Hopkins Students Support IRIS Amidst Funding Cuts

Weeks before the run, the Trump Administration cut $4 million dollars in funding to IRIS, forcing them to lay off 20% of their staff, according to IRIS Executive Director Maggie Mitchell Salem. “When they got that stop work order, it really did make it hard for them to keep going," said Thapa. “This is more important now than ever before, because it's now much bigger than us,” Sarah Galvani-Townsend ’25, who ran her 10th Run for Refugees race this year, said that whereas in previous years, “I felt like the main attraction was the race, this year, I felt like it was more centered around the cause.” 

Representatives from the organization, and politicians including Representative DeLauro, Senator Blumenthal, and CT Attorney General Tong, gave speeches at the starting line. Hopkins English teacher and Athletics Department Associate Dante Brito, who ran his first road race in 15 years, said that “the energy was great. The people were great [and so was] the message about a more just, equitable, welcoming world…and making sure New Haven is a place where people from all walks of life, feel welcomed, feel seen, feel heard, feel respected and feel safe.” Thapa, who volunteered at the race, added, “seeing our elected officials really stand up there and ‘say we're in this with you’ meant so much to everyone there and helped us realize how much stronger we are.” 

IRIS is not the only organization affected by the Trump Administration’s stop work orders. Alissa Davis, Director of Community Service at Hopkins recounted facing challenges finding opportunities for Hopkins students in the wake of abrupt Federal budget cuts: “We have really strong nonprofits that say they are suffering and can’t keep everybody on the payroll.” Yan explained that sometimes, “All we can do is try to just fundraise even more," adding that, “with the new administration, we have to help support.” Davis emphasized the importance of “trying to get to know what [an organization’s] needs are,” explaining that some local organizations like Columbus House have shifted from asking for volunteers to seeking “support at this town hall meeting, or with this petition.” Davis also said that “something that nonprofits could use more from us is the advocacy awareness side of things,” which she hopes could be “a good place for high school students who might not be voters, but certainly have a voice to make heard.” 

This year, the IRIS Club centralized Hopkins’ volunteer efforts. “We try to support the main IRIS organization in any way we can,” said  Yan. The club writes cards to welcome new families each September and collaborates with the Student Council to donate the first day of school senior backpacks. 

The IRIS Club’s presence was evident all along the race's course. Thapa explained, “I really wanted an opportunity to bring Hopkins students into that space where they could see the community collaboration and the strength.” At pretty much every single volunteer stop, there would be somebody from Hopkins” cheering on the runners, added Galvani-Townsend. “It was fun to see familiar faces,” added Sophie Stevens-Scanlan ’25. Claire Corwin ’25 said, “There was such a vibe. Even though there was snow everywhere, everyone was still ready to show up and show out.” Director of Equity and Community Becky Harper said, “I was super proud of Hopkins this year…really anything that you can learn about what people go through to grow your empathy muscle is just so crucial.”

Harper herself grew up in New Haven and worked with the organization as a tutor and ELL teacher after she graduated from college, and continues to be involved with activists in the community. “I think that we're more invigorated than ever to make sure that we stand for our values. New Haven is one of the first sanctuary cities in the entire country,” Harper said, noting that IRIS “is just one organization out of many that are helping immigrant and refugee populations.” 

Thapa finds hope in the network of community organizations that have been meeting regularly to coordinate responses to changing policies: “While the administration does create many new challenges, it also gives us an opportunity to unite and create a strong community that is focused on bringing unity to the world.”