[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

Exploring Cafe Finjan’s Venue: American Islamic College

American Islamic College will host Cafe Finjan – the annual Jewish/Muslim performing arts event – on April 4th, 2013. Find out more about this vibrant community institution that combines academic learning, community engagement and Islamic spirituality.

by Max Harkavy
Communications Intern, JCUA

American Islamic College (AIC), located at 640 W Irving Park Road in Chicago, was founded, it was intended to serve as a college of liberal arts & sciences that is grounded in Islamic spirituality.

Romana Manzoor

“The building that houses AIC was bought from Immaculata High School in the 1980s with the hopes of creating a liberal arts college that would operate within an Islamic framework,” said Romana Manzoor, the program coordinator for AIC.  The first administration at AIC was able to work up to being fully accredited, but the institution has since seen their accreditation revoked.

“The new administration, that started in 2010, is working to revamp and revive the college,” said Manzoor.  “We are starting the accreditation process all over again.”

Since taking over, the new administration has enhanced the mission of the college, going beyond the attempts of the previous administration, by creating a hotbed for both spiritual and secular learning.  AIC seeks to be an institution that can offer classes that are academically rigorous, challenging, and thought provoking.  Offering these types of courses is important but the college also seeks to remain rooted in spirituality, while being a place where students can feel comfortable with expanding their knowledge of both Islam and other, more secular topics.

[Guest Post] Turn a Tragedy into a Victory for Justice

In May 2008, federal immigration agents raided the small town of Postville, IA – separating families and devastating a community. JCUA responded immediately (see photos), and worked with the Postville community in the years following the raid (read article). Nearly 5 years after the raid, JCUA’s partners in Iowa are calling for comprehensive immigration reform with renewed hope and urgency. 

by Sr. Mary McCauley, BVM
Dubuque, Iowa

Soon we will commemorate the Fifth Anniversary of the 2008 Immigration Raid in Postville, Iowa.  Having been in Postville at that time, I still carry with me the suffering of the people.

JCUA members, Postville – July, 2008 (more photos)

I recall the small girl with a scrap of paper in her hand crawling up the steps into the sanctuary and handing her paper to our Hispanic Minister with words that were clear and direct.  “Please bring my daddy home!”

I recall the women walking the streets of Postville with mandated GPS devices on their ankles.  During our walks and prayer vigils they held their heads high and carried signs that read:  “We are not criminals.  We came to work.  We came to feed our families.  We are mothers.”

I recall the words of Rigoberto Menchu, the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner from Guatemala, who visited with those affected by the raid:  “I see the problem of Postville as full of injustices.  You should not rest until justice is done….”

The people, the memories, the pain, the injustices and the words of Menchu continue to haunt me.  I cannot rest until justice is done.

Five years ago a tragedy took place in Iowa.  Iowans responded with compassion, sensitivity and justice. Today there is another opportunity for Iowans to respond.  May we unite with one another and support legislation for comprehensive immigration reform.    May we turn the tragedy of Postville into a victory for justice.   May we not rest until justice is done!

Mary McCauley, BVM
Dubuque, Iowa 52003

[EVENT: 3/20] “Parsley, Plagues, and Power”: JCUA’s Seder

by Max Harkavy
Communications Intern, JCUA

On Wednesday, March 20^th, 6-8:30pm, The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs will be hosting a unique and meaningful community Passover Seder.  The event is titled “Parsley, Plagues, and Power: JCUA’s Annual Freedom and Justice Seder” (see event details).

This Seder seeks to connect the themes of Passover with the pursuit of justice, addressing community struggles, and engaging Jews with the mission of JCUA.

“A Jewish voice in social justice work is very important,” says Rabbi Ali Abrams, JCUA’s Director of Organizing.  Rabbi Abrams will co-lead the Seder with Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann of Mishkan Chicago, a spiritual Jewish community committed to soulful musical prayer and learning.

Through this event, JCUA hopes to reach out to many local, young, Jewish adults about specific advocacy efforts and community organizing in which JCUA is involved.  The goal of this event is “for us to create energy around our work, engage large numbers of new people, and bring in new leadership for the Jewish community” remarked Abrams.

[Video] A Tribute to Jane Ramsey’s Jewish Social Justice Leadership

Jane Ramsey has led the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs courageously and energetically for over three decades. Jane has been at the forefront of many critical issues affecting Chicago and the nation. Throughout the years, her leadership enabled the JCUA to become one of Chicago’s most active and important organizations speaking on behalf of human and civil rights issues.

As Jane retired from JCUA in September 2012, here is a tribute video to her work and legacy. It is up to us all to carry this torch forward, as is said in Perkei Avot (2:21) -

“You are not obligated to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from it.”

Thank you, Jane.

CALL TO ARTISTS: Cafe Finjan 2013

by Asaf Bar-Tura
Director of Programs, JCUA

YOU are invited to apply to CAFÉ FINJAN 2013: The 12th Annual Jewish/Muslim Performing Arts Event

Jewish and Muslim poets singer-songwriters, storytellers, comedians, actors, dancers, bands, painters, photographers, and filmmakers: We look forward to seeing your work! Professionals and non-professionals are welcome to apply.

EVENT DETAILS:

• WHEN: 6:00-9:00pm, Thursday, April 4, 2013
• WHERE: American Islamic College, 640 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago

APPLY NOW! DEADLINE: THURSDAY, MARCH 1

To apply, send an email to CafeFinjan2013@gmail.com. Kindly include:

• Your name
• Contact information (phone and email)
• Description of your performance piece
• Samples of your art (mp3s, links, videos, photos) if possible
• Indicate the community (Jewish or Muslim) with which you identify

QUESTIONS?

Contact Asaf Bar-Tura, asaf@jcua.org

[Event 1/31] “Lawndale Conversations Series: The Contract Buyers League”

by Max Harkavy
Communications Intern, JCUA

On January 31^st at 6pm, the Hull House on UIC’s campus will be hosting an event titled “Lawndale Conversations Series: The Contract Buyers League.”  The Hull House is convening in partnership with the North Lawndale branch of Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS), and the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) in order to raise awareness about the Contract Buyers League and the history of its neighborhoods, specifically North Lawndale.  North Lawndale has a rich narrative and many feel that in order to bring about change in the community this narrative has to be brought to light.

Contract Buyers League Protesters

The Contract Buyers League was a union of African Americans during the 1960s that fought the exploitative sale of homes to blacks through the selling of contracts.

“I think it’s really important to tell this story to make all the people that lived through it proud of their accomplishment, and to raise awareness among the younger population,” said John Wolf, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer for the NHS North Lawndale office.

Neighborhood Housing Services seeks to promote positive change from within the community.  Director Charles Leeks believes that, “In order to turn a neighborhood around, you have to recognize what the community has been.”  Leeks explained that sometimes people choose to ignore the community’s past, “if it is not convenient for them at any given moment.”  The goal of this event is to raise awareness of North Lawndale’s rich past and to foster pride from within.

Beryl Satter

There will be three guest speakers at the event.  The first is Beryl Satter, author of the book, “Family Properties: Race, Real Estate, and the Exploitation of Black Urban America” which tells the tale of the Contract Buyers League and the struggle against unfair housing practices that occurred throughout the 40s to the 70s.  Satter’s father was an attorney who fought for equal rights for African Americans during the time of the Contract Buyers League.

Clyde Ross

The second speaker will be Clyde Ross, who was at one time the co-chairman of the Contract Buyers League, and was recently named the recipient of the Neighborhood Heroes Award given to him by the NHS.  Ross still lives in the house he bought under contract.

Jack Macnamara

The final speaker is Jack Macnamara, a Jesuit seminary during the time of the Contract Buyers League.  He also worked as a community organizer that brought people together on issues concerning the Contract Buyers League in the 1960s.

“The image of community and the way north Lawndale is projected in the press is often negative but this event is a way of talking about positives from the community and one the biggest positives of North Lawndale is its history,” said Wolf.

EVENT 3/11/13: “Best Practices in Interfaith Engagement”

[UPDATE - 3/5 -  JCUA's executive director Judy Levey will speak in Rabbi London's stead.]

Rabbi Andrea London will speak about JCUA’s Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative (JMCBI) at a panel discussion titled “Best Practices in Interfaith Engagement.”

Rabbi London (right) co-leading a text study with Hind Makki (left) on the role of women in Jewish and Muslim traditions (July 2012)

Rabbi London is the co-chair of the advisory committee to JMCBI, and is Senior Rabbi at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue.

The panel discussion is part of a larger conference at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (in Hyde Park). The theme is the conference is  “Faithful Living in an Interfaith World.”

When: March 11, 2013, 4:00-5:00 pm.
Where: 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago

More about the panel discussion:

Along with Rabbi London, other panel participants are:

• Tahera Ahmad – Muslim Chaplain, Northwestern University
• Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, President of SCUPE
• Maham Khan

Panelists will share what they have found to be ideal and practical ways of learning about and interacting among people of various faith traditions in our everyday lives.

More about the conference:

The conference will be 9:00am – 5:00pm on March 11, 2013. Dr. Mark Swanson will present a plenary lecture on “The Whys and Wherefores of Interfaith Hospitality” on Monday morning, and there will be several workshops throughout the afternoon, led by leaders from various traditions.

More details (including registration) will be available here.

3 Minutes, 1 Mic, and a Roomful of Youth Activists = Story Slam

You’ve got three minutes, a microphone and an audience. Your assignment: to tell a funny/sad/absurd/joyous/empowering/dis-empowering/irony-laden experience about the intersection of faith and power in your life.

On December 27th, 2012, Or Tzedek is co-sponsoring a “Faith in Youth Power Story Slam”, along with AVODAH: the Jewish Service Corp, Jewish Student Connection, Mishkan, and Moishe House Chicago. This open mic storytelling event brings together Chicago’s youth activists, organizers and leaders to share their faith in youth power or the power they find from faith.

These stories will make you laugh, and some may even make you cry, but one thing is certain: this is not an event to be missed!

While the focus of this story slam is on youth power, we encourage you all to attend! You can come to listen, you can come to share, or you can come just to be a part of this unforgettable experience.

The Faith in Youth in Power Story Slam will take place on December 27, 2012 from 7:00PM-9:00PM at 722 West Aldine Avenue. TELL YOUR STORY! Click here to RSVP