Southwest Organizing Project - Home page

Alabama – Here we come!!!

1/1/2012, 10:26 AM

Rabbi Joshua Salter

A Reflection from Rabbi Joshua Salter on traveling to Alabama for the FIRM Summit and Immigrant National Convention

On December 14, 2011 a delegation of Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) leaders and Organizers left to attend the 2011 Fair Immigrant Reform Movement (FIRM), a national collaboration of organizations addressing the Immigration Reform movement. As a organizer at SWOP, which is a member institution of ICIRR, I was delighted to be a part of this significant convening in historic Montgomery, Alabama - the face of the Civil Rights movement of the 1950’s and 60’s for African Americans.

Our evening departure begun with a rounds question of what did we hope to take from this trip. My answer is such that I was hoping to grasp the spirit of the “civil rights” struggle and walk the same “paths” that my fore-parents walked. Upon our arrival we were given a proper understanding of Alabama history past and presentation by Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer with Equal Justice Initiative, who spelled out for us where we were. He explained that we were in “the Heart of the Confederacy” and you can find this “heart of Dixie” on the Alabama license plates even today.

ICIRR by far had the largest group of delegates than any other organization from around the country and is well respected and recognized for its work both inIllinoisand nationally around Secure Communities. Panel discussions were held featuring Civil Rights era leaders like Rev. C.T. Vivian, a heralded leader for many decades who survived vicious attacks for Freedom, Freedom Rider Catherine Burks-Brooks, Victor Palafox, a Courageous leader with Alabama Dreamers for the Future, Ali Noorani of the National Immigration Forum, Marvin Randolph of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Josh Hoyt of ICIRR and many other prominent leaders of the past and present who led us in fruitful conversations about the Immigrant Movement forward as it relates to struggle for civil and human rights.

On the morning of Saturday Dec. 17 a rally was held at the Alabama State Capitol building with more than 3,000 people to send a message to legislators that Alabama House Bill 56 is unacceptable in this Age to discriminate against people based on the color of their skin, which clearly this bill is intended to do. We were joined by a busload of ICIRR leaders including SWOP Organizers Sarah Mesick, Zerah Imam and SWOP leaders Esperanza Marrufo, Stephanie Alvarado and Timothy Anderson.

At the Rallies many stories were shared in regards to children not being able to attend school, renting or buying of homes not being allowed, home utilities being shut off and lack of ability to work or being fired. Again, fear and terrorism is alive and well again in Alabama; but on this day many who are undocumented showed up and showed out in the belief that this great country of Liberty and Dignity, should always stand for Freedom and should always be courageous in historic fights for the future of this country, and for me to stand with them in this time of need is what I live for.

Many times when go to places we think of what we can bring back; but on this trip it was better to leave some things.some good, some bad, some ugly, some beauty, some inspiring, some truth, some love, some perseverance, some tenacity, some care and some compassion for people seeking human dignity.

Chicago Lawn Ceasefire Update

1/3/2012, 1:35 PM

Rabbi Joshua Salter

We welcome back our Ceasefire Anti Violence Program! We are fortunate to have this State of Illinois funded program that allows Chicago Lawn to reduce shootings and murders in our Gage Park Community. Our funding supports and allows Southwest Organizing Project to employ a Program Manager, a Supervisor, a Violence Interruptor and 3 Outreach Workers to directly impact youth violence. Ceasefire is a scientifically proven Anti-Violence program to reduce shootings based on five working components.

Direct Youth Outreach
Public Education around Violence and its Consequences
Community Mobilization
Faith Based Leader Involvement
Police Relations

We would like to invite you to assist us with implementing the program; attend Anti -Violence Meetings and shooting responses to violent acts.

For more information please contact Rabbi Joshua Salter at 773-471-8202 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 773-471-8202 end_of_the_skype_highlighting Ex. 15.

500 attend SWOP’s holiday party at Maria High School

1/1/2012, 10:29 AM

Monday, December 19, 2011

In what has become an annual tradition on the Southwest side, more than 500 people joined together on December 13^th at Maria High School to celebrate the holidays together as members of the Southwest Organizing Project.

As people began arriving at 6pm they were welcomed by youth leaders from Morrill Elementary School and Gage Park High schools who gave everyone a “Human Bingo” card. The bingo cards had a series of statements like “I have lived in a foreign country” and “I have been to Springfield, IL,” and people were encouraged to find someone at the party for whom each statement was true. The first to ask enough people to fill the card out successfully were a parent and two students.

The short program began at 6:30 and was co-chaired by David Castro, who leads the TeenReach program at Morrill School and Mayra Sarabia, SWOP Strategy Team member and Parent Mentor Coordinator at Eberhart School. Father Tony Pizzo of St. Rita of Cascia Catholic Church, Rabbi Joshua Salter, a member of Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation, and Gemali Ibrahim from the Inner-city Muslim Action Network opened the festivities with prayers from their various faith traditions.

Betty Gutierrez, SWOP Strategy Team member and St Mary Star of the Sea parishioner led the room in recognition of Maureen Fitzpatrick. Maureen worked as an organizer with SWOP on immigration and education issues since 2006 and left us this year to complete her studies for her Masters of Public Policy at The University of Chicago. The program ended with the Talman Elementary School Mariachi Band in only their second public performance serenading the enthusiastic crowd with versions of Las Mañanitas and Feliz Navidad.

After the program, everyone dove into the chicken and fish provided by Holy Cross Hospital and IMAN and the many side dishes and deserts brought by other member institutions and individual leaders.

All in all it was a very successful action.

The Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) hosts a powerful immigration rally at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church

12/19/2011, 12:16 AM

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

On Saturday, April 30^th, over a thousand student, business, community, and religious leaders from around Illinois packed St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, a member institution of the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), in support of the IL Dream Act, Smart Enforcement Act, the Immigrant Services Line Item and a fair legislative map that reflects immigrant communities.

SWOP, together with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights(ICIRR), organized the action which brought both Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton together in support of the new legislation and immigrant services. Senator Cullerton is the sponsor of the IL Dream Act, which would create private scholarships for undocumented students and provide training for high school counselors to better assist undocumented students continue their education.

Southwest side State Representative Dan Burke, who is the sponsor the Smart Enforcement Act, also attended the action along with State Representative Edward Acevedo and Senate William Delgado. The Smart Enforcement Act would track the local impact and costs of so-called “Secure Communities” programs, which requires local police to act as immigration enforcement agents. The Smart Enforcement Act would also allow counties to opt out of the program and would bar spending state resources on detaining and deporting non-criminal immigrants. This legislation would allow law enforcement to focus on catching serious criminals and prevent many innocent families from being separated.

Throughout the action at St Nicholas, community leaders passionately shared their testimonies to each issue. Carolina Rivera, SWOP leader from Talman Elementary School, spoke directly to Speaker Madigan and Senator Cullerton regarding the nightmare that families go through because of local police acting as immigration agents and asked the two powerful politicians for their support on the Smart Enforcement Act.

The event came at an opportune time with the IL Dream Act coming up for a vote four days later. The dream act, which had already passed the Illinois House, was passed in the Illinois Senate on Wednesday, May 4^th by a vote of 45 for and 11 against.

A group of SWOP leaders traveled down to Springfield to witness the vote. Immigrant rights supporters won a second victory that day when Governor Quinn signed an order terminating participation in Secure Communities in Illinois.The Smart Enforcement Act passed in the house 66-43 vote on Friday, May 6^th and is waiting action in the Illinois Senate.

Líderes de SWOP luchan para poner fin a “Comunidades Seguras”

8/24/2011, 11:33 AM

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Líderes del Proyecto Organizador del Suroeste (SWOP), miembro de la Coalición de Illinois pro Derechos de Inmigrantes y Refugiados (ICIRR), participaron en la audiencia del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional sobre Comunidades Seguras en el centro de Chicago. Comunidades Seguras es un programa que le permite a los agentes de la policía tomar las huellas digitales de las personas que son arrestadas para verificar sí están aquí legal o ilegalmente. Más de 1, 000, 000 personas han sido deportadas durante la administración de Obama a través de Comunidades Seguras. La mayoría de las personas deportadas no tenían antecedentes penales.

El 17 de agosto 2011 cerca de 900 personas asistieron a la Audiencia de Comunidades Seguras. Personas a favor y en contra del programa Comunidades Seguras tuvieron la oportunidad de compartir sus testimonios y opiniones.

Alaa Mukahhal, líder de Liga de Jóvenes Inmigrantes por la Justicia (IYJL), dio un discurso sobre cómo ha sido impactada por el programa de Comunidades Seguras. Al final del discurso salió junto con otros cinco estudiantes para llevar a cabo una desobediencia civil en las calles. Alaa pidió el apoyo de la comunidad. Una vez afuera los estudiantes y manifestantes bloquearon el tráfico. Diez personas fueron arrestadas entre ellos seis estudiantes.

Carolina Rivera, una líder de SWOP, está en contra del programa Comunidades Seguras. Carolina compartió como su familia ha sido afectada por este programa, incluyendo su esposo, quien estaba programado a salir al día siguiente debido a las deportaciones a través de Comunidades Seguras. El dejo atrás a su esposa y tres hijos jóvenes.

Fighting for Immigrant Rights

5/17/2011, 1:06 PM

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Carlil Pittman

My name is Carlil Pittman. I am 18 years old living in the south side of Chicago. I am a senior in high school at Gage Park. I use to attend Kelly high school. While I was there I dated a Hispanic girl named Maria. Today we have a beautiful son together. His name is Carlil Pittman jr. or C J for short. He is 1 years old and he lives with his mother and her family. I sometimes wonder and worry about my son and his mother. My son’s mother Maria was not born in the United States she was born in Mexico.

Maria was brought here to the United States by her parents when she was two years old. She has been to school and done everything that American children do. She has grown up in Chicago. Maria became pregnant towards the end of her sophomore year and she started coming to school less and less. By the beginning of her junior year of high school she stopped going. She stays at home with our son all day. I have been having conversations with her about going back to school or at least getting a G.E.D. because like I tell her, you cannot do much in today’s society without a degree. She knows that I’m right. But then she told me something that I did not even take into consideration. A G.E.D will only take you so far. You’re going to need college and college is expensive. How is an undocumented Mexican girl with no social security number or financial aid supposed to pay for college? She cannot do it. She does not have the money to further pursue her education, all because she was not born here.

Maria has been in the United States for about seventeen years. She was brought here, not by her own will. She can’t get money for college? There are citizens here who do not even take advantage of that opportunity. I have high hopes for my son’s future. I

want him to be able to experience a lot of different things that a lot of children do not get to experience. Maria is afraid to go anywhere outside of Chicago because she is afraid that she will not be able to get back. It hurts me because I know that she deserves an opportunity just like any other child that lives in the United States.

When I heard about the Dream Act and what it does I could not wait to tell Maria about it. I went down to Springfield with SWOP to talk to some of the legislators and thank them and tell them about how we are affected by the bill. We recently went back to Springfield to watch the senate vote on the bill. It passed! I was excited for all immigrant children, especially Maria. These changes that are being made are also affecting me even though I’m not an immigrant. My current situation and knowledge of the things that immigrants must go through has given me a better understanding and has made my concern for immigrant rights grow. I’m glad that the Dream Act passed the Senate but in my opinion it’s still not enough. Until just recently Maria was given a medical card but when she turned eighteen they took it away.

As a teen father I will do what I can to provide for my family but it is frustrating to know that in this great nation that we live in these rights are denied to young people like Maria. I’m anxious to see when the changes to our laws will take place regarding immigration and not only in Illinois but to our whole Nation. But for now my focus is using the knowledge and the power to act that has been given to me and trying to get my son’s mother and many others their God given rights. I understand that if you want things to change you have to give them time, and when that time comes I want to be part of the reason why it happened.

Carlil with Senator Delgado

The Southwest Organizing Project intends to apply to 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant

8/4/2011, 4:01 PM

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Shoshanah Yehudah

The Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) intends to apply for a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant in partnership with Talman Elementary School and Marquette Elementary School. The 21st CCLC will allow SWOP to expand educational, social-emotional, and enrichment opportunities and supports to Chicago Lawn families.

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers support the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children

SWOP leaders fighting to put an end to “Secure Communities”

8/24/2011, 11:23 AM

Leaders with the Southwest Organizing Project, a member of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, participated in Department of Homeland Security's hearing on Secure Communities in downtown Chicago on Wednesday, August 17. Secure Communities is a program that allows police officers to take finger prints from people arrested to see if they are here legally or illegally. Over 1, 000, 000 people have been deported during the Obama administration through secure communities. Most of the people who were deported had no criminal records.

On August 17, 2011 about 900 people attended the Secure Communities Hearing. People who supported and were against Secure Communities had the opportunity to share their testimonies and opinions.

Alaa Mukahhal, leader with the Immigrant Youth Justice League, gave a speech on how she has been impacted by Secure Communities. At the end of the speech she left with five other students to conduct civil disobedience in the streets. Alaa asked for community's support. Once outside the students and demonstrators blocked traffic. Ten people were arrested including six students.

Carolina Rivera, a leader with SWOP, is against the program Secure Communities. Carolina shared how her family has been affected by this program, including her husband, who was scheduled to leave the next day due to deportations through Secure Communities. He left behind his wife and three young children.

Local Moms and Students Make a Big Push on Election Day

11/30/2010, 12:47 PM

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Becca

With a dead heat in the U.S. Senate and Illinois Governor’s races and polling indicating low voter turnout, 95 mom's from SWOP’s Parents as Mentors program at the five CPS elementary schools and students from Gage Park High School and Morrill Ellementary school were determined to deliver high turnout by knocking on thousands of doors around their schools on election day. They were energized to push for high turnout to make sure issues most important to their families and communities – education, safety, housing foreclosure, and immigration reform – are not ignored by elected officials.

Mayra Sarabia, Parents as Mentors Coordinator at Eberhart School recalled, "I encouraged my neighbors who are registered to vote to get out and have their voices heard. This election matters because it will affect my community, especially future decisions that will affect my family and my childrens’ school.”

After more than 12 hours of GOTV, SWOP parents and youth leaders made a huge difference by knocking on over 3,500 doors and personally talking to close to 1,000 voters in 3 wards and 22 precincts.

Neighbor Works Day

6/3/2011, 1:03 PM

Saturday, June 4, 2011, 10:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Add this event to your calendar

Neighborhood Housing Service / SWOP / Neighbor Works America

Welcome to our annual NeighborWorks^®Day

Join Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, Inc. for our 24^th Annual NeighborWorks^®Day

Showcase of West Lawn Homes

Saturday, June 4, 2011
10:00am – 2:00pm
St. Mary Star of the Sea
6435 S. Kilbourn Ave. - North Parking Lot

Come out and celebrate our neighborhood!

Join in the tour of homes for sale around St. Mary Star of the Sea.
Gather information for family and friends who may be looking to buy a home.
Receive information about the home buying process and financial services.
Learn about the parish, school, and other local community organizations.
Enjoy good food and meet your neighbors, community leaders and elected officials.

Free T-shirts and potted plants will be given out during NeighborWorks^®Day

There will be fun activities for the children.

For more information, please contact:

Veronica Galvan, Neighborhood Housing Services: 773-434-9632 or vgalvan@nhschicago.org

Click here to View Flyer

SWOP featured in local news media regarding signing of foreclosure grace period legislation

4/14/2009, 1:52 PM

SWOP executive director Jeff Bartow was featured in Chicago news outlets on recent bill signing of foreclosure grace period legislation sponsored by State Senator Jacqueline Collins.

The law would give homeowners facing foreclosure an additional 90 days to remain in thier homes. Lenders would be required to inform borrowers that they are delinquent in their payments in the first 30 days, then send a letter to borrowers informing them that they have an additional 30 days to seek counseling from a HUD certified counseling agency. Borrowers would then have an additional 30 days to report this information on a payment plan back to their lender. SWOP has worked on the issue of foreclosures and predatory lending for more than a decade. To view these articles, please click on the links below:

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=6746289

http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=57173@wbbm.dayport.com

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Homeowners-Safety-Net-.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-quinn-foreclosureapr06,0,1044366.story

¡Hazte ciudadano gratis!

9/20/2011, 10:23 AM

Saturday, September 24, 2011, 9:00 pm – 12:00 pm

Si usted es elegible para la ciudadanía, es posible que califique para que no pague nada por su aplicación de ciudadanía! Asiste al próximo taller de ciudadanía para aplicar!

PRÓXIMO TALLER DE CIUDADANÍA

Hay asistencia con la aplicación, consulta legal, te toman fotos y

hay inscripción de clases para la ciudadanía

Sábado, 24 de septiembre, 9am - 12pm

El Colegio Comunitario Daley

7500 S Pulaski, Chicago, IL 60652

Para asistir el próximo taller de

ciudadanía, llame a Sarah Mesick de

SWOP para confirmar su asistencia.

Se habla español:

773-471-8208 x 22

Para más información Haz clic aquí

Leaders Gather for Candlelight Posada Highlighting Plight of Families Facing Foreclosures

12/22/2008, 1:31 PM

Neighbors and community members gathered for prayer and a “posada” to highlight the plight of families facing foreclosures in one of Chicago’s hardest hit neighborhoods this holiday season. Families formed a procession through the neighborhood, beginning at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Church, and stopping in front of vacant homes hit by the recent rise in foreclosures.

In a re-enactment of the journey of St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary going to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus, families asked for “posada” or lodging for families affected by foreclosures. In traditional posadas, the chorus asks for lodging for the Holy Family with stanzas played by the inn-keepers who refuse them a room. In this posada, southwest side families affected by foreclosures were requesting additional time to stay in their homes and were refused by the banks.

“Compassion I ask of you, beloved Banker, for only some time for my family that I love,” sang the families.

“Sorry, I am simply doing what I am being asked to do, since after all, they pay my salary,” responded the bankers.

The Southwest Organizing Project is engaged in a long-term housing campaign to develop solutions for families facing foreclosures. The Keep Our Homes Campaign, funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is in collaboration with Neighborhood Housing Services, the Greater Southwest Development Corporation and the Southwest REACH Center to provide outreach, counseling, intervention and organize remedies for families facing foreclosure.

The neighborhood of Chicago Lawn is at the epicenter of a national foreclosure crisis. In the first eleven months of 2008, an estimated 1,459 foreclosures were initiated in the 60629 zip code alone.

In June, the Southwest Organizing Project conducted a survey of St. Nicholas of Tolentine parishioners to gauge the impact of the foreclosure crisis on families in the neighborhood. Through these surveys, SWOP learned that 179 families were worried about making their monthly mortgage payments, 116 had boarded up homes on their block, 11 families were in foreclosure and 34 had fallen behind in their mortgage payments.

“We want to convey the message that St. Nick’s stands in solidarity with the families facing foreclosures,” said Letty Sanchez, a parishioner at St. Nicholas of Tolentine and a member of the church’s housing team. “As a church we refuse to cast them away. We are working for solutions to face this issue together.”

Southwest Organizing Project - Home page

Alabama – Here we come!!!

Rabbi Joshua Salter

Chicago Lawn Ceasefire Update

Rabbi Joshua Salter

500 attend SWOP’s holiday party at Maria High School

Monday, December 19, 2011

The Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) hosts a powerful immigration rally at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Líderes de SWOP luchan para poner fin a “Comunidades Seguras”

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Fighting for Immigrant Rights

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Carlil Pittman

The Southwest Organizing Project intends to apply to 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Shoshanah Yehudah

SWOP leaders fighting to put an end to “Secure Communities”

Local Moms and Students Make a Big Push on Election Day

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Becca

Neighbor Works Day

Saturday, June 4, 2011, 10:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Saturday, June 4, 201110:00am – 2:00pmSt. Mary Star of the Sea6435 S. Kilbourn Ave. - North Parking Lot

Saturday, June 4, 2011

10:00am – 2:00pm

St. Mary Star of the Sea

6435 S. Kilbourn Ave. - North Parking Lot

Come out and celebrate our neighborhood!

SWOP featured in local news media regarding signing of foreclosure grace period legislation

¡Hazte ciudadano gratis!

Saturday, September 24, 2011, 9:00 pm – 12:00 pm

Si usted es elegible para la ciudadanía, es posible que califique para que no pague nada por su aplicación de ciudadanía! Asiste al próximo taller de ciudadanía para aplicar!

PRÓXIMO TALLER DE CIUDADANÍA

Hay asistencia con la aplicación, consulta legal, te toman fotos y

hay inscripción de clases para la ciudadanía

Sábado, 24 de septiembre, 9am - 12pm

El Colegio Comunitario Daley

7500 S Pulaski, Chicago, IL 60652

Para asistir el próximo taller de

ciudadanía, llame a Sarah Mesick de

SWOP para confirmar su asistencia.

Se habla español:

773-471-8208 x 22

Para más información Haz clic aquí

Leaders Gather for Candlelight Posada Highlighting Plight of Families Facing Foreclosures

Saturday, June 4, 2011
10:00am – 2:00pm
St. Mary Star of the Sea
6435 S. Kilbourn Ave. - North Parking Lot