On February 6th, Jude Everett addressed the Rotary Club of Nashua regarding her personal story of helping migrants in need. Jude has been a high school teacher for 25 years teaching Spanish, Russian, and Latin. She has recently transitioned to teaching English as a second language. In 2021 she went to Mexico’s southern border and lived there for 5 weeks in an asylum shelter which are filled with families who have come from mostly central American countries and Mexico.
Jude taught English to the children and adults. Most of the families were allowed to cross over the boarder when Jude left to come home. Over the next six months she found herself serving as an unofficial case manager for all these families. Helping with things like registering their children in school and finding lawyers.
Jude’s slide show had many photos of her unconventional family that she has created after her time in Mexico. After helping immigrants who were detained in detention centers (that are basically run like a jail), she became a volunteer in the call center. Through this work she became close with a young man named Boris. Boris is a from Guatemala. As a gay man his life was in jeopardy in his home country. Jude became his sponsor to come into the US. Boris became Jude’s little brother and last March came to live with her. As an asylum seeker you are not legally allowed to work in the US, his first court appearance is in 2024. In September, another man named Gamaliel, Gamma for short, became part of the family. Gamma is 21 and has spent a long time trying to get to the United States from a very dangerous environment in Nicaragua. Boris was his contact and Jude began video conferencing with him and helping him get to the US. He has become a son to Jude. Gamma’s first court appointment is in 2024. He is also not legally allowed to work yet.
A surprise child then entered their life. His name is Cash, his family sent him here from Guatemala when he was 13. He spent 7 months in several juvenile detention centers before coming to Nashua. Jude gained custody of Cash after becoming close with him as his teacher. He was going through abuse in the home he was placed in. Jude, Boris, Gamaliel, and Cash live in a one-bedroom apartment. Jude showed many photos of her new family enjoying their life together even though they face many financial struggles. Dental bills being one of the many.
Jude hopes through her story and experience that other people open their hearts and homes to immigrants. You can follow or get in touch with Jude on her Instagram account @judeseverett.