About 25 UUCV members met on Oct. 15 and Nov. 12 to begin the formation of a committee in support of Immigrants’ Rights. A coordination committee was formed by Silvia Hutchins as a liaison to the Social Action Coordinating Committee (SACC) and CLUE. Susan Franzblau will develop an “Immediate Emergency Response Team.”
Ruth Capelle will participate in coalition building with other organizations and communicate action and volunteer opportunities to ATIR and send out information and analyses from other sources and UUSC. Ray Vargas joined us as well and has begun to lead the development of a mission statement and also initiated a fundraising effort.
Susan defines her task: “I am coordinating an effort to help undocumented immigrant families find a place to stay, food to eat, childcare and transportation when they are in our area for legal services or are clients of other agencies and organizations.” She hopes for volunteers to expand the network of people who can provide some of the services that will only involve a few days at a time.
Ruth intends to develop a more effective means of communication than frequent e-mails which will be reserved for immediate action alerts. She hopes volunteers will participate in outreach and inform us on activities in support of the immigrant community being planned by other groups in the West County.
Please contact Ruth if you’d like your name to be added to ATIR’s e-mail list for action alerts.
We plan to hold regular meetings on the 2nd Monday of the month beginning at 6pm for a potluck dinner and convene at 6:30pm; we expect to be done no later than 8pm. In December only, the meeting will take place on the third Monday of the month, Dec. 17.
The goals and efforts of this new committee are aligned with the UU principles and purposes, especially:
We are in covenant to affirm and promote:
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
- Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; and
- The goal of a world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.
With love and the fervent hope that together we can make the world a better place for the most afflicted,
The Action Team for Immigrant Rights