Community Immigration Forum

March 26, 2008 from 7:00-9:00 pm

Southern Market Center (Council Chambers) 100 South Queen Street, Lancaster, PA

Come to a community discussion about immigration issues in Lancaster and York counties. Learn about and discuss:

• Experiences of immigrants in our area
• Recent proposed legislation in Pennsylvania
• Reform of the federal immigration system

For more information contact: J.P. Fox at 717-299-7840

Sponsored by: American Civil Liberties Union of PA, Church World Service/Immigration Refugee Program, Governor's Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, Lancaster City Councilor Jose Urdaneta, Lancaster County Human Relations Commission, Lutheran Refugee Services in Central PA, Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition, and the Spanish American Civic Association of Lancaster.

Covering All Pennsylvanians - Health Insurance Legislation

While Statewide Latino Advocacy Day focused on issues of education and immigration, we know that access to health care and health insurance are also important topics that many of you care about. We thought that we would pass on some information that was provided by the Philadelphia Health Department regarding Governor Rendell's Covering All Pennsylvanians (CAP) health insurance program.

• With CAP, uninsured people could afford health insurance. Uninsured adults who make less than $29,400 ($60,000 for a family of 4) would pay between $10 - $60 per month for full health insurance coverage including prescription medicines. Families earning more than 300% of the federal poverty level could pay the full cost of $280 per adult.

• With CAP, small employers could afford insurance for their workers. Small employers could offer subsidized insurance (at a cost to employer of $130 per month per employee) for their workers, who will also pay between $10 and $70 per month. Children can already apply for the CHIP program. (Call 1-800-464-KIDS.)

• With CAP, the cost of insurance for everyone will go down. The current cost of health insurance is estimated to be 6.5% higher due to the costs of providing care to the uninsured.

• With CAP, it would be against the law to deny insurance to those with “pre-existing conditions.”

• With CAP, rate increases and insurance company profits would be limited.

The legislation is at serious risk. For more information about CAP and about how you can voice your support for this bill, please visit Congreso's Advocacy Webpage: http://www.congreso.net/advoc_health2.php

Bianca Berrios

The issues that were being addressed were about education, immigration, and urban affairs. It took place in Harrisburg in the Capitol. We discussed the issues in the Representatives and Senators offices. Plenty of people attended. There were people from Congreso, ENPYSC, and PALO. In my opinion this event was very effective. Many of the Representatives were very cooperative. They were intrigued in what we were discussing and had some ideas about the issues themselves. I think that we really came through to them.

The things that stuck out to me the most were the way the Representatives and Senators responded to our issues. I was also surprised on how well I did with the questions and the responses I had for them.

For the next Statewide Latino Advocacy Day the only thing that I would change is that the meetings with the Representatives and Senators be longer. I feel as though we didn’t have enough time to express our ideas and discuss the issues.

--Bianca Berrios is a freshman at Bodine High School

Lorena's reflections and ideas for the future

I believe that Statewide Latino Advocacy Day was effective and very well organized. The event had around 200 people attending, which is a great number for a new event. I also felt that it was organized and everyone met with most of the representatives and were on time.

Some of the things that stuck out to me were how most representatives showed true concern and interest in the issues that Latinos were facing. Most of the representatives that I met with dealt more with education and we’re all trying to find more funding to schools in Pennsylvania. The strengths that I saw throughout the event were how everyone knew what bills and what specific issue that their representative should support or to not support. I also thought that the event had many resources and paperwork explaining what to do before, during and after meeting with representatives. A strength that I exhibited throughout the event was when we were with the representatives I expressed to them some things I was going through as a senior in high school because of the lack of funds in the school system and gave them real stories about how those issues were affecting me.

I gained more knowledge on immigration and the education system of Pennsylvania. I learned more about where the school funding comes from and what is suppose to be the cost of each student who attends school. I also learned what to do when you meet a representative or any governmental figure. During the trip to Harrisburg I also got a better understanding on how the state capitol functions.

Some ideas for how the Youth Advocacy Council can continue the momentum from Statewide Latino Advocacy Day:

• We should all take a trip to Harrisburg to get to learn and meet representatives.
• We should all attend the next Statewide Advocacy Day
• Create a workshop to teach other about how to meet with legislators

--Lorena Morel is a senior at Community Academy

Call to Action - SB9 has passed - please call your senator to voice your OPPOSITION to this bill

Hello everyone:

The Senate State Government Committee has voted on SB9 and passed it 6-4. The vote was along party lines. SB9 would require proof of citizenship in order to receive any public benefits or services provided by agencies receiving government funding. This includes programs for job training, healthcare, education and food assistance from state government agencies or any of its grantees. This is one of the bills we advocated against on Statewide Latino Advocacy Day.

This is the 1^st of 5 steps toward enactment, and we need to do everything we can to stop it now. Follow up your words from Advocacy Day and call your state senator (find your senator by entering your zip code at www.legis.state.pa.us). You can also look at SB-9 and see if your Senator has signed on to the bill (SB 9), or if your Senator is on the State Government Committee – make sure you include this information when you call and SPREAD THE WORD!!!!

Tell your Senator: I am a Constituent of _________ and I OPPOSE the passage of SB9!"

SB 9 Committee Vote Tomorrow

Tomorrow, February 12, 2008, the Pennsylvania Senate will be voting on SB 9, a bill requiring identification of lawful presence in the United States as a prerequisite to the receipt of public benefits. On Statewide Latino Advocacy Day we urged our legislators to view immigration as a federal issue. Now we are urging you to contact your senators and voice your opposition to this bill.

Below, we have included a sample letter provided by Community Legal Services, Inc. that advocates for the opposition of this bill. Join us – continue to have your voice heard! Cut and paste this letter into a word processing document, sign it, and fax it to your state senator today! Find your Senator here.

February 11, 2008

To: Members of the Senate State Government Committee

Hon. Jeffrey E. Piccola , Chair (Fax: (717) 896-7717)

Hon. Mike Folmer, Vice Chair (Fax: (717) 274-7702)

Hon. Anthony H. Williams, Minority Chair (Fax: (717) 772-0574)

Hon. Michael W. Brubaker (Fax: (717) 783-3156)

Hon. Jake Corman (Fax: (717) 772-3146)

Hon. Wayne D. Fontana (Fax: (717) 772-5484)

Hon. Vincent J. Hughes (Fax: (717) 772-0579)

Hon. Charles T. McIlhinney (Fax: (717) 783-5962)

Hon. Terry L. Punt (Fax: (717) 772-2753)

Hon. Christine M. Tartaglione (Fax: (717) 787-7439)

Re: Senate Bill 9 Scheduled for Committee vote 2/12/08

Dear Senators:

On Tuesday, February 12, the Senate State Government Committee will vote on Senate Bill 9, a bill requiring submission of government-issued ID as a condition of receiving a wide variety of public benefits. We urge you to vote no on this bill.

This bill would harm tens of thousands of low-income Pennsylvanians – citizens and legal immigrants alike – who lack government-issued ID or cannot easily get it. A study by New York University Law School’s Brennan Center for Justice in November 2006 found that 11% of all U.S. citizens do not have government-issued ID; 15% of citizens earning less than $35,000 per year lack government-issued ID; and 25% of adult African-American citizens lack government-issued ID. These Pennsylvanians, including victims of crime and domestic violence whose IDs have been stolen, are your constituents. The amendments that we understand will be offered to this bill do nothing to address this core problem.

At the same time, SB 9 would accomplish little or nothing. This bill’s intended targets – immigrants who are not lawfully present in the U.S. – are already ineligible for all major benefit programs. And no evidence has been presented of a problem with ineligible immigrants improperly receiving public benefits. At the State Government Committee’s October 17, 2007 hearing on this bill, no group or individual stepped forward with any evidence – not even one anecdotal example -- of undocumented individuals improperly receiving public benefits in Pennsylvania. No state-wide organization gave unqualified support for the bill. Almost all those submitting testimony were strongly opposed to it.

We urge you to oppose this bill, which would harm Pennsylvanian citizens and legal immigrants without sufficient reason. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Following Up with Your Elected Official

One Week Later

1. Begin to build a relationship with your elected official by sending a simple thank you letter.
2. If the Congressperson has asked for additional information about your organization, don't forget to send this information to his/her office.
3. Make calls to other Latino organizations you connected with on Advocacy Day and discuss how you can work together.

One Month Later

1. Subscribe the Staffer or elected official to your organizational newsletter if you have one.
2. Send a letter to your Representative reminding him or her of the issues that are important to you. If no changes have been made, emphasize what changes you would like to see in Pennsylvania around immigration and funding for education.

Three Months Later

1. Toward the end of April, try to reschedule an in-district visit with your Representative. These are important relationships to cultivate. Let them know that you are staying abreast of developments on funding for education and around immigration legislation in Pennsylvania.
2. Invite local staffers to any important events held by your organization.
3. Hold a community forum to make sure Latinos in your area are as informed about these issues as you are.

Six Months Later

1. Call the Education Law Center or Good Schools PA and see if there are any advocacy efforts you can become involved with.
2. Call the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC) to learn about developments around immigration in Pennsylvania and learn where your advocacy efforts are needed.
3. Work with partner organizations you connected with on Advocacy Day and hold a regional forum that updates the community on progress made from the Costing Out Study, and the status of immigration in our state or in your community.
4. Read out to Statewide Advocacy planning organizations to learn about statewide advocacy efforts and how to be involved.
   

Edward's Reflections on Advocacy Day

Our morning was action packed as we found our way through the very metaphoric maze that is the Pennsylvania Capitol building to the Irvis Building. The group I was with was made up three people from Nueva Esperanza, two people from Lighthouse and me. It was a tight schedule so we hurried over to our first appointment only to find out that the Legislator was still in the Education Committee Hearing. We left some materials with his staff and headed over to the office of Rep. Roebuck who was our next appointment. He was also in the Education Hearing as Chairman of the committee, but we kept our heads up and got good news from his staff when she said he would make time for us later that day. With that bit of good news spurring us on we went off to Rep. Jewell Williams’ office. Luckily he was in and available. We talked to his staff while we waited a few minutes and that was great. She had a son in a charter school and so we talked to her about the funding needs of the public schools and the charter schools. It was good practice for the students from Nueva Esperanza (Irene and Crystal) and it went great.

Our meeting with Rep. Williams was very good, he spent more than a half hour with us discussing the education and immigration points we came to talk about as well as getting to know the students and what they thought about the system. He told us that he went to school in Eastern North Philadelphia so it was good to talk to someone who knows the area and its challenges. He knew about the need for costing out study to be followed so we know he will be an ally in the legislative battle to adequately and sustainably fund the schools.

After lunch we all had a special invitation to sit in the Senate Gallery and the room was very impressive. The ceiling was gilded and decorated like a European Palace. The walls were covered in murals and golden sculptures. It was very majestic and lavish, but inspiring, much more so than the labyrinthine halls with their seventies inspired carpets. We got a special recognition from the senate and they applauded us for going to Harrisburg.

With a belly full of pizza and Senate applause pushing us along we headed off to meet with Rep. Roebuck. We had to miss the group Photo but it was worth it. Rep. Roebuck was attentive and responsive to our concerns about Education. He was the sponsor of Bill 460 which recommends the Costing out study be explored for the funding of Education in Pennsylvania, so it was great to meet with him.

We thanked him for his education leadership and told him that we would be doing what we could to advocate for the issue as well. It turns out his wife went to High School here in North Eastern Philadelphia and she received a fine education according to him, including learning the harp. We talked about how that kind of quality education is no longer possible in the neighborhood in part because of the gross under-funding and shifting of priorities to cut programs that do not directly affect standardized test scores. He agreed and pledged to keep the pressure through the Education Committee to get the money the schools desperately need. We will follow up with the legislators that met with us as well as the legislators who were not there or count not meet with us, most notably Rep. Angel Cruz.

All in all it was a good day for the students and for the rest of us who left the Capitol feeling like we made a difference in Pennsylvania by bringing the voice of Philadelphia students and families and echoing their concerns and recommendations on Education and Immigration.

---Edward Garcia, Congreso de Latinos Unidos

Governor Rendell's Budget

Hello advocates!

As I am sure many of you are already aware, Governor Rendell has proposed his new budget for the coming fiscal year - you can access the full budget at the following link:
http://www.governor.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt? (scroll toward the bottom of the page and you will see a link for the 2008-2009 proposed executive budget).

The Governor has been listening to the results of the costing out study and is advocating for an increase in education funding. The overview of Rendell's budget states, "The legislature's costing-out study reinforces the importance of having a school funding formula that bases resource decisions on what research shows it takes to provide a quality education." In his proposed budget, the governor is requesting a $291.3 million (6 percent) increase in the education subsidy for the state. For those of you from Philadelphia, this means a 9.6% increase in aid to the Philadelphia School District. The Philadelphia Inquirer (2/6/08 - Many Local Districts would Gain by Susan Snyder and Don Hardy) also reported that Philadelphia, Norristown, and Upper Darby would be among the districts in the region that would receive the most benefit from the plan.

While there is still a long way to go to ensure equitable funding for youth across the state of Pennsylvania, this is an important beginning!

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR (you can find out who your legislators are at www.legis.state.pa.us) and tell them that you support the Governor's downpayment on education and want them to do the same.

MONEY MATTERS!

Mil Gracias

I wanted to take a moment to thank all of those who made the first annual Statewide Latino Advocacy Day possible.

First, I want to extend my thanks to all of the participants who came from across the state of Pennsylvania to join us in educating our legislators about how immigration and education issues impact the Latino communities – some of whom traveled a great distance to join us. I especially would like to acknowledge the youth leaders who brought their own experiences regarding education and immigration to the attention of the legislators.

I also want to extend a thank you to Senator Tartaglione and her staff, specifically Don Kockler and J.P. Kurish (for his fabulous technical assistance) for their support for Statewide Latino Advocacy Day. We are also grateful for the participation of Deputy Secretary for Regulatory Programs, Sara Manzano-Diaz, who so gracefully addressed the crowd. Her words were inspirational.

Thanks to steering committee members who stuck with the idea that we could mobilize people from across the state with a unified message and voice: Nick Torres (Congreso), Margaret Barajas (PALO), and Izzy Colon (recently departed from ENPYS to join Philadelphia’s Michael Nutter as the Director of Multicultural Affairs) for their tenacious leadership of the process and vision for the day.

Also, thanks to Andrea Morato-Lara the Vice President of PALO and to Sarah Cortes, the Civic Engagement Coordinator here at Congreso. From the moment I first heard Andrea quote Paulo Freire early on in the planning process, I knew that we were blessed to have her guidance and expertise in community organizing. She has been the conscience of this process ensuring that it was carried out with the highest level of integrity.

As for Sarah, I will remember her boldly stating in Representative Dwight Evans’s office: “It’s not just about showing up, it’s about following up”. There were a lot of details required to make this day possible that Sarah tended to at every step of the way. If you are wondering how it is that there were few or no glitches in the day you need only look to Sarah who was on top of every detail.

We had three others who were knee deep and traveled to Bethlehem, Allentown, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg for briefings on immigration and education. Our dear friend and resident immigration expert Ricardo Diaz and our friends at the Education Law Center, Josh Varon, and Alison Murawski at Good Schools PA. Their content knowledge and passion about the issues brought us tremendous credibility and helped us make our case to legislators.

Here at Congreso, Christy Bare, our marketing manager is responsible for bringing her know-how and initiative to the set-up and maintenance of this blog and for press coverage we received regarding this event. Carlos Martinez, our part-time associate also helped with countless little details.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the tremendous volunteer support of staff (all of whom are local constituents) who make up Congreso’s civic engagement committee: Melissa Aguirre, Alayna Sands, Ben Morris, Edward Garcia, Paul Shoe, Lisa Varon, Michelle Martinez, and Alida Padilla, who were all folding t-shirts and stuffing information packets until 1 in the morning the night before. As is always the case when I am in the presence of this powerhouse group, I am humbled.

I am lucky to have several great Congreso experiences from my ten year relationship with the organization - this made my top three list.

Looking forward to March in D.C for NCLR’s national advocacy day and next year for SLAD 2009.

Warm wishes and mil gracias compañeros,

Lisa Cordeiro Kricun

Two days later...

Life is back to normal, we have all returned to our schools, our offices and our normal day to day. In some ways it seems like Advocacy Day was forever ago, but there are traces of it still lingering. Today we got a cover story in El Impacto, a Philadelphia spanish paper entitled: "Armadas de razones, Jovenes se tomaron Harrisburg." But still it feels like ... it's over.

And then I remind myself, that, as I've been telling everyone today, it's not just about showing up, it's about FOLLOWING UP. Wednesday was just the beginning. It was a kick off perhaps, to all the work we are about to begin.

For those of you who may not have been able to make it to Statewide Latino Advocacy Day, don't worry, there is much to do!

We've been to Harrisburg and we've talked to our legislators. They know how we feel about immigration legislation across the state. It is FIRST AND FOREMOST A FEDERAL ISSUE.

They now how we feel about the results of the Costing Out Study. MONEY MATTERS. We need our representatives to make a down payment on education, to pass HR 460 and SR 210 and act on the results of the study. Fix a broken system and make sure that our kids are getting an adequate education.

Now is the time to let them know we mean it.

We need to write letters and say thank you for meeting with us, what are you going to do about these issues?

We need to call offices and say "we came to meet with you in January. Now it's February, what have you done?"

We need to go to their district offices and say "We met with you in January, we called a few weeks ago. Here I am with a petition signed by 1,000 people in your district who feel the same way as me. What are you going to do about these issues?"

We need to work with fellow Latinos -- communities and organizations, schools and churches, to spread the word beyond those of us who made it to Harrisburg. Get them excited, get them to be vocal, make them take ownership of what you know -- only when we all can approach our legislators with the same voice will we make a difference. We need them to hear loud and clear that we WILL see change in immigration legislation, and we will NOT stand for poor quality education.

It is their job to listen, and it is our job to make sure that happens. They won't know how we feel unless we tell them.

So, although Advocacy Day is over, I am excited about the beginning of a new kind of Advocacy. A persistent presence, a persistent voice, united Latino voices, not just in Philadelphia, but across Pennsylvania.

We can do it. Si se puede.

--Sarah Cortes