In January, the Foundation in collaboration with the North Cost Grantmaking Partnership, supported First 5 Humboldt with a $5,000 grant to help the agency expand its Red Folder Project.
First 5 Humboldt, which works to improve the well-being of young children and their families in Humboldt County, first developed the Red Folder in 2017. The folder is a practical resource for recognizing and supporting immigrant needs, regardless of status, and was created in response to rising concerns around federal immigration policy. The folder’s creators wanted to provide information about essential policies, resources, and best practices for inclusive care,
fostering safer and more informed communities. Through partnerships with organizations like Centro del Pueblo, First 5 Humboldt has been able to distribute over 200 folders full of printed information directly to families. “To me, support for the project highlights that although it feels like there is so much division right now, our community is there and wants to be supportive,” says Karina Vazquez Lopez, Community Engagement Coordinator for First 5 Humboldt.
Materials in the Red Folder are provided in both English and Spanish, and include:
- A “Red card” instructing folks on what to say and do should Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials come to their door
- Information on creating a Family Preparedness Plan
- Care, Cope, and Connect activity book
- Suggestions on how to talk with children about stressful experiences
- Details on programs, including SNAP and food programs, Medi-Cal, and legal support
“When talking to families, we’ve heard that the folder does create a tool helps families say, ‘We’re going to work through this folder together, we are prepared, we’re going to be OK,’” says Vasquez Lopez. “It offers a tangible resource that they can use together and feel like it offers them a bit of empowerment.”
*North Coast Grantmaking Partnership (NCGP) is a collaborative network of granting organizations that mobilizes resources to sustain healthy and vibrant communities on the North Coast.
Read through more of the 2025 Winter/Spring Newsletter story highlights here: Winter-Spring-2025-Newsletter-Final.pdf