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Notes from the Team...
Hi Reader,
As the new season brings budding greens, longer days and warmer weather, we are reminded that growth is steady, intentional and rooted in care.
Our growth continues. We are excited to welcome two new UChicago interns, translators, advisory members and volunteers into our collective. Our work continues to branch into the community. MSC will be part of a panel later this month, we will be providing re-entry care packages, and have continued to send books to detained migrants. We’ve built new partnerships and supported other arts in advocacy groups. You are all stepping into a moment with us that calls for courage and collaboration. Your presence is so much appreciated as we witness this new season together.
At the same time, the realities facing queer and trans migrants demand our awareness and action. In the past month, we’ve seen continued reports of abuse and medical neglect in detention, rising deaths in ICE custody and ongoing anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in enforcement. We know these are not isolated incidents, they reflect a system where LGBTQ+ migrants face disproportionate harm.
We continue to organize. We continue to fight. We continue to strengthen our roots.
Thank you for moving into a new season with us. Together, we move toward a freer, safer and more just world. And we cannot do it without you.
With love and solidarity,
The Migrant Support Collective
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Thank You, Smack Dab!
Thank you to all who dined to donate at Smack Dab on March 29! We are so grateful for the funds raised for Migrant Support Collective and Chicago Books to Women in Prison.
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What's New?
Community Partnerships:
Team Growth:
- We are excited to welcome two new community engagement interns, Jadyn (she/her) and Jorge (he/him). Read more about our interns below.
- We would like to welcome our newest Advisory Committee member, Jalen Ezedike.
- We are now offering translated newsletters in Spanish and are so grateful for the incredible translation services from Natalia Estrada (she/her)
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Welcome to Our Community Engagement Interns
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Jadyn (she/her)
Jadyn is a current undergraduate studying Sociology, Public Policy, and Gender & Sexuality studies at the University of Chicago. She previously served as a Senior Curriculum Intern with Effective To Great Education, where she designed social-emotional and sex education curricula and collaborated with a team of interns to develop resources for educators. Jadyn has been actively involved in advocacy, including organizing and speaking at reproductive freedom rallies and participating in broader social justice organizing efforts since 2019. Alongside her advocacy work, she is dedicated to advancing equity through tutoring, mentorship, and community service initiatives that support young people and underserved communities.
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Jorge (he/him/él)
Hi everyone! My name is Jorge and I am a current second-year student at the University of Chicago studying Political Science and Human Rights. I was born in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico but I was raised in Greeley, Colorado. I am very excited to work with MSC and get connected with the greater Chicago community in the hopes of supporting migrants in our area.
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Book of the Month
Babel
By R.F. Kuang
Many detention centers require books to be shipped from Amazon or other major retailers, but if you find a detention center with more flexible rules, consider searching for your favorite local bookstore on Bookshop, or ordering from one of these places:
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*This book was requested from a detained individual via our Library Program.
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Coming up...
April
- April 22: Defending & Supporting Our LGBTQI+ Immigrant Neighbors. This is a free 60 minute panel with Q&A at Center on Halsted. 6:30-8pm. Flyer and link to register.
- April 25: Independent Bookstore Day. Three Avenues Bookshop in Chicago will be selling MSC stickers and all proceeds will go to MSC. Make sure to support your local bookstore!
May
- May 7 and 17 we will host an orientation for those interested in helping with our Pride in Migration Fundraiser in June.
June
- Pride in Migration Fundraiser. We will be seeking volunteers to help with fundraising campaigns for the month of pride. A majority of the work will entail text banks.
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Join us. Donate. Share. Take Action.
Every bit of support matters. We invite you to be part of creating a world where migrants live free from the injustices of detention.
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Support the Collective
We cannot do this work without the support of advocates, ally's, community partners and volunteers like you. Here are ways you can support our mission:
Only .1% of detained migrants are LGBTQ+ across the U.S., yet they account for 14% of MSC's participants (Feb. '26) |
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With Gratitude
Thank you again for being a part of Migrant Support Collective. Whether through your time, dollars, energy, advocacy, or simply offering words of encouragement along the way, every contribution matters and we couldn't do it without you.
In Solidarity,
The Migrant Support Collective Team
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