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Turning the Page
"To everything there is a season."
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Dear Immigrant Ally,
For the past year, all four members of Allies for Immigration Justice have been grappling with the question of our capacity for this volunteer work. We are a small group, humbly recognizing that at this time in our lives, our personal circumstances and our energy levels require us to re-evaluate and prioritize where we put our time and energy.
At the same time, all four of us have been volunteering for the past two years with a pilot program titled Justice Portal. This is a no-cost immigration legal service offered through Unitarian Universalists, SLO (UUSLO) in partnership with its sister organization UURISE in San Diego. This program provides support for local immigrants in need of free immigration legal services by connecting them with local agencies or remote virtual services from San Diego.
In order to address our personal circumstances and to also focus our efforts on the development and growth of the Justice Portal program, we have made the difficult decision to close the doors on Allies for Immigration Justice, along with many of the educational and advocacy activities that we have dedicated ourselves to over the past years.
To that end, there will no longer be an Allies website or newsletter after December.
Happily, UUSLO has offered to take over several of our regular events and activities. You do not have to be a member of the congregation in order to participate in these activities; they are open to all. If you would like to stay updated, you can sign up for the UU newsletter at the bottom of the home page. Or you can simply check in on the website every now and then for updates. The new Immigrant Advocacy web page can be found on the UUSLO website starting Dec. 10.
So we are not saying good-bye, but rather we are shifting the focus of our efforts. We are deeply committed to the work of the UURISE Justice Portal and grateful for the opportunity to serve the immigrant community in this capacity.
And as we turn the page on these past seven years, we want to express our gratitude to you, our readers, for your interest in Allies for Immigration Justice and for your participation. There are almost 700 people who are subscribed to our Allies newsletter. We deeply appreciate that you have walked alongside us during these past years.
It is imperative that we all continue to stay informed and to advocate for our immigrant neighbors. The consequences of the recent election will be felt across the country, and our collective efforts are needed now more than ever.
With gratitude and some sadness,
Mary Lynn, Gina, Jan, and Douglas
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Photo taken at the border wall, Tijuana, Mexico | |
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Looking Forward:
The Justice Portal
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This program is offered through UUSLO in partnership with its sister organization UURISE in San Diego. Depending on the client’s needs, volunteers make referrals either to UURISE or to local organizations that offer immigration legal services. Legal consultations are provided by immigration attorneys and accredited DOJ representatives.
This program will be our focus moving forward.
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Suggested Actions
Just as we have in every newsletter, we are offering this final list of suggested actions that you can take today to support our immigrant neighbors
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BEBERLY'S STORY:
Help us to support this family seeking asylum
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It has now been more than seven years since a young mother from Guatemala came to the U.S. fleeing domestic violence and seeking asylum in this country with the dream of living in safety with her children. She first settled in San Luis Obispo County with her two boys, and in 2018, a grassroots group of local community members came together to support the family.
After seven years, this family is still waiting for their day in court. Like many others since the November election, they are making a plan for the possibility that they may not be allowed to have their day in court and may instead be deported. Their story vividly illustrates our broken immigration system. Please join us if you can in supporting this family!
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OTHER ACTIONS:
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IMMIGRATION DETENTION: Contact Jan Meslin to inquire about regularly scheduled visits to the immigration detention centers in Bakersfield and MacFarland. Learn about immigration detention and offer your support to someone with a visit.
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LEGISLATION ADVOCACY: Contact Jan Meslin to participate in CIPC's 2025 Immigrant Day of Action.
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SUPPORT a FUNDRAISER for UURISE, the organization that makes the Justice Portal possible!
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Heartfelt Thanks!
It takes many people working together to make an impact when doing advocacy work. We would like to express our appreciation to all the individuals and organizations who generously assisted us in our efforts by sharing their time, experience and expertise, including:
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- Solina Lindahl, former Steering Committee Member of Allies for Immigration Justice
- Students for Immigration Justice, SLO County (Cal Poly club)
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Thank You
to YOU, our readers:
for attending events, reading the newsletters, and supporting your immigrant neighbors!
And remember:
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Photos above and below: Art on the southern border wall, taken during one of our trips to Tijuana, Mexico. | |
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In Lak’ech
Tú eres mi otro yo.
You are my other me.
Si te hago daño a ti,
If I do harm to you,
Me hago daño a mi mismo.
I do harm to myself.
Si te amo y respeto,
If I love and respect you,
Me amo y respeto yo.
I love and respect myself.
Luis Valdez
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Photo: people visiting loved ones during visiting hours at the border wall, Tijuana, Mexico, 2019 | | |
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Allies for Immigration Justice,
SLO County
Scrapbook
2017-2024
Join us for a walk down memory lane,
with pictures from the past seven years.
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ALLIES FOR IMMIGRATION JUSTICE, SLO County
website: alliesforimmigrationjustice.org
email: alliesslocounty@gmail.com
OUR VISION
We envision a country where all people, regardless of immigration status, are treated with respect and dignity, and have access to a fulfilling and prosperous political, economic and social life.
OUR MISSION
We are a grassroots organization of individuals dedicated to:
- centering impacted communities,
- educating the general public to provide a greater understanding of the complexity of immigration issues, and
- resisting unjust immigration policies and practices through political advocacy and direct action.
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You are receiving this email because you registered online for an Allies event (Eventbrite or other registration), signed up for our emails at an event where we were present, signed up through our website or because you requested us directly to put you on our email list. Want to unsubscribe? It's easy. Scroll to the bottom of this email and click "unsubscribe". | | | | |
