Are you a US citizen but your ancestors are European? You, too, are the descendant of immigrants! 

My ancestors immigrated from Germany, Ireland, Scotland, and England. They were poor. The German speakers immigrated to a country where they didn’t know the language. I bet the Irish and Scots struggled with it, too. Their children born on US soil were automatically US citizens. They owned businesses. They worked in coal mines. They lived stacked together in city apartments. 

Their children went to school. Some of their children went to college. Not that many generations later, I was born. 

How am I any different in nature from anyone coming to the United States now from anywhere in the world? Why do I deserve to be here but they do not? I don’t! It’s as simple as that. Everyone deserves dignity, safety, love; everyone deserves a home.

I am passionate about welcoming refugees and immigrants, and I hope that you will join me in supporting the important work of Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS). I worked as a citizenship class assistant helping new Americans prepare for the citizenship exam. It was a very rewarding experience because of the people I met, all of whom had lived in this country for well over five years, if not decades. I want to help CRIS raise $100,000 in 100 days to establish the Enduring Welcome Fund and continue serving our community for many years to come.

Thank you for any donation!