fight fear with empathy

Rita, The Cycle Effect Board Member (L) and Coco, The Cycle Effect Founding Member (R)

In the wake of deeply troubling events like the recent ICE raids in Eagle County and the shooting deaths by ICE agents in Minnesota, it is worth remembering that mountain communities have long been defined by how they show up for one another in difficult moments. In places shaped by hard winters and relative isolation, empathy and human connection has been a survival skill. This is a moment to draw on that history, to look out for our neighbors, and to remember that strong communities are built when everyone is able to participate authentically and without fear.

We write as board members and program alumni of The Cycle Effect, and as Latina women with lived proximity to the fears many families are experiencing right now. We see how difficult this climate is in our own families and circles. These are not distant concerns for us. 

It is important to say plainly that this moment is marked by real fear for many immigrant families but that fear does not stop at immigration status. Many legal residents and U.S. citizens who are not white are experiencing heightened anxiety as well, knowing that racial profiling can and does place them at risk of being questioned, targeted, or treated with suspicion based solely on how they look or speak. 

​​Many of us want to help, and the most meaningful support often begins locally. There are groups that have been doing this work consistently and with care for years. In the Vail Valley, organizations like Mountain Dreamers, Voces Unidas, and Eagle Valley Community Foundation are providing advocacy, resources, and stability for immigrant families and working households across our region. Supporting their work—through time, funding, or amplification—is one of the most direct ways to counter fear with action.

We also ask our community to be thoughtful about how fear is repeated and amplified, especially online. Words matter. Regardless of political views, we share schools, workplaces, trails, and neighborhoods. We are bound together by place, and how we speak about one another shapes whether this community feels safe or hostile to those who live here.

Dignity and belonging are not political ideals. They are human ones. This moment of uncertainty is an invitation to lean into the values mountain communities have always relied on: empathy, mutual support, and care for those around us. By strengthening the organizations and relationships that already hold our community together, we can help ensure the Vail Valley remains a place where people can live, work, and participate without fear.

Sincerely,

Coco
The Cycle Effect Board Member

Rita
The Cycle Effect Founding Member