Immigrant Justice Series: From Education to Action - Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists

The Journey to Asylum program invites you to join us for five evenings of immigrant justice-focused education and advocacy. In these free, interactive workshops, we’ll hear from experts in the field – community organizers, frontline advocates at the border, and immigrants directly impacted by our country’s policies and practices. We’ll come together as a concerned community to learn effective ways we can advocate for change and stand in solidarity with immigrants locally and beyond.

Immigration Timeline – Tuesday, April 27, 7pm

As the kickoff of our series, this session will help us set the stage. This workshop examines U.S. policies historically which have both directly and indirectly influenced immigration and migration, and how this correlates with current events. This workshop allows for a deeper discussion around the root causes of migration, as well as who benefits from the current system of enforcement and laws. Special attention is paid to how U.S. policies have in particular influenced the U.S/Mexico borderlands. The workshop will be facilitated by BorderLinks, an Arizona-based organization that connects communities, raises awareness about the impact of the border and immigration policies, and inspires action for social transformation through dynamic educational experiences.

Temporary Protected Status: The Last Dream – Tuesday, May 11, 7pm

In this workshop, we will learn about Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which has provided safety for more than 400,000 people from countries facing war, natural disasters, and other deadly conditions. Now, due to changes made by the previous administration, these individuals face being sent to countries they left decades ago. Many will be separated from their children – hundreds of thousands of whom are U.S. citizens. We will view and discuss a short documentary The Last Dream, created by our partners at the National TPS Alliance, and take action by joining a letter writing campaign urging our U.S. senators to pass legislation to create a pathway to citizenship for immigrants with TPS and similar statuses, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).

Solidarity vs. Charity – Tuesday, May 25, 7pm

This workshop will address the difference between being a part of the struggle and providing support for those directly affected. We explore the intricacies of social action and contextualize the concepts of charity, “white savior” complexes, and understand what true solidarity might look like. Participants will reflect on the healthiest ways to form long and meaningful relationships in their own communities that will help further our quest for liberation. This workshop will be facilitated by BorderLinks.

Ending ICE Detention and Private Prisons in Virginia – Tuesday, June 8, 7pm

In this workshop, we’ll learn about the private prison system and ICE detention in Virginia. We’ll learn about advocacy efforts to end both and what we can do make this a reality during the January 2022 legislative session. The workshop will be led by Luis Oyola, Director of Organizing for the Legal Aid Justice Center. Luis has years of experience as a community organizer and recently led LAJC’s De-ICE Virginia campaign, helping to bring an end to local government contracts with ICE, exposing the Norfolk sheriff’s secret contract with ICE, passing legislation paving the way to inspect Farmville.

Journey to Asylum: Program Update and Volunteer Opportunities – Tuesday, June 22, 7pm

In this workshop, we’ll provide a program update on the first year of the Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists’ Journey to Asylum program. We’ll talk about lessons learned in our accompaniment work, where the program is headed next, and how you can get involved. We welcome individuals who would like to volunteer as well as community partners.