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The Hummingbird Initiative is a community-led effort rooted in the West Side. It was created in response to increased immigration enforcement activity and the growing need for accurate information, legal observation, and collective care for our neighbors.
This work is ongoing and responsive to real conditions on the ground. Donations to the Hummingbird Initiative directly support community-based efforts, including:
Training materials and community workshops
Safety and documentation supplies
Space for trainings, meetings, and coordination
Translation and multilingual outreach
Communication tools and community education
Direct support for impacted families, as financial capacity allows
Your contribution helps us remain prepared, accountable, and rooted in community care, while responding to evolving needs.
We are living in a time when many of our neighbors are too afraid to leave their homes to go to church, buy groceries, go for a walk, drive, or even go to the doctor—let alone go to work. And with the current threats at the federal level to withhold billions in public funding—much of it intended to support low-income families with food aid, health care, and child care—West Side families will be stretched even thinner than they already are.
In response, we are building a fund to help relieve one of the heaviest financial burdens facing vulnerable households: rent
Donations to this fund will directly support West Side (55107) residents who are renters facing financial hardship—prioritizing low-income households, families impacted by immigration enforcement or work disruptions, and neighbors at immediate risk of eviction or housing instability.
This is a new effort, so depending on the response and requests we may need to be nimble with eligibility requirements. We are starting very basic, as noted above. Payments will be made directly to landlords.
For months now, West Side businesses have been struggling. For some, the customers they typically serve have been too afraid to leave their homes, deeply impacting sales. On multiple occasions now, businesses have been forced to close their doors on days when it simply felt too unsafe to operate.
Our small businesses are the heartbeat of the West Side neighborhood. They are what make our neighborhood vibrant, resilient, and culturally rich. Many of them hold deep historical and community significance. These businesses already survived the 2020 pandemic, but at that time there were federal and state resources available. Those same safety nets do not exist in this moment of crisis for our state.
We are creating this fund so we can act quickly and collectively to support our business community. Donations to this fund will directly support West Side businesses navigating financial hardship, helping them keep their doors open and continue serving our community during this moment and future crises.
Depending on the response and the requests, we may need to be nimble and update criteria and/or priorities as needed.