Our First Event!

We had our first community awareness event last night, cosponsored by The Western Mass Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice. About 50 people came to see the documentary Echando Raíces/Taking Root and learn about immigrant issues. Speakers included myself (local demographics and my experiences teaching ESOL), Ruth Trujillo (personal experiences) and Erec Vaget (Rapid Response Teams).

The local paper, The Daily Hampshire Gazette, had a front page article about it and Channel 22 News covered it too (photo is from website).

Overall, it was a successful beginning thanks to Media Education Foundation and volunteers.

Caroline Murray takes on Bill O'Reilly

Caroline Murray (ADP/Casa Obrera in Springfield, MA) takes on Bill O'Reilly. My hat's off to you Caroline.

Video

Excellent Story About Raided Dairy Farm

A Bust, and a Blow to a Business
In immigration raids, unwitting employers can be victims, too

Facts

I thought it might be useful for readers to have ready access to important reports and studies regarding immigration and immigrants. I'm posting some here and will create a permanent side bar category for them too.

Dollars without Sense: Underestimating the Value of Less-Educated Workers
Immigration Policy Center

Common Myths About Undocumented Immigrants
National Council of La Raza

Health Care Expenditures for Immigrants in the United States
Fact Sheet Based on American Journal of Public Health
National Immigration Forum

The Myth of Immigrant Criminality and Paradox of Assimilation
Immigration Policy Center

AFL-CIO and Unite Here on Lou Dobbs

Thea Lea of the AFL-CIO and Bruce Raynor of Unite Here give great explanations of how the exploitation of the undocumented affects all workers, regardless of citizenship and status. And they managed to do it on Lou Dobbs' show too.