BLOG 20

REFLECTION:
Last Saturday night we met three attorneys and four volunteers from Rockland County, New York (north west of New York City), at Mi Patio Mexican restaurant in downtown Phoenix. These folks from Proyecto Faro (Lighthouse Project) had spent a few days in Tucson, Arizona visiting Keep Tucson Together (KTT). KTT is a legal clinic in Tucson that helps migrants, refugees, and young people navigate the US legal system to gain status in our country. The Rockland people had opened a similar program in their home area just six months ago and were seeking ideas for further development of their services.

They reported their positive response to the community effort to respond to the local needs and “fix the world.” For one volunteer, her thoughts, perceptions, and intuitive knowledge all chrystalized in her mind as she spent time with attorney Margo Cowan at KTT, addended the court proceedings in Operation Streamline, and met with migrants who shared their stories.

Another participant keenly felt the responsibility of meeting the needs in Rockland County. She determined to go home and work harder. Another person cherished the moments when things became clear, such as when Margo mentioned that the goal of KTT is to stall the court proceedings until a better time.

Finally, the group sentiment was summarized by one volunteer who felt humbled by the many people who work together to find solutions to problems that seem at times insoluble.

In addition to the Rockland folks, three Phoenix No More Deaths volunteers added to the discussion: Niko, from the Phoenix chapter of the International Rescue Committee (IRC); Becky, a volunteer who just started medical school; and Chris Fleischman, volunteer par excelence.

​We send good wishes to all. Gene and Sue Lefebvre