Progress! BUILD leaders were a key ingredient in doubling Baltimore City’s budget for legal and mental health services for immigrants— moving the City funds to $5 million.

BUILD leaders celebrate and thank Council President Cohen, Budget Chair McCray and Mayor Scott for their leadership in acting on the top two issues identified by immigrants in BUILD’s member and allied institutions: 1) Increasing access to legal services during a time of rapidly changing and uncertain immigration policies. 2) Expanding mental health services to address the growing trauma experienced by immigrant families, especially young people. 

• Organized an Action at Sacred Heart of Jesus attended by  Mayor Scott and 125+ BUILD immigrant and allied leaders. At the Action, BUILD leaders shared stories regarding their two top issues and asked the Mayor to double the current City budget to address them. 
• Packed out a City Council budget hearing where BUILD leaders testified to the importance of adding an additional $1.6 million to the budget to further increase legal & mental health services; 
• Delivered over 1,200 letters of support to the City Council collected over a 7-day period at the start of the budget cycle;
• Met repeatedly with Council President Cohen, as well as other key Council members;
• Attended critical budget hearings;
• Sent 100s of emails of support  during the last 2 weeks of the budget process;
• Participated in the City Council Press Event after the final budget vote where BUILD’s Co-Chair Rev. Cristina Paglinauan spoke.