On March 17, the First Parish Church of Stow and Acton will host its third annual immigration forum. The event is designed to help us respond to and understand the realities of immigrant lives in our communities, along with evolving public initiatives to reform immigration policies. Seven knowledgeable panelists will describe how we can support local and national legislators in their efforts to create just and efficient roadways to citizenship for the 11 million hard-working “new Americans” who are so essential to our local and national economies.

Panelists include:

• Joana Dos Santos of the Cleghorn Neighborhood Center in Fitchburg, reporting about recent community developments affecting immigrants in North Central Massachusetts;
• Senator James Eldridge, representing Middlesex and Worcester Districts, discussing the proposed TRUST Act, which will establish a clear distinction between public safety officers and immigration enforcement;
• Shannon Erwin, Attorney with MIRA (Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition), the state’s largest immigrant and refugee advocacy organization, talking about MIRA and the Safe Driving Act, which will require all state drivers to obey our traffic laws, be licensed and insured;
• Lily Huang, from Jobs With Justice, working with local Teachers’ Unions to strengthen their understanding and responses to the realities faced by immigrant families;
• Susan O’Brien, Director of Develoment at Leominster’s Spanish American Center, talking about risks and reality of violence in the immigrant community;
• Conrado Santos or Cairo Mendes, representing the Student Immigration Movement and United We Dream, to share these forward-looking organizations’ inclusive educational goals to leave no youth or family behind;
• Thomas Smith, Attorney with Justice At Work, talking about the importance of protecting low-wage workers and the implementation of fair guest-worker programs;
• Natalicia Tracy, Director of the Brazilian Immigrant Center, explaining the National Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, which – on behalf of nannies and home-based caregivers for the sick and elderly – proposes just policies governing the pay and work conditions for workers on whom so many of us depend.

The free program will run from 12:45 to 3 pm in the Church’s Fellowship Hall, and is open to the public. Lunch will be provided. For more information, contact Margot Welch (margot.welch@verizon.net).

WE HOPE YOU'LL COME!

The event will be streamed live on the internet.  One can also submit questions online during the event.  See the link below: