Querida comunidad, (Dear community,) As we witness state-organized violence directed at Latine, Asian and Black and Brown immigrants and refugees, we recognize that the harm inflicted on those we serve carries profound consequences for physical, emotional and spiritual health. The abductions, arrests, detentions and aggression against women, children, elders and families stream across our screens […]
Veronica Espina
Verónica Espina is the founder and president of the Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network.
Posted inArts & Culture
Teaching antiracism is a practice of freedom
In June, the Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network finished its last 2025 Healing Illinois funded antiracism trainings –this is an initiative of the Illinois Department of Human Services in partnership with The Field Foundation of Illinois and United Way of Central Illinois. Our workshops focused on learning how to identify and interrupt anti-Black, anti-Immigrant prejudice, bias, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Antiracism work and community building ground us in love
In August, we wrote a column here about how the killing of Sonya Massey is one of countless instances of violence that Black communities have experienced for centuries. We referenced the brutal history of policing which has included enforcing slave codes, lynchings, and assaulting peaceful civil rights protesters with water cannons and dogs. The murder […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Law enforcement and policymakers must build relationships with community
This summer, the Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network presented three anti-racism workshops funded by the IDHS Healing Illinois. These workshops taught participants how to recognize the manifestations of racism and white supremacy in their work and in organizations, along with ways to mitigate harm and deliberately provide equitable services. My training partner, Dr. Kelly Hurst, a […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Repair harm to families who were separated at border
The Sangamon County Republican Party recently invited Tom Homan to speak at the May 9 Lincoln Day dinner. Homan was President Donald Trump’s acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement secretary when Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the start of the “zero-tolerance” policy allowing for the separation of children, including those from families lawfully seeking asylum. It […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Volunteering is a powerful way to make change happen
Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network is a grassroots volunteer organization serving immigrants and refugees, children and families who have come to Springfield – many after surviving life-threatening living conditions and environmental, economic, and political turmoil. Its mission is to protect the rights and promote the well-being and inclusion of Springfield’s immigrant and refugee communities through advocacy, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Work of Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network inspired by core beliefs
Some of the core beliefs that have inspired the work of the Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network center are recognizing the intrinsic dignity of all peoples as well as the understanding that migrants, immigrants, and refugees are like us – people trying to lead families to safety and survival and to potentially call the communities in […]
