Investing in Chicago’s Immigrant Communities Beyond COVID-19
Logan Square Neighborhood Association Board President, Norma Rios-Sierra and her son. Photo credit: Marcelo Ferrer.
Supporting immigrants and refugees now and for the future
Immigrants have long been a vital part of the social and economic fabric of this country. And during this time of crisis, they are putting their lives at risk as frontline workers. Employed in “essential” jobs such as health care, agriculture, food production, and transportation, it is not surprising that COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on immigrant communities. Not only do they risk exposure to the disease, many immigrants do not have access to health insurance or government relief efforts, resulting in additional economic hardship or job loss. Compounded with increasingly stricter immigration policies, the pandemic poses a critical threat to the livelihoods and security of our immigrant families.
Recognizing the valuable contributions that immigrants bring to our society, the Walder Foundation has made support for immigrants in our region a priority funding area. During the early stages of the pandemic, the Foundation joined other local funders in efforts to support the urgent needs of vulnerable populations in our city, including immigrants. But as the crisis persisted, we considered the long-term stability of the sector. Through a Request for Proposals (RFP), the Foundation invited organizations with a significant history in prioritizing immigrants and refugees in their missions to reimagine the immigrant and refugee nonprofit sector, with an emphasis on advancing immigrant integration, increasing access to legal services, and improving the region’s welcoming policies and attitudes.
The result is an investment of $4 million over the next year to provide critical funding to vital immigrant-serving organizations in Chicago with the following goals:
Expand legal services
Enhance organizations’ capacity to deliver programs and improve engagement
Strengthen workforce and adult education programming
Increase civic leadership and racial justice training
Respond to emergency support services for families
Advance positive immigrant narratives
The following organizations are being funded through this effort:
Legal Services
Social Support and Organizational Capacity
Workforce and Adult Education
Community Building, Leadership Development and Advocacy
Communication and Positive Narratives
Get more stories like this delivered to your inbox.
Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.
