Dear friends,
Redwood trees in the pacific coast of northern California and southern Oregon have a unique root system. Instead of growing down vertically, their roots spread horizontally, intertwining with the root systems of other redwoods to form a strong base and anchor. Interconnectedness is essential for healthy redwoods and thriving communities.
Unfortunately, serious challenges threaten our personal and collective well-being. This month, we learned of the tragic death of Pierre Damas Bel, an athlete and honors student in Springfield, Ohio. MIC Partner, Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI), expressed solidarity and shared, “As September marks Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, let us remember the importance of compassion, connection, and looking out for one another.”
In this newsletter, we are raising awareness about mental health in immigrant communities. In her series Silent Detention, GBH reporter Sarah Betancourt writes that, “Families impacted by immigration detentions face an unprecedented mental health crisis.” The first story in the series centers on a beloved community member, and dedicated volunteer, of MIC Partner Centro Comunitario de Trabjadores (CCT). After this community member’s tragic death, CCT held a fundraiser for her husband (who had recently been released from detention) and three children and provided the family with MIC emergency assistance funds. You can help other New Bedford families that have been touched by detention here.
Reestablishing lost connections is central to MIC Partner BCNC, a leader supporting immigrant families through a family-centered wellness model. By framing mental health as a path to deeper family and community connections, BCNC, like redwood trees, provides stability.
September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic and Latino Heritage month. Protecting our heritage, language and culture is essential to our interconnectedness. Just as nature thrives through biodiversity, supporting diverse immigrant communities throughout the state will make Massachusetts thrive. Please consider supporting MIC’s critical work to protect the root systems of our immigrant communities.
