Supporting Immigrant Communities Through Trust, Resources, and Advocacy

Standing With Immigrant Communities

In Los Angeles County, more than one-third of residents are immigrants, and millions of families live in mixed-status households navigating complex systems and economic uncertainty. For many immigrant families in South Los Angeles and Echo Park, accessing basic services—from food assistance to tax preparation and healthcare information—can be difficult without trusted guidance. At Resilient Agency, supporting immigrant communities has become an essential part of the organization’s mission to strengthen neighborhood stability, opportunity, and long-term community resilience.

In 2025 alone, Resilient Agency served more than 1,800 immigrants, connecting families to food distributions, trusted information, economic resources, and educational workshops that help communities thrive. Executive Director Michael Guedel describes this work as a natural extension of Resilient’s long-standing commitment to meeting communities where they are. “Our work has always been about trust,” Guedel explains. “When people know they can come to us for reliable information and real support, it creates a foundation where families can begin to stabilize and move forward.”

Showing Up in Moments of Uncertainty

Over the past several years, immigrant communities across Los Angeles have faced increasing uncertainty. Indiscriminate immigration enforcement and the racialized targeting many communities experience during these operations have placed enormous strain on families already balancing long workdays, childcare responsibilities, and limited access to resources. During periods of intensified enforcement in Los Angeles neighborhoods, Resilient Agency expanded its outreach and resource sharing to ensure families received the support they needed. Between 2024 and 2026, the organization grew its outreach footprint from 21 service zones to 32 zones across Los Angeles, allowing staff and volunteers to reach more families with food distributions, trusted information, and resource connections when they needed it most.

Staff and volunteers delivered food to households that were afraid to leave their homes and distributed information about community resources and legal rights so families could make informed decisions. As Executive Director Michael Guedel explains, “Not only did we show up for families during that time—we also saw something powerful happen. Neighborhoods that historically had tension with one another began sharing resources and supporting each other. That kind of solidarity is what resilience really looks like.”

These efforts continued as communities across Los Angeles faced additional crises, including devastating wildfires that disrupted work, housing stability, and access to services. For many immigrant families working in outdoor industries or living in affected neighborhoods, the fires created sudden financial and logistical challenges. Resilient responded quickly by expanding food distributions and sharing emergency resources to ensure families had access to basic necessities during an already difficult time. As Guedel reflects, “Our role is to stand beside the community when things become uncertain. When families are supported with food, information, and trusted connections, it strengthens the entire neighborhood.”

Expanding Our Commitment

This winter and spring mark an exciting new chapter in Resilient Agency’s immigrant rights work. Building on years of community outreach and resource sharing, the organization is expanding its efforts to ensure immigrant families have greater access to trusted information, financial tools, and supportive services.

Resilient is doubling down on its commitment to immigrant communities, strengthening partnerships and developing new programming that helps families navigate complex systems with confidence. By investing in education, economic opportunity, and community-based support networks, the organization is working to ensure that immigrant families not only receive assistance during moments of crisis but also gain the tools they need to build long-term stability and opportunity.

Central to this expansion is Resilient Agency’s belief that the most effective solutions grow through collaboration. By partnering with organizations that bring specialized expertise and deep community trust, Resilient is able to expand its reach while ensuring families receive accurate information and culturally responsive support.

Expanding Opportunity Through Partnerships

One important component of this work is the organization’s partnership with Haven Services, through which Resilient hosts ITIN education workshops that help immigrant families better understand the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number application process. These bilingual workshops provide guidance on tax filing, financial documentation, and available tax credits, helping participants access financial tools that can improve long-term economic stability. For many families, these workshops offer the first opportunity to receive clear and trustworthy information about navigating the tax system.

Resilient Agency has also begun collaborating with El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center through the HCAI Pillar 1 initiative, a statewide effort focused on strengthening the Community Health Worker and Promotores workforce that supports immigrant and refugee communities. Community Health Workers serve as trusted messengers who connect families to legal services, healthcare, and social support systems while helping residents navigate complex institutions with confidence. The initiative emphasizes outreach coordination, referrals to immigration legal services, and education that helps immigrant communities stay informed and supported.

For Guedel, these partnerships represent an important evolution in Resilient Agency’s work. “Community organizations are strongest when we collaborate,” he explains. “When trusted groups come together, we can share knowledge, expand access to services, and make sure families are receiving the support they deserve.”

Looking Ahead

As Resilient Agency looks ahead, the organization remains committed to expanding programs that support immigrant families across Los Angeles. This includes strengthening immigrant rights education, continuing food and resource distributions, deepening partnerships with organizations that provide legal and healthcare services, and expanding economic development opportunities that help families build stability.

By continuing to meet people where they are, Resilient Agency hopes to ensure that immigrant communities have the resources and support they need to thrive.

At the heart of this work is a simple belief that has guided the organization since its earliest days: when communities are supported with compassion, trust, and opportunity, they become stronger for everyone.