Immigrant Accompaniment Opportunity

Desiring to effectively come alongside and support local immigrant families, a group of 12 people representing Pierce County congregations and community groups recently joined with 23 others to participate in a four-hour training facilitated by AGUA, the Accompaniment Group for Unity and Action.

The presentation reflected AGUA’s knowledge of how to effectively support members of the immigrant community who are involved with the bureaucracy of DHS/ICE. Participants attending the training established a sense of community and resolve to transform their political angst into positive action and shared purpose.  

The experience of immigrants is different here than in King County, where there are more nonprofit agencies serving their immigrant population. The social service needs of the immigrant community in Pierce County is also different due to our proximity to the Northwest Detention Center, which incarcerates those living locally and from out-of-state.

The new local group is working to collaborate with congregations, AIDNW, Tacoma Community House, Indivisible UP, Northwest Immigrant Justice Project, Washington Immigrant Assistance Network (WAISN) and the Catholic Diocese Office of Immigrant and Refugee Ministry, along with AGUA.

Any interested individual or congregation is invited to join them as they launch an initial effort to deliver basic accompaniment services to immigrant community members. Their goal is to embrace innovative efforts to maintain human connections through supportive services and to empower the larger community in the service of justice and solidarity.  

To learn more or to obtain details about attending a future meeting or training, contact John Landy at 206-618-3175 or jjlandy43@gmail.com.