ALASI finds strength in Juntos

“Tonight is not what we hoped it would be,” Rossina Sandoval Monsivais, executive director of Asociaticiôn Latinoamericana del Sur de Indiana (ALASI) Resource Center, said to the crowd gathered at Huntingburg’s Market Street Park for Juntos (Together) We Stand.

“We hoped to be celebrating at what would have been the 12th annual Festival Latino,” she continued.

However, instead of a culture festival highlighting the diversity of Latino immigrants in Dubois County and the region through music, dancing, food, and games, ALASI was holding “Juntos We Stand.” A moment to acknowledge these cultures and the current circumstances and actions that drive fear and confusion.

A moment to stand together and show solidarity as a part of the local community, as this background noise of fear, division, and threat of arrest permeates every conversation and activity within the immigrant communities.

During her opening remarks on Friday evening, Rossina pointed to the successes ALASI has achieved despite the current environment.

They have trained a bilingual medical interpreter group, filling a gap in rural healthcare.

Assisted more than 1000 families as they navigate schools, healthcare, employment, and legal systems.

Created Café en el Parque as a monthly gathering, driving connection and education.

Created spaces for conversations on multiple issues.

Opened Voces Vivas, a documentary and museum exhibit at the Dubois County Museum, to honor the living history of immigrants.

Continue to plan future Latino events to celebrate and uplift their cultural heritage when the timing is right.

“This is not a list of programs,” Rossina told the crowd. “It is proof of resilience.”

Ultimately, ‘Juntos We Stand’ was a call for unity among neighbors, as well as a moment of recognition of the current struggles.

Those attending were invited to form up into two opposing lines and walk towards each other. When the lines began to meet, the participants were encouraged to acknowledge each other in passing with a high-five, a smile, a hug, a greeting, or a fist bump – anything that shows connection and recognition.

Afterward, two members of ALASI took time to tell their own immigration stories.

Claudia, a Peruvian immigrant who’s been living in the U.S. for almost six years, reflected on her own journey of adapting to a new life.

Originally from Lima, Peru, Claudia now calls Jasper home. She came to the United States after marrying a Jasper native, but quickly learned that tying the knot doesn’t automatically sort out immigration status.

“Many people assume that because my husband is American, I automatically have ‘my papers.’ But it’s not that simple,” Claudia explained. “It took a year and a half, a lot of money, interviews, and proof of our marriage to finally get my residency.”

When Claudia first arrived, her English was limited, making it tough to navigate unfamiliar systems, especially during her pregnancy.

“Adapting to this new life was really challenging,” she admitted. “My basic English made communication difficult, and the immigration process itself is no walk in the park.”

Her son’s special needs became the driving force behind her personal growth. “I learned English so I could advocate for him,” Claudia shared. “He gave me the motivation and strength I needed to learn and become part of this new community.”

Claudia found support through ALASI after learning about them through the Festival Latino. With the organization’s help, she trained to become a medical interpreter, allowing her to help others facing similar challenges.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to think I can help others this way, because there was a time when I needed that kind of support and didn’t have it,” she said.

Claudia is now calling on the broader community to stand in solidarity with Latino immigrants. “I encourage everyone, regardless of race or background, to support the Latino community,” she urged. “We’re all here, trying our best every day to create a space for everyone.”

Concepcion came to the United States at age 9.

“My parents had to make the tough choice — should we stay in Mexico, or risk everything and start a new life here?,” she said.
Arriving in the United States meant a whole new culture, language and way of life.

“I remember sitting in class, not understanding a word, feeling completely lost,” Concepcion recalled. “Everything about school was so different from what I knew.”

She stepped up to the challenge and learned English so she could keep up with her classmates — to show that she belonged.

When she arrived here, there weren’t many Hispanics in the community. Fortunately, two kind-hearted individuals played a crucial role in helping the family adjust to their new life. They assisted the family with school enrollment and pointed them towards essential resources.

“My parents gave up everything – their culture, their loved ones – to give us a shot at a better future. I’ll always be grateful for that,” Concepcion said.

Referring to the theme of “Juntos (together) We Stand”, she explained that solidarity means more than working together.

“It’s a feeling of mutual support and shared purpose that can manifest in small acts of kindness or large-scale social movements that can have a great impact,” she said. “That’s why stand juntos (together) is so important to me.”

After hearing these stories, the organizers invited everyone to stand shoulder to shoulder for a 12-second moment of silence before ending Juntos We Stand.

Afterward, many stayed to meet with each other and talk and laugh, despite the circumstances of the event.

While not what they had hoped to be doing as in past years, the members of ALASI felt the event was a success.

“I felt like tonight was a salve for the hurt that our communities have experienced,” ALASI Board President Christian Blome said. “That coming together like this to name it and recognize it corporately together.”

In recognizing the togetherness felt during the event as well as the successes ALASI has had over the year, Blome explained that this can help create hope and sustained resiliency.

“Tonight was a pivot,” Rossina said. “That is the perfect word for what we did. We had to readapt everything that we thought was going to happen to create something to respond to what is currently happening in the historic moment we are living.”

ALASI hopes that Juntos We Stand will become a historic moment for all who attended.