OIA is back at Columbus Arts Festival for another celebration of culture and humanity. At this FREE event, Mauritanian-American pop star Salif Sarr will perform some of his greatest hits. Shema Asifiwe will present his new coloring book, "Ohio Is My Second Country," and Demba Ndiath will read from his forthcoming book, "From Welcome to Deportation."
From May 23 to 30, communities across Ohio are coming together for a statewide week of interfaith vigils in solidarity with people held in civil immigration detention (a.k.a. ICE jail). Faith leaders, organizers, and community members will raise their voices, hold space for reflection, and stand in collective action. This coordinated week of action calls for:
An end to ICE detention
Transparency on detention facility funding
An end to 287(g) agreements
Vigils may include interfaith prayers, brief speaking programs, and peaceful reflection with signs and candles. Attend a vigil near you, or organize one in your own area to be part of this statewide effort!
Join us for an evening with author Lynn Tramonte as she discusses her book, Broken Hope: Deportation and the Road Home, as well as more recent projects on the topic of immigration and deportation.
Broken Hope: Deportation and the Road Home highlights the experiences, hopes, and dreams of 255 people who were deported from the United States, as well as their loved ones.
The Zoom-based preview is designed to prepare members of the media, other content creators, and supporters and friends for OIA’s Columbus Arts Festival appearance on June 13. That day, OIA will take center stage to present a concert with Salif Sarr, and two new books by Shema Asifiwe and Demba Ndiath.
Attend a Build the Nest training so you are aware of your rights when you encounter unsafe situations. Learn how to build a nest of protection for immigrants, your neighbors, and your community.
What is ICE? What are your rights when interacting with federal agents? What immigration related bills are under consideration at the Ohio Statehouse, and how can you use your voice? On March 23 at 6pm, NAACP Cleveland Branch is hosting an in-person town hall with Ohio State Representatives Juanita Brent and Eric Synenberg to answer these questions, and more.
The Galion Public library is inviting people residing in Crawford County and beyond to attend Political Education, the Program where Politics Become Practical, on Monday, March 16, from 6-8 p.m. in the Community Room. The topic is immigration, and GPL will host Lynn Tramonte, director of the nonprofit Ohio Immigrant Alliance. Through discussion, activities, and of course, trivia, participants come away from this event with more skills, tools, and connections.
On February 26, 2026 Trek Brewing Company will donate 10% of the proceeds to the Ohio Immigrant Alliance.
Stop in and say hi!
It’s being reported that ICE’s next target will be the small community of Springfield, Ohio. Does that town sound familiar? That’s because it’s the same town that JD Vance and Donald Trump used to spread lies about Haitian immigrants in 2024. If ICE comes after Springfield’s community of 15,000 Haitian immigrants, including thousands of children, we are prepared to defend their right to remain in the country they call home.
Our Red Wine & Blue community and partners came together to support Springfield in 2024 and we’re coming together now. Join us on Tuesday, February 3rd at 8:30 PM ET for our Emergency Meeting: Unite for Springfield – ICE Out of Our Communities to raise awareness of what’s actually happening in Springfield and how we can fight back. OIA’s Lynn Tramonte will speak.
OIA is teaming up with Bomani Beauty MD — a local Afro Caribbean, veteran, and family- owned vegan skincare and cosmetics company — for a holiday pop-up shop at Hexagon Books.
In addition to Bomani Beauty's skin, hair, and body care products, purchase books, puzzles, soaps, t-shirts, Fulani hoops, and more from Hexagon and OIA. Did you know Hexagon has a children's section? We guarantee there will be something for everyone on your shopping list!
You can also learn more about Hexagon's language classes and our volunteer programs at the Ohio Immigrant Alliance.
If you believe Ohio is home for everyone, you are part of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance family. Come to our first-ever Family Reunion!
Celebrate our community and gather with old and new friends, after a difficult year for immigrants and our country. Enjoy free Senegalese food, a performance by renowned griot Habi Gawlo, and remarks from special guests Imam Ayman Soliman and Geronimo Ramirez of Comunidad Sol!
You are invited to Pulaagam: A Celebration of Fulani Heritage on Saturday, June 7, at 3pm at the Columbus Arts Festival. The event will take place on the Word Is Art & Acoustic Lounge Stage (map) and coincides with Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), one of the holiest annual celebrations in Islam. Share the Facebook Event. Suggested parking: RiverSouth garage, 232 S. Front St.)
Ohio Immigrant Alliance hosted a community conversation for the public, advocates, and policymakers to share how we can advance a more dimensional immigration narrative in Ohio, during a difficult time for everyone. We heard from Houleye Thiam of the Mauritanian Network for Human Rights; Viles Dorsainvil of the Haitian Community Help & Support Center; Jona Hilario of OPAWL – Building AAPI Feminist Leadership; Claudia Longo of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio; and Lynn Tramonte of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance about what we know from public opinion research; how immigrants want to be seen in the media; and how content creators can help ensure a broader picture comes into focus. The discussion will be moderated by Ohio Voice.
OHIA is seeking volunteers to help deliver copies of “Broken Hope: Deportation and the Road Home” to every member of the U.S. House and Senate on June 11 in Washington, DC! Read more here and watch online on the Ohio Immigrant Alliance’s Instagram.
Ohio Migration Anthology is back at the Columbus Arts Festival June 7, from 3-4pm in Bicentennial Park. We’ll crowd-source a poem and expand the call for contributors to Volume 3 in 2025. Join us in Columbus on June 7!
