Collective Power: Where Hopeand Action Meet

(Staff Reflection)

There is something deeply sacred about the ways we come together as a community. Collective power, when shared, is not about one person carrying the load alone, it is about the many hands, voices, and hearts (offering what they can) to contribute to a shared vision. Each person brings a bit of their time, their energy, and their courage, and when those pieces come together, the load is lighter, and a choir of strength, resilience, and hope emerges.

No single congregation could sustain long-term support for a family who had a loved one being detained or deported. But when dozens of congregations feel their collective power, some give money, others provide groceries, or child care, or car seats. Bit by bit, the burden is lifted. A family stayed housed with dignity, children stayed in school with known friends, and the community remembers: we are stronger together than apart.

At the Portland ICE facility in Macadam, immigrant leaders shared stories of strength and struggle. Standing beside them were clergy, lay leaders, and allies from across traditions. Each voice mattered, put together, they created a chorus too strong to ignore. The vibe shifted. The power imbalance teetered. Our presence of de-escalation made a difference. The message was clear: dignity and justice for immigrants is a shared calling.

Our collective power, sing the song of resilience that helps us endure hardship, celebrate joy, and move towards justice. When we share the burdens of life and work, we are reminded that our struggles are interconnected, and so too is our hope.

In this sacred practice of collective power, no one is left to carry the burden alone, and no one’s contribution is too small to matter. Every act of kindness, every hour volunteered, every voice raised in solidarity becomes part of a collective song for justice. Together, we embody the truth that justice is not the work of a single individual, but the song of a whole community, lifting its voice as one.