“Pacific County’s immigrant rights organization started the new year with a major financial boost from the Group Health Foundation of Seattle,” according to a press release from Board President Rev. Dale Larson of South Bend.
The foundation awarded Pacific County Immigrant Support a three-year operating grant of $75,000 per year.
“This investment will directly impact local lives and support our work to assist and advocate for immigrants in Southwest Washington,” said Larson.
“Combined with an equal amount of community support, we can achieve our three, long-term goals for systemic change,” Larson said:
“Keep Families Together. We create a safe, welcoming community where all residents are valued and we resist efforts to separate children from their family.
“Prevent Deportation. We connect immigrants with legal support so they can stay free and in their community.
“Empower immigrants with knowledge – Know Your Rights training and PCIS resources to support resistance to ICE actions that impact local families.”
The group was founded in 2018. Larson said it has demonstrated grassroots community power by mobilizing residents through advocacy, demonstration and fundraising to support dozens of immigrant families.
He said that includes: Supporting individuals detained by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and their families, assisting more than a dozen immigrants seeking freedom from NWDC detention.
The group has provided referral to legal counsel, legal costs and bond funds, provides “Know Your Rights” training in north and south Pacific County involving immigrants and their community allies, started a 2019 rapid response network to issue alerts when there is ICE activity so that support can be provided to affected people and their family members.
“This spring PCIS plans to expand its outreach to Latinx and other immigrant families and to employers; present “American Dreams,” a readers’ theater production created by New England playwright-director Linda Britt with a couple dozen short monologues by immigrants telling their stories of coming to the United States as immigrants.
Two performances the last weekend in April are planned, Saturday night in Ilwaco and Sunday afternoon in Raymond.
Summer Salsa III, the PCIS annual fundraiser that will be held Saturday afternoon, May 30, at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco.
Larson described it as an occasion when “people who seek local artistic creations and support families impacted by ICE arrests stand together with our immigrant families. It’s a time to celebrate the good that people create in many ways and many hearts.”
