Dear ,

This week marks National Migration Week, also known as Migrant Week, a celebration recognized by the Catholic Church that honors the vital contributions migrants make to our communities while acknowledging the ongoing challenges they face. Though this observance traditionally concludes with the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis has moved this year's celebration to coincide with the Jubilee of Migrants on October 4–5.

As the mother of a graduating high school senior, my evenings and weekends have become a whirlwind of scholarship searches, gentle (and not-so-gentle) reminders about college application essays, and campus tours. During a recent visit to North Carolina A&T, I heard a story that has stayed with me that feels particularly relevant as we observe this week of reflection.

Standing before the campus Reflection Pool, our tour guide shared the sobering history beneath our feet. The pool now occupies the grounds where Scott Hall once stood. In the late 1960s, she explained, a nearby high school made history by electing its first Black student government president. When school leadership refused to allow the elected student to take office, the students turned to North Carolina A&T for support in organizing a peaceful protest.

What began as a nonviolent demonstration took a tragic turn when authorities called in the National Guard. Soldiers opened fire on the Scott Hall dormitory, killing one student. Today, the Reflection Pool stands as a memorial, surrounded by dormitory walls that still bears the bullet holes preserved as a reminder of what can happen when fear overrides justice.

As I watch news reports of National Guard deployments across multiple cities including Virginia’s announcement that it will use the Guard to assist ICE operations, that campus story weighs heavily on my heart. The parallels feel uncomfortably close.

During this National Migration Week, we’re called to remember that behind every immigration debate are real people: families seeking safety, students pursuing education, workers contributing to our communities. The young students who sought justice at North Carolina A&T decades ago remind us that courage in the face of injustice is not new nor is the tragic potential for peaceful resistance to meet violent response.

As we honor our migrant neighbors this week, my hope is simple yet profound: that our communities choose safety over fear, love over suspicion, and leaders who make decisions with all people’s dignity in mind. The Reflection Pool at North Carolina A&T teaches us that some wounds leave permanent marks but they also remind us why we must do better.

May this Migration Week inspire us to be the neighbors we hope to have: welcoming, protective, and committed to ensuring that all people can live without fear in the communities they call home.

We are praying for everyone impacted by the shooting this morning at the ICE Detention Center in Dallas TX. 

Yours in Solidarity, 
Keisha 

Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook
Executive Director 

Voting is one of the most powerful ways we can shape our communities and our future. As election season approaches, we encourage you to make a plan to cast your ballot early.

Step 1: Check Your Voter Registration
Make sure your information is up to date so you don’t run into any issues at the polls.

Step 2: Find Your Polling Location
Whether you’re voting early or on Election Day, knowing where to go is key. Don’t wait—your voice matters, and your vote counts!

Inspired by our summer workshops for congregations considering developing affordable housing, VICPP will host an online workshop on October 2. It is open to all individuals and faith communities that want to support affordable housing and focused on partnership and advocacy at both the local and state level. Hear from experts in the field and get equipped for action! 

Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook, the new executive director of VICPP, continues her tour to the Goochland/Manakin-Sabot area near Richmond. Hear about VICPP’s work on justice issues like maternal health, prison education, housing, and workers’ rights—and meet the first African American to lead the organization

VICPP is partnering with Ekoji Buddhist Sangha of Richmond, and Williamsburg Buddhist Sangha to invite dharma practitioners from across the Commonwealth (Buddhists, Hindus, and others) for a day of connection, reflection, and public presence. 

We will gather at Richmond Hill, share in a lunch (vegetarian, vegan, diary-free, and gluten-free options available), then take a silent, meditative walk down to the lawn near the Virginia General Assembly building. The route is about a mile each way. This is not a protest, but a peaceful expression of our shared values. 

Our hope is to document the event and inspire future conversations and action around the role of interfaith organizing and statewide advocacy. The purpose is to demonstrate that our dharma communities are present, connected, and committed to building a more just and compassionate Virginia 

Day for All People – January 21, 2026 

Student Day of Action – February 12, 2026 

More details will be shared soon! 

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy advocates economic,
racial, and social justice in Virginia’s policies and practices
through education, prayer, and action.