Social Justice Collaborative (SJC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to protect the rights of refugees and immigrants, has announced that it is looking for partners to help it achieve its goals, which include the creation of a social work department to cater to its clients’ individual and collective needs.
Founded in 2012, SJC primarily provides free or affordable legal services for low-income immigrants, especially asylum seekers and displaced families from Latinx backgrounds, in order to protect their rights in the face of unjust and discriminatory immigration policies. Its main focus is to help immigrants achieve legal status through various processes, including deportation defense, work authorization, green card application, and family petitions. However, SJC recognizes that its clients' needs go beyond direct legal services, and it conducts referrals to physical and mental health providers, as well as education and legitimate employment opportunities.
With horror stories of drowning immigrants reaching the media, little has been done to alter laws that have led to deaths since the Federal government's lawsuit against Governor Abbot that deemed his floating barrier, in the Rio Grande unlawful. SJC sees this as yet another indicator that more resources and reach are needed in the journey to create a more just system for those immigrating to this country.
Building on its philosophy to provide holistic assistance to its clients, SJC is aiming to establish a social work department, which will help clients access various resources and benefits from the government and the private sector. Currently, SJC’s team, composed of professionals and volunteers, is doing work that is meant for social workers. Having a dedicated social work task force will help clients throughout the various stages of their case progress, with each stage having specific needs. The nature of immigration means proceedings can take multiple years to complete, and having professionally trained social workers ensures clients will receive consistent and expert-led support for their entire journey.
According to SJC, one of its goals is to have in-house social workers for each client by 2025. Each client that SJC works with will be connected to a social worker, who will accompany them at each stage of the process to provide much-needed support, complementing SJC’s legal services.
SJC, which was founded with a budget of just $400, also aims to achieve an annual budget of $5 million by 2025. Through the help of its generous donors and partners, SJC is steadily approaching that goal, with its 2022 budget exceeding $3 million. By having more donors and partners on board, it will be able to broaden its reach and touch the lives of more individuals, ensuring that they are protected legally and are able to achieve their full potential by living a new life in the US.
Currently, SJC’s work focuses on clients in Northern and Central California, including the Bay Area and the Central Valley. With increased support, SJC will be able to extend its services to the entire state of California. SJC’s board has also unveiled its 50 by 2050 plan, which envisions SJC becoming a nationwide organization, active in all 50 states, by 2050.
In October, SJC will hold its eighth fundraising event, as part of its 11th anniversary celebrations. Each year, SJC holds a benefit dinner to raise funds for its programs, as well as to thank its benefactors and recognize its team members’ work. In 2020 and 2021, the event was held virtually, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“By raising more funds, SJC can reach further and serve more people, providing immigrants with increased access to legal services and capacity building,” says Abigail Esquivias, SJC’s Community Partnerships & Advocacy Director.
“But, we would also like to highlight the other side – the increased funding will also allow us to better support our staff. With rapid inflation and rising cost of living, it is becoming harder to work in this system, especially when it's specifically designed to be nearly impossible for low-income immigrants to become legal. Our staff members are incredibly passionate, dedicated and hardworking. By donating to SJC, you are not just funding the work that we do for our clients, but you're also supporting wonderful team members that put so much time and effort, and their whole essence, really, into their work.”
Media contact:
Name: Paola Madrigal
Email: [email protected]
