At this time and for the years to come, while we can certainly hope for better days, we need to band together, DIY and FIO (Fund It Ourselves) if we want to see changes in a country that forgot all sense of compassion in the “Res Publica”. It literally means “public thing”!!
Here are a few local links to visit or make a donation to, regarding the ICE Raids :
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-aunt-rebuild-her-life-after-being-taken-by-ice (there are probably dozens of other campaigns like this one).
https://saludchicago.com/ an organisation focusing on mental heath and healing for Latinx communities.
https://streetvendorsac.org/ Street Vendors of Chicago.
Pilsen Food Pantry (looking for volunteers!)
https://www.icirr.org/ The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
https://nlgchicago.org The National Lawyers Guild of Chicago (the ones with the neon green hats you see at protests :)
Cycling x Solidarity A community of Chicago cyclists, dedicated to help street vendors by taking care of deliveries and visits.
Greater Chicago Food Depository - One of Chicago’s Food Banks.
And here’s more links and causes to fund and defend:
Nami - National Alliance on Mental Illness - it has chapters in all states!
Thresholds - org providing housing and services for people with mental illnesses and substance use conditions.
Howard Brown - Sliding Scale Clinic providing care for the LGBTQ+ community.
The American Library Association- Save the books and the librarians <3
Algorithmic Justice League combines art and research to illuminate the social implications and harms of artificial intelligence.
Farmaid - Resources for farmers across America
https://translifeline.org/ - offering direct emotional and financial support for people in crisis, by trans people, for trans people.
Chicago Appleseed - An advocacy organization for Fair Courts
People For Community Recovery - Grassroots organisation dedicated to the protection of local communities in environments affected by pollution.
And of course, the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Feeding America…