Immigrant Solidarity Team

The Immigrant Solidarity Team is concerned with helping immigrants and refugees to adjust to life in the United States. We work with local organizations to achieve this goal, including the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and RefugeeOne. We also engage in legislative advocacy and learning opportunities for the congregation. The IST welcomes all who are interested in working to build a better world for immigrants in the United States. We meet on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 4:00pm. At present we are meeting on ZOOM. Contact Lee Bannor or Michelle Novak through REALM or at admin@ucevanston.org.

The Immigrant Solidarity Team (IST) works to establish and nurture long-term partnerships with local immigrant communities and organizations. UCE seeks to:

Provide appropriate resources for their unmet needs,
Be a useful connector among organizations, and
Educate and mobilize UCE members about immigration related events, projects and actions.

The IST has recently expanded its work to include the support of refugees as well. Here are some of our most recent projects:

In the summer of 2021 the IST encouraged UCE members to donate backpacks and gym shoes for refugee children by partnering with Refugee One.
In the fall of 2021 we sponsored a film viewing and discussion of La Bestia, a film about the dangers refugees face trying to travel from southern Mexico to the US border.
In the fall of 2021 and winter of 2022 our refugee team has raised over $10,000 to help a Syrian refugee family pay their rent. Some of the rent money was funded from the UCE Endowment.
In the winter of 2022 we have also begun to help out a family from Afghanistan as well.
Prior to the pandemic, members assisted with voter registration after citizenship swearing-in ceremonies in Chicago

Updates from Immigrant Solidarity Team

ICIRR Asylum Seekers

Building a Welcoming Future: Caring for ALL

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) is hosting a special community conversation on December 7^th bringing together leaders working on the ground in Black and Brown communities to discuss current tensions and how to build the solidarity we need to create a society that cares for everyone.

December 7, 2023 | 12pm

Live from University Church Chicago

on ICIRR’s Facebook and YouTube

This landmark event is recommended to you by our Immigrant Solidarity Team and our Racial Equity Action and Leadership Team.

In today’s environment of political unrest, nations at war, economic and social disparity, and unimaginable change, it would be easy to withdraw and find a safe, quiet place to get away from everything. But is that really who we are? As Unitarian Universalists we are called to continue our work for a world made whole. That means we need the strength of others and the willingness to stand with those without our privilege.

We need to stand in solidarity with all communities to create a society that cares for everyone. This includes Black communities who’ve suffered long-standing disinvestment, immigrants waiting for decades within our broken immigration system, and newly arriving migrants and asylum seekers. We hope this conversation will spark new ideas on how we can support each other not only in this moment, but in our future work building power together.

Panelists

Andrea Ortiz-Landin Director of Organizing, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council

Fasika Alem Programs Director, United African Organization

Dixon Romeo Executive Director, Not Me We

Reverend Julian DeShazier Senior Pastor, University Church Chicago

Proceeds from this event will further ICIRR’s organizing and advocacy for economic and racial justice and our long-term alliance building in Black and Brown communities. A portion of the proceeds will go to folks working on the ground to welcome new arrivals.

Through our contacts at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, (ICIRR) the UCE Immigrant Solidarity Team has learned of efforts to help those seeking asylum at our southern border. Below are some ways you could help.

In response to the of asylum seekers and requests to help from area citizens, a collective of organizations and advocates including ICIRR formed “CITA,” Chicago Immigrant Transportation Assistance. CITA aims to support asylum seekers leaving detention centers with ground transportation needs.

Detained families and individuals, mainly from Central America, with credible cases of persecution are admitted into the U.S. to await the outcome of their asylum application. DHS does not provide asylees with winter clothes, food or information on how navigate ground transportation.

CITA has supported over 60 asylum seekers traveling on Greyhound over the last three weeks. CITA has distributed food, winter clothes, provided phone calls, translation services and other immediate needs.

WHATS NEXT: We have designed a volunteer/donation program to support asylum seekers who arrive at the Harrison Greyhound Station.

Spanish-speaking volunteers are needed at the Harrison Station to provide care and support to asylum seekers. Greatest need!
All language speaking volunteers are needed to sort through donations, prepare comfort kits and help coordinate additional assistance to families. Donations are being collected at the ICIRR Office located at 228 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60604.
Financial contributions to help maintain a storage unit close to the Harrison Station and have an emergency credit card on hand for other services (i.e., medication, fee for missed bus, etc.).
We are need of savvy-tech professionals who can create a system of volunteers, donations and tracking that is efficient.

If you wish to volunteer with CITA please REGISTER AT https://bit.ly/2FSAYRA. The trainings will be held at the Red Cross located at 2200 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60612. Volunteers at the station will be asked to complete a brief background check.

November 22nd, 2023|Categories: Immigrant Solidarity|

12 Next