We are excited that final preparations are underway this week for the 2nd annual Faith & Immigration Statewide Summit, which will be held on Friday, Oct. 12 in Chapel Hill. It’s not too late to register if you’re interested in going.
This is really a unique event for North Carolina, bringing together people across the state who are connected to both faith communities and immigrant communities. While the immigration debate rages, congregations are really on the front lines – offering English courses, meals, job training, and pastoral care to people facing very challenging situations. The Summit will help equip faith leaders to both deal with these difficult realities and to mobilize support for immigrants in their own contexts.
This is going to be a very powerful and informative event, with the opportunity to meet people from across the state and learn more about how faith communities can faithfully and effectively engage immigration issues. We’ve partnered with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship – NC to bring you a great lineup of workshop speakers and a keynote address by Rev. Ismael Ruiz-Millán, director of the Hispanic House of Studies at Duke Divinity School.
Here’s how one of last year’s attendees described the scene:
Families, volunteers, church leadership and representatives from the Mexican Consulate began learning and connecting with potential partners in helping. Over lunch everyone ate and talked amongst themselves, while a beautiful mixture of English and Spanish words wafted in the air. The experience of sitting together could not be over emphasized, but there was more for the participants. Eager to share the information they had just learned with their peers back home, many grabbed handouts to disperse. Though the literature available was a great resource, the presenters were indispensable. They were able to answer questions, showing their expertise in immigration law and how the immigration system works on the ground.
Here’s the full schedule:
- 8:30-9:00 – Registration, Networking & Coffee
- 9:00-9:15 – Welcome Message
- 9:15-9:45 – Keynote Address by Rev. Ismael Ruiz-Millán
- 10:00-11:15 – Workshops
- Immigration 101
- North Carolina Legislation & Lobbying
- New Paradigms for Hispanic/Latino Ministry
- 11:30-12:45 – Workshops
- Detention and Local Enforcement Programs
- Education for All: Immigrant Youth Movements
- Q&A: Ministry With the Undocumented
- 12:45-2:00 – Lunch & Networking
- 2:15-3:30 – Workshops
- Protecting Immigrant Workers
- Federal Legislation & Lobbying
- Black/Brown Unity Panel Discussion
- 3:45-4:00 – Closing Plenary
Click here to register now. The cost, which includes lunch, is only $10 and some limited scholarships are available.
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