INTRODUCTION
Over the last few years, I've met some of the most incredible folks I know over Zoom. Connecting through justice projects has been one of the things that has sustained me through the ups and downs.
One such group is the Butterfly Effect. Their youth-led projects to support families and kids at the border are beautiful, powerful, and family-friendly. They're the kind of group that is an example of how to take something you love doing and something you care about and to turn it into part of a larger movement for justice and liberation. This February, folx from the Butterfly Effect are headed to the border to work with Team Brownsville, founded by a group of educators to help asylum seekers who find themselves in Brownsville, Texas and at the Brownsville/Matamoros international bridges.
When I read about their latest endeavor, to gather books, toys, and children's clothing in addition to asking community members to make friendship bracelets that they can share with folx at the border, I immediately wanted to get involved. I'm someone who loves to make things as part of self-care, community care, and learning. And my kids love to make things, too, so we started our friendship bracelets right away.
LOVE WITHOUT BORDERS
And then, the wheels in my mind started turning. How could I connect more deeply with this project? How might Reading Is Resistance spread the love -- the love that grows from connection, making, reading, empathy, support...
I grabbed Bright Stars by Yuyi Morales (you all, it's SUCH a gorgeous book on so many levels) and Love Without Borders as a project was born. The book says, "You are a bright star within our hearts." Those words really move me. How can we be bright stars for each other when the road is dark....when things in the world are so hard and so fractured?
GET INVOLVED
There are lots of ways to get involved with this project.
Go to the Butterfly Effect website to send bracelets, books, and more directly to their organization for them to take to the border.
You can also find a link there to donate funds directly to Team Brownsville whose daily work takes place at the border.
In addition, you might be interested in our Love Without Borders Valentine....read on to learn more. I took inspiration from the Butterfly Effect and Yuyi Morales' book in order to make a Reading Guide that will support deeper reflection and action around migration and belonging. And we will be sending out this sweet book to all of you -- our very own Valentines!
SEND A VALENTINE GIFT TO YOUR SWEETHEART & TO THE BORDER
HOW & WHAT?
You order for a Valentine in your life. We send your Valentine:
Bright Star by Yuyi Morales (a beautiful picture book about courage and hope in the borderlands for readers from 0-125!
A link to a social justice reflection activity for Bright Star
A postcard saying "“You are a bright star within our hearts” and describing our project.
A heart friendship bracelet
And we donate to the Butterfly Effect:
A copy of Lucero by Yuyi Morales (Bright Star in Spanish)
A matching heart friendship bracelet
WHY?
Our friends at the Butterfly Effect: Migration Is Beautiful are headed to the U.S./Mexico border and will be taking donations of books, necessities, and friendship bracelets with them to share. We are inspired by their work with Team Brownsville in supporting families seeking assylum at the border between the U.S. and Mexico. We stand with the Butterfly Effect in the belief that...
"All kids should be free and with the people who love them. We see you, we care about you and we welcome you."
Join us!
