Support ongoing work w/ asylum seekers in Tijuana
Donation protected
**UPDATE**
I am back from working two weeks in Tijuana with asylum seekers. The conditions in Tijuana are brutal for those seeking safety in the US. There is so much work to be done that my work there is not finished. A fellow volunteer is keeping our community space open and operating for the sometimes hundreds of people that come through our door daily. The community space (or "The Office" as we call it) offers people a bathroom, shower, at least one meal a day, coffee, water, charge electronics, a play area for children, art supplies, books, and a safe space for people to take a break. It was originally only supposed to a be a short-term solution, but it was quickly realized that the services provided are absolutely essential so we are trying to keep The Office up and running. We also continue to do accompaniment every morning before the office opens. This is extremely hard work and people's support means everything.
The money donated before helped with my travel expenses and the remainder was used to purchase supplies for The Office, including art supplies that were used in amazing ways. While we are in need of physical donations, monetary is best so volunteers in the office can purchase what is needed most that week. More asylum seekers arrive daily and under Trump's new asylum policy, we are also dealing with individuals and families who have been returned to Tijuana to await their US court date....often 6-8 weeks away. They are brought back to Tijuana with nothing and services on the Tijuana side are almost non-existent.
Part of the money raised will still pay for travel (and extra suitcase to bring physical donations with me), but almost all will go to what is needed to keep The Office up and running. No donation is too small - If people chip in $5 or $10 it makes a world of difference.
I have also developed a presentation on my experience and on the asylum process as a whole and the changes that were made. If you would like me to come speak to a group, please reach out and I am more than happy to.
Thank you to everyone who donated before, all who are donating now and those who cannot donate, but are sending lots of love <3
Asylum seekers and refugees fleeing violence and persecution need safe passage.
We are a group of volunteers from all over the country who support the thousands of asylum applicants currently waiting in Tijuana to be processed. As a volunteer, I am helping our migrant friends navigate this bureaucracy, and then accompany them as they cross the border.
I am asking you to support my work at this time when the most vulnerable among us are being targeted by hateful rhetoric and physical violence.
I am raising funds to travel to San Diego/Tijuana for this work to work with migrants there. As a volunteer, I pay for my own travel, lodging and expenses. My goal is to raise $7,000.
A bit more about myself:
I believe that people have the right to migrate. I also believe that the current violence—both physical and bureaucratic—being directed at asylum seekers who have gathered at the border is immoral. All Sanctuary Caravan volunteers are committed to nonviolence, and we are equally committed to standing for liberty and equality for all people.
For those who have no idea who I am, I have been a community organizer for over 15 years. I work mostly on civil rights and human rights issues. I have always told people that I go where I'm needed and people are currently needed in Tijuana. It is also prompted by my 6-year-old daughter Lily who has demanded I go to help. She is firmly against the wall and believes we should help everyone seeking asylum (yeah my kid is kind of awesome). As she put it "those are new friends mama, can you go help them?" Yes Lily I can.
I have never done a GFM for myself before. I feel weird about doing this, but travel and accommodations can be pricey and people have asked how they can help. Every donation will go towards another day of me being able to help at the border. And yes, I definitely plan on giving updates from the field as much as possible (while protecting my new friends' identities and information). If you are not able to donate, please share....and send some happy juju to everyone at the border <3
Again, funds that you contribute will go directly for my travel to assist migrants on the Tijuana/US border.
Thank you very much for your support.
Lisa Votino-Tarrant
I am back from working two weeks in Tijuana with asylum seekers. The conditions in Tijuana are brutal for those seeking safety in the US. There is so much work to be done that my work there is not finished. A fellow volunteer is keeping our community space open and operating for the sometimes hundreds of people that come through our door daily. The community space (or "The Office" as we call it) offers people a bathroom, shower, at least one meal a day, coffee, water, charge electronics, a play area for children, art supplies, books, and a safe space for people to take a break. It was originally only supposed to a be a short-term solution, but it was quickly realized that the services provided are absolutely essential so we are trying to keep The Office up and running. We also continue to do accompaniment every morning before the office opens. This is extremely hard work and people's support means everything.
The money donated before helped with my travel expenses and the remainder was used to purchase supplies for The Office, including art supplies that were used in amazing ways. While we are in need of physical donations, monetary is best so volunteers in the office can purchase what is needed most that week. More asylum seekers arrive daily and under Trump's new asylum policy, we are also dealing with individuals and families who have been returned to Tijuana to await their US court date....often 6-8 weeks away. They are brought back to Tijuana with nothing and services on the Tijuana side are almost non-existent.
Part of the money raised will still pay for travel (and extra suitcase to bring physical donations with me), but almost all will go to what is needed to keep The Office up and running. No donation is too small - If people chip in $5 or $10 it makes a world of difference.
I have also developed a presentation on my experience and on the asylum process as a whole and the changes that were made. If you would like me to come speak to a group, please reach out and I am more than happy to.
Thank you to everyone who donated before, all who are donating now and those who cannot donate, but are sending lots of love <3
Asylum seekers and refugees fleeing violence and persecution need safe passage.
We are a group of volunteers from all over the country who support the thousands of asylum applicants currently waiting in Tijuana to be processed. As a volunteer, I am helping our migrant friends navigate this bureaucracy, and then accompany them as they cross the border.
I am asking you to support my work at this time when the most vulnerable among us are being targeted by hateful rhetoric and physical violence.
I am raising funds to travel to San Diego/Tijuana for this work to work with migrants there. As a volunteer, I pay for my own travel, lodging and expenses. My goal is to raise $7,000.
A bit more about myself:
I believe that people have the right to migrate. I also believe that the current violence—both physical and bureaucratic—being directed at asylum seekers who have gathered at the border is immoral. All Sanctuary Caravan volunteers are committed to nonviolence, and we are equally committed to standing for liberty and equality for all people.
For those who have no idea who I am, I have been a community organizer for over 15 years. I work mostly on civil rights and human rights issues. I have always told people that I go where I'm needed and people are currently needed in Tijuana. It is also prompted by my 6-year-old daughter Lily who has demanded I go to help. She is firmly against the wall and believes we should help everyone seeking asylum (yeah my kid is kind of awesome). As she put it "those are new friends mama, can you go help them?" Yes Lily I can.
I have never done a GFM for myself before. I feel weird about doing this, but travel and accommodations can be pricey and people have asked how they can help. Every donation will go towards another day of me being able to help at the border. And yes, I definitely plan on giving updates from the field as much as possible (while protecting my new friends' identities and information). If you are not able to donate, please share....and send some happy juju to everyone at the border <3
Again, funds that you contribute will go directly for my travel to assist migrants on the Tijuana/US border.
Thank you very much for your support.
Lisa Votino-Tarrant
Organizer
Lisa Votino-Tarrant
Organizer
Southampton, NY
