According to GivingTuesday.org, this day of giving was founded in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation as a day to encourage people to do good and reimagine a world built upon shared humanity and generosity. In this spirit, we reach out to you today. Together, we can create "the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible" (C. Eisenstein) through the transformational power of empathy and solidarity.
Friends, we know we are at a colossal crossroads in this country. The future feels tenuous and uncertain, and on the immigration front, it feels particularly distressing. We do not know what this future holds for us as a country, especially for vulnerable individuals and families in search of safety and the ability to migrate with dignity. What we know is true is that when we make this journey into the unknown together, we are stronger in our shared commitment and determination to counter fear and hatred with love.
And this is exactly what Voices from the Border remains dedicated to doing. We will continue to provide a safe harbor to migrating families in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, prioritizing women and children. Our commitment to housing, meeting essential needs, and providing medical care to those who are most vulnerable remains. And with our amazing team of volunteers, we will still offer fellowship, emotional support, and classes and activities. We will continue to make our guests feel safe and cared for, seen and supported in their time of need. We will always put their humanity and dignity first.
On this Giving Tuesday and beyond, our other commitment to you is this: if the change in administration and the rollout of new and potentially devastating policies that include mass deportations requires us to shift or change our current working model in Nogales, Sonora, we will do exactly that. We will meet the surfacing needs with courage, determination, and the dexterity that is the hallmark of our organization. We are a board of seven women, and I tell you, along with Pancho Martin (Panchito), we are fierce in our determination to be midwives in this Great Birthing that is underway in humanity: the birthing of a more conscious and compassionate way of being.
What we also know is true is that the branch of our mission on the US side of the border, what we refer to as our "creative activism", feels more relevant and necessary than ever. On this side of the border, we expect that our work will grow, along with the need for it. In our year-end newsletter, we will highlight what we have been up to in 2024 and some of the exciting projects already underway. Voices will continue to humanize immigration by building bridges in communities, encouraging meaningful dialogue, and promoting social justice. We will continue projects that welcome immigrants and refugees, helping them feel like the integral part of their communities that they are. Lastly, our guide star in our creative activism has always been that "we can't change people's minds, but we can strive to change their hearts." This remains the soul of our work in using our voices to truly BE voices from the border.
Join us in building a kinder and more compassionate world. Your support is the spark that keeps our mission alive and lights the way forward.
“Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” From The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
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