Southwest Organizing Project - Latest news

SWOP LEADERS MAKE HISTORY AT DRIVER’S LICENSE BILL SIGNING

2/28/2013, 1:42 PM

SWOP leader Eugenia Flores speaking at the bill signing.

On January 28, SWOP leaders watched as Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed the highway safety legislation into law. Illinois makes history by becoming the first state in over a decade that had the courage to work in a bipartisan manner to pass driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants. The legislation will enable 250,000 undocumented immigrant motorists in Illinois to apply for a Temporary Visitor’s Driver’s Licenses (TVDL).

“I thank everyone who actively participated in making this legislation happen and challenge people to get involved by helping pass an immigration reform,” said Maria Eugenia Flores, leader at the Southwest Organizing Project. “This was a great first step, but now we need to ensure that our families aren’t separated through deportation, but are given the chance to contribute to society.”

The 2012 election made clear that Latino and immigrant voters consider this a personal issue and a defining one. In fact, an entire electorate now clearly demands a practical solution that keeps families together as they work toward achieving a path to citizenship.

"Today is a proud day for our immigrant community, who has been fighting for driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants for the last 13 years," said ICIRR's CEO Lawrence Benito. "The signing of today's law sends a clear signal - our country is ready to unite in a bipartisan manner to pass a humane immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship," he added.

“Undocumented immigrants will now be able to drive to work, to school, to worship, or the store without fearing that a traffic stop will put them at risk of deportation,” said Benito. “Illinois is an example of what can happen nationally now that the community is energized and the political will exists.”

The law will go into effect 10 months from this Sunday, on November 27, 2013. It will allow undocumented motorists to apply for Temporary Visitor Driver’s Licenses (TVDLs). Applicants will need to prove they have lived in Illinois for one year, provide a valid passport or consular identification document, maintain insurance on their vehicles, and pass all relevant written, vision, and road tests.

SWOP’s "Reclaiming Southwest Chicago" Housing Campaign Moves Forward

2/28/2013, 11:19 AM

SWOP

SWOP continues to move on its effort to respond to the large numbers of vacant buildings plaguing the Southwest side by submitting a funding proposal to the Illinois Attorney General office as part of their request for proposals for the National Foreclosure Settlement Awards.

Back in July 2012 Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan joined more than 350 local residents, SWOP leaders and leaders from United Power for Action and Justice for a neighborhood tour and to listen to stories of the impact of the vacant buildings and SWOP’s community-based “Reclaiming Southwest Chicago” response. The campaign, which has been developed over the last year by SWOP leaders, seeks to transform some of the more than 600 vacant buildings between Western and Kedzie in Chicago Lawn by working with developers to acquire and rehab chronically vacant buildings and by building a pool of potential homeowners and tenants who have an interest in continuing to build their lives in the neighborhood.

SWOP is partnering with Brinshore Development, an experienced developer with a strong history of working with local community organizations on scattered-site housing for the rehab. SWOP will work with our member institutions to identify families that want to participate in the housing pool and guide them to resources and support. Our partners Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago Lawn/Gage Park and the Southwest REACH Center will work with families to assess and develop their capacity to become successful homeowners and provide a full range of support. The REACH Center is also a designated Center for Working Families and has the capacity to do a full financial analysis, to provide budgeting assistance and to connect interested families with employment training and services.

The proposal submitted to the Illinois Attorney General office seeks funding to rehab 100 units of housing and hire 5 additional housing counselors to help families that are fighting to save their homes from foreclosure.

For more information on how to be a part of the Reclaiming Southwest Chicago Campaign please talk to your SWOP organizer or call the Southwest Organizing Project at 773-471- 8208.

SWOP’s Next NAI Citizenship Workshop is March 23rd at Daley Community College

2/27/2013, 3:51 PM

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Since 2005, the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) has been a lead organization in the in the New Americans Initiative (NAI). Through NAI, administered by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) in partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), SWOP links legal permanent residents directly to the information and services they need to successfully pursue citizenship. Through monthly citizenship workshops, individual appointments, and citizenship classes, eligible residents are able to complete the citizenship process with support and guidance.

The next citizenship workshop will be at Daley Community College on Saturday, March 23^rd from 9am to 12pm.

The workshops will provide free assistance in filling out the citizenship application and provide free legal consultation. There are also free citizenship classes held at SWOP member institution, St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church from Monday through Thursday, 7pm to 9pm, to help applicants prepare for the citizenship test. If you are interested in applying, getting involved in the workshops or taking citizenship classes, please call Eugenia Flores or Esperanza Marrufo of SWOP at 773-471-8208 x 22.

El próximo taller de ciudadanía será en el colegio comunitario Daley el sabado, 21 de abril a las 9am hasta las 12pm.

Los talleres ofrecen asistencia gratis para hacer la aplicación, consultación legal y sacarán las fotos. Tambien, hay clases de ciudadania en la parroquia de San Nicolas lunes a jueves de 7 a 9 PM para ayudar a los aplicantes a que se preparen para su examen de ciudadania. Si usted esta interesado en aplicar por la ciudadanía o involucrarse en los talleres o asistir a las clases de ciudadania, por favor llame a Eugenia Flores o Esperanza Marrufo de SWOP a 773-471-8208 x 22.

Por favor, vea el volante abajo con los requisitos.

For more information click here.

Two Greater Southwest Development Corporation (GSDC) Employees Become U.S. Citizens through SWOP’s New Americans Initiative (NAI)

2/27/2013, 3:01 PM

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Mr. Nvarro on the left and Mr. Kollias on the right

Last month, Nick Kollias and Rob Navarro of the Greater Southwest Development Corporation (GSDC) became U.S. Citizens through the Southwest Organizing Project’s (SWOP) New Americans Initiative (NAI). SWOP’s NAI is a state program that educates and assists eligible legal permanent residents in becoming U.S. Citizens through community outreach and monthly citizenship workshops.

Mr. Kollias, who is the Commercial Director at GSDC, was born in Athens, Greece and came to the United States in 1997 to study business at Roosevelt University. After graduating, he continued his studies at Roosevelt to receive his Masters in Industrial Psychology. By working at GDSC for the past four years, Mr. Kollias heard of SWOP’s NAI program and the opportunity to become a U.S. Citizen. Mr. Kollias decided to become a U.S. Citizen in order to have the right to vote. This July, he will travel to Greece to visit his entire immediate family that is still back in his home country.

Mr. Navarro, who works with GSDC’s 63rd Street Maintenance Crew, was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and came to the United States with his family in 1975 at the age of 3. Mr. Navarro grew up in Chicago and has been a legal permanent resident for 39 years. He felt that it was time for him to take the next step and become a U.S. Citizen. Now that he has become a U.S. Citizen he says that he “feels more freedom” and is eager to be able to vote. Mr. Navarro has also been involved in the community and will be volunteering at the citizenship workshops to help other residents become U.S. Citizens.

GSDC is a member institution of SWOP that works with local business development in the Southwest side community. SWOP’s NAI program works in collaboration with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), which has assisted over 55,000 legal permanent residents in Illinois in becoming U.S. Citizens since 2005.

For more information about SWOP’s New Americans Initiative, please contact Sarah Mesick at 773-471-8208 x 17.

Southwest Organizing Project Gets The Word Out About Text4baby

2/27/2013, 1:48 PM

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Click here to watch the text4baby informational Video

Having a child, whether your first or third, can be a time of great uncertainty, but more than 18,000 women in Illinois are finding stability and support through text4baby.

Text4baby is the first ever free mobile health resource that provides pregnant women and new moms the information they need to help them care for their health and give their babies the best possible start in life—all via text message! Women who sign up for the service, by texting “baby” to 511411 (or “bebe” for Spanish), will receive three free text messages each week, which are timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth. These messages focus on a variety of topics critical to maternal and child health including: breastfeeding, nutrition, seasonal flu, immunization, mental health, injury prevention, oral health, safe sleep, and more! Text4baby messages also connect women to prenatal and infant care services.

Launched in 2010, text4baby was quickly recognized as an important source of support for parents, but new data shows that it is also an effective public health tool. Evaluation of text4baby finds that it is increasing users’ health knowledge, facilitating interaction with their health providers, improving their adherence to appointments and immunizations and improving their access to health services.

The Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) is using a grant from Healthy Placesto organize a team of community health leaders. The team has completed outreach to SWOP membership institutions and to local business owners. Healthy Places is a joint project of the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC). As part of this initiative, the health leader team is spreading the word about Text4Baby to parents in the community. Healthy Places is also working withHolyCrossHospital to become officially “Baby-Friendly”. The “Baby Friendly” label is an international designation signifying that a hospital fosters maternity practices promoting and supporting breastfeeding. HolyCrossHospital is committed to making sure that families get breast feeding information and care during their pregnancy. HolyCrossHospitalFamilyBirthCenter provides the highest quality care for families during and following pregnancy. . Text4baby is an excellent way to help achieve this goal.

In the month of September, the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition, SWOP, and partner organizations are leading a social media campaign to connect Text4baby users on Facebook and Twitter. The highlight of this campaign is our photo contest, in which the winner will receive a $25 Target gift card. We hope that you will help us to spread the word about this important resource. With your help, we can ensure that more women, children, and families will have the best opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives.

The Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition

is the statewide coordinator for text4baby and we have been working with health departments, community clinics, doctors’ offices and local businesses to promote this important public health tool. To date we have helped to enroll nearly 18,000 users and have made

FREE outreach materials

available for order from our website.

If you are interested volunteering with SWOP on our health initiatives please contact, Jana Estell, 773-471-8208. If you would like to visit the Family Birth Center call 773-884-7600 to schedule a tour.

To schedule a free pregnancy test call 1-888-471-4440.

Southwest Organizing Project intends to apply for a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant

2/27/2013, 1:34 PM

Thursday, August 4, 2011

The Southwest Organizing Project 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

Chicago Lawn Ceasefire Update

2/27/2013, 10:54 AM

By 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 773-471-8202begin_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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Students Ask Newly-elect Senator Kirk to Support DREAM Act

5/17/2011, 12:36 PM

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Becca

Student leaders from Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP)’s TeenReach Program at Morrill Elementary School made short videos to share with Senator Kirk about their dreams and why the DREAM Act is important to them. Mark Kirk the new Senator of Illinois was sworn in on November 29th. The DREAM Act will come to a vote on December 2nd. Students are flooding his office with videos, letters and calls to show him that Illinois supports immigration policies that reward hard work and education. The DREAM Act allows children of undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States for at least five years, graduated from high school, and are of good moral character the opportunity to earn citizenship through at least two years of college or military service.

Actions
Phone Call with White House office of public engagement on DREAM Act: Call Number: (800)-398-9402 Title of the call: DREAM ACT Call.

Senator Kirk : 312.886.3506 and 202.224.2854.

To submit your own video, visit: http://icirr.org/en/node/5084.

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

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.”

Senator Durbin Features SWOP in a Senate Subcommittee Hearing in Chicago

12/5/2008, 2:36 PM

Illinois US Senator Richard Durbin held up SWOP and our neighborhoods as an example of the tremendous local suffering caused by the national mortgage crisis during a federal hearing on December 4th at the Dirsken Federal Building in Chicago.

Two days earlier, the Senator was visibly moved by seeing the huge number of foreclosures on maps produced by SWOP at a meeting with our staff and leaders. Father Stan Rataj from St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, Livia Villarreal from the Southwest Reach Center, Mike Reardon from Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) and SWOP staff Jeff Bartow and David McDowell had arranged the meeting to speak with the Senator about our work fighting the foreclosures on the southwest side. As Father Stan laid out the impact of the crisis on his parish and Villarreal and Reardon shared information about the “Keep Our Homes” campaign recently begun by SWOP, SW Reach Center and NHS, the Senator began thinking with us on ways to bring the key decision makers from the top foreclosing banks to the table to speak with our leaders about local solutions to save our homes.

At the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on December 4th, Senator Durbin pointed to two enlargements of the SWOP foreclosure maps that SWOP had shared with him, spoke about the devastating effects of foreclosures on zip code 60629 and related the stories that Father Stan had told him about St. Nicholas parish. He then questioned Neel Kashkari, Interim Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability, Department of the Treasury about what the Treasury Department was doing to specifically help families stay in their homes and heard testimony from Michael Krimminger, Special Advisor to the Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on the FDIC plan to save homes.

Also testifying at the hearing were Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General; Matthew Scire, Director, Financial Markets and Community Investment, U.S. Government Accountability Office; Bruce Gottschall, Executive Director, Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago; and Marguerite E. Sheehan, Senior Vice President and Home Lending Senior Executive, JPMorgan Chase.

SWOP leader Katie Van Tiem from Neighborhood Housing Services, and SWOP Staff Jeff Bartow and David McDowell were present at the hearing and had the opportunity to speak with the Senator and his staff about a continuing partnership to keep our families in their homes in our neighborhood.

Stay tuned to our website for further developments.

Access to Religious Ministry Passes Illinois General Assembly

11/24/2008, 4:41 PM

On November 20, HB 4613, the Access to Religious Ministry Act unanimously passed the Illinois General Assembly. The Access to Religious Ministry Act (HB 4613), ensures access of religious workers to immigrant detainees in county jails across the state.

HB 4613, sponsored by State Representatives Daniel Burke (D-Chicago) and Julie Hamos (D-Evanston) and State Senators Iris Martinez (D-Chicago) and Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago), has the support of religious institutions and leaders including the Sisters of Mercy, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), Southwest Organizing Project, and the Resurrection Project.

The Access to Religious Ministry Act would ensure that immigration detainees in county jails have the same access to priests, nuns, ministers, rabbis, imams, and other clergy as the criminal populations in these jails. Religious workers would be able to meet with immigration detainees who wish to consult with the religious workers regarding their spiritual and other needs.

The jails would need to provide religious workers with reasonable access to immigration detainees during scheduled times. Such ministries would not count against any visitation to which the detainees would otherwise be entitled. The facility would work to bring in religious workers from various faiths that reflect the religious diversity of the facility’s immigration detained population.

“Access to religious ministry is a basic human right that we all deserve, especially in times of need,” said Rep. Burke. “The passage of this bill is a step forward towards compassion for the most needed and it will provide some relief for the spiritual needs of thousands of immigrants held in detention for days or months.”

Immigration authorities are detaining increasing numbers of immigrants throughout the country, requiring more space to house the detainees. Many of these detainees are seeking asylum and are being detained while awaiting their day in court. Others are there solely for lacking immigration status, without having been charged with any criminal offense.

“Immigrants are suffering after being separated from their families and communities, with very limited access to spiritual counseling,” said Rep. Hamos. “Enabling ministry to these immigrants is a basic but compassionate improvement in the conditions that they face.”

“We want to recognize the work of the sponsors Reps. Burke, Hamos and Senators Martinez and Collins,” said Lawrence Benito, ICIRR Associate Director. “Especially now that raids and deportations had increased tremendously, the passage of HB 4613 marks a huge victory against the politics of fear in our state, and a signal that our state stands for humane detention practices.”

SWOP Organizer Receives Cardinal Bernadin New Leadership Award

11/24/2008, 3:04 PM

Organizer Stephanie Garza, 25, was chosen as this year’s recipient of the Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award for her remarkable work with immigrant parents through the Southwest Organizing Project in Chicago. Bishop Roger P. Morin, Chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, praised the choice.

"Stephanie is a clear example of a young leader who is inspired by her faith to empower low-income people to work together to address the root causes of poverty in their communities. Her example and witness inspires us all, and I congratulate Stephanie and her family for the achievements that have led to this important honor," Morin said.

Stephanie has worked with the Southwest Organizing Project since 2005 where she runs the Parents as Mentors Program, an initiative in four Chicago public elementary schools that facilitates parent involvement in their children’s schools with the goal of engaging parents in addressing community issues.

The daughter of an immigrant father and a Mexican-American mother, Stephanie has a special connection with the program participants, most of whom are immigrant mothers. Stephanie described her work at SWOP as "developing leaders to speak and act on their own behalf, so low income people can bring change to their communities."

Stephanie is also an active leader in the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform in the Archdiocese of Chicago. She regularly leads educational workshops for parishes on the need for comprehensive immigration reform based on Gospel and Catholic social teaching values. Stephanie has played a leadership role in diocesan campaign events such as a bi-lingual retreat, a Corpus Christi celebration, and a postcard exchange between immigrant and non-immigrant parishes.

Elena Segura, director of the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform in the Archdiocese of Chicago, said, "We're blessed to count on Stephanie as one of our volunteers who inspires others with her commitment to bring the kingdom of God to our society, to build relationships, and to accompany undocumented immigrants, in a very pastoral way, in their quest for immigration reform."

Stephanie said of her own work, "A lot of immigrant families feel really isolated. The process to find solutions starts with creating relationships. As Catholics, we need to support families and communities. We need to act on our faith as advocates for one another."

CCHD presented Stephanie with the award on Monday, November 10, in Baltimore, during the Fall General Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership award honors a Catholic between the ages of 18 and 30 who demonstrates leadership in fighting poverty and injustice in the United States through community-based solutions. It is named for the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, former archbishop of Chicago and a leading voice on behalf of poor and low-income people, who understood the need to build bridges across ethnic, economic, class and age barriers.

The award was established in 1998 by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, a national program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. CCHD is one of the nation’s largest supporters of self-help, community-based programs initiated and led by the poor. Funded by an annual collection in Catholic parishes across the country, CCHD has distributed more than $280 million to more than 8,000 self-help projects over its 38 years. This year, CCHD announced almost $9.4 million in grants to support 301 local projects, selected without regard to religious affiliation, in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.