This past Saturday Lake County Democrats presented Neighbors United. Thanks to everyone — almost 200 people — who joined us. We heard real life experiences as masked agents grab people off the streets, as people are scared to drop off their kids at school or go to Home Depot, as well as the work being done by our amazing local organizations to stand up for our rights while the Trump Administration runs amok here in our area. And we talked about what we can do to make a difference. (Photos below.)
We were grateful to hear from community organization leaders like Mano a Mano Family Resource Center (mamfrc.org) Executive Director Dulce Ortiz and Program Manager Joanna Jaimes, who also helped answer questions from concerned audience members. And we were also fortunate to hear from Center for Immigrant Progress (ciplakecounty.org) Director of Legal and Civic Engagement Jael Mejia and HACES (haces.org) Founder Maria Elena Jonas.
Lake County Board Member Esiah Campos, the first Latino elected to the Board and a member of the Lake County Democrats Executive Board, shared his perspective as an elected official who advocated for the recently-passed Lake County resolution prohibiting ICE from using county property for staging areas and other immigration enforcement activities. Celeste Flores, who is a College of Lake County Trustee, Vice President of the Warren Newport Library Board, and Warren Township Democrats Chair, urged folks in the audience to take action.
One of our goals for this meeting was to get more people involved, and we did just that. A big, positive takeaway from Saturday was this: People are eager to help. Below are some ways that you can:
Mano a Mano Family Resource Center
(847) 201-1521
Donate: mamfrc.org/donate
Volunteer for the Rapid Response Team: form.jotform.com/
Volunteer (Other): mamfrc.org/volunteer
Support our community by providing essential items. Items Needed: gift cards, food, hygiene products, groceries, clothing, diapers, and household supplies.
Volunteer options include: distributing Know Your Rights materials, training to later lead Know Your Rights workshops, attending city council meetings and other governmental board meetings, joining a peaceful protest, delivering donations to people, picking up/dropping off people at school or work, and more.
Center for Immigrant Progress (CIP)
(630) 707-0898
Carmen Patlan, Executive Director cpatlan@ciplakecounty.org
Jael Mejia, Director of Legal and Civic Engagement jmejia@ciplakecounty.org
Volunteer: ciplakecounty.org/employment-volunteer-opportunities
Donate: ciplakecounty.org/donate
Support helps provide legal screenings and consultations to families facing detention, and to prepare emergency plans so families have the documents and resources they need.
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (ICIRR)
Join the IL Eyes on ICE Text Network: icirr.quorum.us/campaign/ileyesonice
Hotline in case you need assistance due to ICE detention, or to report any suspected ICE sightings: Call 855-435-7693
HACES (Hispanic American Community Education and Services)
Donate: haces.networkforgood.com/projects/256412-donate
Volunteer: haces.org/volunteer
North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic
Donate: nslegalaid.org/donate
Volunteer: nslegalaid.org/get-involved/volunteer
Thank you to everyone, including Lake Dems volunteers, who pitched in to organize such a poignant and practical discussion at a troubling time for so many. This is a challenging moment, but one day we will be able to look back and say we stood up on the right side of history when the situation demanded good people to refuse to remain silent.
