Dearest Community, 

The email we originally planned for today was to launch our public fundraising campaign. As you know, nonprofits often appeal to the community for support in November and December, when the majority of donations are given.

But with the recent election results, we felt the need to write something different. It's undeniable that after last Tuesday, things have shifted. We can feel the anxiety and uncertainty in our collective communities and in our own heavy hearts. 

It's hard to predict what this election will mean for CERI as an immigrant and refugee organization. We don't know yet, but our staff and community members are having nightmares about detention centers, fleeing home, and violence on the streets and flashbacks of the discrimination, deportation, anti-immigrant and racist hate crimes, and violence that happened after the 2016 election and lasted for four years.

As we prepare ourselves and our community for the road ahead—facing heartbreakingly familiar challenges—we stand steadfast in our mission. Together, we will lift one another up, nurture our collective well-being, and create a space where everyone can thrive. We will continue to fundraise and build resources, weaving the strongest safety net we can so that each individual feels safe, supported, and never alone.

We are devoted to building a society that celebrates diversity and embraces the journeys of all who come here seeking refuge. We stand firmly with our refugees and immigrants, resisting threats of deportation, advocating fiercely for their rights, and ensuring they have security and dignity.

Over the next few weeks we'll be sharing stories about our community programs and inviting you to get involved. Please join us in building up resources that will be distributed directly to families as they need it throughout next year.

In love and solidarity, 

CERI’s Executive Team