This past Saturday, February 15, Venezuelans and Immigrants Aid (VIA) held its first volunteer meeting of the year in Brooklyn, New York. This gathering marked the beginning of 2025, filled with challenges and opportunities in a rapidly evolving immigration landscape.

The meeting served as a space to strengthen the team’s resilience, demonstrating an exceptional ability to adapt to recent changes in immigration policies. Héctor Arguinzones, VIA’s co-director and co-founder, explained, “At our organization, we understand that those supporting the community must also prioritize their own well-being. That’s why this gathering focused on sharing self-care and emotional resilience tools.”

According to Arguinzones, the leader of the Soporte entre Pares (Peer Support) program, Liliana Torella, and longtime volunteer Alexandra Bermúdez provided key mental health resources and self-care strategies. Additionally, the team dedicated time for open dialogue, sharing experiences, and reflecting on the impact of recent U.S. government executive orders on the lives of migrants and the communities they serve.

Arguinzones emphasized that since its founding in 2016, VIA has grown exponentially, and in its ninth year of continuous work, it reaffirms its commitment to newcomers seeking guidance and support in New York. “Our team, made up entirely of immigrants, understands the challenges of the community firsthand. That’s why we remain here, committed to providing the tools and guidance many need now.”

The event concluded with a symbolic gesture: the preparation of a traditional Venezuelan tizana (a sweet drink made with pieces of fruit and syrup), to which each volunteer added ingredients representing the values that unite them within the organization—empathy, leadership, resilience, and solidarity.

Arguinzones concluded, “At VIA, we are not alone. We are a family, a movement, and a beacon of hope for those beginning their journey in a new country.”