Youth in Action for Immigration is Strangers No Longer’s regional high school coordinating committee, formed at the 2022 Youth Conference. We are motivated by Jesus’ call to welcome the stranger – a call echoed by Pope Francis and Church leaders throughout time. (Read the Strangers No Longer letter written by the USCCB here!) There are many ways for students to get involved and make a difference in our communities.
Join Us!
High School Circles of Support
A Circle of Support is a club or organization at a high school or parish youth group who gather regularly to welcome immigrants as our brothers and sisters. We do this by educating our school and community about the realities immigrants face in our society, and how we, as Catholics, are called to respond. We accompany individuals and families directly impacted by the immigration system. We advocate for real, systemic changes in federal, state, and local-level policies and practices in order to more sustainably improve the life and dignity of immigrants.
For more information and support starting a High School Circle of Support, please review our Starter Kit here.
Youth in Action for Immigration Meetings
All high school students are welcome to join these virtual meetings on the 2nd Sundays of each month at 7:30pm. In these meetings, youth share resources for their own Circle of Support groups and plan the annual Youth Conference and other events. Our goal is to make connections and grow in fellowship with surrounding schools, as we put our faith into action by welcoming immigrants and refugees in our communities.
Student Ambassador Program
Youth in Action for Immigration is excited to launch this new initiative! Each school or parish youth group involved with Strangers No Longer will nominate one underclassmen and one upperclassmen to be representatives of their Circle of Support groups. They will attend monthly Youth in Action for Immigration meetings, and serve as a liaison between their Circle of Support and Youth in Action for Immigration.
Youth Conferences
Every school year, students prepare and facilitate an immigration-themed Youth Conference. Participants hear from speakers with immigration experiences, learn about immigration topics from a Catholic perspective, take action to advocate for and support immigrants, and meet students from other high schools across SE Michigan.
High schools are encouraged to consider hosting a future Youth Conference. The following schools have hosted past Conferences:
- 2020 – Detroit Cristo Rey High School, Detroit
- 2022 – Detroit Cristo Rey High School, Detroit
- 2023 – Divine Child High School, Dearborn
- 2024 – Cabrini High School, Allen Park
- 2025 – Detroit Cristo Rey High School, Detroit
Immersion Trips
Students from all schools associated with Strangers No Longer are invited to attend an immersion trip each summer. Our trips rotate from local Michigan trips (where we learn about the realities of migrant farmworkers and other immigrant and refugee communities locally) and trips to the US-Mexico border.
- Summer 2023 – Traverse City / Diocese of Gaylord
- Summer 2024 – ARISE Adelante, US – Mexico Border
- Summer 2025 – Michigan’s Thumb / Diocese of Saginaw
Pax Christi Michigan Young Peace Activist Award 2024
In 2024, Pax Christi Michigan awarded Youth in Action for Immigration the Young Peace Activist Award. Members of Youth in Action for Immigration received the award at the Pax Christi Conference at the University of Detroit-Mercy in spring 2024. Congratulations, Youth in Action for Immigration!!
