Today we’d like to introduce you to Aya Kawasaki.
Hi Aya, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For decades, immigrant service providers in the St. Louis region worked independently to welcome and support newcomers. A small group later began collaborating on educational and networking opportunities.
In 2014, the group convened an immigrant-focused roundtable to build capacity around immigration policy engagement. By 2015, this evolved into the Immigrant Service Providers Network (ISPN), a permanent space for providers to connect and collaborate.
In 2020, ISPN shifted its priorities in response to COVID-19, launching the Immigrant Family Emergency Response (IFER) Fund for immigrants and mixed-status families excluded from aid. ISPN also created committees and initiatives focused on community engagement, vaccines, COVID-19 research, and language justice.
After strategic planning in 2021, ISPN updated its mission and restructured its executive committee. Its current mission is to increase collaboration by convening organizations and community members to educate and advance responsive collective impact in the St. Louis region.
With support from the Marillac Mission Fund, ISPN is working with a consultant on strategic planning to build a more sustainable leadership model and improve service coordination.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been easy. We’ve struggled to fill key roles — committee members, chairs, and more. These vacancies point to a larger reality many in our field are feeling: turnover, burnout, and the constant challenge of sustainability. Especially since the Trump administration took office in 2025, service providers have watched programs shrink, roles disappear, and safety nets unravel — all while immigrants themselves are targeted and dehumanized. It’s a painful contradiction: just when our work is needed most, our capacity is stretched to its breaking point.
Even so, we’ve worked hard to keep ISPN a steady place — a monthly space for connection and learning, and a weekly roundup that keeps us informed and responsive to the needs of those we serve. Our Language Justice Committee continues to open doors in city and county spaces where policy decisions are made, paving the way for a future where language access is a right, not an afterthought. Our Education Committee has created space for compassion and community in a time of growing hate and division. And our Ad Hoc Committee keeps pushing forward the hard conversations that need to happen. Today, immigration service providers face major challenges, including budget cuts, political pressure, and reduced staffing. ISPN has become a critical resource by offering policy updates and a collaborative space.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Immigrant Service Provider Network (ISPN) is the only volunteer-led, collective impact organization convening a network of advocates and service providers in support of immigrant and foreign-born communities and their families across the greater St. Louis region. We create a safe, well-informed space where advocates, providers, and immigrants can come together and understand one another in a time of socio-political uncertainty and global stress.
We’re proud of the reach and consistency we’ve built: our monthly General Body Meeting draws an average of 69 participants, and our weekly newsletter now has more than 900 subscribers. Our committees do the heart of this work. The Language Justice Committee fosters equitable language access across the St. Louis region through collaborative advocacy and accountability.. The Ad Hoc Committee addresses the needs of the immigrant community in response to recent policy shifts. The Education Committee expands professional development opportunities for immigrant service providers and coordinates presentations for ISPN events. And our Membership Committee manages our member base and membership fees, keeping the network sustained and connected.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I came to St. Louis from Tokyo to study social work. When I found Washington University in St. Louis, I actually thought it was in Washington State — turns out, it’s in Missouri! That mix-up ended up shaping my whole path here. Sometimes I wish there were a larger immigrant community, like you’d find in bigger cities. But that gap is part of what motivates me: to help make St. Louis a more welcoming place, so more immigrants choose to call it home.
Pricing:
- Sponsor & Partner Membership ($1200) Businesses, philanthropic organizations, and community partners seeking to support immigrant and refugee initiatives in the Greater St. Louis region All Government & Institutional Membership Benefits Recognition as an ISPN community partner or sponsor Featured visibility at ISPN events and communications Opportunities to support capacity-building initiatives Engagement with a diverse network of community leaders and organizations Up to four (4) ISPN Conference Admission tickets and CEUs included (Free) 20% Discount on ISPN Conference Admission tickets and CEUs
- Government & Institutional (For-Profit/Business) Membership ($600)Government agencies, healthcare systems, educational institutions, and large organizations working with immigrant and refugee communities All Organizational Membership benefits Opportunities to co-host trainings and events Strategic partnership opportunities Enhanced visibility within the regional immigrant-serving network Participation in cross-sector initiatives and community planning Up to three (3) ISPN Conference Admission tickets and CEUs included (Free) 20% Discount on ISPN Conference Admission tickets and CEUs
- Nonprofit Organization Membership ($300) Nonprofit organizations and community agencies serving immigrant and refugee populations All Individual Membership benefits Organization recognition on ISPN website, materials, and communications Opportunities to present services and programs to members Access to partnership and collaboration opportunities Priority access to trainings and community events Up to two (2) ISPN Conference Admission tickets and CEUs included (Free) 15% Discount on ISPN Conference Admission tickets and CEUs Access to at least one (1) immigrant/refugee-themed book club per calendar year ISPN “Letter of Support” available for funding or other applications (requires Executive Committee review)
- Individual Membership ($50) Community advocates, students, volunteers, independent consultants, and individuals passionate about supporting immigrant and refugee communities All General Membership benefits ISPN “Merch” Vote on ISPN business 10% Discount on ISPN Conference Admission tickets and CEUs Access to all shared resources and updates, including ISPN’s password-protected Drive General Body Meeting follow-up email, which includes presentation slides and a summary of each meeting At least two (2) free professional development events per year (not including annual conference)
- General Membership (Free) Any individuals from the immigrant & Refugee community, volunteers, and students who are passionate about supporting immigrant and refugee communities but unable to pay the individual membership fee. We welcome general members to ISPN in the following ways: Quarterly Networking opportunities Access to sub-committees and collaborative initiatives Access to monthly ISPN meetings
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ispnstl.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ispnstl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ispnstl
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ISPNSTL
