How many organizations does United Way of King County partner with to support immigrants and refugees? 54!

We’ve been doing this for quite some time. So have those 54 organizations. But our recent election has many people anxious—especially immigrants, refugees and other people of color. In the next months and years, will they still have a chance to build a stable life here? That’s the question.

If you’re fired up about what’s happening in our country, here’s how to channel your energy: Join us in this work to Live United for Equity.

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As much as the presidential campaign divided the country and even households, we at United Way have noticed something. Togetherness. We see people grasping every opportunity to support one another and spread a message of unity. We’re United Way. So naturally, we’re all about it.

Your donations plus United Way’s grants support people of color, immigrants and refugees. You can bring people together. A couple of our favorite examples:

• Parent-Child Home Program: Low-income immigrant/refugee moms and dads get parenting support from a coach who speaks their language and knows their culture.
• Free Tax Prep Campaign: Volunteers do lower-income people’s taxes for free and help them get the right benefits/credits. Volunteers collectively speak tons of languages. Because how tough would it be to try to do your taxes in foreign language?
• Mother Africa: United Way grants to Mother Africa support immigrant/refugee women and kids through a certified nursing assistant scholarship program (getting a good job), driving lessons (getting to the good job), and the child care to get both of those done.
• Ethiopian Community In Seattle. United Way grants help Ethiopian immigrants who arrive in the U.S. and are not yet eligible for any government support. Finding a home and a job are tough situations when you do speak English. As if they haven’t been through enough, these Ethiopian families are at high risk of becoming homeless without help navigating those and other everyday situations that are literally foreign to them.
• Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. United Way funding gives immigrant kids attorneys to represent them, protect them in instances of abuse and neglect, and help them gain legal status. Otherwise, the U.S. immigration system has those kids (who are already vulnerable) representing themselves (probably not an Elle Woods ending).

We are close to our grantees. We listen to the community. We know that the recent election was brimming with angst and polarizing views among all of us. Regardless of political party, many of us are nervous and guarded.

Will you Live United for Equity? Will you help United Way and these organizations increase their reach to vulnerable people? Your gift will help us hold community meetings and do more outreach to people who don’t know where to find support.

Live United for Equity is about reaching out. It’s about togetherness. Because people deserve the chance to build a stable life right here. Let’s do this. Together.