Providing the Tools for Change: Or Tzedek’s Winter Leadership Retreat

By Emily Isaacson
Or Tzedek participant, Winter 2011

Leadership Retreat participants Meirav (from left), Emily and Rachel hanging out in the city.

Many people observe problems that plague today’s world.  But it takes a special kind of commitment to not only take a stand, but also choose to search deeper under the surface-to discover the depth of an issue and advocate for changing  root of a problem.

Or Tzedek has provided Jewish teens like me a unique opportunity to observe and begin to truly understand the corruption in our world. With this understanding, the program provides the tools to begin to make the changes we wish to see in the world today.

Or Tzedek, traditionally a week-long summer program, just hosted its first-ever winter retreat. As a participant in the three-day winter Or Tzedek program were extremely eye opening.

Along with feelings of frustration and helplessness came the satisfaction and hope I yearned for. When the participants first met, many of us did not know each other. However, within even the first hour, I felt a special connection with these people with whom I was sharing this experience.

Over the course of the three days, we explored a number of pressing issues, including authority in societies, the economic crisis and the effect it has on our generation, injustices found in the south side of Chicago, the rights of undocumented immigrant, and many more.

From the discussions and workshops on these issues, I saw determination and drive to seek change and take action not only in myself, but also in my friends and peers. That brought me hope, knowing that there are people out there who want this world to be a better place and who want to be the ones to make the change.

I was connected most strongly to the issues associated with undocumented immigrants. After having the opportunity to speak with undocumented immigrants and hear their stories, and then attend a vigil at the Broadview Detention Center and share prayers each of us had wrote, I felt an emotional connection to some of the injustices I saw. Before Or Tzedek, I had never truly taken the time to deconstruct the issues surrounding undocumented immigrants.

Because I had the opportunity to hear firsthand accounts from immigrants, I have a new level of dissatisfaction towards the way our government and society treats people. I still don’t fully understand how I feel, or know how I should react to the complicated web of issues surrounding undocumented immigrant rights, deportation, and citizenship; however, I now I have set of tools and resources to dive deeper into these issues.

The vigil we attended at the Broadview Detention Center had a great impact on me from a religious perspective. Until then, I had a closed mind, believing that the experience of hearing Christian prayer would be uncomfortable. I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least; attending the vigil was extremely eye-opening.

To see religion bring people together and bring about change was incredibly inspiring and gave me a new outlook on people and religion as a whole.

Or Tzedek is an inspiring program undertaking work that is community and world changing.  The program gives power to my generation, the next generation, and provides a priceless experience that has changed many teens. I know it has changed me.

Read more posts by Or Tzedek participants Sophie Leff and Doug Lavey.

My Experience with Social Justice

By Doug Lavey
Or Tzedek Participant, Summer 2007

Doug Lavey

It is rare to be offered the opportunities for learning, growth and social justice that one can find at Or Tzedek. Indeed, your high school and college years offer a small window to take advantage of social service programs directed specifically towards teenagers.

My involvement in social justice programs began at Or Tzedek in the summer of 2007. Since that summer, I furthered my involvement and dedication to social justice through my academics, extracurricular activities and work.

My dedication to social justice has blossomed into an incredible journey that has taken me all over the world. This includes two programs through PanimWorks (Southwest and DC Jam) a trip to Costa Rica with International Student Volunteers and work as a student coordinator for Invisible Children.

Besides summer social justice programs, I volunteered and had internships with JCUA and the UIC Office of Sustainability.

Through these experiences I have become involved in affairs at the local, state, national, and international levels. I have had the privilege of working with Navajo Indians, sustainable farmers in rural areas of Costa Rica, former child soldiers from Uganda, and underprivileged or homeless individuals in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. Since I began college, I was able to take many of the lessons I learned about myself and society into a very rewarding and educational job as a resident advisor. Furthermore, this summer, I will be interning in Washington, D.C. with a political organization.

I cannot stress enough my encouragement for teens to find the public service programs that are available to you only at this age and stay informed on local, state, national and international issues. The world faces many challenges, and our generation will be responsible for addressing and finding innovative solutions.

Understanding an issue is the first step to getting involved and finding solutions. This will open up many doors for you, as it did for me.

Education led me to the group Invisible Children, dedicated to stopping the longest running war in Africa. I am currently the vice president of the Invisible Children chapter on campus and have found it to be extremely rewarding and eye-opening.

Ask questions and demand answers. Get your friends, peers, and family involved; I’ll end with a popular and fitting saying from Invisible Children, “Ask! The worst thing they could do is say no.”

Learn more about Or Tzedek, JCUA’s Teen Social Justice Institute

Read more posts by Or Tzedek participants Sophie Leff and Emily Isaacson.

Alyse Shields

By Alyse Shields
JCUA Intern, School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago

Emotions remain high in the south suburban village of Crete, the site of a proposed federal detention center.

Another 100 people attended at the latest Crete Village Board meeting held Jan. 23. The small room overflowed with residents, most standing against every available wall, eager to have their questions answered.

I attended the meeting as a representative of JCUA and the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants.

Village Administrator Thomas Durkin opened the meeting by offering responses to questions that residents have been asking about the project. His mundane and perfunctory answers added little insight. Meanwhile, as Durkin spoke, a crowd of impassioned citizens outside the chamber chanted “No Crete Detention Center!”

When the floor was opened to the 70 people who could fit inside the room, residents question the lack of transparency, the impact such a center would have on the town’s economy and property values, and why Crete would take on a project it does not have the resources to support.

Mayor Michael Einhorn’s response was that there has been nothing to share and that village officials still have “homework to do” regarding potential impact. Einhorn said he believes, based on a conversation with a representative of Corrections Corporation of America, that the project will bring economic benefit. CCA is a private company that builds detention facilities on contract for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Opponents of proposed construction came away from the meeting saying that when a decision such as this one is being made, “homework” should be done ahead of time, and the public, who will be impacted, should be part of the decision.

Many of the residents told the mayor that Crete should be given other avenues of economic development instead of a prison that could be partially empty due to potentially changing immigration policies.

One man said he did not want to make money off the misfortunes of immigrant families.

“I’m not here to discuss those matters,” Einhorn responded.

The evening was filled with elusive and at times contradictory statements from village officials regarding the nature of the arrangement between CCA, ICE and Crete. Many questions remained unanswered.

Attitudes and emotions in Crete have changed. Last September, I spoke with the mayor about the center. He was quite positive about the proposal. Now, after this week’s meeting he told one reporter that he is undecided on the issue. While our aim is not ambiguity, it’s a start.

The Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants includes 8th Day Center for Justice, Chicago New Sanctuary Coalition, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, Office for Immigrant Affairs & Immigration Education of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants, Sisters of Mercy, Southwest Organizing Project and West Suburban Action Project – PASO.

The committee is planning to hold another meeting in the near future. Residents of Crete and neighboring communities will be invited.

Media coverage of the Jan. 23 meeting:

• Immigration policy part of concern — some worry about property values if facility is built [with video] (Chicago Tribune)
• Proposed Immigrant Detention Center Stirs Debate In Crete (CBS2 Chicago)
• Large crowd objects to detention center in Crete (Southtown Star)
• Kadner: A display of democracy on detention camp plan (Herald-News)

The executive suite at Dunkin’ Brands is looking into a blatant example of racism I wrote about earlier this month on JCUA’s newsblog.

In that post, I described taking my daughters to a Chicago area Dunkin’ Donuts store last October. After reading my blog entry, Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. (parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts) asked me for more details about the incident.

In a time when some big corporations seem insensitive to public input, it’s nice to know there are other companies that monitor social media and respond.

Dunkin’ Brands is serious about publicly resolving the issue, their representative told me, and they are currently investigating the situation I described. In fact, I was told that the company’s CEO, Nigel Travis, is personally involved in this investigation.

You have to appreciate their quick response and willingness to look into what happened.

What my kids and I witnessed really was egregious behavior of one of their franchisees. I’m looking forward to hearing what the company finds out in their investigation — and what they’re going to do about it.

We certainly hope they can take some kind of concrete action to ensure that this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.

This incident is only one example of a much larger social issue.

Through their actions or lack thereof, corporations facilitate racism, intolerance and marginalization of minorities. From JCUA’s perspective, as a social justice organization, we believe that corporations in America have a responsibility to their stakeholders, not just their shareholders. That includes the people who buy their donuts and their power drills.

We have recently seen such corporate irresponsibility in the case of Lowe’s, who gave in to the demands of an Islamophobic group that pressured them to withdraw their advertising from a TV show about Muslims in America.

Corporations can and must be a contributor to a thriving diverse society.

Dunkin’ Brands has an opportunity to set a good example. I hope they seize it. And when they do, we’ll gladly tell you what they did.

JEWISH COUNCIL ON URBAN AFFAIRS

January 17, 2012

Testimony by Jane Ramsey on Mayor Emanuel proposed changes to the city’s parade ordinance governing protests and marches.

 

The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, founded nearly 50 years ago, to tackle poverty, racism and anti-Semitism in partnership with Chicago’s diverse communities, calls upon the Mayor and the City Council to ensure that Chicago residents’ rights to peaceful protest are protected.   As a democracy and a City that cherishes the expression and hearing of many voices on important matters impacting our communities and everyday lives, it is crucial that citizens’ rights to gather peacefully and to protest not be infringed upon as the City plans for the gathering of the G8.  We urge the Mayor and the City Council to ensure that, in submitting new ordinances regarding this event or any others, that no infringements, such as increases in fines for resisting arrest, size of placards, or limitations regarding permit requests for gatherings and parades are included and that the laws regarding such gatherings and parades that have been in place for many years are undisturbed.

As we showcase Chicago with opportunities such as the meeting of the G8, let us ensure that we highlight the greatness of our City, especially its embrace of its commitment to democracy and its citizens’ rights to public expression.

Imam Ousmane Drame of Masjid Al-Farooq (from left), Rabbi Asher Lopatin of Anshe Sholom Bnai Israel Congregation and Karen Danielson of the Mosque Foundation.

By Asaf Bar-Tura
Associate Director of Programs, JCUA 

Over the past year JCUA has been partnering with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago and the Chicago Board of Rabbis to create a unique forum in which imams and rabbis in the Chicago area can break bread, exchange ideas and collaborate.

The first meeting took place in April, 2011, and the second meeting held on Dec. 13, 2011.

The group of participants is as diverse as one can imagine. Coming from all over the city and the suburbs, from a range of ethnic and racial backgrounds, men and women, from Orthodox to Reform, the group truly represents the diversity of our communities.

The main topic of discussion at the last meeting was “Challenges and Opportunities in Transmitting Religious and Communal Identity to the Next Generation in America.” The meeting was co-facilitated by Rabbi Michael Balinsky and Imam Senad Agic.

JCUA and our partners believe in the importance of building relationships among our spiritual leaders as part of a larger effort to foster collaborations between the Jewish and Muslim communities in Illinois. All partners are committed to continue to provide a platform where faith leaders are able to share ideas and engage in open-dialogue about issues pertaining to their respective communities.

Rabbis and imams interested in participating in the citywide Chicagoland Rabbi-Imam Dialogue Initiative should contact Asaf Bar-Tura at asaf@jcua.org. The next meeting is scheduled for late February 2012.

In commemoration of Martin Luther King Day and in solidarity with the American Muslim community, on Sunday, Jan. 15 JCUA’s Jane Ramsey spoke at an interfaith town hall meeting concerning Lowe’s anti-Muslim actions last month. The town hall meeting took place at the Prayer Center of Orland Park.

See media coverage of the event:  Southtown Star | Enews Park Forest

Watch the full town hall meeting on YouTube (see Jane Ramsey’s speech from 8:00 to 15:45).

Here is Jane Ramsey’s full speech at the event:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born 83 years ago today. Assassinated over 40 years ago, his powerful legacy lives on. Dr. King fought on behalf of and with oppressed communities, not in defiance of American ideals, but in their name. His famous words echo strongly as ever:

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

Dr. King emphasized that though our past, as well as our present, are engulfed by the oppression, racism and discrimination that targets minority communities – as a society, we all face a common future.

Jane Ramsey (from left) Amina Shareef, CAIR-Chicago; Jan Shaulis, Faith United Methodist Church; and Anya Cordell, writerJane Ramsey and other speakers at a panel discussion about Lowe's. (Photo: Enews Park Forest.)

The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs stands strong here today with you, stating loudly and clearly that the outrage felt by Muslims, and by all people of good will, regarding Lowe’s shameful actions reflects our outrage. Lowe’s cowardice in buckling to the right-wing Florida Family Association’s demand that it pull its ads from TLC’s reality show “All-American Muslim” and subsequent justifications by Lowe’s for these acts, are deeply offensive and attack the very core of our democracy.

While acquiescing to the Florida Family Association’s hate-filled pressure, Lowe’s claimed business-centered motivations, asserting that “we have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.” In the classic form of blaming the victim, Lowe’s called the depiction of an American Muslim family “a lightning rod.”

In his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Dr. King addresses this situation, articulating the danger posed by those who would embrace the values of equality while at the same time demonstrating discomfort or opposition to the very paths and expressions of change. He stated:

“I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the white citizen’s councilor or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action’; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a ‘more convenient season.’”

We say today to Lowe’s and to all those who would cower to any and all anti-Muslim pressure: this is the season for change! It is so late, not too early, for all America to be brought into the home of an American Muslim family, or an American Christian family, or an American Jewish family, or an immigrant family, or an African American family. It is not too early. It is so late. It is time!

We are here to insist that material concerns and spiritual concerns cannot be neatly separated. Let me take you for a moment from Dr. King’s Atlanta and our Chicago to 19th century Lithuania, where a bold young Orthodox rabbi called Israel Salantar founded the “Mussar (“ethics”) movement.”

Rabbi Salantar emphasized to his disciples that everyday life of business must be closely tied to Jewish ethics. His famous words, repeated by Jewish scholars since, were: “the other’s material needs are my spiritual needs.”

The spirit of these teachings must be alive today. As a recent example we acted to put these important ideas into practice. In 2008, JCUA called upon Jews everywhere to join with us in the small town of Postville, Iowa, where the Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant carried out unfair and unsafe labor practices. We asserted that these practices were unacceptable to us, an affront to the ethical kosher laws and to our Jewish values. In protest, Jews across America stopped purchasing Agriprocessors tainted goods. Instead, they joined newly inspired movements that strengthened the expression of our dietary laws to explicitly include fair labor practices and other social justice and environmental matters.

We expect businesses in our community to participate in our spiritual effort as a community to do good, to be good. Though consumer choice should not be seen as the only way to be an active participant in our democratic life, we should make clear to businesses that they must answer not only to their shareholders, but primarily to their stakeholders. Those of us in our communities who are affected by the practices of corporations have the power to hold them accountable and we are prepared to do so.

As we are taught by a young Lithuanian rabbi who knew the face of oppression in Europe over 150 years ago – we must reclaim the everyday sphere of material matters as a spiritual sphere. Collectively we have the power to do so.

Let us be strong in our will to stand powerfully together against hate and intolerance and be fortified by Dr. King’s concluding words from his Letter from a Birmingham Jail:

“Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”

JCUA organized the event in collaboration with Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, the Chicago chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, the Law Office of Maaria Mozaffar, the Prayer Center of Orland Park, and the American Islamic Association of Frankfort, Ill.

(Top photo: Attendees at the Crete Village Board meeting. Bottom photo: A protest sign appears at a site in Crete rumored to be the location of the proposed detention center.)

At an impassioned meeting held this past Monday night at the Crete Township hall, organized by concerned residents of Crete and the surrounding communities, and the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants, a coalition in which JCUA is an active member, nearly 160 local residents listened intently to comments about the impact this private prison would have on their town and on undocumented immigrants.

Main concerns were property values, economic failure and inhumane treatment of immigrants. Crete residents show no sign of backing down on this issue and are determined to get answers from their town officials on a decision that has broad impact on Crete, the state of Illinois, and the immigration conversation taking place across the nation.

This campaign opposing the construction of this site has warranted attention from former U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson and current U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who are currently facing off in the Democratic primary for congress in Illinois’ Second Congressional District, which includes Crete.

JCUA has been a strong and active supporter of these efforts.

Media coverage tells the story:

• Detention center talk angers Crete residents (Phil Kadner, Southtown Star)
• Planned immigrant detention center roils Crete (Chip Mitchell, Chicago Public Radio/WBEZ)
• Crete officials duck detention center foes (Thomas Finn, Southtown Star)
• Crete residents rally against proposed detention center (NWI Times)
• Halvorson says Jackson not doing enough to oppose immigration detention facility in Crete

By Pamela Klier-Weidner
Director of Development and Communications, JCUA

“Would you like a little racism with your sandwich?”

No Dunkin’ Donuts employee ever said anything like that. But it was the clear message I heard during a recent donut run to a DD franchise just west of the Chicago city limits with my daughters Juliette and Charlotte.

As we ordered our breakfast, the store owner offered us a free sandwich for no apparent reason. A lovely gesture. We sat down to eat just as two Caucasian police officers walked in and sat beside us.

A sandwich order gone awry teaches a lesson in racism.

Fast forward.

A group of African American teenagers walked in and ordered several items. The police officers stared them down.

After the teens received their orders, one of them took a bite of a sandwich that apparently hadn’t been prepared according to the menu. One bite. He went to the owner and said, “This is not the sandwich I ordered.” The owner responded by accusing him of trying to get a free sandwich.

When the teen came back with “I just wanted bacon and not sausage,” the owner began yelling:

“You’re just trying to get a free sandwich!!! Get out of here! Get out of my store!!!”

The scene couldn’t be ignored. “This is an example of racism,” I told my girls. As they watched, I ordered the sandwich that the young man originally wanted and gave it to him.

“I just want you to know that not all people are like him,” I said. He responded politely: “Thank you Ma’am.”

Meanwhile, the friendly neighborhood cops asked if I was being “bothered.”

“Yes,” I said. “I’m bothered by the obvious racism I have witnessed in this establishment.” The officers then left.

This little donut shop drama that brought racism center-stage for my impressionable kids was sickening. I pray for the ability to raise them as people who will understand and embrace real equality.

All too often we close our eyes to racism. But its blatant appearance in a Chicago suburb gave a rancid taste to what should have been a sweet treat.

As we have been doing since 1964, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs — where I am director of development and communications — has been fighting incidents of racism and anti-Semitism, large and small. With the help of our financial supporters and committed volunteers, JCUA will continue this work.

And I will continue to buy bacon and egg sandwiches for as long as I need to.

Workshops, actions and fun, oh my!

By Rebecca Katz
Winter Leadership Retreat Program Director  

What’s in a mission?

Or Tzedek leadership member Sophie Leff planned our first workshop of the retreat. To get to the bottom of what it means to be a part of JCUA’s Jewish teen institute for social justice, Sophie guided us in the deconstruction of the words that comprise the organization’s name. Using Post-it notes, we wrote our own definitions for “Jewish,” “Council,” “Urban,” and “Affairs.” Through this exercise, we spoke about JCUA’s mission: to combat poverty, racism and anti-Semitism in partnership with Chicago’s diverse communities.

Organizing communities

Miriam, one of our amazing counselors, led a community organizer training session. We began with an organizer exercise, the Melian Dialogue, which illuminated the written and unwritten rules we abide by in society. We learned how to conduct one-on-ones, a critical skill for any organizer. To practice our one-on-one skills, we did speed one-on-ones (“speed dating” style). We had two minutes to engage our partners, discover their passions, and what makes then angry. While asking these questions, we kept in mind how we could organically connect them with a social justice project or goal that we were passionate about. To wrap up the workshop, we discussed the concept of power and created a power map for Or Tzedek.

Or Tzedek on ice

To end our first day, we went ice skating at Daley Bicentennial Plaza. Expert and first time skaters alike took to the ice to show off their most graceful poses. Tottering and gliding, we went round and round the rink with the Chicago skyline as a backdrop.

Connecting with SOUL

Thursday morning, we visited Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation, an amazing organization whose mission is “to empower the Southside of Chicago and the South suburbs to fight for social justice and address issues and concerns within the community.” Lev, a SOUL community organizer and Avodah member, spoke about SOUL’s current campaigns (Green Jobs, Transit, Education Reform and Bank Accountability). He also shared his personal journey to become a Jewish community organizer working in the South Side of Chicago, leading into a discussion about the effects of the economic recession on American youth.

For the second half of our visit, we split up into pairs to phone bank for SOUL’s upcoming Martin Luther King Day event. Activists have various reactions to phone banking; it’s, very rewarding for some while frustrating for others, but it remains an effective tool for outreach and an important skill in any organizer’s arsenal!

Or Tzedek on the air

Next, we headed back up to the Loop for an interfaith podcasting workshop on immigration at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. At the ICIRR offices, we met the activists from the Immigration Youth Justice League and the Muslim teens with whom we would be producing the podcast. After a lively icebreaker, IYJL activists told their stories about living undocumented in the United States and their work with IYJL for immigrant rights. Then, we learned the basics of audio recording and discussed podcasting and radio as a medium for activism.

Putting these two components of the workshop together, we broke into groups to explore and record our answers to three big questions:

• When have you felt like you were a stranger?
• What is your concept of home?
• Where do you feel secure?

Standing in solidarity

Before the sun had risen on our last day, we headed south to the federal detention center in suburban Broadview, Ill. for an interfaith vigil for immigration justice.

Every Tuesday and Friday morning at this facility, undocumented immigrants, predominantly young men, are driven directly to O’Hare airport for deportation. For the past five years, Sisters of Mercy Pat and JoAnn have led a vigil on these Friday mornings as the buses leave for the airport, standing in solidarity with the men leaving the only country many can remember calling home.

At the close of the vigil, we read personal prayers and messages that we had prepared the previous day, using text from the Torah about immigration to guide us.

Finding a social justice community in college

For our last workshop, leadership team member Julia Webb facilitated a panel discussion about finding one’s social justice and Jewish communities in college.

Julia, Hanna Erhlich, and Ma’ayan Malter, former Or Tzedek participants, and Rachel Patterson, retreat counselor, shared their personal experiences with Judaism and social justice at their respective colleges, illustrating the diverse ways one can get involved. We were additionally joined by Erin Jones, program director of Arts in the Loop Hillels. She described Hillel as a “radically pluralistic” organization that aims to support students in expressing their Jewish identity and practice. Erin encouraged Or Tzedek to use Hillel as a resource in creating social justice programs from a Jewish perspective at their schools.

Staying involved

To continue exploring social justice from a Jewish perspective, join us this summer for our Adavanced Activism and Activism and Community Organizing programs. Registration for our summer 2012 sessions is open.

Advanced Activism: June 17-24, 2012
Activism and Community Organizing, Session I:  July 15-22, 2012
Activism and Community Organizing, Session II:  Aug. 5-12, 2012

………………………………..

Below are the organizations we visited during the leadership retreat. Check out their websites for current campaigns and upcoming events.

Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation (SOUL):
We met with Lev Hirschhorn, SOUL community organizer and Avodah member.

Immigrant Youth Justice League (IYJL):
The interfaith podcasting workshop on immigration was co-lead by Razan Abu-Hashish, IYJL activist and the Council of Islamic Organizations in Greater Chicago (CIOGC) intern.

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR):
We met at ICIRR for the podcasting workshop. 

Hillels Around Chicago:
Erin Jones, program director of Arts in the Loop Hillels, was on the college transitions panel.

Immigration Justice Vigil:
The vigil, lead by the Sisters of Mercy, is held at the Broadview Detention Center every Friday, 7:15 am.