Immigration: the Human Element
Showcasing three moving videos and eight exemplary organizations that are championing the hopes and dreams of immigrants across the country
Short films:
Making it in America
8min short by Joris Debeij and I Am Los Angeles.
I Am Los Angeles is a blog where filmmaker Joris Debeij publishes his short films about unique people who make Los Angeles what it is.
Making it in America paints a stunning, meditative video portrait of Alma as we follow the pace of her day and the narrative of her story. Alma fled the El Salvadorian Civil War when she was 16 years old and came to Los Angeles as an undocumented refugee. Alma is now a legal resident, a single mom of two kids, and is working at an American Apparel factory in LA.
Illegal
6min short directed by John X. Carey
Through a variety of interviews, Illegal takes a compassionate look at undocumented youth in the United States and the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
The Dream is Now
30min doc directed by Davis Guggenheim (Waiting for ‘Superman’, An Inconvenient Truth)
The Dream is Now gives voice to and puts a human face on the undocumented children of immigrants who are desperate to earn their citizenship and give back to the only country they’ve ever called “home.” The film also places these stories in a larger context and explores the consequences of continuing our current policies and maintaining the status quo — consequences not just for these young people today, but for our country’s future.
Organizations:
Highlighting eight groups working on immigration issues today: Atlas DIY, CAP, CLINIC, Equal Justice Works, FWD.us, KIND, Welcome.us, and Welcoming America
Atlas DIY
Located in Brooklyn, New York, Atlas DIY: Developing Immigrant Youth is a cooperative empowerment center for immigrant youth and their allies. Atlas is disrupting the way youth nonprofits are run as their members work alongside professional staff to propose, develop and execute programs most needed by their communities. From free legal services to college access summer camps, Atlas takes a holistic approach to the issues facing immigrants of all status. Atlas’ attorneys also host a YouTube channel where they give legal advice, information and counsel to immigrants across the U.S.
Atlas is growing to a new home in New York and San Francisco. You can support their Kickstarter here!
Center for American Progress
The Center for American Progress (CAP) is an independent nonpartisan policy institute that is dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans, through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action.
Here are some facts on immigration today.
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.
Embracing the Gospel value of welcoming the stranger, CLINIC promotes the dignity and protects the rights of immigrants in partnership with a dedicated network of Catholic and community legal immigration programs.
Equal Justice Works
EJW believes that the poorest and most vulnerable among us deserve the same access to justice and quality legal representation as more fortunate citizens. Founded by law students, Equal Justice Works provides the training, skills and opportunities for law students and lawyers to offer effective representation to underserved communities and causes.
FWD.us
FWD.us is mobilizing the tech community in support of policies that keep
the American Dream achievable in the 21st century, starting with comprehensive immigration reform.
Kids In Need of Defense
KIND staff and their pro bono attorney partners represent unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children in their deportation proceedings to ensure that no child stands in court alone. KIND has served over 7,600 children and trained more than 10,000 attorneys.
In 2014, nearly 68,000 children came alone to the United States.
Unaccompanied children are five times more likely to gain U.S. protection if they have an attorney representing them in immigration proceedings.
Welcome.us
Celebrating a United States fueled by immigrant tradition. Join us for #ImmigrantHeritageMonth in June! #IHM2015
Welcoming America
Welcoming America helps communities across the country achieve prosperity by becoming more welcoming toward immigrants and all residents.
Recent Milestones:
- Fifty official welcoming cities and counties have committed to adopting policies and practices that promote inclusion within local government and the broader community.
- White House Task Force on New Americans announced its action plan on how the federal government will advance immigrant integration and has made Building Welcoming Communities a centerpiece of that plan.
