Holding Community in Uncertain Times

Community leaders in numerous Indianapolis neighborhoods are seeing increased fear, isolation, and disruption in daily life as immigration policies and enforcement intensify.

Luna, an Indianapolis Foundation (IF) Community Ambassador working closely with families across the city, says the effects are being felt in homes, schools, and workplaces.

“There’s a lot of fear right now,” Luna said. “People are living in survival mode.”

The Community Ambassador program, led by The Learning Tree and sponsored by IF, connects the foundation with advocates who share real-time insights based on their close relationships with the communities they serve.

Recent changes in immigration policy, increased policing, and heightened surveillance have led some families to stay home, avoid public gatherings, and disengage from community spaces, according to Luna. Also, local organizations have canceled events, and participation in others has declined as concerns about safety grow.

In schools, the impact is visible. “We’ve seen classes go from 30 students to 20,” Luna said. “Kids are either staying home or leaving altogether.”

Behind those numbers are deeply human stories, she added.

She shared accounts of how parents are raising their children alone after their partners are detained; families who are struggling to pay basic utilities after job losses; and employees returning to their workplaces only to find coworkers gone the next day. 

Meeting Urgent Needs, Together

In response to those challenges, Luna and other community advocates and members have been building systems of care designed to support people in navigating obstacles.

One of those efforts is an impact fund that provides direct financial support to families affected by immigration enforcement. The funds help cover legal fees, medical costs, and basic living expenses, offering stability in moments of crisis.

“At the end of the day, people need immediate support,” Luna says. “We’re making sure resources go directly back into the community.”

But the response doesn’t stop at financial assistance.

Recognizing the emotional and psychological toll, Luna helps lead a mental health initiative that creates space for collective healing. Through gatherings and conversations, community members are able to name what they’re experiencing.

“There’s a lot of collective trauma,” she explains. “We want people to know they’re not alone.”

These efforts are evolving into more structured support systems, including culturally responsive therapy options and upcoming support groups. The goal is not only to respond to crises, but to build long-term pathways for healing.

Prepared, Connected, and Looking Out for One Another

Another powerful example of community response is the growth of a local rapid response network.

Through community safety trainings, more than 1,000 community members have received information to learn about anti-immigration activity and how to respond.  .. This includes documenting situations, de-escalating when possible, and ensuring that community members are not facing these disruptive moments alone.

“We’re seeing people step up,” Luna says. “Not just those directly impacted, but allies too … people using their privilege to be eyes and ears on the ground.”

This kind of shared responsibility is critical, especially as fear has led some organizations to cancel events and limit gatherings. Even so, Luna and her partners are intentionally creating opportunities for connection, with added layers of safety and care.

“We’re still coming together,” she says. “We’re still building community. That hasn’t stopped.”

The Emotional Weight, and the Strength to Carry It

For those doing this work every day, the emotional toll is real.

Luna speaks openly about the challenge of holding both personal and collective pain while continuing to show up for others. But she also points to the importance of support systems within the movement itself.

“We check in on each other,” she says. “We make space to talk about how we’re doing—not just focusing on doing the work.”

Through shared leadership, mutual care, and a commitment to balance, organizers are finding ways to sustain themselves. Programs like Rooted Together are designed not just for the broader community, but for those leading the work as well.

Still, the need continues to grow.

“We’re seeing more isolation, more mental health challenges,” Luna notes. “When people aren’t connected, it’s harder.”

Which is why connection remains at the center of everything.

A Call to See, Understand, and Act

For those outside the immediate experience, Luna offers a clear and powerful message: this is not someone else’s issue.

“This isn’t just about immigration,” she says. “These are systems we’ve seen before … mass incarceration, family separation, the erasure of culture. It’s all connected.”

She encourages people to move beyond headlines and into deeper understanding, learning their rights, supporting trusted organizations, and listening to those most directly impacted.

Most importantly, she invites people to recognize the shared humanity at the heart of it all.

“We’re not separate,” she says. “This affects all of us.”