It’s hard to find the right words to describe this October.
Usually, when I sit down to write my Musings, I want to be a cheerleader for the agency, describing yet another great month at LCBH. And don’t get me wrong; this month has been nothing short of amazing:
We hosted another successful Fall Benefit at Buddy Guy’s Legends, we celebrated our esteemed volunteers during Pro Bono Week, we welcomed a new team of LCBH Ambassadors, and we made great connections with renters and community organizations across the city at outreach events.
Yet, simultaneously, across Chicago and suburban Cook County, our immigrant friends, family members, and neighbors faced a scary reality. Border Patrol, ICE, and other federal agents continued detaining community members, oftentimes, without due process, separating families and creating chaos. When instructed to go to court in person, tenants who feared they might encounter ICE stayed home, losing access to vital resources. Inside apartments, landlords threatened to call ICE on their tenants during disputes, violating the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act.
We cannot, and will not, shy away from this injustice for the sake of a cheerful monthly recap. So, where does the connection lie? How can we hold these dichotomous experiences? I can’t say I have the right answer, but I can see a small, yet powerful, link between the two: community.
We heard community in the applause at our benefit and in chants at rallies. We saw community at resource fairs passing out renters’ and immigrants’ rights resources. We felt community when we came together with our various expertise to show up for those who need it most.
This October reminded us that community is not just something we build; it’s something we defend, together.