Thank you to everyone who attended Immigration: Challenges and Strategies in Ventura County and making the day a success! The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County was delighted to see nearly 140 community members gather together to learn and engage with one another.
CLU College of Arts and Sciences Dean Jessica Lavariega Monforti spoke first, providing some much needed context. Many in the audience were surprised to learn that undocumented immigrants represent approximately 7.4% of the total county population. For additional information, please check out the Dean’s PowerPoint presentation, included below, as well as other resources from our panelists.
Congresswoman Julia Brownley spoke to the actions being considered in Washington. Last week, three bills in the US Senate failed to meet the necessary 60-vote. Additionally, Rep. Brownley sought to shift the tone of the debate, emphasizing the need in our discourse to move away from dehumanizing terms like “chain-migration” to more compassionate language, like “family migration.”
In addition, we convened a panel of local experts to provide greater context to the challenges facing immigrants in Ventura County. Ellen Brokaw, an avocado farmer and Founding Chair of House Farm Workers, painted a portrait of our farmworkers and the lack of affordable housing for undocumented immigrants. Many of them are forced to live in dilapidated, overcrowded, and often unhealthy conditions since even partially federally-funded rental units, accomplished by HFW support, are not available to them.
Next, Alicia Flores, Executive Director of La Hermandad, addressed the pernicious effects that instability and uncertainty can have on mixed-status families. Local immigration attorney Vanessa Frank spoke to the urgent need for increased access to legal defense among immigrants who too often are without these resources and receive an unfair shake by law enforcement.
Matthew Ward, VP of Enrollment Management and Marketing at CLU, commented on the culture shift towards inclusion and empathy for DREAMERS in higher education at institutions like CLU and the California State Universities. Lucas Zucker, the Policy and Communications Director of CAUSE, encouraged our audience to find local opportunities for political engagement and activism.
We took this encouragement to heart. In break out groups, we collaborated to list the most urgent needs in education for immigrants in our community.
Your feedback was overwhelming! The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County will be funding projects that meet the education needs of our county. We will be providing $25,000 in grants to non-profits, individuals and collaborative efforts that will make a difference for our neighbors in 2018. Our mission is to empower and create lasting change.
If you have an idea – share it. If you have the ability to make a contribution – donate today.
100% of the funds we raise will be given as grants through an open and proven process. For more information contact Paul Fischer.
To make change, we need community. Join us today.
Sincerely,
Michael Teasdale and Betty Stapleford,
Co-chairs, Social Justice Fund for Ventura County
