In the face of the ongoing immigration crisis and occupation of the Twin Cities, many of us feel called to follow in Jesus’s footsteps by caring for our neighbors, especially those who are most vulnerable. However, there are many needs and knowing where to start may feel deeply overwhelming. For those who need some suggestions for action, the Justice Team has gathered a list of what you can do to pursue God’s work in these troubling times below.
If you have questions or recommendations to add, please reach out to the Justice Team.
Helping in the Community
Many of the following resources are for those who are physically able to be in the community as observers, protestors, errands for neighbors, and other solutions. Above all else, this simple recommendation from the Rector’s Letter is also helpful: check in on your immigrant neighbors and your community. Often, talking to those who are in need of support will offer organic opportunities all their own, especially in these hyper-localized times.
Because of the crisis, families who were stable just weeks ago are facing eviction notices. Sign up to adopt a family’s rent, or contribute to one of the many rent relief efforts in your neighborhood. A single month covered can prevent eviction, keep a family housed, and save thousands in downstream public costs that come when people are forced into shelters or onto waiting lists that are already full.
These fill up quickly so you’ll want to pick one or two organizations below and sign up for notifications and news. These will include notices about upcoming trainings as well as vigils and protests. We recommend:
Neighborhood House has supported immigrants and refugees on St. Paul’s West Side for over 128 years. They are currently delivering food to families who are unable to safely leave their homes to purchase groceries and other essentials.
If you have relationships with neighbors who are frontliners, bring them a meal, offer to walk their dog or clean their house, play games with their kids for an hour… these can be a huge relief to people who are pouring their skills and energy into crisis response.
Helping via Mutual Aid
Mutual aid is important right now, and we know there are myriad places doing good work. Our Justice Team are encouraging you to start very locally, looking to where St. John’s already has partnerships and where we’re already involved.
Should you want additional options, please check out Stand With Minnesota or MN50501 Mutual Aid, which also list many wonderful options.
Continue to help us support a migrant family who is feeling the direct effect of this moment. Give online here (choose “Non-Pledged Donation” from the funds drop-down and put “Migrant Support” in the memo.)
Support urgent housing and food assistance requests in our community. The need for this fund is increasingly urgent as federal aid once again gets cut. Give online here (choose “Rector’s Discretionary” from the funds drop-down.)
Good work with migration ministries is happening through the Episcopal Church all over our state. Give online here.
Support Hallie Q. Brown, First Nations Kitchen, and Project Home at Interfaith Action. All of these are being stretched and doing amazing work in direct relief to folks who are most impacted right now. Keeping these funds supported helps us provide extra support where it is needed most.
Helping Through Advocacy and Democracy
In a year of midterm elections, we have a unique opportunity to catalyze change beyond this time frame of crisis. Additionally, these resources also show how you can use your power as a consumer to move the needle.
Please note: these recommendations are nonpartisan and do not reflect any agenda beyond participation in your community.
Advocacy organizations, such as ISAIAH, its sibling Faith in Minnesota, and the Interfaith Alliance, allow us to align our values with political agendas and candidates that further structural change. These agendas, such as ISAIAH’s The People’s Agenda, offer a compass towards government that aligns with what is important to you.
ICE Out of MN includes a broad coalition of organizations (including ISAIAH) and has numerous actions, mostly focused on corporate accountability. Their website lists and links ways people can help to encourage businesses to become 4th Amendment workplaces and to not support or be complicit with ICE, mostly via letter campaigns.
5 Calls is a great app that makes it easy to call elected officials about issues. Spend 5 minutes making calls every day, as tallies are counted daily. Fun fact: calls to your representatives have more power than emails!
Not fond of the phone? Have a call party with friends: this boosts the impact while having a supportive space to do what might feel uncomfortable or outside your comfort zone.
Grounding in Faith
This is a marathon, not a sprint. As people of faith, we ground ourselves in the promises of God. We invite you to pray for our immigrant neighbors, families, and communities experiencing fear, disruption, and instability in the following ways.
Following the prayer vigil held jointly by ECMN and the Episcopal Church, they have compiled the collects utilized in that service in the following Google document.
This list includes Prayers for Asylum Seekers, For Those in Immigrant Detention, For Those Living in Fear of Deportation, and For Those Who Accompany Migrants.
Please note: the prayers in this resource are in English only.
The ECMN Migration Caucus meets on the second Monday of each month at 7pm via Zoom. Joining the group offers opportunities for prayer, resource sharing, organizing, and calls to action around migrant support, accompaniment, and advocacy.
To receive the meeting Zoom link, please contact Deacon Rex McKee at [email protected].
The following list are resources offered from ECMN Migration Caucus leadership:
