TBT Blog

Last January, I attended my very first Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Day (IRAD) in Olympia. This was a day of many firsts for me, including my first time at the Washington state capital and my first time directly speaking to my elected representatives about an issue that is important to me. There were a lot of reasons that it took me this long to achieve these personal milestones. I am a business owner and a parent, so taking off an entire Thursday is no small ask. In addition, public speaking makes me very, very anxious. I therefore spent the two months between signing up and attending IRAD nervous about what this experience was going to entail. I am so very, very glad that I pushed through these practical and personal barriers to make my voice heard on this day.

As I prepare to be a repeat participant this year, here are some things that would have put me more at ease about signing up the first time if I had known them:

• WAISN (Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, the organizers of the advocacy day) are passionate, warm, and thoroughly dedicated to making the day as safe, comfortable, inclusive, productive, and personally meaningful for each attendee as possible. I was impressed with the thought and organization they put into the logistics of the online training ahead of time, as well as on the day. I arrived at my lobbying meeting well educated and well prepared. I was worried that I would have no idea what to do or say. I needed not be. 
• The experience of participating in this event was a unique hands-on civics education that left me energized, engaged, and with plenty of food for thought. Participating in our democracy in this way was deeply rewarding and humanized for me what sometimes seems like a huge, impenetrable system. I was worried that I would feel that there was not enough benefit to justify the cost of my time away from my business, family, and normal routine. I needed not be.
• As well as solidarity amongst the general participants, I found Jewish community and purpose at IRAD. In addition to some familiar faces from TBT, including Rabbi Dusty, the members of the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice (JCIJ) enthusiastically welcomed my Jewish voice and perspective on immigrant justice. I felt a lot of pride in being able to stand up as the granddaughter of refugees, to represent TBT and the larger Jewish community. I was worried that I would feel alone or like an outsider. I needed not be. 

If you are even thinking a little about participating in IRAD on January 22, 2026, I encourage you to take the opportunity. Showing up for immigrant and refugee justice is one of the most powerful ways we can put our Jewish and human values into action—turning compassion and community into advocacy and change. With your help, TBT can show up in a big way to lend our voices to the most vulnerable members of our community, who need us now more than ever. I hope to see you there!