Alameda County proclaims National Immigrants Day; students present 'Butterfly Effect' project

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation reaffirming the county's commitment to be welcoming to immigrants and to oppose federal policies that separate families.

Supervisor introduced three students who described the "Butterfly Effect" project: Kaya (Kyla) Marvin, Lillian Ellis and Lila (Leila) Ahmed explained the students' effort to create and display thousands of paper and upcycled‑material butterflies as a message of hope to children in detention centers.

"When we make a butterfly, we are sending a message of hope and friendship to each child," said Kaya Marvin, an 11‑year‑old sixth grader at Wood Middle School in Alameda. She told the board the project aims to make 15,000 butterflies and noted the students are also mindful of environmental impacts, using recycled materials.

Lillian Ellis said the project has already produced more than 30,000 butterflies community‑wide and plans to display 15,000 in the Russell Senate Building Rotunda on Nov. 20, Universal Day of the Child. Lila Ahmed said the butterflies will be delivered to the Office of Refugee Resettlement and distributed to detention centers; the students also invited the public to a youth rally on Nov. 16 at Lake Merritt Amphitheater.

The proclamation reaffirmed Alameda County's 2016 stance as a welcoming county and commended local immigrant and refugee activists for advocating humane immigration laws.

The board thanked the students and invited them and supervisors to pose for a photo with the display.