2023 Updates
This year has been monumental for Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates. This small nonprofit immigration law office and advocacy center has consistently handled more and more cases, year after year, especially since the pandemic. We even celebrated our 1,000th case approval just a couple weeks before we turned eight years old in October! Amazing milestones, thanks to your support.
Serving (more than) 1,024 people since the start of this year is a reality full of deep responsibility and humility; it has also come at the cost of long hours and a seemingly unending workload for our team. I think I can say with deep honesty that hard work, is really hard. We climbed improbably tall mountains for our clients, braved more chaotic waves than ever before, made possible in part by moving into a new office space and doubling our capacity to serve those in need.
I believe that these milestones are our community's expression of its promise to welcome people, to be a space where choices matter. Choices made by the community, choices that individuals make.
I am so deeply proud of our community for how we welcomed people this year. There are many things that West Michigan is known for - pristine nature, a culture of entrepreneurship, fostering creativity, and occasional lake-related meteorological effects. And LIA is part of showing the world that we are leaders in kindness, inviting diversity, actively including and connecting people to enrich our shared existence.
I hope you'll take LIA's milestones as a testament to your generosity. I hope you'll be reminded of your belief that we can make the best of this broken immigration system while slowly changing the system. Your support has reunited families, assisted asylum seekers, and secured status for numerous individuals. Thank you for making it possible for others to walk through doors that you may never have had to.
Your contributions have made a tangible impact, as illustrated in this line chart showing the influx of new cases each month since 2015:
2023, marked in vibrant red, highlights the urgent and critical nature of our work. This year, we experienced a record-breaking surge in cases, particularly in June and July, further underscoring the need for our expanded office space and resources.
We worked on more cases in June and July than in all of 2021.
And it's not just the volume or scale of our efforts, but the close connection we have with people that makes it all possible.
As we look towards the future, your ongoing support remains crucial. The end of the year is a time for reflection but also for action. We ask you to continue standing with us in our pursuit of justice and community building. Your contributions are much more than a donation – they are investments in human potential, family safety, and a stronger, more inclusive community.
No contribution is too small in our quest for justice. Every amount helps build a community where hope and opportunity are accessible to everyone.
If you have not yet already, and if you're able to do so, please consider making your end-of-year gift to Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates today. Together, we can continue to make a significant difference in the lives of those who turn to us for help. (And if you've already given a donation, or are already giving monthly, thank you, thank you, thank you! Please forgive these end-of-year reminders to give in our emails as we work to reach and invite all of our supporters to take action.)
Regardless of when you're able to give, and how you're able to support, please know how thankful I am to you for entrusting us with the work of transforming injustice into opportunity.
Thank you for being a beacon of hope and an integral part of our Lighthouse family.
Warm regards,
David Lee
Advancement Director & Codirector of Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates