Visit our website at www.sanctuaryphiladelphia.org.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Deferred Action Clinic at Norristown on November 27, 2012

The Philadelphia Deferred Action Network (P-DAN) is organizing a free information session and legal clinic to help eligible immigrants apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Tuesday, November 27, 2012
5.30 PM to 8.00 PM
Norristown Public Library
1001 Powell Street, Norristown, PA 19401

Click here for more details.

After the information session, attorneys and BIA Accredited Representatives will be available for individual legal advice. Eligible applicants will be scheduled to return for a second day to have an attorney review and complete their application at no cost.

DACA is a procedure that allows certain non-U.S. citizens to stay in the U.S. and work legally, without fear of deportation, for a period of two years. Those granted DACA will be eligible for a work permit, social security card and certain state IDs, such as a driver's license.

Eligibility requirements include:
•must have entered the U.S. before 16 years old
•must have lived in the U.S. continuously since June 15 2007
•must be 30 years old and under

For more information, please contact the Deferred Action Coordinator, Michele Contreras, at the Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition at 215-832-3482 or michelecontreras@paimmigrant.org.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Five Days Left to Support New Leaders

Effective movements are lead by people closest to the issues. But leaders aren't born overnight; they need training, support, and time to build their skills and confidence.  On the eve of election day, despite it's great importance- at NSM we know that community organizing is what will help us make the real lasting changes we are fighting for.  We have five days left to double your donation for the New Leadership School.  Double your donation by clicking here to support these emerging leaders.  

The New Leadership School is where leaders and organizers learn new skills and strengthen old ones. It is a complete course on how to organize for change.   In partnership with Training for Change, The New Leadership School brings people together to cultivate skills, identify personal strengths and step boldly into leadership within their community, faith groups and campaigns.

Twenty students attended the first session of New Leadership School yesterday- Sunday November 4th.   These students participated in a physical group challenge (similar to the photo to the right).  When reflecting about the exercise students commented on building a lot of trust, and how the activity showed them the importance of solidarity and community.  Help these students continue to build and grow!  The course must continue, not only for these students, but for the movement.      

We must build on this success. We have raised two thirds of the money for the course, but still need $4,000. A very generous donor has agreed to match up to $2,000 raised by November 9th! We need your help to meet that goal.  We are a quarter of the way there.  We have five days to raise $1,500.  
                                                             
Can you invest $15 today in the leadership of our movement?  Click here to help us reach our goal so we can host another year of The New Leadership School.

Last year, The New Leadership School supported 15 leaders to learn new skills, strengthen skills they already had and build self confidence. Since graduation in March of 2012 those graduates, including Gerardo, have taken prominent roles in the work of promoting immigrant's rights, not just here in Philadelphia, but across the state of Pennsylvania.

What your gift makes possible:
$5: Copies of our handouts for one workshop.
$25: One-hour of simultaneous interpretation.
$50: Newsprint and markers for the whole series.
$100: Sponsor one class for one organizer.
$500: A full scholarship for one organizer!

One graduate explains, "being part of The New Leadership School opened my mind to new learning experiences. It made me discover a new part of me I did not know existed. Each class pushed my insecurities and self-doubt out of my head. It did not just teach me the tools to increase my skills to get the job done; it also gave me the empowerment skills to grow as a person."

This is powerful. This is the birth of new leaders. This is the work that will bring long lasting and real change. We need your help to continue this critical work.  

Can you invest $15 today in the leadership of our movement?  If 100 more people give $15 by November 9th, we will be sure to meet our goal of $2,000.  Click here  and whatever you give will be doubled by our matching donor! 

Thank you for your support!

In Peace and Solidarity,
Peter, Blanca and Jen
     
                                                             
  

Philadelphia NSM and related immigration events