B1C raises funds to support Immigrant Integration

On May 17th, nearly 600 supporters came together at the Greenwich Hyatt Regency for Building One Community's 11th Annual Benefit Breakfast event. The goal of the event was to raise funds to support immigrant integration in Fairfield County and to raise awareness of the importance of integrating immigrants and their families. The passionate and heartfelt speeches delivered throughout the morning stirred up emotions and inspired attendees, resulting in overwhelming support for B1C's mission.

The event was attended by notable government officials, including Mayor Simmons, Attorney General Tong, Treasurer Russell, State Sen. Miller, State Sen. Fazio, and State Representatives Blumenthal, Figueroa, Khanna, Marra, Michel, and O’Dea. Former Stamford Mayor Martin, First Selectman of Greenwich Camillo, First Selectman of New Canaan Carlson, First Selectman of Darien Zagrodzky, Selectman of Darien Minnick, and Selectwoman of Darien Newman, First Selectman of Westport Tooker, our esteemed Consul General of Guatemala Flores, Stamford Probate Judge Fox, Stamford Board of Representative David Watkins, and Jacobson; and Stamford Board of Education Representatives Hyman, Koc, Better-Wirz, and Munshi-South.

This gathering was an opportunity to reflect on immigrants' challenges when coming to a new country and the positive role organizations like B1C play locally. B1C participant Beberly shared her story of resilience as she navigated the border at 16 with her two younger brothers to now being enrolled in college and pursuing social work, "Helping families in crisis, just like how Building One Community helped mine, is a dream for me. Now we are achieving our goals, which we once dreamed of. How different would have all been without the support of Adriana and B1C!" Beberly said.

The keynote speaker was Jonathan Blitzer, a staff writer at the New Yorker and author of Everyone Who is Gone Is Here. He won a 2017 National Award for Education Reporting, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and the 2018 Immigration Journalism Prize from the French-American Foundation. His writing and reporting have also appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, The Atavist, Oxford American, and The Nation. He was a 2021 Emerson Fellow at New America.

Blitzer shared his insight regarding the complexities of the U.S. immigration system. "I am very moved by the work of B1C, and it really gives me hope…to see the level of commitment, the level of daily engagement, the fact that through all the bureaucracy and through all the politics, you all have been able to find meaningful answers and continue the fight," Blitzer said.

Complete videos of all the speakers are available on B1C’s website. It’s also not too late to make a difference by donating to B1C’s fundraising campaign. Visit www.B1C.org to learn more about the organization and how you can contribute and get involved.

Thank you to B1C’s Benefit Breakfast sponsors, especially to the main sponsors, Stamford Health and Neuberger Berman.