We should all stand with immigrants.

June marks the beginning of Immigrant Heritage Month — a month-long celebration that allows communities across the United States to explore their heritage and celebrate the shared diversity of their cultures. Throughout the month, we honor and celebrate the foundational contributions of immigrants. 

Our country’s roots can be traced back to the entrepreneurial spirit of immigrants, courageous enough to leave their homes, lives, and loved ones to seek refuge and opportunity. Immigrants contribute to our economy in every profession, including caregiving, engineering, health care, construction, agriculture, law, education, military, manufacturing, and countless other sectors. They are essential to our intricate fabric of arts, culture, government, and foundation.

While this nation was built on the trials and tribulations of many, including immigrants, today’s federal immigration policies ignore and do a disservice to our foundational history. This is why it is more important than ever that we come together, across states and cities, to shine a light on our neighbors and celebrate one another. 

My parents came to the United States with the hope of building a better life for us and creating opportunities to give back to the communities that have welcomed us with open arms. My father creates employment opportunities through his construction company; my mother shares the rich taste of our Turkish roots with neighbors; I’ve dedicated my professional life to the service of others, and my little brothers build community through various volunteer opportunities. As a family, we help bridge the intricacies of multicultural experiences. 

Our immigrant communities are inextricably and beautifully woven into our past, present, and future. Let’s celebrate the 85.7 million immigrants, who make up 26% of the US population. Support our immigrant friends and families by: 

• Learning more about your local immigrant and refugee communities.
• Supporting your local immigrant and refugee businesses.
• Supporting organizations in your community that provide direct services to immigrants and refugees.
• Voting! Changing national policy is the single most important way to stand in solidarity with immigrants and refugees.

This National Immigrant Heritage Month, let’s honor the contributions of immigrants to our great Nation of limitless possibilities.

About the author: 

Born in Rize, Turkey and raised on Long Island, New York, Gül (Rose) is a dedicated community activist with a passion for mobilizing people and resources to help reimagine systems of inequality and seek opportunities to advance social change. She has expertise and experience in managing strategic fundraising operations, refining major gift programs, volunteer training and management, disaster response and recovery, and fostering positive cultures of philanthropy. A global citizen and community leader, Gül spends her spare time volunteering for New Leaders Council as a board member to recruit, train and promote the progressive political entrepreneurs of tomorrow. She is an avid National Parks explorer, donut and coffee connoisseur, and road-tripper!