The Donor Appreciation Luncheon held by the Littleton Immigrant Integration Initiative (LI3) on April 21 was deemed by all to be a great success. The free luncheon, held to thank those who have supported the initiative since its inception in 2009, was “sold out,” with 70 reservations.
During the luncheon, Chair Susan Thornton described the evolution of the LI3 from an initiative focused just on Littleton to one that is helping documented, low-income immigrants and refugees from around the world and across the metro area with “self-development” grants designed to raise the standard of living of the immigrant family and make them feel more a part of the community.
To reflect its broader, more inclusive vision, Ms. Thornton announced that the initiative was changing its name to Immigrant Pathways Colorado.
The keynote speaker at the luncheon was Helen Thorpe, who described the six years she followed four Mexican-American high school girls in Denver before writing “Just Like Us: Four Mexican Girls Coming of Age in America.” This very moving documentary follows the girls, all very bright and high achievers, as they approach the end of their high school years and seek to go to college. Two of the girls are documented, and two were brought without documents to the U.S. as young children by their parents, thus severely limiting their ability to fully participate in the American dream.
Ms. Thorpe’s second book, Soldier Girls: The Battles of Three Women at Home and at War, followed three women soldiers as they returned from deployment in Afghanistan. The book is being made into an HBO documentary. To watch a video of Ms. Thorpe’s presentation, click here.
“I am very grateful for the grant as it is a big help to obtain my DACA. This is important to because this is my opportunity to finish what I started. I am/will be able to finish my career. It is a nursing career. I love to help people and being bilingual this will give me a bigger opportunity to help out in a better way. Thank you so much for helping me on my way to a better life.”
