At our latest Public Newsroom, Albany Park volunteers shared how their church became host to five migrant families — and how their work became a collaborative effort across their ward.

By Sonal Soni

City Bureau's Marilyn Carteno (far left) and w.d. floyd (far right) facilitated the conversation with Pastor Thomas Terrell, Veronica Llerena and Rhoda Gutierrez on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Photo: Grace Del Vecchio/City Bureau)

A version of this article was first published in the Documenters Newswire newsletter on Sept. 29, 2023.

Residents from across Chicago attended City Bureau’s Public Newsroom on Sept. 28, where volunteers at Christ Lutheran Church explained how to support migrants through collective organizing. 

We highlighted this multicultural, intergenerational Albany Park church in a recent Newswire for its efforts to house and provide resources for several migrant families who were previously staying at Chicago police stations. 

Several volunteers for CLC’s migrant ministry shared how they support the families they opened their doors to and explained why their efforts are important to their community and beyond:

  • Rhoda Gutierrez: Migrant support-core volunteer member

  • Veronica Llerena: Migrant support-core volunteer member

  • Thomas Terrell: Pastor of Christ Lutheran Church

The panel was moderated by City Bureau staff.

Here are a few takeaways from the 90-minute panel discussion:

There is power in collective organizing. 

Panelists said although Christ Lutheran Church has been extensively involved in other neighborhood aid projects, members were at first unsure how to support the everyday lives of newly arrived migrants seeking asylum.

They reached out to other organizations with experience working with migrant communities and learned how to facilitate schooling for children, address medical needs and assist with asylum applications. Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church and Bethany House, a social services organization, helped CLC operate more efficiently by sharing resources. Experienced groups can provide effective models for those who may not otherwise know where to start, panelists said. 

Reach out to your ward’s City Council representative.

Terrell said 33rd Ward Alder Rosanna Rodriguez recognizes the severity of Chicago’s migrant crisis and has ongoing conversations with alders across the city on her ward’s efforts to navigate the daily influx of migrants seeking shelter amid scarce resources.

Get in touch with your alder’s office and start a dialogue on why it’s important to you as a constituent to support migrant groups — if your alder is already assisting with migrant aid, you can learn how to plug in. A combination of community and government involvement is crucial to provide increased and diverse support.  

Think about other individuals/groups affected by limited shelter availability and other needs. 

Inequities between North, West and South Side communities in Chicago are real, panelists agreed. Closed-down schools and tent encampments for unhoused people exemplify how some neighborhoods across the city, especially Black communities, face disproportionate levels of investment. 

As migrants continue to arrive, shelters, police stations and other resources across the city have become more difficult to access. Panelists agreed the migrant crisis is complex, and many of the needs overlap with Chicagoans already facing housing insecurity and other struggles. Addressing the issues that affect one group can ultimately create more resources that serve migrants and residents alike, CLC volunteers said.  

Sonal Soni is a South Asian multimedia reporter and covers topics affecting queer residents, communities of color and social justice in the Chicagoland area. Their work is published in places like WBEZ, the Chicago Reader and the Harvey World Herald. You can follow them at @sonal_soni_ for more.

Watch the full Public Newsroom recording on YouTube here.

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