MCC Basic Immigration Training September 6-10, 2011
Rosie Epp, Rachelle Luitjens, and Margie Mejia-Caraballo participated in the Mennonite Central Committee Basic Immigration Training in Akron, PA, on September 6-10, 2011. Each of these three participants received a Service Grant from Central Plains Mennonite Conference to help with the cost of this event. Below is information about the training as well as personal comments from each participant.
From Workshop Participant Rosie Epp: The workshop was very intense with lots and lots of information regarding immigration law and rights. It was also very helpful. I am still processing how best to use the learnings. One way, of course, is to work with a local non-profit organization which does immigration work, perhaps as a accredited counselor. But I beleive there are other avenues which would help CPMC churches such as speaking (or creating a workshop) that would help churches understand the myths and realities of immigration (such as the fact that most people who are in the US whether documented or not contribute to Social Security and pay income taxes without being able to access any of the benefits.) An additional service would be to host public sessions for immigrants informing them of their rights. I am also exploring options here in Sioux Falls with Lutheran Social ServicesImmigration and Refugee center. Thanks to the Outreach and Service Committee for the grant to attend this extremely helpful training.
From Workshop Participant Rachelle Luitjens: I recently participated in the MCC Basic Immigration Training in Akron, PA. This course was a 40 hour basic training to learn how to help people with their immigration papers and to possibly become an accredited advocate for immigrants with a non-profit organization. While the title of the training is basic immigration training (due to the fact that immigration law is immense), this training was very intense and informative. While the entire training course was beneficial, I believe there are two areas which will be of most benefit to CPMC. The first will be the ability and opportunity to hold immigration seminars for people and churches within our conference to inform them of immigration issues. This will help us to educate our churches on the real life issues that immigrants face and how to support them. The second benefit will be the ability to help organize and hold community meetings for immigrants to inform them of their rights. Thank you to the Outreach and Service Committee and CPMC for the grant which enabled me to participate in this training.
Article from Scattered Seeds, December, 2011
Participants aim to use MCC Immigration Training in churches, communities by Holly Blosser Yoder
Three persons from CPMC were among the 38 people who underwent a 40-hour training at Akron, Pa, September 6-10, 2011, to prepare church leaders and others to walk alongside immigrants in their churches and communities as they navigate the complexity of US immigration law. Coming from three different states, Rosie Epp of Sermon on the Mount in Sioux Falls, S.D., Margie Mejia-Caraballo of Templo Alabanza in Moline, Il., and Rachelle Luitjens of Sugar Creek in Wayland, Ia. participated in the Mennonite Central Committee Basic Immigration Training.
Participants described the training as "intense" in their reports. Epp said that she hopes to use what she learned to better inform churches about the myths and realities of immigration and to inform immigrants of their legal rights. Similar to Epp, Luijens envisions seminars "to educate our churches on the real life issues that immigrants face and how to support them" and "community meetings" about immigrant rights. Caraballo puts her training to work regularly as a volunteer, under the supervision of an attorney, helping immigrants to fill out paperwork.
Epp described the church's responsibility to immigrants in a Sept. 19 MCC press release, "Immigrants are our neighbors. To provide them with accurate information is part of our responsibility to "love your neighbor as yourself."
Caraballo, who is active in immigration issues in her community, has observed that Mennonites are ahead of many other groups with which she interacts “in terms of having a statement, a letter, and having resources.” In addition, she appreciates Conference support for training as a demonstration that “it’s not only a verbal commitment (to care for immigrants), but there’s action behind it.”
Each of the three participants received a Service Grant from Central Plains Mennonite Conference to help with the cost of this event.
