By: Keiona Williamson, Journalism Sustainability Director
“We remind people they still have the power to fight.”
That wisdom, shared with me by a leader from the Rapid Response Network of Kern, continues to steady me.
Where the Raids Begin
Los Angeles has rightly become the face of immigration detention, with its robust press exposing raids in real time. But months before the headlines, just over the Grapevine, the Central Valley felt it first. In Kern County, families were devastated — yet organizers were ready.
Community as First Responder
When raids descend, the first call isn’t to law enforcement. It’s to the Rapid Response Network of Kern:
- Volunteers who staff hotlines and dispatch when Border Patrol vans appear.
- Legal observers who ensure families aren’t taken in silence.
- Lawyers who triage cases so no one disappears into the system.
- Neighbors delivering groceries or hosting Know Your Rights workshops.
Built during Trump’s presidency, the network has been reactivated and expanded for this new wave of enforcement. It shows what community power can do when institutions fail and philanthropy is too slow to act.
What We Witnessed
In January, that power was tested. Families connected to the network didn’t just survive — some became plaintiffs in lawsuits against unlawful enforcement. The difference was stark: those within the network had visibility and protection; those isolated were swept away.
How JBMF Responds
At JBMF, we don’t scatter dollars, we anchor ecosystems. Our All-In for Central Valley Democracy Fund has invested in:
- Rapid response hubs to answer the first call.
- Legal partners to fight for due process.
- Narrative leaders to make stories visible.
- Family and civic support groups to sustain communities long after crisis passes.
Our grantmaking is guided by a framework we call Human-Centered Grantmaking: less burden, more collaboration, and support that grows as community work grows.
Why It Matters
Rapid response isn’t peripheral. In the Valley, it’s the backbone of survival. Without it, immigrant families, and the broader ecosystem of civic power, cannot hold. These networks are not just crisis tools; they are evolving into the permanent civic infrastructure communities need to endure this moment.
Our Commitment
- $1.6M invested in 2025, building on $2M in 2024.
- Always Central Valley first, even as philanthropy looks elsewhere.
- A long-term vision: a multilingual, multiracial democracy where no one is left unprotected or unheard.
The Call to Action
We seek co-investors who understand democracy is not only built at the ballot box, but also in courtrooms, classrooms, and newsrooms. Our current $355,000 investment in detention defense is more than dollars, it can be a blueprint for defending democracy at its most vulnerable points.
Let’s not wait to be shocked into action. Let’s act with foresight, coordination, and care.
