Last week, shortly after we launched our Immigrant Rights Fund, we gathered immigrant-led organizations from across Brooklyn to learn firsthand about challenges confronting our communities. 

Here’s what we heard:

• They shared stories from students who’ve been threatened by school safety officers, crossing guards, and even teachers, telling them that they’ll be deported and might as well “drop out and go home.”
   
• We heard about one young undocumented parent who told her local nonprofit that she feels utterly hopeless: "It's my turn now to leave, but what happens to my children when I'm gone?"
   
• They spoke about mounting bias against Muslim girls who have been specifically targeted because of their hijabs. Many fear walking down the street outside of their own neighborhoods. 

But we also heard hope. 

Brooklynites from across neighborhoods are coming together to stand with their immigrant neighbors. Nonprofits in Brooklyn have been heartened by people asking them, “What can I do to help?”

This new Immigrant Rights Fund is our answer. With a single donation, you can make a difference for all of Brooklyn’s immigrants. 

The Fund supports neighborhood-based, immigrant-led organizations working on the frontlines to address legal, safety, and civil rights issues. 

So far, we’ve distributed $70,000 in Emergency Grants to help build the capacity of immigrant-serving nonprofits to respond to fear and anxiety right now, and support programs that provide self-defense and bystander intervention training. 

We're also developing our Long-Term Funding Strategy for taking on the most pressing legal, advocacy, and policy issues that our communities will confront over the coming months and years.

We've raised $660,000 so far for the Immigrant Rights Fund — help us reach our $1,000,000 goal.

​Please consider making an additional donation this giving season to protect the strength and resilience of Brooklyn’s immigrant communities. 

We must stand together for all of Brooklyn

Give to the Immigrant Rights Fund today

100% of your contribution will support vital immigrant-serving nonprofits