Dear Volunteering Friends, 
 
 Growing up in Maryland, where the heat and humidity required an adjusted pace, I always believed things slowed down in the summertime. Here at LIRS, however, not only are we still running at full speed, we are also ramping up for the upcoming action-packed year!
 
 Between now and the end of 2022, there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved with LIRS and make a difference in the lives of our immigrant and refugee neighbors. We hope you will join us.
  

Ending For-Profit Immigrant Detention Campaign 2022-2023

Seeking asylum is a right protected by U.S. law—and yet, the divisive political climate has painted it otherwise. LIRS and our supporters see the dignity of all people—and part of that mission requires standing up and speaking out against for-profit immigration detention centers that profit from the criminalization of migrants. We believe that the end of for-profit detention is not only possible, but also essential to ensure the human dignity of immigrants and asylum seekers is respected.
 
Culminating in the Spring of 2023 with Stand Up, Speak Up rallies and interfaith prayer services across the country, LIRS Mobilization programming, emails, advocacy requests, and educational toolkits will focus on raising awareness of this grave injustice.
 
To live into this new campaign, the following tools will be provided throughout the year:
 
July 1
Detention Visitation Outreach
Check out the new version of the LIRS Bring the Sky toolkit, outlining how to begin and maintain a Detention Visitation group.
 
Late Summer
Creating a Job Fair Training
 Join LIRS to learn how you can turn your workplace, community center or congregation into a job fair site for newly arrived friends! We will provide a toolkit and suggestions for best practices to make your event as successful as possible. Employment is a primary need – help us to serve!
 
August 1-October 1
Gather: Guatemala
Gather equips congregations and communities to learn more about the new siblings that LIRS supports through cultural and educational resources, discussion guides, coloring pages for children, prayer resources, and a personal story of a family from that region. Gather has focused on Afghanistan (2020), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2021).
 
October 1 – December
Hope for the Holidays
Hope for the Holidays collects cards for distribution at migrant detention centers across the country and at shelters along the border, reminding individuals and families that they are not forgotten during the holiday season. Additionally, Hope for the Holidays provides gifts for children affected by immigration detention and those donations will be collected until right before Christmas!
 
November 1
National Pen Pal Network
 Interested in leading your friend group, community, or committee by founding and growing a pen pal program to serve and connect to people in detention? We will provide training, resources, and a manual to support you this Fall!
   

New Volunteer Opportunity!

LIRS is currently looking for 3-5 small community groups from anywhere in the country to pilot and provide feedback on a new virtual English learning resource that uses a conversational approach. To enroll your group, please email outreach@lirs.org with the subject line: Conversation Partners Pilot.
   

Partner Spotlight

Team Libertad – Atlanta GA

Team Libertad exists to encourage connection, solidarity and companionship between Atlanta-based volunteers and immigrants recently freed from Stewart Detention Center. Click here to visit their Facebook site and join this joy-filled team!

 We are at your service as you seek to connect with our affiliates throughout the country, register to serve as foster parents for unaccompanied children, visit detention centers, welcome refugees at the airport and offer radical accompaniment and hospitality to our vulnerable brothers and sisters.

While Christina is out celebrating the birth of her beautiful new daughter Charlotte, please feel free to contact outreach@lirs.org or Conor Flynn at cflynn@lirs.org.

 Blessings,

Kristin Witte

LIRS Director for Mobilization and Faith Relations