In this edition of Wes's Weekly Wrap Up, Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, answers the question, What is LUM? It is beautiful, diverse, faith-based, community-wide and more. Please take 60 seconds to watch this video and SHARE with others.

The LUM Immigration Clinic depends on a team of highly skilled, trained & accredited staff and volunteers. Christian Gallo & Yanina Gomez Szyszko, the director and assistant director, lead a team of volunteer attorneys, accredited representatives, program volunteers and interns. Together they provide immigration advice, fill out immigration forms, and draft legal documents for cases.

Judge Tom Busch grew up in Chicago & California and lives in West Lafayette with his wife, Kathy. Judge Busch earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Chicago and a law degree from New York University. He and Kathy are retired and have three grown children. Their son and one daughter live in Berkeley, CA, and the other daughter lives in Italy. His love of his family and seeing them often was the reason he decided to retire from the bench in Tippecanoe Circuit Court in 2017 after serving for 15 years. Judge Tom Busch is currently Senior Judge in Tippecanoe County, serving when needed. He has been volunteering with LUM since 2018.

Dr. Margaret Hass grew up in Lafayette, graduated from Jefferson High School, and lives in Lafayette with her husband, Vinayak, and their baby, Jyotika. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Amherst College before earning an M.A. from the University of Tuebingen (Germany) and PhD in Cultural Studies from the University of Bergamo (Italy) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (India). Margaret currently teaches in the Purdue Language and Cultural Exchange (PLaCE) program and serves as the president of Greater Lafayette Immigrant Allies. Margaret is passionate about making our community a more welcoming place for all. She has been a volunteer with the LUM Immigration Clinic since 2016 and an accredited representative since 2019.

Adelia Sorge grew up in Oakwood, Ohio. She and her husband, Dennis, now live in West Lafayette. She earned her BA in Psychology with a comprehensive in language from Manchester University as well as two Master’s degrees in Child Development and Counseling, both from Purdue University. Adelia retired as a Purdue Krannert School of Management academic advisor. She & Dennis are active members of St. John’s Episcopal Church and have three grown children, all of whom graduated from Purdue, and eight grandchildren, two who are currently enrolled at Purdue. Adelia has been volunteering with LUM since 2015.

Some of the more active LUM Immigration Clinic volunteers are as follows:

Please join us in thanking each LUM Immigration Clinic volunteer for their time, talent, compassion and experience — and for providing a unique & vital service to our community. If you wish to volunteer with the LUM Immigration Clinic, email Christian Gallo at immigration@LUMserve.org.

Outreach is an important part of the mission of Lafayette Urban Ministry. Members of the LUM professional staff actively seek opportunities to promote LUM services, recruit volunteers, and educate people on issues relating to poverty, hunger and homelessness. Directors of the various LUM programs are eager to raise awareness of LUM services, are well-informed on social and economic issues, and would like to help raise awareness in the local community on critical issues affecting low-income families.

Recently, Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, visited the Living Truth of Christ Church. He was given an opportunity to educate and update the church members on the programs at LUM as well as reconnect with current and former LUM board members and volunteers (pictured). It is a testament to the support LUM receives from the members and leadership of the Living Truth of Christ Church. {Pictured L to R are Minister Thometra M. Foster, Senior Pastor James J. Foster, Wes Tillett, and Carl Booker, LUM board member.}

Staff members are available to speak or set up an information table for churches, civic organizations, agencies, community events, and educational groups. To make arrangements for a presentation or event, call or email LUM (765-423-2691 | lum@LUMserve.org).

The Indiana legislative session is in full swing and heating up! There are two things you can do right now (January 24 – 28) to advocate for the local families served by LUM. FIRST: email or call your IN State Representative to vote YES on HB 1361; and SECOND, email or call your IN State Senator to vote NO on SB 352. 

Tippecanoe County - IN State Senators & Representatives are as follows:

To find your Indiana legislator (representative or senator), if you do not live in Tippecanoe County, click HERE.

Campaign for Hoosier Families is an alliance of faith-based organizations that engages local, state and federal officials on behalf of low-income Hoosier families and children. To find out more information about bills that are being watched by the Campaign for Hoosier Families, please click HERE.