2025 Impact Report | South Dakota Voices for Peace

LETTER FROM THE CEO

Dear Allies and Friends,

In 2025—our eighth year—our clients faced unprecedented challenges. Through unpredictable immigration enforcement and sudden funding cuts, South Dakota Voices for Peace stayed true to our mission and led with courage.

What does that mean for us?

We centered the impacted community.

When state and federal funding for legal services was abruptly cut, our clients—children and victims of crimes—faced the real threat of deportation. Our team grieved together, not for our own uncertainty, but for our clients. With unanimity, our legal team committed to continue their cases—even if it meant volunteering their time.

We led with transparency.

We were honest with you about these cuts, and you showed up—with notes, meals, flowers, and unprecedented generosity. You helped raise over $240,000 in individual donations—more than double last year—allowing us to continue representing children in immigration court and sustain Rapid Response efforts for families in fear.

We intensified our philanthropic advocacy.

We reached out nationwide to foundations and partners, making clear the impact of losing the only organization of our kind in the state. As a result, we were awarded the 2025 Bush Foundation Innovation Grant—$995,900 over two years—ensuring continued direct services. This brought profound relief and renewed hope.

We led with humility.

As peer organizations across our state closed their doors, we chose not to publicly announce this funding. Instead, we deepened our role as an ally—supporting partners in fundraising, expanding culturally appropriate food distribution, and recruiting volunteers so English learning programs could continue.

We spoke out against misinformation.

We launched News for You, the only bilingual source providing accurate information about immigration enforcement, policy updates and Operation Prairie Thunder (the state’s commitment to immigration enforcement). We countered harmful narratives and elevated the realities families face: separations, deportations, and fear so pervasive it keeps people from daily essentials like groceries or school.

We do not know what the next three years will bring. But we remain steadfast in our commitment to lead with courage and stand ready to respond to our community’s needs.

Thank you for standing with us during this critical time and for sustaining the belief that immigration advocacy is essential to a stronger future—even here.

On behalf of the entire team at South Dakota Voices for Peace,

Taneeza Islam, Esq.

CEO

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

speaking engagements

17,627

Our team’s experiences, perspectives, and expertise allow us to offer a variety of trainings.

Our team was able to offer trainings on community preparedness, ICE observation, and bystander interruption all across the state.

people impacted

RAPID RESPONSE

News for You episodes

162,000

At the beginning of the year, there were no multilingual news sources based in South Dakota. We changed this by creating News for You, a weekly news broadcast in Spanish and English.

Each week on News for You, trusted community members and experts provide the latest updates in immigration and talk about the impact of these changes in South Dakota.

total views across platforms

MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH

informational packets distributed to neighborhoods, worship centers, and workplaces across South Dakota.

4,832

The need to meet communities where they are at became clearer as immigration enforcement operations increased. Our Community Outreach team directly targeted impacted communities through neighborhood canvassing, visiting community events, and cultivating relationships with local workplaces and business owners.

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

children assisted with referrals, applications, and interpreting services at a Delta Dental outreach event, resulting in

170

In a state that does not allocate funds for translations and interpreters, language becomes a barrier to health and economic equity.

When we learned of the closing of a major employer in Yankton, our bilingual CHW, Erica, mobilized community efforts to provide healthcare navigation, access to community resources, and a job fair for impacted families.

Our work of accompaniment through unexpected challenges is an example of the way to we contribute to stability and economic security for South Dakota’s families.

clients received assistance with Medicaid-related questions, applications, and navigation.

600+

clients and community members supported through direct services, referrals, and education.

$27,172

in dental care provided.

LEGAL SERVICES

applications filed

In spite of announced funding cuts early in the year, the legal team spent thousands of hours researching changes to federal immigration policy, planning legal strategies to advocate for our clients, and responding to emerging needs in the community. In the midst of increasing barriers, our team continued to have successes in serving immigrant children and survivors of crime.