Besieged as we are by headlines day after day, it’s easy to feel paralyzed and powerless. But action is the best antidote to fear, and whatever your skills and level of ability, there are many ways to plug in and directly help your community.
Show Up
History has shown the significant power of community-level collective action to influence change and protect marginalized groups. All of the massive, history-shifting efforts started with people who showed up. For those who are able to do so, showing up to marches, monthly AIRC meetings, and other events helps build our local community and shows our at-risk neighbors that they have allies.
See all of AIRC’s events, including our monthly meetings, here.
Get Involved
AIRC has many ways to get involved in supporting our immigrant neighbors in Athens-Clarke County:
- If you’re interested in a more physically active role, our Rapid Response Team is trained to provide a response to reports of ICE and police activity within the community.
- If you have a valid license and registration and a reliable car, consider signing up for our Driver Pool to help provide free, safe transportation for those in the community who need it. All rides are optional, so you can participate as your schedule allows.
- If you’re a social butterfly with connections all over town, our Fundraising team works to secure resources to provide direct, material support to immigrants in the community.
- If you’ve got a passion for policy, our Advocacy and Policy team monitors the legal changes at the federal, state, and local level, and advocates for immigrant rights and for issues impacting immigrants within the community.
- If you’re interested in supporting children, our Safe Schools team works to ensure that students and their families have information and support to feel safe and secure, including connecting families with mental health resources, keeping parents informed of their rights, and providing teachers with training and resources.
- If you’re an artist, a writer, or a social-media maven, our Communications team works to keep AIRC members and the broader community informed and engaged.
If you are outside of the Athens, GA area, look for local advocacy and immigrant rights groups near you.
Contribute Financially
Direct financial assistance is one of the most significant ways that we can help our neighbors impacted by detainment and deportation. Low wages and lack of support often force immigrant families into financially precarious situations. On top of legal fees and other direct impacts, losing a family member even temporarily can place a significant financial burden on our community members.
The SIFIC team (Support for Immigrant Families in Crisis) within AIRC helps families directly and is a great way to directly help our neighbors in need. SIFIC has disbursed almost $23,000 in 2025, helping families with legal fees and other support. AIRC is entirely volunteer-led, so every penny that is donated goes directly to supporting families in the Athens area.
Be Vocal
It can be scary to speak up, but it is more important than ever to tell people that immigrant rights something you care about. If it’s safe for you to do so, talk to friends and family members about what you are doing and why it’s important to you. Arm yourself with facts, and be as unapologetic in standing up for your neighbors as others are in denigrating them. If social media is your thing, follow our accounts and repost to spread awareness and help get our message out.
-Bo and Elisabeth from Athens