Pathways and Networks for Justice Workshop on Supporting Local Immigrants and Refugees

Please join us! Presentations will be provided by the following workshop partners: ACLU, Casa Latina, OneAmerica, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Southwest Youth and Family Services

When: Saturday June 3rd from 10:00-1:00PM
Where: 7141 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98136 (Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation, in the basement meeting hall)
Free registration at Brown Paper Tickets (please register for accurate participant count).

Summary of workshop:
The Trump Administration has taken multiple steps to target the immigrant and refugee members of our community, including: attempts to institute a Muslim Ban, denying federal funds to Sanctuary Cities, racist speech resulting in large increases in hate crimes, unjust deportations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to name a few. Many in our Greater Seattle community want to take action to help local immigrants and refugees; this workshop is designed to provide specifics on how to help.

This two-part workshop will: 1) provide a basic foundation for the current state of affairs for immigrants in the United States today, broken into four key areas, and 2) provide opportunities for community members and activists to learn about various organizations that are already mobilized to serve our immigrant neighbors within these four key areas (listed below).

Four key pathways to help local immigrants and refugees:
Path 1: Current Legislative Framework – the ACLU will provide an update on Trump’s attacks, including specifics as to how these proposed new laws and policies impact local immigrants, as well as ways we can fight back and advocate for policies reflecting a freedom/sanctuary community.

Path 2: Encountering Law Enforcement – it’s likely not a matter of “if” but “when” Federal law enforcement will amplify their actions against local immigrants. Casa Latina will discuss actions, strategies and tactics that are being developed to counter.

Path 3: Responding to Prejudice – Trump has unleashed much more free expression of prejudice, hatred and resentment through tactics of creating fear and encouraging blame against minorities. New laws and policies are being crafted that are rooted in racism and prejudice. OneAmerica will provide an overview of this dynamic and its impact on our communities. In addition, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will provide a talk on the rise of Islamophobia.

Path 4: Meeting Basic Needs – Southwest Youth and Family Services will provide a talk on the most pressing needs for newly arrived immigrant families and their work around immigrant and refugee youth.

Additional immigrant/refugee support organizations invited to attend:Americans for Refugees and Immigrants; East African Community Services; El Centro de la Raza; Jewish Family Service; Northwest Immigrant Rights Project; Northwest Justice Project; Horn of Africa Services (HOAS); Open Doors for Multicultural Families; Refugee Woman’s Alliance; St. James Immigrant Assistance; Washington Community Action Network (CAN); White Center Community Development Association; World Relief Seattle.

Partnering organizations to date include:
ACLU
Admiral Congregational Church
Casa Latina
Communities Rising!
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Hate Free Delridge
InspireSeattle
OneAmerica
Southwest Youth and Family Services
WSUU