I discovered a group of knowledgeable and caring men and women from various professions
As with many UUs, trying to make this world a better place is the center of my connection to Unitarian Universalism. Ever since I was the harpist for two different new symphony orchestras in Mexico during the ’70s and ’80s I have kept my Spanish alive by making friends and being useful where needed. I live near Trenton NJ which has a large hispano hablante population and I have a dear friend who is undocumented and a single mom of six ages 4 to 17. I’ve been the emergency contact with all the schools for years in case she is deported, which has been a constant worry for both of us! Each time we attended a legal clinic to make sure there was no way for her to adjust her status, we found no relief. She works in elder care, often 60 or more hours a week. She is truly an essential worker.
When I heard of the Immigration Action Team (IAT) connected with UUSJ, I registered for the next Zoom meeting and discovered a group of knowledgeable and caring men and women from various professions; the clergy, the law, business, academia, and me–music!
This year we have been arranging advocacy calls with aides handling immigration issues for a number of Representatives and Senators, including Manchin, Sinema, Murkowski, Collins, Cassidy, Toomey and Portman. Once we have a call lined up, I have been helping contact statewide UU congregations looking for immigration advocates who are constituents of the invited Congressional/Senate office to share their personal experience and reasons for urging the inclusion of a Pathway to Citizenship in current legislation. These calls are the most satisfying advocacy opportunities I have ever been privileged to find and I participate gladly. Our IAT group will search for new ways to advocate as circumstances change. I’m thrilled to be part of the IAT.
Georganne D’Angelo,
Member Immigration Action Team
Member Immigration Action Team