We Show Up. Even When It Gets Heavy.

The Chapman family arrived in this country within a decade of the Mayflower and lived in Boston for over 150 years before relocating to New York. I’m a descendant of immigrants. My identity has always been shaped by movement across borders, across cultures in pursuit of a better life.

As a kid, the Fourth of July was simple: flags waving, barbecues, fireworks. I never thought much about who felt welcome. Later, I began to wonder why some families, especially those who didn’t “seem” American, celebrated so passionately.

A friend once told me their Fourth of July celebration was heartfelt. It honored a country that promised: If you work hard, there’s room for you and a future for your children. It was gratitude for the invitation to build a better life.

This year, that invitation feels uncertain. We hear it in quiet questions and cautious choices. Families are skipping programs they once trusted. Grocery trips are delayed. Our neighbors ask softly: Is it safe to go? Should we stay home? Have you heard anything?

When enforcement vehicles are spotted in familiar places, or someone hears about a stop nearby, our neighbors adjust. Not because they’re hiding, but because they’re trying to stay safe. They’re trying to stay whole.

Through it all, our Unidos team continues to show up. We help families locate loved ones in detention. We walk with people through legal paperwork and safety planning. We run youth programs that offer stability and care. We deliver food to families who can’t risk being in public. And each week, we keep the doors open at Casa Unidos, for presence, conversation, and solidarity.

This is the work. It’s not new, but it is heavier now.

If you’re able to give, your support helps us continue. Not just in urgent moments, but in the daily effort to make dignity feel possible again.


John Chapman 
Co-executive Director