SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
SERVICES INCLUDE:
Our Trauma-Informed Culturally Sensitive Services: Led by and for immigrants—our staff share the language, culture, and lived experiences of the communities we serve. We prioritize linguistic accessibility and trust, ensuring that every client feels seen, heard, and respected.
Information and resources related to immigrant rights, such as constitutional, labor, and higher education rights for undocumented populations
Educational classes ensure families obtain tools, skills, and knowledge to achieve and maintain stability and become integrated into society.
Case management, application assistance, and referral services in person and virtually to over thousands of immigrant families.
DOJ-accredited bilingual Immigration Legal Clinic, now with a lawyer
Five Welcoming Centers in rural Central and Western Illinois.
ITIN information
(we do this in-house)
Case Management and Referrals for:
• Food and clothing
• Crises or emergencies
• Medical resources
• Financial Assistance
• Education about your rights
• Employment
• Tenant and educational resources
• Comprehensive Case Management
Special programs for newly arrived immigrants
Rental, emergency, and utility financial assistance
SERVICES & SUPPORT
WHO WE SERVE
Each year since 2019, Western Illinois DREAMers (WID) has been serving more than 5000 immigrants at our five offices in Cass, Peoria, Sangamon, Warren and McDonough counties. We also serve the surrounding counties’ immigrant, refugee, and limited-English speaking populations. WID is one of the only immigrant-led organizations providing free, bilingual, and trauma-informed culturally sensitive legal, social, and financial services in rural Central and Western Illinois. WID brings access and equity to regions that would otherwise go unserved. The communities we serve are predominantly Latino/a, but also include Haitians, West Africans, and some Asians.
Cass County (Beardstown) boasts the highest proportion of people of Latinx origin, outside of Chicago’s Metro Area, at 40%. In Warren County (Monmouth), this proportion is also significant at 20%. Both areas have high numbers of immigrants living in isolation and fear. Peoria’s immigrant population has grown by 30% in recent years and currently has over 10,000 Latinx residents. Our state capital (Sangamon) has a smaller but diverse immigrant population.
WID Key Successes and Highlights (2020-2025)
We manage Welcoming Centers in Beardstown, Monmouth, Peoria, Springfield, and Macomb (competitive grant); Our Legal Clinic provides free immigration legal services and has served hundreds of families and 8 immigrants who were recently detained during the federal enforcement effort in our state (Operation Midway Blitz), and 19 more in removal (deportation) proceedings.
WE HAVE
- Disbursed $2.5 million in rental assistance.
- Educated over 18,000 immigrants, teachers, and counselors on immigration, labor, and education rights for undocumented populations throughout Illinois.
- Served over 15,000 immigrants and refugees with resources to ensure their successful social integration.
- Referred over 1,500 immigrants and refugees to free immigration legal services.
- Assisted in disbursing $4 million in financial assistance for families who were unable to collect stimulus checks.
- Awarded over 20 scholarships for undocumented students at Western Illinois University (minimum $5,000 each).
- 100% of clients surveyed this year were satisfied with our services and would refer friends and families to us.
- 20 team members, 90% are Latinx, most first or
second-generation American immigrants.
Why our clients say they trust us:
- The kindness with which they do their job.
- The good service and sympathy.
- The help they provide.
- Trust
- Because of their kindness, empathy, and desire to help
Our Partners
We are grateful for the partnership we have throughout Illinois and globally.
