Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Boykins.
Hi Candace, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Before becoming a nonprofit, C&J operated as a small for-profit LLC offering basic immigration support. But everything shifted during a meeting with a mother who came seeking help, trembling with fear. She barely spoke above a whisper. Her eyes darted toward the door each time someone walked by. The weight she carried was heavy yet painfully familiar.
She shared that she had a deportation order and had lived in fear for years. She brought her daughter to the United States when she was only three years old, and now that daughter was approaching the end of high school. For the first time, her daughter began asking questions no mother should have to answer:
“How will I go to college? What will happen to us if you are taken away?”
Hearing this shattered something inside me. As I watched the fear in the mother’s eyes, I saw my younger self. I remembered what it felt like to live with uncertainty, to feel invisible, to navigate systems that were never built for people like us. In that moment, I knew the work I was doing as an LLC was no longer enough, not for her, not for the countless families living in similar fear.
I stepped out of the meeting, heart racing, and immediately started searching for attorneys to hire for my organization. During that process, I came across Attorney Ideanne Russell. Without hesitation, she said, “I’m in. Let’s help her.” That phone call marked the turning point.
What started as a business evolved into a mission.
To date, we’ve helped over 20 migrants get their first legal jobs and start a new life here in America.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but it has been a meaningful one.
C&J Migrant Solutions was built in response to real, urgent needs, often with limited resources and high expectations. One of the biggest challenges has been navigating funding gaps while demand for services continues to grow. Families don’t arrive with problems that can wait, but funding cycles, grants, and approvals often move slowly. There were moments when we were serving people before we had the resources secured, simply because turning someone away wasn’t an option.
Another major challenge has been trust. Many of the immigrants we serve have experienced trauma, fear, or exploitation, which makes them understandably cautious about seeking help. Building trust, especially with undocumented families, takes time, consistency, and cultural humility. We had to prove, over and over again, that we were here to serve, protect, and advocate.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
C&J Migrant Solutions Foundation is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to stabilizing, empowering, and advancing immigrant families across Prince George’s County and the greater Maryland region. We exist to meet people at their most vulnerable moments and walk with them toward stability, dignity, and opportunity.
What we do is comprehensive and deeply personal. Our services span immigration legal navigation, ESL and adult literacy classes, GED support, technology training, workforce readiness, mental health and wellness initiatives, domestic violence referrals, and intensive case management for newly arrived and long-term immigrant families. We don’t just provide one service; we address the full ecosystem of needs that families face when trying to build a life in a new country.
What sets C&J apart is our holistic, culturally responsive approach. We understand that legal status alone doesn’t create stability. A work permit without English skills, job access, or emotional support still leaves families vulnerable. Our model connects the dots: legal help, education, workforce pathways, and wellness—so people can truly move forward.
We are also known for being deeply trusted in the community. Many of the families we serve are fearful, undocumented, or navigating trauma. Trust is not assumed; it is earned through consistency, advocacy, confidentiality, and showing up even when funding is uncertain. Our clients often come to us through word of mouth because they know we will treat them with respect and stand beside them.
Brand-wise, what we are most proud of is that C&J is seen as a safe place and a bridge between fear and stability, isolation and community, survival and possibility. We are proud that our brand represents compassion, credibility, and action.
What we want readers to know is that C&J Migrant Solutions is not just an organization—it is a commitment. A commitment to families who are often overlooked, to doing the hard work of stabilization and empowerment, and to building stronger, healthier communities for everyone.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something that often surprises people is that C&J Migrant Solutions was never part of a grand plan for Canadace Boykins, President; it was born out of necessity and lived experience. Before it became an organization, it was simply me helping people one by one: filling out forms at my kitchen table, using translation services to help me translate documents late at night, calming fears during moments of crisis, and connecting families to resources wherever I could find them.
Many people see the programs, partnerships, and growth now, but they don’t always see how personal this work is for me. I’ve witnessed firsthand how easily people fall through the cracks when systems are complicated, under-resourced, or unwelcoming. That reality shaped how I lead and why C&J operates the way it does with urgency, empathy, and a refusal to treat people like case numbers.
Another surprise is that much of what we’ve built came from listening rather than expertise. Our programs weren’t designed in boardrooms; they were shaped by the voices of the families we serve. Their needs, fears, and goals continue to guide every decision we make.
At the heart of it all, what people may not know is that this work isn’t just professional for me, it’s deeply human. C&J exists because no one should have to navigate fear, instability, or a new beginning alone.
Pricing:
- Immigration Services are charged by our advisory attorney
- ESL (English as a Second Language) Classes $150
- GED Preparation & Testing Support $350
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cjmigrantsfoundation.com
- Instagram: www.intagram.com/cjmigrants
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cjmigrants
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cj-migrant-solutions-foundations
