The Dane County Department of Human Services hosted its fourth annual Immigration Affairs Office Luncheon Nov. 8 at the Goodman Community Center’s BrassWorks Building on Madison’s East Side.
“I just have to say that now, more than ever, it is important for us to come together and celebrate the collaboration, hard work, camaraderie and friendship at an event like this,” said Dane County Immigration Affairs Supervisor Fabiola Hamdan, opening the event.
“We have experienced some tough days filled with emotions, disappointment and fear. I know it is not easy for each of us to carry a heavy weight, but as we gather here today, we are reminded that there is always a tomorrow, a tomorrow to embrace the power we have to keep fighting, to keep making a difference,” Hamdan added.
(Photo by A. David Dahmer)
In attendance at the 4th annual Immigration Affairs Office Luncheon were state representatives, local elected officials, members of the Mexican consulate, immigration attorneys, and community leaders, along with Dr. Joe Gothard, the MMSD superintendent, and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway.
“This luncheon is a small token of appreciation for all of you and for the various support you provide to our office and for the important work you do. Without you, we cannot do this alone,” said Hamdan, who was named the first-ever Dane County Immigration Affairs Specialist back in 2017.
(Photo by A. David Dahmer)
The Dane County Department of Human Services established the Immigration Affairs program on Oct. 2, 2017, to better serve the growing immigrant and refugee
population in Dane County. Various factors contributed to the creation of the office, including the political climate at the time where the atmosphere against the immigrant community created fear and anxiety.
Immigration Affairs (IA) “serves people with various immigration-related needs and navigates the complex immigration process to gain or maintain legal status while also linking clients to services and resources to address their basic human needs.” IA has four full-time staff members – a supervisor, two bilingual Spanish social workers and one bilingual Spanish social service specialist.
The 4th annual Immigration Affairs Office Luncheon celebrated collective efforts in advocacy, outreach, and community partnerships with the stated goal of fostering a sense of safety and belonging.
Connie Bettin, the division administrator for the Prevention & Early Intervention Division, noted that there would once again be challenges for Immigration Affairs from the incoming Trump administration.
“This program started in 2017. We went from serving a handful of families to over 600 in 2023 and that’s just going to continue to grow,” Bettin said. “We don’t do it alone. I think this is a collective impact model because it is only effective because of all the people in this room today and the work we do together. We are stronger and better working together.
“The challenges are great. This office was born one year into the same administration that is coming back, but what gives me some hope is that we’re better prepared. It won’t be easy, but we do have some very foundational things in place, that were not in place in 2017,” she added. “Our partnerships are solid, and we have learned lessons around communication and educating people, and knowing their rights, and we will mobilize much more quickly and with all of us together we will get through this.”
At the event, the Dane County Department of Human Services’ Immigration Affairs presented a short video highlighting the impact of the organization pointing out that the need for these services is high and increasing in Wisconsin and Dane County. In Wisconsin, the immigrant and refugee communities are composed of approximately 300,000 immigrants (foreign-born) that make up 5% of the Wisconsin population, according to the Dane County Department of Human Services’ Immigration Affairs annual report, and 48,000 reside in Dane County and make up 9% of the Dane County population. The most common countries of origin for Wisconsin immigrants are Mexico, India, China, Laos, and the Philippines.
(Photo A. David Dahmer)
At the luncheon, certificates of appreciation were presented to local people and organizations who were recognized for their “continued support, advocacy, and commitment to our immigrant and refugee community” including the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC); Betsy Strahin, DCDHS program analyst; and Ron Chance, Prevention & Early Intervention Division community programs manager.
“The one thing I wanted to say is that it is just an honor to be associated with all of you,” Chance told the crowd while accepting his award. “Somebody once asked me what I’m most proud of and it is my public service. I know all of you are in the trenches every day as public servants in the nonprofit world. So it’s just been fabulous to know all of you. And I have the utmost admiration for you all.”
