MS Immigrant Community Center Disaster Relief

Greetings all,

I am Lorena Quiroz, the founder and executive director of the Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity of Mississippi (IAJE of MS). We are proudly based in Jackson, Mississippi. Jackson and Central Mississippi have seen many environmental disasters mercilessly impact working class Black, Indigenous, and people of color the past few years. Since we’ve been founded, IAJE has been part of the responses to these emergencies mostly serving as the only immigrant and non-English language resource for communities across affected areas. Jackson is not the most affluent city, but we are rich in history and strong in communities that come together when disaster strikes. We have seen the power of the people, community, and solidarity. That is why I am asking for your help.

The June 16th early morning thunderstorms causing destructive winds in Central Mississippi left the Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity’s office and community center almost completely devastated. Our roof has been torn from the building and water is leaking everywhere inside. Our building is called the Cultural Institute of Immigrant Justice, and it’s the first of its kind in Mississippi. Half of the building serves as office space for IAJE staff where critical work supporting immigrant communities in MS takes place. The other half of the building is a community center where we host meetings, trainings, and events. Our building is both a place of gathering, a place of sanctuary, and a place of hope for our various communities.

IAJE was founded in 2019 after the horrific and largest workplace raids in the history of the United States to support the leadership development, education, and empowerment of Latinx and Indigenous immigrants in Mississippi. For the past four years, we have redistributed thousands of dollars of resources to the community, helped develop and support hundreds of community leaders, and have worked to shift away from a culture of fear to a culture of resistance. We are the only immigrant rights organization in Mississippi led by immigrants, working through a lens of social justice and self-determination, and working on building power with immigrant communities.

All donations to the nonprofit 501(c) (3) Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity will go directly to the reparation and restoration of the Cultural Institute of Immigrant Justice.

Alternate donation info:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/iajeofms

PayPal: IAJEofMS

CashApp: MSIAJE