeed it is an enormous commitment! but there are many many large and little separate tasks, and each one of them is a strand of a network that is saving and empowering people's lives. So do let me know if any of these call out to you, or if you'd like to know a bit more
In June Maria received her work permit, and is already employed! Manuel is starting Pre-K at school, while Eduardo continues in preschool.
Gaby and Oscar closed on their new home in Greensboro this month!
There is an ongoing need for drivers, if you can be a regular or back up driver, please sign up here.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B054AADAB2FA1F94-rides/5892270#/
- Our first asylum-seeking guest finally had her case heard and was granted asylum about a year and a half ago. She was out on her own with continued support from us in less than a year.
- The family of 4 who followed got jobs, moved into their own apartment, applied and succeeded in being reunited with a child they'd had to leave behind when they fled for their lives and are now buying a house and expecting another baby.
- Blanca arrived with a two year old, having to leave behind 3 older children with a grandmother. She moved to South Carolina to be near family, who helped her find work. When the grandmother died, the three older children--9, 20 and 22 years old, walked from Honduras to Texas, where they were separated in different detention centers. The oldest was turned back immediately, the youngest allowed to join her mother. The 20 year old was eligible to be reunited under the terms of Blanca's temporary protective status, but ICE was already in the process of deporting him before we could find a lawyer to argue his case. Luckily, at the last minute ICE was persuaded that he had the legal right to be with his mother and while we were still figuring out how to get him from Texas to here, ICE put him on a plane to join his mom and siblings, just before Christmas! Blanca and her son are both working and no longer need out support.
Maria and her sons, Emmanuel (5) and Eduardo (3) joined Tania's family in the Manse last January. Maria is Gaby's cousin. She just got her work permit and will probably start work cleaning at the preschool in Carrboro her boys attend.
She and the boys need occasional rides to doctors and dentists, she needs a weekly ride to her therapist. (Like most of our guests, Maria has survived significant trauma and abuse) We have an ongoing need for drivers to get the boys to preschool in the morning and back again in the late afternoon, especially with our volunteers drivers also having summer travels and medical concerns of their own.
It's an easy task--taking about 20-30 minutes each morning and afternoon to make the round trip to the school and back. Maria and the boys are very quick about putting in the car seats and taking them out, and always so appreciative of the drivers. Maria would also like to learn English; unfortunately all of the free ESL classes in the area got booked up before she could apply.
Each of our guest households has a liaison fluent in Spanish who meets with them frequently--generally once a week--to see how they are doing, and to help arrange medical and legal appointments. Even after our guests are "independent" we stay in touch with them and provide some support as they go through their asylum procedures, and for emergencies.
In addition to working directly with our guests, we have volunteers who go to the various places that donate food to families in need, to pick up and deliver the donations. We also put out calls for time to time for donations of needed items. At the moment we need a working blender! And soon will need some school clothes Emmanuel's size in the colors required at Frank Porter Graham. Tops can be white, navy or burgundy. Bottoms can be khaki or navy. Shorts, skirts, pants are all acceptable.
If any of our church members have swimming pools, memberships at children' museums, or are willing to take our families on outings, library trips, or out for ice cream, we can help with those arrangements.
Indirect volunteer opportunities include serving on one of the Steering Committee's task groups: logistics, fundraising, and communications. One of us tunes in to a monthly Zoom with a Unitarian Universalist Association staff member specializing in supporting congregations doing this work, and other congregations' representatives, to share encouragement ,resources and information. Occasional help is welcomed contacting lawyers, doctors, schools, and filling out official Federal forms. Now and then we have special events to raise funds and awareness and always welcome help with that.
This is a lot to digest all at once! It may seem like a lot of work, and indeed it is an enormous commitment! but there are many many large and little separate tasks, and each one of them is a strand of a network that is saving and empowering people's lives. So do let me know if any of these call out to you, or if you'd like to know a bit more
In June Maria received her work permit, and is already employed! Manuel is starting Pre-K at school, while Eduardo continues in preschool.
Gaby and Oscar closed on their new home in Greensboro this month!
There is an ongoing need for drivers, if you can be a regular or back up driver, please sign up here.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B054AADAB2FA1F94-rides/5892270#/
February 2024 Oscar and Gaby Castillo-Vallecillo, who had to leave their middle child Andre at home with family when they left Honduras, have now welcomed him to the U.S. Congratulations! We are thrilled that they can all be together again!
January 2024
Many thanks to the generous donors at the Christmas Eve collection, approximately 3,000 was collected for the Immigrant Justice Initiative! More good news, one family was able to welcome home another child, Juan Carlos joined Blanca, David and Tatiana. (Family on left). The Manse will soon be occupied by a second family, Maria, Eduardo, and Emanuel (ages 2 and 5) will live here with Tania, Roselyn and Valeria. Maria is also from Honduras, and is a relative of Gaby. Currently the IJI team is working on the 2024 budget, Watch for the 2024 IJI Day of Service activity. In 2023 the activity at Frank Porter Graham was popular, attracted 30 participants and was open to young children. Plans are in place to again take a team to Frank Porter Graham Elementary School, where the children of our Manse guests have benefited from a solid bilingual program for Spanish speakers.. FPG students served as enthusiastic guides as the team split up to pick up litter around the grounds, weed the school vegetable garden and plant two flowerbeds. November/December 2023 Our Refugee Families Reunited for the Holidays and Beyond! The government has accepted Gaby and Oscar’s application to have Andre, the son they were forced to leave behind in Honduras, reunited with them. By the time you read this, Andre may be here...after four years of anguished prayers. Blanca left three older children with their grandmother when she fled Honduras with David, then three years old. When their grandmother died, the three older children walked alone from Honduras to the US. Border authorities turned away the oldest son because they judged him an adult. Blanca’s third child, ten-year-old Tatiana, has reunited with Blanca and her younger brother David and is residing in Charleston, SC, where Blanca now works. Blanca’s asylum trial is scheduled for 2024.. Blanca’s second child, Juan Carlos, age 20, was assigned to an overcrowded detention center and scheduled for fast-track deportation. We were able to hire a lawyer to help him with his credible fear interview and have reason to hope that he and his family will reunite. However, any support for his legal fees will be greatly appreciated, as they are an unexpected cost for our budget this year. On that note, our Share the Plate will be on December 24th. Please consider supporting Juan Carlos and our other refugee families. I Walk With Immigrants final total: 2698 miles We wrapped up the I Walk With Immigrants challenge with a total of 2698 miles collectively walked. That's 300 more than our second threshold of 2400, the distance our asylum-seeker Yeimy went from El Salvador to the California border. (The first threshold we had set for ourselves was 1600 miles, the distance from Honduras to the Texas border.) Thank you so much for your part in the challenge. We enjoyed watching the miles mount up, and all the engagement from our walkers was heartening. We had three or four families taking part, and some individuals who were training for long hikes or who walked a consistent four or five miles a day. About 45 people or groups were logging miles, adding up to 50 or 60 people. Some folks included notes about where they walked or thanked us for our work. Our main purpose was to raise awareness of the work our church is doing, housing and supporting asylum-seeking immigrants as they build lives in their new home. We talked to a lot of folks while tabling who didn't know about that work, and we added names to our newsletter mailing list and our volunteer list. And of course, we ended with a pupusa party on Sunday the 22nd and prizes for "most miles walked" went to: Individual: Nancy Mayer, 190 miles Family: Jonathan and Victoria Ledford, 233 miles Team: Two Wimmin Walking, Liz Ryan and Nan Jekubovitch, 167 miles. We're thankful for the warm response, and for the new connections we made through this challenge. Thank you for walking with us on the challenge and continuing to do as the community keeps walking with asylum-seekers. September 2023 I Walk With Immigrants walking challenge The Immigrant Justice Initiative invites you to join us in a walking challenge to share the experience of our asylum-seekers, some of whom walked as far as 1600 or 2400 miles from their home countries to our borders. Take a moment to really try and Imagine the conditions that would make a walk like that seem worth the risk. More than one of the families we have worked with traveled those distances with small children, and more than one family also had to make the difficult decision to leave children behind who could not make the journey. Once they arrive at our borders, we can accompany them as they navigate the immigration system and build lives here, but with this walk we want to acknowledge that initial journey. You may already walk every day, or maybe you've been meaning to start. You can track your miles using this online form as an individual, as a family, or as a team -- like a covenant group, chalice circle or church club. We'll sell buttons you can wear to show you are walking with immigrants. Every week during the challenge we'll have a table at coffee hour with a display showing how far we've collectively walked, and if there’s interest we’re thinking about some group walks after church. Let's see if together, in one month, we can walk as far as one of our asylum-seekers walked to reach us. You can sign up for the challenge using this online form, or in person at coffee hour. We start tracking miles on Sunday, Sept. 24, and on Sunday, Oct, 22 we'll have a pupusa lunch after coffee hour to celebrate ($8 for two pupusas,, $2 for a drink, $2 for cookies) . Thank you for walking with us, during this challenge and throughout our years walking with immigrants. August 2023
Many thanks to everyone who took the time to enjoy an "Oscar" cocktail at Tandem during July and August to benefit our work! We raised $380 to support our IJI work, and these photos show we had some fun in the process. |
July 2023
The Immigrant Justice Initiative has a fundraiser for the next two months that's a little more fun than usual: a special cocktail at a great local restaurant! Tandem at Carr Mill Mall offers a “Give Back Cocktail” fundraising partnership, and for July and August their “Give Back Cocktail” is named the Oscar in honor of our own Oscar Castillo, who has worked at Tandem since he and his wife Gaby and their kids were our guests at the Manse. Click here to see their Facebook post with details about the cocktail and about our work welcoming immigrants.
The Immigrant Justice Initiative has a fundraiser for the next two months that's a little more fun than usual: a special cocktail at a great local restaurant! Tandem at Carr Mill Mall offers a “Give Back Cocktail” fundraising partnership, and for July and August their “Give Back Cocktail” is named the Oscar in honor of our own Oscar Castillo, who has worked at Tandem since he and his wife Gaby and their kids were our guests at the Manse. Click here to see their Facebook post with details about the cocktail and about our work welcoming immigrants.
May 2023
Yeimy has her I-94, a very important document that proves asylum was granted, and she can use it until she gets her Green Card. Her petition to change her name was also granted, which makes her eligible to get a NC Real ID, her social security card and her Green Card in her new name. So many people contributed time and energy to helping Yeimy reach these milestones. Thank you to our village!
Yeimy has her I-94, a very important document that proves asylum was granted, and she can use it until she gets her Green Card. Her petition to change her name was also granted, which makes her eligible to get a NC Real ID, her social security card and her Green Card in her new name. So many people contributed time and energy to helping Yeimy reach these milestones. Thank you to our village!
April 2023
We received a beautiful thank-you note from El Refugio for the congregation's generous giving to our Share The Plate for them in February. We are so proud to be doing this work hand-in-hand with a caring congregation. Here's the note:
We received a beautiful thank-you note from El Refugio for the congregation's generous giving to our Share The Plate for them in February. We are so proud to be doing this work hand-in-hand with a caring congregation. Here's the note:
March 2023
For the Community Church Day of Service on March 4, IJI took a team to Frank Porter Graham Elementary School, where the children of our Manse guests have benefited from a solid bilingual program for Spanish speakers. In fact, we had several current and former FPG students as enthusiastic guides as the team split up to pick up litter around the grounds, weed the school vegetable garden and plant two flowerbeds. Our current Manse guests, Tania and her daughters, joined in. It was a beautiful day for outdoor work, and our team had a great time.
For the Community Church Day of Service on March 4, IJI took a team to Frank Porter Graham Elementary School, where the children of our Manse guests have benefited from a solid bilingual program for Spanish speakers. In fact, we had several current and former FPG students as enthusiastic guides as the team split up to pick up litter around the grounds, weed the school vegetable garden and plant two flowerbeds. Our current Manse guests, Tania and her daughters, joined in. It was a beautiful day for outdoor work, and our team had a great time.
February 2023
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December 2022
On Dec. 16, 2022, Yeimy had her day in court to ask for asylum. Yeimy is a young transgender woman who came to us three and a half years ago from El Salvador. She had been in one of the terrible border detention centers for several months, and needed a sponsor and a bond of $5000 in order to be released.
We were worried about her ability to testify effectively on her own behalf. Individuals seeking asylum are required to show a credible fear of having to return to their home country, with specific and well documented information. Yeimy, like many survivors, has difficulty remembering specific chronological details, or talking about traumatic memories. In practice sessions, when asked the kinds of things that she would be required to answer in court, she would just smile and say she could not remember. Fortunately, one of our volunteers, Margot Sherman Jollis, won Yeimy’s confidence and helped her get her account in writing. A good friend of Yeimy’s, Florence Simon, who is also from El Salvador, was a great help in connecting us with people who could provide expert testimony on the life-threatening conditions for transgender women in El Salvador. Yeimy’s medical provider and therapist, as well as Jeanne Lemkau and Joy Mermin from the church, provided declarations which were essential to her victory.
Rev. Thom and Mary Hulett went with her to Charlotte for her hearing. The immigration court there is notoriously difficult--94% of the asylum cases heard are denied. Although the judge was very stern, she believed Yeimy’s account and the testimony about the situation in El Salvador. She said that she couldn't send Yeimy back into such conditions.
Yeimy has been granted asylum! She can work freely now without having to renew her work permit, she does not have to fear deportation to a place where her life would be in constant danger, and in a year she can apply for a green card.
There is frosting on this miracle cake -- there is a government program which makes services available to some asylum seekers similar to those provided to refugees: a social worker, some financial assistance for housing, job training, and help finding a job. We don’t yet know if Yeimy is eligible, but she has been referred for consideration.
We are all overwhelmed with gratitude and joy, and want to share this good news with you, owing you thanks as well for all the support you provided Yeimy and so many others on this journey. It wasn’t always easy!
The Talmud teaches: Whoever saves a single life is considered to have saved the whole world. Friends, you have saved Yeimy’s life, and we hope this bright victory will strengthen you, as it does us, for the work of saving other lives.
-- Text by Ruth Gibson
-- Photo by Salem Macknee
On Dec. 16, 2022, Yeimy had her day in court to ask for asylum. Yeimy is a young transgender woman who came to us three and a half years ago from El Salvador. She had been in one of the terrible border detention centers for several months, and needed a sponsor and a bond of $5000 in order to be released.
We were worried about her ability to testify effectively on her own behalf. Individuals seeking asylum are required to show a credible fear of having to return to their home country, with specific and well documented information. Yeimy, like many survivors, has difficulty remembering specific chronological details, or talking about traumatic memories. In practice sessions, when asked the kinds of things that she would be required to answer in court, she would just smile and say she could not remember. Fortunately, one of our volunteers, Margot Sherman Jollis, won Yeimy’s confidence and helped her get her account in writing. A good friend of Yeimy’s, Florence Simon, who is also from El Salvador, was a great help in connecting us with people who could provide expert testimony on the life-threatening conditions for transgender women in El Salvador. Yeimy’s medical provider and therapist, as well as Jeanne Lemkau and Joy Mermin from the church, provided declarations which were essential to her victory.
Rev. Thom and Mary Hulett went with her to Charlotte for her hearing. The immigration court there is notoriously difficult--94% of the asylum cases heard are denied. Although the judge was very stern, she believed Yeimy’s account and the testimony about the situation in El Salvador. She said that she couldn't send Yeimy back into such conditions.
Yeimy has been granted asylum! She can work freely now without having to renew her work permit, she does not have to fear deportation to a place where her life would be in constant danger, and in a year she can apply for a green card.
There is frosting on this miracle cake -- there is a government program which makes services available to some asylum seekers similar to those provided to refugees: a social worker, some financial assistance for housing, job training, and help finding a job. We don’t yet know if Yeimy is eligible, but she has been referred for consideration.
We are all overwhelmed with gratitude and joy, and want to share this good news with you, owing you thanks as well for all the support you provided Yeimy and so many others on this journey. It wasn’t always easy!
The Talmud teaches: Whoever saves a single life is considered to have saved the whole world. Friends, you have saved Yeimy’s life, and we hope this bright victory will strengthen you, as it does us, for the work of saving other lives.
-- Text by Ruth Gibson
-- Photo by Salem Macknee
September 2022
On Sept. 23, Emma's Revolution performed a benefit concert, "You Are Welcome Here,” for the Immigrant Justice Initiative.
Thanks to all the volunteers from IJI and Side With Love, we raised not only money, but also awareness of our work with immigrants . We had information tables and a reception prior to the concert which some of our Manse guests were able to attend.
Emma's Revolution is an American folk music and social activist duo, consisting of songwriters Pat Humphries and Sandy Opatow. Named after activist Emma Goldman, the group has performed at protests for peace, women's rights, labor rights, environmental protection, and other progressive causes. Their songs have been covered by various choral groups, including church choirs and labor choruses. We were thrilled that they came for this performance and drew in some concertgoers from the community. It was a rousing performance. Many thanks!
August 2022
Tania and her daughters arrived in the Manse in April. All three have received bikes and helmets, completed their COVID shots, received physical exams, been linked to pro bono dental care, been referred for trauma-related mental health care, and gone thrift shopping to pick out their own wardrobes. The girls, with no prior formal schooling, have started classes at Frank Porter Graham and attended summer school. Blanca and David recently moved in with friends.
Save the date (Friday, September 23) for an exciting concert from Emma's Revolution benefitting the Immigrant Justice Initiative! More details to come.
April 2022
Three years ago we welcomed our first refugee to the Manse. Since then we have sheltered and assisted 20 refugees or asylum seekers, and are looking forward to welcoming three more. Blanca and her 4 year-old son David have been with us since January, and will soon be joined by Tania and her daughters , ages 7 and 10. Both families are asylum-seekers from Honduras. As asylum-seekers, they do not receive any support or aid from the government.
We and our guests count on the generous help of volunteers and donors. Currently we are in need of:
January 2022
Blanca and her son David, who shared the Manse with Gaby and Oscar's family for a few months in 2021, have recently moved back into the Manse. Living there will allow Blanca to work on her legal case, apply for a work permit, and continue to learn to read and write. We’re excited to welcome them back!
Gaby, Oscar, and their family had an amazingly busy year in 2021, from Gaby and Oscar finding jobs and Sofia and Alberto returning to school in the spring to the family moving into an apartment of their own at the beginning of November!They are deeply grateful for everyone who has supported them in this journey.
For two months after Gaby and Oscar's family moved out, the Manse housed a family of nine Afghan refugees. Members of the church and the larger community came together to make sure they had warm clothes for the winter, laptops for educational purposes, lap quilts from the QUUILTERs, and medical treatment when needed. In spite of a particularly challenging language barrier, two dedicated volunteers worked hard to provide regular lessons in English as a second language. Currently the family is living in a temporary housing situation, but the refugee support agency working with them expects to have an apartment ready for them to move into very soon.
Rosa lived in the Manse from late 2020 to early 2021 after having gotten to know many members of Community Church during her time in sanctuary at Church of Reconciliation before winning her immigration case. In her time at the Manse, she received her work permit and began working full-time, allowing her to move to her own apartment! She is currently working on a case for visitation with her children, a difficulty due to the past uncertainty of her immigrant status, but her lawyer is confident in her case.
Yeimy, who moved out of the Manse in 2020, has remained in contact with us as she lives more independently and continues to form new connections in the Triangle.
Tania and her daughters arrived in the Manse in April. All three have received bikes and helmets, completed their COVID shots, received physical exams, been linked to pro bono dental care, been referred for trauma-related mental health care, and gone thrift shopping to pick out their own wardrobes. The girls, with no prior formal schooling, have started classes at Frank Porter Graham and attended summer school. Blanca and David recently moved in with friends.
Save the date (Friday, September 23) for an exciting concert from Emma's Revolution benefitting the Immigrant Justice Initiative! More details to come.
April 2022
Three years ago we welcomed our first refugee to the Manse. Since then we have sheltered and assisted 20 refugees or asylum seekers, and are looking forward to welcoming three more. Blanca and her 4 year-old son David have been with us since January, and will soon be joined by Tania and her daughters , ages 7 and 10. Both families are asylum-seekers from Honduras. As asylum-seekers, they do not receive any support or aid from the government.
We and our guests count on the generous help of volunteers and donors. Currently we are in need of:
- Spanish-speaking volunteers to help translate conversations
- Drivers to take our guests shopping, to appointments and sometimes, to their jobs.
- Volunteers to bring our guests on outings such as to a pool, a park, etc.
- Our guests generally arrive in need of medical and dental care, which is expensive. Several dentists in the area have offered pro-bono care in the past; if you are willing to ask your dentist if they can provide care for one or more of our guests, please contact us at [email protected].
- Age-appropriate toys such as dolls or stuffed animals
- Ipad
- Financial donations help with everyday living expenses, as well as legal, medical, and dental costs. You can make a donation online here.
January 2022
Blanca and her son David, who shared the Manse with Gaby and Oscar's family for a few months in 2021, have recently moved back into the Manse. Living there will allow Blanca to work on her legal case, apply for a work permit, and continue to learn to read and write. We’re excited to welcome them back!
Gaby, Oscar, and their family had an amazingly busy year in 2021, from Gaby and Oscar finding jobs and Sofia and Alberto returning to school in the spring to the family moving into an apartment of their own at the beginning of November!They are deeply grateful for everyone who has supported them in this journey.
For two months after Gaby and Oscar's family moved out, the Manse housed a family of nine Afghan refugees. Members of the church and the larger community came together to make sure they had warm clothes for the winter, laptops for educational purposes, lap quilts from the QUUILTERs, and medical treatment when needed. In spite of a particularly challenging language barrier, two dedicated volunteers worked hard to provide regular lessons in English as a second language. Currently the family is living in a temporary housing situation, but the refugee support agency working with them expects to have an apartment ready for them to move into very soon.
Rosa lived in the Manse from late 2020 to early 2021 after having gotten to know many members of Community Church during her time in sanctuary at Church of Reconciliation before winning her immigration case. In her time at the Manse, she received her work permit and began working full-time, allowing her to move to her own apartment! She is currently working on a case for visitation with her children, a difficulty due to the past uncertainty of her immigrant status, but her lawyer is confident in her case.
Yeimy, who moved out of the Manse in 2020, has remained in contact with us as she lives more independently and continues to form new connections in the Triangle.
Previous Newsletters
August 2022 Newsletter
January 2022 Newsletter
July 2021 Newsletter
March 2021 Newsletter
December 2020 Newsletter
August 2020 Newsletter
July 2020 Newsletter
June 2020 Newsletter
January 2022 Newsletter
July 2021 Newsletter
March 2021 Newsletter
December 2020 Newsletter
August 2020 Newsletter
July 2020 Newsletter
June 2020 Newsletter
Our commitment
On February 18, 2018, Community Church of Chapel Hill voted to become a sanctuary congregation by passing the following motion:
"Be it resolved that we, the members of The Community Church of Chapel Hill, Unitarian Universalist, publicly declare our intent to be a Sanctuary Church. Before officially hosting someone in our space, we will seek to build a relationship with the sanctuary guest so that each party feels comfortable that this would be a fruitful and safe undertaking, respecting the needs and boundaries of both the individual and the congregation. Further, we dedicate ourselves to educate and activate our congregation and community, to amplify and respond to the voices of immigrant leaders, and to speak out against discrimination towards marginalized people. The Sanctuary and Immigrant Support Ministry, with and through the Minister, will provide periodic reports to the Board of Trustees regarding actions taken pursuant to this resolution."
We have since expanded our commitment to include supporting the legal, medical and personal needs of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants in relationship with the Community Church.
Our Work
In accordance with our commitment, the Immigrant Justice Initiative has taken numerous actions, including the following:
An overview of the IJI's work can also be found in the downloadable IJI brochure here.
- The church's former parsonage, known as the Manse, has been renovated and outfitted by volunteers to create a welcoming space for immigrants in need of housing and support.
- Some 74 individuals participated in a two-hour training session geared towards understanding the history of the sanctuary movement and the needs of those agreeing to take up sanctuary.
- Congregation members regularly volunteered to support Rosa, a Honduran immigrant, while she was in sanctuary at the Church of Reconciliation. We later
provided housing for her at the Manse as she transitioned to independent living. - We hosted a dinner and awareness night in support of Syrian refugees.
- Short-term housing was provided for a number of immigrants at different points in time, including Dayana, a refugee from Cuba; Bibi, a Rohingya woman, and her son; and a family of 9 Afghan refugees.
- Two separate trips were made to the Stewart Detention Center in rural Georgia, where we could witness the inhumane conditions and talk directly to a few of those incarcerated there.
- We sponsored Yeimy, an asylum seeker from El Salvador, allowing her to be released to us after six months in detention. We paid for a portion of her bond release and provided airfare from the detention center to North Carolina. Once she arrived, we provided housing, logistic support, language services, and arrangements for medical/mental health . After living in the Manse for more than a year, Yeimy transitioned to independent living in Raleigh.
- Support (including transportation) was provided to a family of asylum seekers residing in Chatham County: Gaby, Oscar, and their two children. This family eventually came to live at the Manse and has since transitioned to independent living in an apartment in Chapel Hill. Both adults have full time jobs and the children are excelling at school.
- We contacted local congregations and organizations to find out about opportunities for partnership and collaboration and established a shared covenant with our neighboring UU congregations (Eno River UU Fellowship, UU Fellowship of Hillsborough, UU Fellowship of Raleigh, Mutual Aid Carrboro) to promise financial support, volunteer support, and moral support for Sanctuary efforts.
An overview of the IJI's work can also be found in the downloadable IJI brochure here.