Plug Into Your Progressive Community!

Bridges Not Walls is organizing this Conference. In collaboration with KAYCK, CIELO, North Mason County Literacy, from the South Sound area and beyond, we unite in solidarity to build a human rights movement that supports a sustainable future for all.

Hold the dates, May 15 through May 18, for the Immigration and Border Dialogues Conference, at The Evergreen State College in Olympia. The conference will bring together speakers from human rights organizations working both regionally and along the US/Mexico border. Presenters and performers join to offer panel discussions, workshops, theater, art and seminars.

Through this conference, we will examine barriers, real or perceived, that divide our communities. Topics will include political and socioeconomic status, culture and ethnic heritage, and current immigration policy. Together we will examine current realities faced by undocumented migrant workers and refugees. We will discuss inclusive immigration approaches, and encourage the emergence of a more just and humane future.

The conference allows time for participants to build specific strategies to reclaim our common humanity. Using shared values, we will build multicultural alliances across class, race, ethnicity, gender, age, national origin and legal status.

Panel Discussion topics include:
• Border News, Militarization of the Border, How Border Communities are building Solidarity and Why Immigration is a Human Rights Issue
• Detention Center Response, The Experiences of detainees, Dehumanization of Detainees and Immigrants
• Framework of the politics of faith-based groups working in Sanctuary movement in the NW as well as SW, migration policy, sustainability, bi-national relationships between Mexico and the USA, border crossers from Central America, Death in the Arizona Desert, Border Art.
Workshops include:
• Arab-Muslim Detentions and Community Activism, Potential for Arab-Latino Alliances
• Collaborative Workshop with Rosalinda Guillen and Maria Cuevas of Community to Community with Las Margaritas from Bellingham —Women Organizing and Moving Towards Leadership Development (this workshop will be presented in Spanish)
Performances Include:
• The Mamalogues—Local performance about migration and matrilineal legacies
• Pablo Peregrina—Singer/Songwriter from the Tucson/Nogales border
• Rodrígo Duarte Clark—Chicano playwright: La Victima

Some of our participants:
From the Southwest—
Jennifer Allen, Executive Director, Border Action Network. http://www.borderaction.o...
The Border Action Network (BAN) works with immigrant and border communities in southern Arizona to ensure that rights are respected, with human dignity upheld. BAN has a long-term goal of building a human rights movement nationally.

From the Northwest—
Rosalinda Guillen and Maria Cuevas from Community to Community (C2C) –Comunidad a Comunidad, Bellingham, WA. http://www.foodjustice.or...
C2C is a women-led, place based, grassroots organization working for a just society and healthy communities. C2C is committed to systemic change and to creating strategic alliances that strengthen local and global social justice.

Please join us in the dialogue. Invite neighbors, church members, local politicians. These issues (human rights, environmental, economic) affect us all. Each presence will contribute to the content and outcome of this conference, leading South Puget Sound to action.

For more information, please check the BNW website, send an email or call:
bridgesnotwalls@riseup.net
http://oly-wa.us/bridges
(360) 280-6480
(360) 539-4825