To combat isolation for local immigrants, this nonprofit recruits allies and volunteers

At a recent a volunteer day at TIRRC, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, community members huddle around long tables full of tape, markers, and cardboard boxes as music from around the world plays in the background.

Sarah Fotopulos and Linda McFadyen-Ketchum pack yard signs that say “Immigrants Belong” into boxes, so they can be mailed to Tennesseans who ordered them.

TIRRC will host a pro-immigration day at the statehouse on March 5th, and that also needs preparation. Dan Surface sticks labels with TIRRC’s logo on folders. Mackenzie Levy writes encouraging notes to put in attendees’ lunches. Josh Beasley and Natalie Flammia draw protest signs on 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper.

“There’s size restrictions, apparently,” Beasley says.

Char Daston WPLN

At a February 2025 volunteer event, attendees made pro-immigration signs to display at an upcoming protest at the Tennessee statehouse.

Fear of deportation has led some immigrants to hide in their homes, avoiding school and work. Miranda Arstikaitis, TIRRC’s volunteer coordinator, says events like this can make immigrants feel less isolated and afraid.

“They want to hear that people support them and see them and see the way that they are being targeted,” she says.

Cory Bishop is volunteering for the first time with TIRRC.

“You know, with all these recent bills that have been proposed, and some are passing, about immigrants, refugees in our own backyard, I want to get involved and support and keep our communities vibrant,” he says.

For others, the issue is even more personal. Vanessa, who gave only her first name, moved to the U.S. from Mexico and has lived in Nashville for ten years. She knows lots of people who, due to their immigration status, can’t get driver’s licenses, which makes a list of essential tasks much harder.

“To drive to your work, to drive the kids to the school, to go to the shopping center to buy a food,” she says.

There’s a spirit of camaraderie as volunteers work together. Leticia Ramon is the daughter of an immigrant from Guatemala. She and Vera Bowie look like coworkers in matching hospital scrubs.

In fact, Bowie says, “I just met her. I already feel like we’re best friends!”

“I can tell already,” Ramon adds.

As Bowie and Ramon exchange Snapchats, both say they’re interested in volunteering again.