From Wooster to the World: My Work with OCSILiO

-Tristan Miller 

I began working with Brian Hoffman the summer after my sophomore year of high school, and since then I have helped OCSILiO on and off consistently for over two years.  OCSILiO introduced me to the bleak reality faced by those seeking asylum here in the United States. Even more than that, though, it showed me how unfair the entire immigration system was here in our country. At OCSILiO, I have worked mostly with people who have almost nothing either in their home countries or here in the United States, yet were given no resources to help make their case for protection. Not only are almost no resources available for desperate asylum-seekers who need legal help, but often their asylum cases were matters of life and death. 

In a legal landscape where many nonprofits don’t even have capacity to respond to phone calls from jail, OCSILiO actively reaches out to folks whose freedom has been taken from them,  and provides comprehensive legal services completely free of charge. I have genuinely never seen more grateful people than some of those who are given a fair chance to fight their cases with OCSILiO’s help. 

Despite the serious subject matter, the workspace at OCSILiO is fun and engaging, though we are always reminded of the importance of what is being done here. Brian is always returning a call with someone profusely thanking him for saving their life, then 10 minutes later, we are working on another person's case to save theirs too, and half an hour after that we are baking pizzas or taking a ping pong break. OCSILiO has had a big impact on me because I never thought I could help with something so important so close to home and enjoy it so thoroughly. 

Donating to OCSILiO is a great way to help young people in Wooster continue to have these amazing opportunities to seek justice for people from around the world from right here in our home town! DONATE