- VACOLAO AND PARTNERS ORGANIZE EVENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE RIGHTS OF VIRGINIA’S IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
The upcoming Trump administration announced that that intends to deport three million undocumented immigrants. The new president has also threatened during the campaign to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that has helped over 700k young immigrants gain an education, enter the workforce and contribute to the economic growth of their communities. Attacks on immigrants belie our immigrant heritage and ignore the valuable contributions immigrants bring this country. We, the people of Virginia, need to stand with our immigrant neighbors and ensure that their rights are preserved and respected. As part of this vital work, VACOLAO is organizing the following events to organize and educate our communities on a collective response:
- Strategy meeting to respond to Trump on immigration:
WHAT: VACOLAO and partners will hold a strategy meeting in northern Virginia on how best to respond to the new administration including organizing a rapid response to ICE raids, developing a hot line, and a discussion on other organizing efforts at the national, regional and local levels and efforts to create safe spaces for immigrants in churches, schools etc.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: https://goo.gl/forms/pUkyaHt3e6HRktvi1
WHERE: 4444 Arlington Boulevard, Arlington 22204
WHEN: December, Wednesday 14th 2016 at 7:00pm
NOTE: Similar meetings will take place in Central Virginia, the Virginia Beach area, and Roanoke.
- Peaceful Civil Disobedience Training:
WHAT: Members of the community have expressed interest in learning about civil disobedience as part of our collective strategy to support the rights of immigrants.
WHEN: December 19th from 7-9pm
WHERE: TBD – NOVA.
HOW TO REGISTER: https://goo.gl/forms/LTjPASRBC85NoYAo1
For more information please contact us at [email protected].
- Training for Service Providers on the President elect Donald Trump approach on Immigration
WHAT: The new administration of President elect Trump will likely take a hard line on immigration enforcement in Virginia which could entail a return to the 287(g) agreement between Virginia law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, work-site and other widespread raids and a return to detention of immigrants lacking proper identification during routine traffic stops. As such it is imperative that Virginia’s immigrant communities know and understand how to exercise their rights during interactions with immigration and law enforcement officials. We are also very concerned about increasing reports of racially targeted bullying of children in our schools. We will also discuss what resources currently exist for parents and educators to combat such incidents and how communities can support their efforts.
WHEN: Thursday, January 26th 2016, 8:30am -11am
WHERE: NOVA – TBD
GOAL: The goal of this training is to educate those who work with the immigrant communities so they are able to provide the best advice possible to people affected by these issues. Having trained organizations and advocates dispersed in the area provides the immigrant community with various points of contact for information on their rights and avenues for help.
REGISTRATION required, please CLICK: https://goo.gl/forms/OoeYYH6VPiI2YRbs1
For more information, contact us at Edgar Aranda-Yanoc, [email protected] or 703-772-1555
- VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
For the past 10 years VACOLAO has organized and advocated for Latino and immigrant rights at the General Assembly, principally via our annual Immigrant Advocacy Day. This year our agenda includes driver’s license for all immigrants in Virginia, expanding in-state tuition for DREAMers regardless of their legal status, passing a resolution at the General Assembly condemning “hate speech” and celebrating Virginia’s diversity, and ending the gap on Medicaid among others. VACOLAO is organizing several activities in support of our General Assembly work:
- HOW TO BE AN EFEFECTIVE ADVOCATE TRAINING 2017
WHAT: Every year before the Immigrant Advocacy Day, VACOLAO organizes a training where we provide information on our legislative agenda that we will be advocates for during the general assembly as well as provide tools on how to become an effective advocate with state elected officials. This meeting will also provide an overview of what to expect during the actual advocacy day in Richmond.
WHERE: TBD
WHEN: Wednesday, January 11 at 7pm-8:30pm
- VACOLAO – VIRGINIA IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY DAY (Wednesday, January 18, 2017, Richmond, Virginia (Scholarships available)
WHAT: Join the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACOLAO)’s annual Immigrant Advocacy Day to meet with elected representatives and advocate for legislation and issues important to Virginia’s immigrant communities. The top priorities of VACOLAO’s legislative agenda are: Driver’s License Access for all immigrants in Virginia, expanding in-state tuition for DREAMers regardless of their legal status, passing a resolution for the General Assembly condemning “hate speech” and celebrating diversity to ensure that Virginia welcomes all of its residents, and the Gap on Medicaid among others.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 18, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. (We will provide a light breakfast and lunch)
Transportation will be available for those travelling from Arlington to Richmond. We will have a bus leaving from Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 2700 S. 19th Street, Arlington, VA 22204 at 6:30am that morning. Please arrive by 6:15am. We will be returning to northern Virginia at 5:00pm.
WHERE: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 815 E Grace St, Richmond, VA 23219 near the General Assembly Building.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Registration fee: $ 20.00. We have scholarships available
Should you decide to pay by check, please make all checks payable to VACOLAO and send to 6066 Leesburg Pike, suite 520, Falls Church, VA 22041.
REGISTER HERE: https://goo.gl/forms/qGl2e2oWXSg8IIar2
CONTACT: Please contact us at [email protected] or by phone at 703-772-1555 with any questions.
- VACOLAO’s WEEKLY CONFERENCE CALLS
During the General Assembly Session 2017, VACOLAO will be hosting weekly conference calls each TUESDAY to provide updates on the legislative process at the General Assembly and discuss advocacy efforts. Our first call will be Tuesday, January 10th at 02:00 p.m. If you want to be part of these weekly conference calls, please fill out this form: https://goo.gl/forms/xV26E9aglKoM7l8E2
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