This is About Humanity

By: Yolanda Walther-Meade

This is About Humanity is a movement started by its three co-founders - Elsa Collins, Zoe Winkler Reinis and Yolanda Selene Walther-Meade, almost two years ago, initially to raise awareness and funds for separated/reunified children and families at the US-Mexico border. TIAH’s community of followers includes important stakeholders and influencers from Northern and Southern California, as well as Baja California. As the situation has evolved over the past two years, through over 20 experiential bus trips, TIAH has been instrumental in having these individuals use their voices and platforms to continue shedding light on vulnerable communities on both sides of the border.

TIAH has established partnerships with vetted shelters who provide support to these vulnerable communities including unaccompanied minors, families, and the LGBTQ community, inclusive of support for housing, legal services and basic needs. Additionally, TIAH has established key collaborations with World Central Kitchen and the culinary spheres on both sides of the border, hosting dinners to benefit CASA YMCA shelter for unaccompanied minors with operating funds, Casa Cornelia Law Center in San Diego, or IMMDEF in LA, with a view this year towards supporting Chef Jose Andres and WCK with their food access/food security initiatives, along with the Yes We Can World Foundation, a mobile bus providing education for migrant children.

TIAH had incredible brand partners who have helped incorporate our philanthropic goals into the product partnerships. The Little Market, a nonprofit dedicated to giving dignified work to marginalized communities of women makes our totes and candles, Phenomenal launched their Phenomenally Human sweatshirt campaign, and Ariel Gordon Jewelry donates proceeds from their HUMANITY necklace to the TIAH fund, all of which benefit our vulnerable communities.

With its boots on the ground presence at the frontlines, This is About Humanity has been able to rapidly pivot to provide COVID-19 relief efforts in response to the coronavirus pandemic in Baja California, in conjunction with organizations including The International Community Foundation. On March 25th, TIAH and ICF launched a collaborative matching grant with the Border Health Fund for this purpose. In a two-week span, TIAH matched all donations up to $50,000, in order to award $100,000 total in support of immediate service needs, medical checkups, food security and other health necessities to vulnerable children and families on both sides of the border. Request for proposals is now open, with the deadline to submit proposals being May 1, 2020. Additional info HERE

TIAH is also providing 4 months of funding for Fronteras Unidas’ Pro-Salud mobile health clinic, and is structuring additional matching grant opportunities for ongoing support of Covid-10 relief for vulnerable communities.

Donations to the This is About Humanity Fund at ICF allow it to respond to ongoing requests pertaining to food, housing or medical services, long-term operations necessities, and day to day needs.