In this episode, I talk with Joa LaVille, co-founder of Immigrant Allies in Marshalltown, Iowa. Marshalltown has a population of about 28,000 people including a large Latino population that has enriched the city with restaurants, shops and other important contributions. I had the privilege to call Marshalltown home for five years. This interview was conducted on June 10, 2024. Joa and I discuss how Immigrant Allies advocates for undocumented workers, forges relationships with other local community immigrants and educates people about a complex topic that is often treated as a binary, black and white issue. She also talked about how Immigrant Allies uses stories of people's lived experiences to win hearts and minds of those who may have inaccurate or distorted beliefs about undocumented immigrants. Joa also shares how undocumented immigrants and their families, friends and allies in Marshalltown have been impacted by rise in xenophobic rhetoric deployed by irresponsible political officials, harsh immigration laws and a broke immigration system that is extremely difficult to navigate. I think this interview is especially important given Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election and his dishonest, shameless, fact-deprived and reckless fearmongering about undocumented immigrants. Immigrant allies shows how local organizations can empower undocumented workers while simultaneously strengthening the local community in small-town America. May we all follow their example.

Ver todos los episodios