Happy Independence Day!

The Fourth of July has long forced a reflection on the distance between our Founders—and our—imagined America and the reality around us. Here, at Save Resettlement, our reflections have centered on the America imagined by The Refugee Act—and the reality that refugee resettlement remains largely suspended.

In the words of Marv Knox and Stephen Reeves of Fellowship Southwest:

Americans have been celebrating freedom on July 4 for [over] 245 years. We believe our nation can help mitigate the issues that drive refugees from their homes. And we believe the American experiment is vast and durable and can provide a safe home for those whose lives are imperiled elsewhere.

Our belief in the American experiment is what inspires us to Save Resettlement— and we hope it inspires you, too. While immigration policy often feels like an insurmountable behemoth, over which we have little control, the reality is: change starts at home.

We have the ability—in our schools, churches, and broader communities—to create an enabling environment for resettlement. When we talk through our neighbor’s concerns with resettlement, encourage our business leaders to hire refugees, and celebrate language diversity in our schools, we are building the foundation for legislative change on a broader scale.

Big Sky Country can help show us the way. Click here to read how.