This new series is an opportunity for students to meet Chicago area practitioners and advocates to discuss US immigration policy from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Students can also get tips about career paths in policy analysis and advocacy.
This series is organized by the Pozen Family Center for Human Rights, as well as UChicago student organizations UChicago Amnesty International, International Policy Program at the Institute of Politics, and the Partnership for the Advancement of Refugee Rights (PARR).
Co-sponsors include the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS), UChicago Coalition for Immigrant Rights (UCCIR), Immigration Reform Working Group at the Institute of Politics, International Human Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School, Katz Center for Mexican Studies, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA), Organization for Latin American Students (OLAS), and The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights at the University of Chicago Law School.
All events will be held in Classics Building, Room 110
1010 E 59th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
Part I: Law and History
An overview of US immigration law and Chicago immigrant communities.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
6:00-7:30pm | Dinner provided
Panelists include:
1) Susan Gzesh, Executive Director, Pozen Family Center for Human Rights, University of Chicago
2) Fred Tsao, Policy Director, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
3) Xóchitl Bada, Associate Professor, Latin American and Latino Studies Program, University of Illinois-Chicago
Part II: Advocacy Strategies
How does advocacy for policy change actually work?
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
6:00-7:30pm | Dinner provided
Panelists include:
1) Maria Woltjen, Director, Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights at the University of Chicago Law School
2) Lawrence Benito, Chief Executive Officer, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
3) Matthew Soerens, US Church Training Specialist, World Relief
4) Cristina Garcia AM'12, Membership Mobilization Manager, National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities
Part III: Action!
Learn about opportunities to work with Chicago area organizations.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
6:00-7:30pm | Dinner provided
Panelists include UChicago alumni and representatives from local organizations working with refugees and immigrants:
1) Darwensi Clark AM'13, Associate Director of Refugee Family Services, Heartland Alliance
2) Sunny Sue Chang Jonas AB'99, Children and Youth Services Coordinator, World Relief DuPage/Aurora; Northern Illinois University Bilingual Education doctoral student
3) Jean-Pierre Valbrun, Pan-African Association
4) Keren Zwick AB'04, Managing Attorney for Adult Detention Project and LGBT Immigrant Rights Initiative, National Immigrant Justice Center