Our clients are building Nashville

By Hannah Smalley, Advocacy and Education Manager

What a night! We are so grateful for the opportunity to connect with our supporters and share our work with the community at Oye Vecino LIVE: Framing Our Future a few weeks ago. Thanks to all of our supporters, we were able to raise $42,263 for immigration legal representation. It's not too late to donate to help us meet our $50,000 goal! 

Panelist Carlos, Co-Hosts Aineth and Álvaro, Executive Director Tessa, and Panelist Samuel celebrating at Oye Vecino LIVE: Framing Our Future.

If you couldn't make it last week, be sure to stay tuned for a new Oye Vecino episode featuring the recording of the event! 

Panelists Samuel and Carlos shared their experiences as DACA recipients, highlighting both the opportunities the program created and the challenges it fails to address. Hearing Carlos talk about the pride he feels when driving by a building he worked on, and Samuel talk about his lifelong passion for architecture, it was clear how much they both care about using their talents to better our city. Those dreams might never have been realized without the work permits and protection from deportation provided by the DACA program. 

At the same time, dreamers like Carlos and Samuel who have spent their entire lives– and paid their taxes– right here in Tennessee still face significant barriers to higher education. Both panelists described a sinking feeling of learning that even with DACA they would have to pay out-of-state tuition for college in Tennessee and weren’t eligible for any of the federal- or state-funded scholarships that many students count on. 

For the TNJFON team, one of the most meaningful parts of the evening was hearing from our panelists about their experiences working with our legal team. Carlos described how the TNJFON staff made him feel comfortable as a high school senior navigating the DACA application process on his own. Samuel shared that he trusts the TNJFON team to communicate any changes in DACA policy, leaving him free to focus his energy on his life rather than on immigration news. We work every day to make sure every one of our clients feels the same security and trust that Samuel and Carlos describe. 

Grammy award-winning musician Giovanni Rodríguez and his band joined us at the end of the program with some Latin jazz that had several of our staff hitting the dance floor! With tasty appetizers served by local business Tantísimo and art by Valentina Harper and Hatch Show Print on display at the silent auction, Oye Vecino LIVE was truly a feast for all the senses. 

Oye Vecino LIVE is the only fundraising event TNJFON organizes each year, and we rely on support from our donors to provide legal representation to Dreamers like Carlos and Samuel.

Can you give today to help us reach our $50,000 goal? 

Meet the panelists:

Samuel Miranda Carrera

Samuel has always dreamed of pursuing a career in architecture. As early as high school, he took decisive steps to align his education with this passion, transferring from McGavock High School to Hendersonville High School to join their esteemed architectural program. Samuel’s journey continued with support from Equal Chance for Education and other benefactors, securing a full-ride scholarship that enabled him to graduate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture. During his undergraduate years, Samuel exhibited a drive for professional growth through internship opportunities with Net Lease Alliance, Self + Tucker Architects, and 4F Design. Presently, Samuel thrives in his role as an Associate AIA at Shapiro & Company Architects, P.C., contributing his skills and expertise to architectural projects with dedication and creativity.

Carlos Avila

Carlos Avila was born in Mexico in 1998 and was raised in Nashville since the age of 2. He worked in construction throughout high school as a helper in the Masonry and Drywall division before graduating from Trevecca Nazarene University with a bachelor's degree in business administration and a minor in entrepreneurship. After college, he got a job as an assistant project manager for an HVAC company in Nolensville, eventually becoming a project manager. For the last year, he has worked for a commercial construction company in Smyrna as an assistant project manager. This company has inspired him in his growth as a person and as a believer in Jesus Christ. In May, he got married to his beautiful wife, and they live in Smyrna.