Immigration and Culture

If you missed the immigration justice event on February 12, about immigration myths, you might not know the answers to the following questions:
  • What is the percentage of new immigrants in Minnesota?  
  • What is the percentage of undocumented immigrants in Minnesota?  
  • What country do most undocumented workers come from? 
Denise Konen, a First Universalist congregant who is a leader in our immigration umbrella efforts, took those questions to coworkers who work with immigrants, and to a class of Latino parents she teaches. Only one person was close on only one of the questions. As she says, "The media and our own biases have skewed our views on immigration." The answers: 6.9%   1.5%   Canada  
Come learn more about immigrants in our community at our next event in March – details to come here soon.  

For more information, contact Debra Rodgers, Director of Faith in Action, 612-825-1701x106.

Other Ways to Get Involved

There are several ways to get involved in or learn more about immigration and other cultures through First Universalist.

1. Join our Emerging Umbrella of First Universalist as part of a new team that is forming. Please contact Debra Rodgers, Director of Faith in Action, debra@firstuniv.org or 612-825-1701 X106.

2. If you have youth interested in learning more about the experiences of other cultures, check out our Youth Cultural Exchange program.

3. Learn more from the power of immigration stories at the Standing on the Side of Love website.

Immigration Reform: What is our Role?

On December 4, more than 60 members and friends attended a panel discussion called Latino Voices, a program of La Conexion de las Americas. Each panelist told a story of how they came to the United States, and the experience of discrimination and hardship they faced. It became easier for participating congregants to understand how a broken immigration system affects the lives of thousands of families, both here and in the poor countries and towns of Central and South America. Latino Voices is the first step to educate ourselves on issues related to immigration, and its impact on our City and State. For more information, contact: debra@firstuniv.org, 612-825-1701 X106.

On February 12, we learned about immigration myths and misperceptions from Dr. Rodolfo Gutierrez, executive director of HACER (Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research).

 

Background

The 2012 General Assembly to be held in Phoenix, along with the selected "Immigration as a Moral Issue" 2010—2014 Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSAI) of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA). has galvanized interest in learning about the role First Universalist can play in addressing the problems related to immigration in Minnesota.

A few next steps have already emerged as ways to begin learning about and addressing the problems:

  • DREAM Act:  We will partner with local organizations working to pass the DREAM Act in Minnesota which would give the children of undocumented immigrants in Minnesota the right to pay in-state tuition and a chance at citizenship once they graduated college. 
  • "Drop the I Word": Learn about the public education campaign by going to colorlines.com/droptheiword/. While there you can take the pledge to Drop the I Word as well.