2007 PRESS RELEASES

CONVERSATION NIGHT
Communities Ensuring Liberty and Justice for All
Tuesday, July 31- 6:30 to 8:30 PM
CIO Office - 2808 NE MLK Jr. Blvd. #13

CIO invites the community to a conversation night on Tuesday, July 31st, at the CIO office. These conversations are part of a national project called Liberty and Justice for All, which has brought thousands of people together across the country to discuss immigration reform that restores basic civil liberties and human rights, protects our core American values of fairness and justice, and defends due process for everyone.

So far, CIO has hosted 19 conversations, and this July date is the last that we will hold. We want to hear what our communities think about immigration policy, and discuss what we can do to work towards fair and humane immigration reform. In the coming months, we will also be writing a report and a feature story in our newsletter to share these conversations with a wider audience.

Having a conversation is a great way to share experiences so that we can get beyond the rhetoric and hear what immigration policies mean for real individuals and families. Please join us in sharing our stories and putting democracy into practice!

Tuesday, July 31st
6:30-8:30 p.m.
2808 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. #13
(light refreshments will be provided)

Please let us know if you are able to attend, and of course, feel free to bring friends and family!

For more information, contact Amanda Ufheil-Somers
Liberty and Justice for All Campaign Coordinator
Center for Intercultural Organizing
2808 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite 13
Portland, Oregon 97212
(503) 287-4117
amanda@interculturalorganizing.org

Refugee and Immigrant Solidarity Education (RISE) Workshop
A Six-Week Popular Education Course
Register Online Now for our September/October 2007 Series!

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER, 2007 RISE WORKSHOP SERIES
Monday, September 24 – 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Wednesday, September 26 – 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Monday, October 1 – 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Wednesday, October 3 – 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Monday, October 8 – 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Wednesday, October 10 – 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Monday, October 15 – 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Wednesday, October 17 – 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Monday, October 22 – 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Wednesday, October 24 – 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Monday, October 29 – 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM

What past RISE participants have said:

• "I enjoyed learning about the nuts and bolts of immigration. Learning about the vocabulary, the systems and the history helps me better able to understand the context for current events."
• "I loved the open discussions. I think we all learned a lot from each other."
• "Learn as much as you can about each other, and remember that wherever you go and whatever you do after this workshop, all people have a story to tell, and by telling these stories to each other we can keep the issues and complexities in immigration alive in the minds of Americans who may be inclined to forget that we are almost all immigrants and refugees."
• "Everyone had the ability and welcome to speak, listen, and ask questions. It was a very cooperative full circle."
• "Come with an open mind and heart, listen patiently and speak up. We are a community, lucky to be here with eachother making connections."

Immigration is a major force shaping the economic, racial, and cultural identity of the United States. Public policy about immigration changes constantly due to social and economic factors, and significant immigration reform proposals will be considered in the coming year.

The Refugee and Immigrant Solidarity Education (RISE) Workshop is a popular education course—led by the Center for Intercultural Organizing—designed to build a common understanding in our community about the historical forces shaping immigration policy and the current political interests at stake. Its purpose is to inform community members on how they can become good allies in the struggle for immigrant and refugee rights.

In addition to participating in a community learning setting, participants will help to plan and participate in a Center for Intercultural Organizing event. Participation in this popular education course will help individuals to develop a thorough knowledge of the dynamics of immigration, political influences on immigration policy, as well as equip them to participate in open discussion and public advocacy on immigration issues.

REGISTER ONLINE

Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition Calls for
Just and Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Rally Planned for May 1, 2007
Download a flyer in English
Volante en Español

Stop the attacks on immigrant workers
Stop the raids and deportations
Stop breaking families apart

The Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition—composed of immigrant, labor, faith, and community organizations—celebrates the enormous contributions of all workers and in particular the important, often uncelebrated economic contributions of immigrant workers. We join numerous coalitions and organizations across the country in the call for Just and Comprehensive Immigration Reform and a Moratorium on raids and deportations that are breaking families apart terrorizing our communities.

WHAT: Rally and March for a Just and Comprehensive Immigration Reform
WHEN: Tuesday, May 1, 2007 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: South Park Blocks (SW Park and Salmon)

Recent government proposals on immigration and workers rights are moving in the wrong direction including:

• Representative Luis Gutierrez’s (D-IL) and Representative Jeff Flake’s STRIVE Act (HR 1645) introduced March 22nd contains severe punitive measures including further militarization at the border, increased interior enforcement, and codified cooperation of local police with ICE.
• The Bush Plan released on March 29th is an outrageous anti-worker, anti-family plan that eliminates entire categories of visas, would create a permanent underclass through a costly visa that doesn’t lead to permanent residency, and set up a class of exploitable workers through an unjust guest worker program.

“We call on Congress to develop a new immigration proposal that does not endanger the civil, labor and human rights of immigrants or any workers,” said Marco Mejia of the American Friends Service Committee. “We need legalization with a clear path to citizenship, family reunification, and the restoration of civil rights and liberties for all.”

Last year masses marched for legalization; family reunification; and civil rights.

“We have survived a year of stepped up raids, mass deportations, and anti-immigrant attacks, and still contributed billions of dollars to the US economy” said Romeo Sosa, VOZ Worker’s Rights Education Project. “This year we take to the streets again on May 1st to say no to the STRIVE Act and all anti immigrant initiatives and to say yes to a fair and just immigration reform, yes to civil, labor and human rights for all. We also call on the Oregon Legislature to stop the move to take away immigrants drivers’ licenses in Oregon. Let’s keep public roads safe.

The Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition include the following groups: AFSC - American Friends Service Committee, Center for Intercultural Organizing, Escuela de Líderes Comunitarios “Magdalena Mora”, Latino Network/La Red Latina, Portland Central America Solidarity Committee and Comité Latino, Portland IWW - International Workers of the World, Portland Jobs with Justice, VOZ: Worker’s Rights Education Project, PCUN - Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, AFSCME – American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 75, SEIU – Service Employees International Union Locals 49 and 503, CAUSA, and the Farm Worker’s Ministry, Witness For Peace, Jefferson Center for Education and Research , Carpenters’ Council of Oregon, Hermandad Mexicana, Social Activist Youth, Veterans For Peace Chapter 72, and other Community, Human and Immigrant Rights organizations.

STAND-UP for Social Justice
Sometimes you just gotta laugh!
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE TICKETS!

A FUNNYraiser featuring stand-up comedy, film, tasty treats from around the world, and a silent auction to benefit the Center for Intercultural Organizing. Click here to see a short (9 minute) documentary featuring our comedians!

Tickets are $25.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 2007
6:30 PM Doors—Reception and Silent Auction Opens
7:30 PM Show—Stand-up for Social Justice: Comedians on Race, Immigration and Politics & Screening of “Manoj,” a short film produced/directed by Zia Mohajerjasbi and written by Hari Kondabolu
9:00 PM—Silent Auction Closes

Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center
5340 North Interstate Avenue
Portland , Oregon

This event WILL BE HILARIOUS ... but will NOT be suitable for kids.

*****

ABOUT THE COMEDIANS

		Hari Kondabolu (http://www.harithecomic.com) discovers big laughs with material most comics wouldn't think about exploring: Racism, Privilege, and Power. In addition, his astute analyses of popular culture, Major League Baseball, and his childhood as the son of Indian immigrants in Queens, NY have established him as one of the fresh young voices on the comedy circuit. Hari recently performed on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live and the 2007 HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival. “Hari Kondabolu, who moved to Seattle from New York a year ago, eviscerated Western hypocrisy with a verbal razor that had overtones of Lenny Bruce.” —Seattle Times
		Ahamefule J. Oluo (http://www.ahamefuleoluo.com) is a Texas born, Seattle raised Trumpeter, Composer, Arranger and, oh yeah ... Comedian. The son of a Nigerian immigrant father and a “white girl from Kansas ,” Ahamefule brings his unique perspectives to comedy, music, jazz and life.

Night of 1000 Conversations
Communities Ensuring Liberty and Justice for All
Thursday, April 5 2007
Various Locations

On Thursday, April 5, 2007 thousands of people all across the country will come together in living rooms, basements, back yards, community centers, schools, and places of worship to work towards immigration reform that restores basic civil liberties and human rights, protects our core American values of fairness and justice, and defends due process for everyone.

The Center for Intercultural Organizing will be hosting 25 conversations locally. Each will explore the common principles we share, surface the places we have seen those principles being violated in our community, and explore ways we can act collectively to ensure that "liberty and justice for all" is evenly applied.

Together we can move the discussion of immigration away from fear and back to the core American values that define us as a nation—civil liberties and human rights for all.

To join the Night of 1000 Conversations, please contact Mary Bata at maryb@interculturalorganizing.org.

2008 PRESS RELEASES

2006 PRESS RELEASES

2005 PRESS RELEASES