Blog

<p><strong>Written by Dustin Butoryak<br></strong><em>National Membership Manager, </em><a href="https://www.neighbornetwork.io/"><em>Hello Neighbor Network</em></a></p><figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/0*Vwq7MUvalJbvHp1_" /><figcaption><em>Image of a sealed ballot envelope lying on top of the American flag.</em></figcaption></figure><p>Greetings,</p><p>It’s a privilege to enter another fall season with you, our dedicated community members.</p><p>As the effulgent light and warmth of summer slowly give way to cool breezes, early sunsets and labyrinths of polychromatic leaves, something feels off.</p><p>I’m sure many of you have also noticed this strange feeling of discontent.</p><p>While fall is often associated with beauty and abundance (and rightfully so), this season also marks a period of significant change for many U.S. residents as we approach the culmination of election season.</p><p>For those of us who face the reality of our country’s immigration landscape every day, this election cycle has been particularly draining. While Hello Neighbor firmly believes that immigration is not a political issue at its core, the election media machine has designated it an essential topic in our country’s political discourse.</p><p>The dialogue around immigration this election cycle has created a uniquely hostile environment for many of our newest neighbors. As a result, those of us who work directly with refugee and immigrant communities to integrate into U.S. culture have found ourselves faced with many new and intensified challenges. Though this important work continues across our communities, everyone from grassroots, community-based organizations and decades-old resettlement agencies have been forced to ask themselves a difficult question — <strong>“What will the outcome of this election mean for our community members?”</strong></p><p>Unfortunately, there isn’t a succinct or eloquent answer to this question. What is certain, however, is that our country is at an inflection point. The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has restored a tremendous amount of capacity over the past four years and continues to show great potential for further expansion and refinement. Simultaneously, there is a very real possibility that the outcome of this election could mean the indefinite suspension of USRAP and the normalization of intense anti-immigrant sentiments at a federal level — both socially and through policy.</p><blockquote>“What gets lost in this divisive rhetoric is the harm it does to everyone involved — immigrants, citizens and communities. No one wins when we pit ourselves against each other.”<br>- Sloane Davidson (Founder &amp; CEO | <a href="https://www.helloneighbor.io/">Hello Neighbor</a>)</blockquote><p>Election and policy aside, I hope everyone can agree: <strong>our leaders’ words have immense power, and the use of careless or hateful language benefits nobody</strong>. As Sloane Davidson (our Founder &amp; CEO) recently wrote in an <a href="https://triblive.com/opinion/sloane-davidson-using-immigrants-for-political-points-hurts-us-all/">OpEd for TribLIVE</a>, “What gets lost in this divisive rhetoric is the harm it does to everyone involved — immigrants, citizens and communities. No one wins when we pit ourselves against each other.”</p><p>If nothing else, I have a deep hope that we can engage in these difficult conversations with good faith, generosity of spirit, and an appreciation for the humanity shared by all people.</p><figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/0*buKIUbSkHN7mhgdJ" /><figcaption>Migrants stand near the border wall after having crossed into the US from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. (REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez)</figcaption></figure><p>Undeniably, this is a scary time for those in our country who care about protecting immigrants and immigration as an institution. Despite this fear, I also have an overwhelming amount of faith in the countless people I’ve met through my work with the Network — directly and indirectly — to make the right decision for our future.</p><p>Regardless of the outcome of this presidential election, the Network’s work <strong>WILL continue</strong>. Your work <strong>WILL continue</strong>. The existence of refugees and immigrants in our country <strong>WILL continue</strong>. Our newest neighbors are the bedrock of this nation, and regardless of our political ebb and flow, the human impulse to build bridges with our neighbors will never cease.</p><p>If I could leave you with one thought, it’s this. <strong>Hate does not make us great, and now, more than ever, we need to embrace our love for one another.</strong></p><p>This fall, I’m choosing to embrace love. I urge you to join me.</p><p>Together,<br><strong>Dustin Butoryak</strong> <br><em>National Membership Manager, </em><a href="https://www.neighbornetwork.io/"><em>Hello Neighbor Network</em></a></p> <hr> <p><strong>About Hello Neighbor<br></strong><a href="https://www.helloneighbor.io/">Hello Neighbor</a> was founded in 2017 and their mission is to work to improve the lives of recently resettled refugee and immigrant families by matching them with dedicated neighbors to guide and support them in their new lives.</p> <hr> <p><strong>About the Hello Neighbor Network<br></strong>The <a href="https://www.neighbornetwork.io/">Hello Neighbor Network</a> provides refugee and immigrant-serving nonprofit organizations seeking to scale and become sustainable organizations with education, a supportive peer network and the inspiration, leadership and advocacy skills they need to bring about structural change. To date, the Network’s Membership encompasses 60 organizations across 30 U.S. states, each of whom are directly addressing the unique needs of the newest neighbors in their local communities.</p> <hr> <p><a href="https://medium.com/hello-neighbor-network/staff-oped-embracing-love-this-election-season-9ca5526d352e">Staff OpEd: Embracing Love this Election Season</a> was originally published in <a href="https://medium.com/hello-neighbor-network">Hello Neighbor Network</a> on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.</p>