An Evening with Author and Photo Journalist David Bacon
EL CENTRO LATINO PROUDLY PRESENTS
An Evening with Author and Photo Journalist David Bacon
Monday, April 19, 2010- 7 to 9 pm
North Star Music Cafe, 225 Congress Street, Portland, Maine
Nuevo volante para La Reforma Migratoria
Por favor, ayúdenos a promover la Reforma Migratoria al descargar, imprimir y distribuir este nuevo volante:
La Reforma Migratoria Volante 02 26 2010 (PDF)
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Movement Building Retreat
** Descargar la información y formulario de registración en ESPAÑOL (DOC) **
** Retreat Agenda Draft Outline (PDF) **
February 26 & 27, 2010
Evergreen Comfort Inn, 65 Whitten Rd.,
Augusta, ME (Map)
Registration Begins at 5:30 pm on Friday,
with dinner at 6pm
We’ll end Saturday at 6pm with dinner.
Hope to see you there!
What We Will Do:
- Learn about the fight for Comprehensive Immigration Reform this year
- Make plans for how we will work together to push for it in Maine
- Get trained on leadership, community organizing, and working with the media, etc…
Why This Is Important:
- We have a real shot at passing Comprehensive Immigration Reform this year
- Our Senators, Snowe and Collins, will be crucial votes on the bill
Who Is Coming:
- Students, Faith, and Community organizations from around the state—from Portland to Millbridge—that support immigrant rights
There will be interpreter services available
How Much Does It Cost:
- It’s free! We’ll take care of meals and lodging. The only cost is carpooling. See the contact info below.
What To Bring/ Be Prepared For:
- Sleeves rolled up, ready to get to work!
- Stuff for an overnight stay at a hotel
- Open hearts and minds, ready to work together with diverse groups of people!
Join Maine People’s Alliance, El Centro Latino and social justice and leaders of faith throughout Maine for this powerful nationally recognized training
Call Blanca at 749-8823 for more information, especially carpooling
Download the Registration Form (PDF)
Blanca
Centro Latino Maine, PO Box 1242, 644 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04104
207.749.8823
March 17th: Make it Happen Rally
Liberals air long wish list for Washington- BY ETHAN WILENSKY-LANFORD (02/18/2010)
AUGUSTA — A group of advocates led by the Maine People’s Alliance gathered Wednesday at the State House to urge Maine’s Congressional delegation to take steps to improve life in Maine.
“Maine is now looking at a 16-year high in unemployment. Over the past 35 years, Maine has seen a 46 percent decline in manufacturing positions, which were once the backbone of a good life,” said Don Berry, president of Maine AFL-CIO, a labor union. “Washington needs to put aside party differences and get down to doing the the people’s work.”
Christopher “Kit” St. John, executive director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said the bill was an effective step, but more should be done. [...]
Another advocate spoke primarily about how immigration reform could help Maine’s economy. Blanca Santiago, executive director of El Centro Latino Maine, was born a U.S. citizen of Puerto Rican descent. She pointed out that Maine has one of the oldest populations in the country, but only 3.4 percent immigrants.
Read the whole article here: http://www.kjonline.com/news/liberals-airlong-wish-listfor-washington.html
Activists Call on Congress to Deliver Jobs Bill Reported By: A.J. Higgins (02/17/2010)
Dozens of Mainers who are frustrated by the failure of Congress to deliver on health care, jobs and immigration reform converged at the State House today as part of a week-long national awareness effort led by Health Care for America Now. The activists are urging Maine’s two U.S. senators to support a jobs bill that passed in the House in December.
Ali Vander Zanden, a health care organizer for the Maine People’s Alliance, says that without federal help, conditions for most Mainers are bound to get worse before they get better. “We are mired in a recession, and a crisis in the state budget — our future now depends on Congress’ action, or inaction.” [...]
Blanca Santiago, the executive director of El Centro Latino, says that in addition to health care and job creation, the need for immigration reform must also be a priority for Congress because current policies just aren’t working. She says that, too often, immigrants become a scapegoat for national conditions. “We can’t blame them for America’s financial troubles,” Santiago says. “Those troubles, really, are about corporate greed and about a war that we shouldn’t be in.”
Read the whole article here: http://www.mpbn.net/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3478/ItemId/11038/Default.aspx
Great work Sister Patricia!
Spanish Mass draws 60 to Bangor church
Nearly every American-born Catholic who walked into St. John Catholic Church on York Street Sunday afternoon would have recognized that a Mass was being celebrated.
They would not have been surprised to see a priest at the altar raising a host above his head as he prepared Communion. A Maine Catholic who simply wandered in might not, however, have understood the language in which the people were praying.
“Senor, no soy digno de que entres en mi casa,” the 60 or so people kneeling in the church prayed in unison, “pero una palabra tuya bastara para sanarme.” Read the whole article here: http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/136853.html