In the quiet recesses of evening, when the sun has fought its daily battle and the only thing left is the peaceful wisdom that night brings, I am often reminded of an essential truth: the only way forward is together.
The concept of togetherness, much like the faintest glimmers of light on a fog-shrouded highway, suggests a shared endeavor toward something brighter, something nearly forgotten in our scramble toward individual salvations.
“Together” is a word we desperately need possibly more than we ever have.
Ours is a nation sculpted and scarred by the difficult journeys of those who arrived at the shores of this stolen land. Yet, those whose ancestors were strangers here, have the nerve to meet today’s migrants not with open arms but with furrowed brows and barred gates. Migrants who arrive not to take, but simply to make a life worth the living—a life away from the harrowing winds of poverty, violence, and despair that have chased them from their native soils.
The journey of a migrant is an odyssey marked by resilience. Many who have migrated here have told me that it begins with a decision made in the desperation of a sleepless night, when the walls of a home only promise peril. That desperation is carried through treacherous paths, over mountains and rivers, through deserts where the sun is both the brightest light and the darkest omen. Each step is a refusal to succumb to the grinding forces of fate. Yet upon arrival, they are often greeted not with solace but with suspicion.
In America, a land mythologized by its own storied history of immigrants, the tales of these new arrivals should stir a familiar chord. Our memory, shaped by the narratives of those who came on ships and planes, seeking refuge or riches or both, should resonate with empathy. Instead, the current of our discourse is polluted with the language of otherness. “They are not us,” the voices declare, as if ‘us’ was ever a static state and not continuous threads of migration.
The importance of supporting migrants transcends the moral imperative; it touches the very core of our societal health. These families bring with them not just the dreams of a few but the potential for new cultural syntheses, for economic vitality, and for a renewed spirit of community that can only be forged in the furnace of diverse experiences and aspirations.
This is why I’m so thankful for so many of you who understand this and lifted our mutual aid efforts to support migrant mothers and families.
The best version of our world is one where more people show up as our community of givers do. A world where individuals band together to form a collective, a unit stronger than the sum of its parts, driven by shared purpose. Driven by equity and care.
Donations were given through the kindness of people who likely will never meet those they have helped. Yet, countless people gave willingly and with open hearts. Thanks to your efforts, we have purchased hundreds of hygiene products, sleeping bags, sweaters, pants, shoes, and other essentials. These are not mere items; they are tools of survival, emblems of hope, and tokens of our shared humanity.
Our original aim was to donate these essentials to two housing facilities in Queens, NY supporting migrant families. Which we were able to accomplish. But we also managed to donate necessities to two non-profit organizations as well: Coalition for the Homeless and Lifting Up Westchester.
As we delivered the bags and boxes of items, the staff at each of these places welcomed them with an excitement that was both profound and touching. They spoke with great respect and admiration for the people they serve, each word heavy with the weight of their dedication. In the simplicity of their expressions, there was a depth of commitment that could not be misunderstood. To partner with such devoted individuals was not just an opportunity; it was an honor.
These mutual aid efforts, these collective endeavors to mend what the world has broken, continue to show that strength does not reside solely in the individual, but exponentially in the power of together. Each of you, through your kindness, has become part of a greater strength, one that stitches the fabric of humanity tighter in its broken places.
So, thank you. Not just for the sleeping bags or the sweaters, but for the solidarity, for the humanity, and for the strength. Each act of giving is a voice in the chorus saying we belong to each other, we are responsible for each other, and we hold each other up.
Let us continue to be that strength, that beacon, for as long as there are nights that are too cold, and journeys too long, there will be need for the warmth flame of generosity. And just as flames light the right path, so too can our collective kindness lead us in the direction of a better world.
To learn more about our past efforts visit: https://frederickjoseph.com/philanthropy
And stay tuned for our Juneteenth mutual aid effort.
Beautiful. This essay & the outpouring of generosity by so many has helped to restore a wee bit of my faith in humanity. Thank you for sharing and for all you’re doing to make the world a better place!
Yes. It is definitely an honor to be able help lift others up…☺️