MIRA: Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, Inc.

06/19/2026

Happy ! 🖤❤️💚

Juneteenth, short for June 19th, commemorates the day the last remaining enslaved people in the U.S. — in Galveston, Texas — received the news that the Civil War had ended and they had been liberated by the federal orders in President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

The year was 1865 — two and a half years after Lincoln's proclamation.

has been celebrated by Black families across the nation for decades. In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday in the United States.
Here are five ways to celebrate Juneteenth.

Here are a few Black-led immigrant organizations you can support:

Thank you to author Amanda R. Martinez for creating these helpful tips.

06/19/2026

Tune in on Friday, June 19th for a discussion on the brief history of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and the continued fight to protect our Dreamers. Featuring MIRA's Senior Immigration Attorney, Cristina Dacchile Freeman.

� LIVE @ 11am on MIRA's YouTube, Facebook & Instagram channels

06/19/2026

Join us for the second year of the Cambridge Refugee Food Festival. A vibrant outdoor food market featuring bites from around the world, all crafted by talented refugee chefs and cooks living in the Greater Boston.

Taste flavors from Cuba, Haiti, Morocco, Somalia, Ukraine, Venezuela, and more while learning about the rich cultures, traditions, and journeys behind each dish. In addition to global eats, the festival will highlight local organizations supporting refugee communities, with educational activities, storytelling, and resources for deeper engagement.

📆 Saturday, June 20, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍PAGU, 310 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
🎟 Tickets here https://resy.com/cities/boston-ma/venues/pagu/events/2026-refugee-food-festival-2026-06-20?seats=2&date=2026-05-27

06/19/2026

🚨 Weekly Immigration Policy Updates as of June 18, 2026

➡️ Read more Policy Updates on our website
https://miracoalition.org/news/category/news-events/policy_updates/

➡️ SIGN UP for our Weekly Bulletin to read more immigration policy updates, learn about community events, find resources, and more! bit.ly/MIRA_Weekly_Bulletin

06/18/2026

Tune in on Friday, June 19th for a discussion on the brief history of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and the continued fight to protect our Dreamers. Featuring MIRA's Senior Immigration Attorney, Cristina Dacchile Freeman.

📽 LIVE @ 11am on MIRA's YouTube, Facebook & Instagram channels

06/18/2026

A group of over 60 state legislators are pressuring the federal Small Business Administration to rescind its policy restricting lawful residents who are immigrants from participating in its lending programs.

“So many small businesses are struggling to get by, and in particular residents that are doing everything the right way, pursuing the American dream, now being shut off by a source of capital that’s really important for our small businesses here,” said Rep. Andy Vargas of Haverhill, who is leading the effort on Beacon Hill along with Sen. Adam Gomez of Springfield.

Read more ⤵️

Small Business Administration has changed its policies over the past year to restrict small business owners who are not U.S. citizens from receiving SBA financing.

06/18/2026

MIRA's Organizing team had the opportunity to meet with many of our community members, are some highlights.

1. Over 70 participants attended the Merrimack Valley Project MVP) community meeting. Pictured with MVP leader Julio Mejia and board members.

2. At Governor Maura Healey’s Latino Empowerment Advisory Council (LEAC) in Lynn, local business leaders shared the challenges they face and how they have been overcoming barriers through partnerships with state agencies and community-based programs.

3/4. After being canceled last year, hundreds of people attended Framingham’s traditional Festa Junina! Congratulations to Brazilian-American Center (BRACE) for organizing a safe and joyful space for community celebration and cultural connection.

5/6/7. Thank you for the warm welcome to MIRA at the Coalition for a Better Acre’s Annual Summer Celebration! It was wonderful to see our people back to this place!

8/9. MIRA joined the Healing Justice Initiative with the Institute for Asian American Studies (IAAS) and the Gastón Institute to discuss how MIRA is fighting back by protecting civil rights and advancing justice. Picture with Calvin Hill (Vice Chancellor for Inclusive Excellence & Belonging, who joined us at GLAH with Chancellor Marcelo came to say hi) and Paul Watanabe (IAAS), and Fabian Torres (The Gastón Institute).

06/18/2026

Celebrate this week with some community events. Thank you Boston City Councilor At-Large Ruthzee Louijeune for sharing this calendar ❤️🖤💚

Observed annually on June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. It is a day of jubilee to honor freedom, reflect on our nation’s history, and celebrate the resilience, contributions, and enduring legacy of African-Americans in our country.

06/17/2026

Kids Belong in Classrooms along with MomsRising/Mamas Con Poder and other experts will host a training in Spanish: How to Talk to Your Children About the Immigration Policies We Are Experiencing Right Now.

📆 Wednesday, June 17, 2026
⏰ 5:30 pm PST / 8:30 EST
Register here ➡️ https://www.mobilize.us/momsrising/event/785564/

During this informative session, a licensed psychologist specializing in child and family well-being will discuss:
• What language and approaches are most appropriate based on a child's age.
• Which conversations are helpful and appropriate to have.
• How to recognize signs of stress and anxiety in children.
• Strategies for managing our own fears and emotions so we can better support our families.
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¿Te gustaría saber cómo hablar con tus hijos sobre las políticas migratorias que estamos viviendo en este momento, pero no sabes cómo hacerlo? Únete a este taller gratuito, donde compartiremos herramientas para padres para proteger a tu familia y el bienestar emocional de tus hijos, y hablaremos sobre cómo hablar con tus hijos sobre políticas migratorias.

📆 Día: miércoles 17 de junio, 2026
⏰ Hora: 5:30 pm PST / 8:30 EST
Regístrate aquí ➡️ https://www.mobilize.us/momsrising/event/785564/

06/17/2026

Learn more about the Protecting Our Massachusetts Communities Campaign
➡️ bit.ly/PMCcampaignpage

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