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Empowering Circles of Support to Respond to
Attacks on Immigrants and Refugees
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SAVE THE DATE!
Assembly of Circle Leaders, Saturday, March 29, 10-11:30 AM at Our Lady of Fatima in Oak Park.
This crisis is not going to go away anytime soon. Let's re-gather to support each other and our communities for the long haul.
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On March 29, Circles of Support will reconvene to go over the Plans of Action discussed on Feb. 22. If SNL is to be an effective vehicle to protect and advocate for immigrant families and individuals, then Circles of Support must grow and have a plan to meet this challenge. Each plan needs to be focused on three areas: education, rapid response, and direct support. Circles can consider a variety of actions including:
Distributing copies of the Spring 2025 edition of the Michigan Catholic Conference's publication FOCUS, which will be devoted to Immigration.
This upcoming issue will feature the stories of Michigan immigrants (including several members of Strangers No Longer) and articles on how the Church’s perspective on immigration is guided by fundamental Catholic social doctrine. Because this document comes from the MCC, it can be an effective way to educate other parish members, especially those who may not be sympathetic to the issue of immigration. Copies will be passed out at the April 27 banquet and additional copies (in both English and Spanish) can be ordered for free using this order form.
Respond to Urgent Action blasts from SNL.
As a part of several national networks, SNL will send out rapid response alerts to all members and circles will be asked to respond to these alerts and mobilize their members on short notice. Some parishes, that have members at risk of arrest and detention, may be asked to support a family in the event their loved one was picked up. This may include: accompanying them to the ICE Office to find out the whereabouts of the person detained; meeting with the family to determine their financial, emotional, and physical needs; or connecting them with legal support. SNL staff have resources to assist Circles faced with this type of crisis.
Hosting a "Know Your Rights" Presentation. Circles are encouraged to host a Know Your Rights presentation and to distribute the Know Your Rights Red Cards to church members, and local businesses. Over 1,000 cards have been distributed to Circle Leaders. For additional copies, email: luna.s@strangersnolonger.org.
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Strangers No Longer Annual Banquet – April 27
Poppy Hernandez, Director of Global Michigan, to keynote Annual Banquet
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Join us for SNL's 4th Annual Banquet, Sunday April 27 from
1-4pm at the Ukrainian Cultural Center, 26601 Ryan Rd, Warren, MI 48091. Ms. Poppy Hernandez, the Governor's Director of Diversity-Equality-Inclusion, and Director of the Office of Global Michigan will be our guest speaker. Our new Archbishop, Edward Weisenburger, has also been invited. Tickets are $30 and must be purchased by April 1.
Please contact your Circle Leader to purchase tickets, or email June Porter at: Jun4port@yahoo.com.
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Circles of Support Hold Know Your Rights Presentations
Over 80 people, from three Circles of Support in Romeo, Sterling Heights, and Ecorse, attended Know Your Rights presentations in February and March.
The workshop covered a range of issues from learning about the impact of major changes in immigration policy to knowing how to respond in the event of a family separation; Other topics include: what to do if ICE or CBP shows up at their local business or home, and how to recognize a DOJ-licensed immigration attorney, to protect themselves from individuals not authorized to practice law.
The workshops last one hour and are free of charge. Circle leaders interested in hosting a workshop, contact Sonya Luna at: luna.s@strangersnolonger.org.
| | | Youth from various area Catholic High Schools participate in a past Youth Conference. | |
5th Annual "Youth in Action for Immigration" Conference
Youth in Action for Immigration leaders are planning their 5th Annual Youth Conference on March 21, 2025 at Detroit Cristo Rey High School. All high school youth are invited to attend the Conference, engage in matters of immigration and our faith, and meet youth from other area high schools!
Youth will hear from a panel of immigration experts, engage in hands-on activities such as a refugee camp simulation, and non-violence training. The conference will also include an art and awareness station, an immigration moot court, citizenship test game, and more. Youth leaders will also unveil a new Youth Ambassador Program! Traditional Mexican food will be served for lunch. Cost is $12.00.
| | Parish Listening Team Trainings in the Diocese of Gaylord | | |
Parishes in the Diocese of Gaylord are kicking off a Listening Campaign this Lent, in continuation of the Nov. 2023 Assembly for Human Dignity in Traverse City, and the Sept. 2024 Day of Reflection on Catholic Social Teaching in Gaylord.
During a period of about 6 weeks, parish Listening Team members will hold 10 one-on-one conversations with both church and community members, focused on building relationships between parish members and discerning what members see as the biggest stresses on local families today.
Following the listening campaign, parish teams will reconvene to discern the community problems most frequently identified, and then create an Issues Platform, which will drive an action agenda for the group during the year. Leaders hope to establish a network of parishes in Gaylord that can become a serious player in the region, one with power and voice.
| Parish Listening Teams practice one-on-one listening in trainings conducted by Strangers No Longer this winter in St. Ann, Frankfort and St. Mary of the Woods, Kalkaska. | | |
Strangers No Longer Receives Grant to Build Northern Michigan Network
Strangers No Longer is honored to receive a grant from the Governor’s Office of Global Michigan to continue building and facilitating a new network of institutions that serve immigrants and refugees in Michigan's northern lower peninsula. Recently, this network ratified its mission statement:
“As an active collaborative network, we aim to make Michigan’s Northern Lower Peninsula an inclusive and welcoming region for immigrants and refugees. We do this by educating our local communities, providing support and resources to newcomers and the institutions serving them, and advocating for culturally appropriate solutions to immigrants’ needs.”
The network meets monthly on the 3rd Tuesday via Zoom. The network includes leaders from organizations that work with foreign-born newcomers in northern Michigan: schools, health institutions, non-profits, places of worship, and businesses. For more info contact Amy Ketner at: ketner.a@strangersnolonger.org .
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Strangers No Longer Works with Dairy Farmworkers to Educate about Avian Flu
Since August 2024, SNL has hired staff to train and educate dairy industry workers on how to prevent the Avian Influenza or Bird Flu, an outbreak affecting thousands of farms nationwide, including in Michigan.
This year we have an additional challenge, to unite and create a support network among dairy industry workers, so we have shared informational and legal resources to reassure immigrant workers and give them hope in these days of uncertainty and fear.
For more information, contact Carmen Elena Luna, Avian Flu Project Manager at: luna.c@strangersnolonger.org.
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SNL Members Visit the Southern Border
SNL Members Linda Tomala and Alex Vernon (Shown in Picture Above) traveled to McAllen, Texas in February as part of a delegation organized by the Jesuit Migration Network. The group visited Catholic humanitarian ministries at the border and saw first-hand the migrant situation there. Group members were directly immersed in the ever-changing landscape of US Immigration Policy and its impact on migrant families.
Linda Tomala wrote about her visit. She says, "After our work sessions we visited two shelters in Mexico, sharing Mass and activities with children in the camps. There was a palpable sense of joy in worshiping and playing together. It was an inspiring experience that energized us for our continued work in changing the negative narratives so prevalent today."
Read more about their trip at: Jesuit Migration Delegation.
Read Linda Tomala's summary of the the visit.
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New Archbishop to be Installed on March 18
Edward J. Weisenburger will be installed on March 18 as the New Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Wiesenberger is a defender of immigrants.
"Bishop Edward Weisenburger called upon the public to "see Christ" in migrants who cross the border seeking a better life. "-- Detroit Free Press Article
At the last archdiocese he served in Arizona, he supported many programs for immigrants. We know that he will be a big advocate for us!
Read more about The Elected Archbishop Weisenburger
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Please donate whatever you can to support the work of Strangers No Longer. Now, more than ever, your help is needed. |
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