Supporter Spotlight: Angela and Joel Solomon

At the Young Center, we are fortunate to have committed supporters who have made our work possible for years. Angela and Joel Solomon are among our most dedicated friends, championing the Young Center's work from the beginning.

Tell us a little bit about how you learned about the Young Center. Why or how did you get involved with the Young Center initially? What has your involvement been like?
Angela and Joel: We met Maria Woltjen in 1999 at a Manhattan party to celebrate her engagement to the son of our dear friends and colleagues, Billie and Bob Kotlowitz. We were immediately drawn to lawyer Maria’s charm, along with her energy and ambition for a very vulnerable population–a dedicated immigration justice system for children.

Not surprisingly, in 2004, she founded the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights in Chicago. In 2010, we were thrilled to attend the first Young Center-New York benefit. We heard Maria, Liz Frankel, and dedicated attorneys and volunteers set the stage for powerful stories of immigrant children and advocacy. We were hooked on supporting the organization and took pleasure in spreading the word among our contacts and friends. That night’s invited speaker was author Maaza Mengiste (Beneath the Lion’s Gaze and The Shadow King), an added bonus, and splendid voice for children. 

For several years since then, we have tried to increase our support and engage others to join us as the Young Center’s volunteer and advocacy needs grew with offices in several border cities, such as Harlingen, as well as in Houston, San Antonio, New York, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C.

We caught the vital, focused vibrations from staff, board, and volunteers at the Young Center. With Joel’s medical concerns about unaccompanied children and their potential for emotional trauma, we began to reach out to more supporters over time. Our hope is to keep up with the Young Center during the Biden administration and beyond.  

What is one thing you’d like everyone to know about the Young Center’s work?
Angela and Joel: While many may share a moral responsibility to care for unaccompanied immigrant children, the Young Center is uniquely positioned to meet the challenge. Its board’s focus and fiscal management will continue to inspire hope and even change.  

Your support has made an incredible impact on our work, allowing us to help more children to make sure they don’t face the inhumane immigration system by themselves. How do you feel knowing the difference you’ve made?
Angela and Joel: Our support is just a fraction of what it will take to help children around the world. We look to continued great leadership at the Young Center to make the authentic, daily difference. 

What’s your dream for immigrant children?
Angela and Joel: Our dream for immigrant children is to see them survive a clear, healthy pathway to safety at our borders, education and citizenship, along with their families. The Young Center may one day have former unaccompanied children as a skilled professional on their roster. Some may already be up and coming!

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Angela and Joel: Our families came from Italy (my father) and Eastern Europe (Joel’s grandparents.) We are hopeful as they were.