History
In the summer of 2022, many New Yorkers came together to address the immediate needs of individuals and families who were being bussed in from Texas through Penn Station, Port Authority and airports. As of 2025, we continue to successfully address and meet the concrete needs of hundreds of asylum-seeking people throughout New York City and beyond through mutual aid.
The individuals and families we meet with have skills and strengths that they use to create and lead the path towards a successful journey for themselves and their families. At Mi Tlalli we evolve with our community members. Community members create Mi Tlalli’s goals, brainstorm programming, and co-lead its implementation.
Community
We currently have a base of thousands of members and at least 200 active members monthly.
Our members are asylum seeking African men, Central American Men (18-54 y.o) and Families consisting of single women and children. We also have asylum seeking women from Russia. A small percent are youths (17-23y.o) and part of the LGBTQ community.
People from Brazil, Morocco, Chad, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, Cuba, and growing.
We offer and provide mental health services, health care, education resources, recreation activities, work readiness programs, legal support, connection to housing opportunities and address concrete needs such as food and clothing.
“Como en Casa” Community Holiday Gathering
Areas of Interest
Mental Health
Providing emotional support
Education
English classes
Reading/Literacy classes
Invite other undocumented groups to collaborate
Legal
Orientation to immigration legal process
Support with change of venue change of state
Access to legal accounts/tech support in accessing case info
Providing info for legal applications
Support family reunification
Collaboration
Stipends to promote community leaders in collaborative workshops/groups
Encouraging community members to share skills (barber, first aid, musicians, etc.)
Community care
Healthcare
Orienting to healthcare system and providing resources
Recreation
Summer programs from students outside of school
Art workshops/coloring
Holiday events
Beauty/self care workshops
Concrete Needs
Provides meals and refreshments
Assist with shelter admission and re ticketing as well as offering overnight stay and connecting to housing opportunities
Coordinating donations (clothes, strollers, luggages, etc)
Hygiene and menstrual products
Support with MetroCards