[Video] JCUA Marches for Immigration Reform: May Day 2013

by Lauren Goldstein
JCUA Intern, Advocacy and Community Organizing

On Wednesday, May 1, JCUA joined thousands of families, individuals, activists, advocates, and organizations to march for just and compassionate immigration reform.

In photo: Rabbi Alison Abrams, JCUA’s director of organizing, at the march.

It was a beautiful spring day (finally!) – perfect for coming together for social change. We arrived at Union Park at 2:30 to the sound of drums beating, people chanting, and flags waving. We then joined the march, which was just getting underway. We marched alongside allies from the Erie Neighborhood House, Logan Square Neighborhood Association, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (of which JCUA is a member), Unite Here, Rabbi Joshua Salter from the South West Organizing Project, Community Renewal Society, and many, many more.

The energy was high and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement as the march converged with another march for immigration reform that started at a different location, so that we could all march together as one large group into the Loop to Federal Plaza.

As we weaved through the afternoon rush amidst businessmen and women, bicycles, taxis, and buses, the group continued to sing and shout chants such as “What do we want? Immigration Reform! When do we want it? NOW!” and we soon closed in on Federal Plaza. The rally continued at the plaza with the goal of sparking excitement and change for the future.

The need for comprehensive immigration reform, the necessity that we stop deportations, that we stop tearing families apart, is growing ever more important with each passing day. The time has long been here to change our current system so that we may be a more humane, compassionate people. On May Day, JCUA marched united with the many people in our city who work tirelessly for change, and we are honored to have had the opportunity to be a part of this vital change.

See footage from JCUA’s march on May Day:

For more on JCUA’s work for immigrant rights, visit:

http://www.jcua.org/immigration

[Action Alert – 5/3] Interfaith Vigil for Detained Immigrant Rights / Postville Remembrance Day

On May 3, 2013, the JCUA will participate in an interfaith vigil at the Broadview Detention Center. We will offer our support and prayers to those held at Broadview and subsequently deported. JCUA members will represent a larger Jewish voice demanding comprehensive immigration reform in the United States. The vigil will also serve to remember the tragic events in Postville, IA 5 years ago, as we seek to turn tragedy into a victory for justice.

We ask that you join us in standing with those held at Broadview and their families by participating in the vigil with us.

Click here to RSVP.

When:

7:15 AM – Vigil begins at Broadview Detention Center.

Where:

Broadview Detention Center
1930 Beach Street, Broadview, IL

Transportation:

• Once we know who wants to come, we will plan for transportation for those not driving.
• When you RSVP , please indicate if you need transportation.

Contact person:

Rabbi Ali Abrams
JCUA Director of Organizing
Alison@jcua.org

[Action Alert – 5/1] Act for Immigration Reform

On May 1, 2013, JCUA supporters will participate in the 2013 May Day March for immigration reform and immigrant rights. This movement calls for legislation to stop deportations and keep families together. It calls for legalization for all. The JCUA strongly believes that IMMIGRANT RIGHTS are HUMAN RIGHTS and we hope you will join us in marching for immigration reform.

RSVP here.

Date:

• Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Schedule:

• 2:00 PM – Gathering at Union Park
• 3:00 PM – March Begins
• 4:00 PM – Rally at Federal Plaza (Jackson St. and Dearborn St.)

JCUA Meeting Area:

Option 1: Meet us at 2:30 PM (Union Park)

• You can arrive at Union Park via Ashland-Lake CTA train (Green and Pink lines)
• JCUA members will be at the northeast corner of Ashland and Washington (see photo of meeting area). Look for the JCUA sign!

Option 2: Meet us at 4:00 PM (approximately) at the rally (Federal Plaza):

• When the march arrives at Federal Plaza, JCUA members will gather between the Calder sculpture and the federal building. (see photo of the meeting area). Look for the JCUA sign!

RSVP:

• Let us know if you plan on coming. It will make coordinating much easier!
• RSVP here.

With any questions, please contact:

Rabbi Ali Abrams
JCUA Director of Organizing
Alison@jcua.org

Meet the Slowbots: Bringing World Influences to Cafe Finjan

Cafe Finjan 2013 will bring together a variety groups in performances ranging from dance and spoken word to music and stand up comedy. One of the most excitingly diverse groups performing is the Slowbots. Their musical influences include soul music, Pakistani and Indian poetry, hip hop and R&B. Meet the Slowbots…

The Slowbots

Cafe Finjan 2013:
Thursday, April 4, 6:00pm
American Islamic College
(640 W. Irving Park, Chicago)
$5 Suggested Donation
Get more details.

About the Slowbots:

The Slowbots’ music is a soulful rendering of influences from all over the world. Their style at times bucks the trend, and at times pays heartfelt tribute to the classics. Sultry, powerful vocals, strong melodies, and expressive music combine to pay homage to those broken moments in life that define us.  The Slowbots are currently working on their first album.

A little about the band members:

Nick Jaffe, the guitarist, is Chief Editor of the Teaching Artist Journal, a publication for the Center for Arts Policy at Columbia College.  He has also backed the performing artists Bobby Brown, Common, Dwele & Estelle.  His other musical projects focus on a wide variety of genres including soul, hip hop, rock and r&b.

Yasmin Ali, the lead singer, was trained from childhood in a sung form of poetry known as a Naat in India and Pakistan.  She seeks to combine that art form with a more contemporary one.

Angela Salva, the violinist, performs in the Dupage Symphony Orchestra among other projects. Katie Chow is the Slowbots’ intrepid drummer, and Todd Swope backs them on bass.  Rashik Farhan Rashid joins them on back up vocals and lead guitar.

Rakae Jamil

For their performance at Cafe Finjan, the Slowbots will be joined by Rakae Jamil.  Rakae Jamil began learning the sitar when he was 12. His first teacher was Ustad Ashraf Sharif Khan of Poonchwalay, who was the son of one of the greatest exponents of the sitar and vichitra veena, Ustad Sharif Khan of Poonchwalay.  He has performed at the All Pakistan Music Conference, which was held in memory of its founder, the late Ustad Hayat Ahmad Khan, and has performed several recordings of it at the Sanjan Nagar Institute of Philosophy and Arts.

Rakae received the Ustad Fateh Ali Khan Gold medal for 1st place at the All Pakistan Music Conference in March, 2006, and the Ustad Sharif Khan Poonchwalay gold medal in April, 2007. In December 2005 he participated in the British Council “Music Masti” program in November 2005, and was awarded a 2-week trip to the United Kingdom for a music exchange program: Trinity College; Warwick University; University of Edinburgh & University of Glasgow.

Meet the Emcees of Cafe Finjan 2013: Adam and Taz

We are very excited to announce that the emcees of Cafe Finjan 2013 are a very dynamic duo: Adam Shames and Taz Rashid. They both have a lot of experience in engaging audiences in a creative and fun way!

Cafe Finjan: Jewish. Muslim. Art.
Thursday, April 4, 2013, 6:oopm
American Islamic Collage (640 W. Irving Park, Chicago)
$5 Suggested Donation

Adam Shames

Adam is a creativity expert, organizational consultant and speaker who specializes in innovation, teambuilding and community events.  He is also a musician, poet and executive director of Poetry Pals, an interfaith non-profit creativity program that brings together Muslim, Jewish and Catholic kids and their communities.

A former “Teacher of the Year” with a master’s degree from Stanford University, Adam is the founder of the Kreativity Network, writes about creativity in his “Innovation on my Mind” blog and is adjunct faculty for Depaul University School of New Learning.

Taz Rashid

Taz has been producing and part of creating conscious, spiritual events in Chicago, IL and California over the last few years and as a musician, he plays guitar, keyboard, Native American Flute, didgeridoo and hand percussion. He is also a Poet Educator with Poetry Pals, an interfaith non-profit creativity program that brings together Muslim, Jewish and Catholic kids and their communities. He also produces a drug alcohol free all ages dance party in Chicago called Club Divine.

Get all Cafe Finjan Details at: www.CafeFinjan.org

Nationally Known Comedian, Dean Obeidallah, to Perform at Cafe Finjan on April 4th

We are excited to announce that Dean Obeidallah will make a guest appearance at Cafe Finjan 2013 via Skype from New York City. Cafe Finjan details: April 4, 6pm at American Islamic College.

Dean Obeidallah is an award winning comedian who was at one time a practicing attorney. He has appeared on Comedy Central’s “Axis of Evil” special, ABC’s “The View,” PBS’ special, “Muslim American Comedians come of Age,” and he can be seen weekly on CNN.

Dean is currently co-producing/co-directing a documentary entitled “The Muslims are Coming!” featuring a stand up comedy tour of Muslim-American comedians performing free shows across the South and West in the hopes of fostering understanding. The film features interviews with The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, comedians Lewis Black, David Cross and many more.

He also co-created the stands up comedy show “Stand up For Peace” with Jewish comedian Scott Blakeman that they perform at schools across the country in hopes of fostering understanding between people of different faiths.  He is also the co-creator of the annual NY Arab-American Comedy Festival.

Get the latest Cafe Finjan details at: www.CafeFinjan.org

[VIDEO] Watch JCUA on ABC7 Marching for Immigrant Rights and Take Action

by Rabbi Alison Abrams
Director of Organizing, JCUA

On Sunday, March 10, 2013, JCUA participated in the National Coming Out of the Shadows March and Rally to call for a stop to deportations and an end to criminalizing immigrants (scroll down to read how you can take action in March and April).

JCUA volunteers at the march

By the end of the day, hundreds of people were gathered to hear stories of undocumented individuals and the impact of our broken immigration system on families.  These men and women stepped out of the shadows to say they lived as both “undocumented and unafraid.”

Through chants, prayers, songs, and stories, we stood in solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters to say change must come and it must come now.  To this end, we will continue our fight for a just and compassionate immigration system that honors all peoples’ human rights.

TV Coverage:

Watch ABC7′s coverage of the march (including JCUA volunteers raising the Jewish voice for immigrant justice):

Take Action With JCUA:

• Wednesday, March 20, 2013: Join us at the National Museum of Mexican Art for our Freedom and Justice Seder on March 20th at 6pm where we will again make our voices heard.
• Friday, April 5, 2013: Please join us at the detention center in Broadview, IL, where we will participate in an interfaith vigil, drawing attention to the injustice of current detention and deportation practices.

Please RSVP for these actions so we know to expect you.

Questions? Contact:

Rabbi Alison Abrams
Director of Organizing
alison@jcua.org

Get Trained to Advocate for Common Sense Gun Legislation

For the past several months, JCUA and our community partners have been pushing for effective legislation in Illinois that would reduce gun violence in Chicago. We need 100,000 signatures of concerned citizens to bring lawmakers to vote on legislation that requires guns to be titled like cars and we need your help!

Attend a training on common sense gun legislation, and become a more effective advocate:

WHEN:
Sunday, March 17th, 11-12:30 pm

WHERE:
Beth Hill Congregation B’nai Emunah (Spak Auditorium)
3220 Big Tree Lane, Wilmette

Please RSVP here.

Questions? Contact:

Rabbi Alison Abrams
Director of Organizing, JCUA
alison@jcua.org

[Action Alert - 4/5] Interfaith Vigil for Detained Immigrant Rights

On April 5, 2013, the JCUA will participate in an interfaith vigil at the Broadview Detention Center. We will offer our support and prayers to those immorally held at Broadview and subsequently deported, and we will represent a piece of the larger Jewish voice demanding comprehensive immigration reform in the United States.

JCUA members in previous vigil at Broadview

We ask that you join us in standing with those held at Broadview and their families by participating in the vigil with us. Rabbi Ali Abrams will be offering an opening and closing prayer at the vigil. Click here to RSVP.

When:

7:15am  Vigil begins at Broadview Detention Center.

Where:

Broadview Detention Center
1930 Beach Street, Broadview, IL.

Transportation:

• Once we know who wants to come, will be plan for transportation for those not driving.
• When you RSVP, please indicate if you need transportation.

Contact Person:

Rabbi Ali Abrams
JCUA Director of Organizing
alison@jcua.org

[ACTION ALERT - 3/10] Come Out for Immigration Reform

March is national “coming out of the shadows” month.  This Sunday, March 10, the JCUA will participate in the “Out of the Shadows” march where undocumented youth will declare themselves, “undocumented and unafraid.”  This event is led by the inspiring Immigrant Youth Justice League. We ask that you join us in standing with them (RSVP here).

This movement, which originated in Chicago on March 10, 2010, has grown every year and has seen nationwide participation.

Date:

• Sunday, March 10, 2013

Schedule:

• Noon   March begins at Union Plaza, ending at Federal Plaza.
• 1 pm   Rally begins in Federal Plaza, where youth will declare themselves “undocumented and unafraid” in front of the federal immigration office building.

JCUA Meeting Area:

Option 1: Meet us at 11:45 am (Union Park):

• You can arrive at Union Park via the Ashland-Lake CTA train (Green and Pink lines)
• JCUA members will meet at the northeast corner of Ashland and Washington (see photo of meeting area). Look for the JCUA sign!

Option 2: Meet us at 12:45 pm (approximately) at the rally (Federal Plaza):

• When the march arrives at Federal Plaza, JCUA members will gather between the Calder sculpture and the federal building (see photo of meeting area). Look for the JCUA sign!

RSVP:

• Let us know if you plan on coming (it will make coordinating much easier). RSVP here.

With any questions, please contact:

Rabbi Ali Abrams
JCUA Director of Organizing
alison@jcua.org