Jewish Activists for Immigration Justice
From JAIJ: Opportunities to Get Involved!
Dear Friends,
Last week’s onslaught of attacks on immigrants was heartbreaking for all of us.
But we are not giving up. In fact, we’re organizing to fight back and protect the members of our community in as many ways as possible.
This brief newsletter outlines just a few of the ways you can help—either by responding directly to calls for volunteer help from our local immigrant community or working on enacting protections on the state level and speaking out to stop some of the most egregious and unconstitutional federal actions.
If you're interested in volunteering for various kinds of support, currently there are two loosely organized groups in the process of forming, people working on Rapid Response and Safe Housing, and people organizing efforts for Advocacy and Legislative Action.
Rapid Response/Safe Housing efforts:
The two main organizations we are working with to support, publicize and recruit volunteers in the areas of a rapid response network and safe housing, are the Pioneer Valley Workers Center (PVWC), which represents and advocates for many undocumented immigrants, and Western Mass Asylum Support Network (WMASN).
Below are some descriptions of what these groups do and what they need. Both have recently created volunteer sign-up forms, with drop- down menus where you can tell them which areas you might be interested in helping.
Pioneer Valley Workers Center
“The Pioneer Valley Workers Center builds power with low-wage and immigrant workers throughout Western Massachusetts. Together we organize and build community …”
Click here for the Volunteer Sign-Up for PVWC
Needed right now:
-People to provide cars/transportation to accompany those taking drivers license exams, cars with an emergency brake are needed for testing
-Volunteer for monthly food distribution at the pop-up food pantry at 20 Maple Street, the fourth Sunday of each month from 5:00-6:30
- Volunteers with intermediate Spanish will be needed for an English/Spanish language conversation class to be held at the Pioneer Valley Workers Center. Please email Devorah Jacobson [email protected] if interested.
Western Massachusetts Asylum Support Network
“We are here to support our new neighbors and stand up for their presence as a vital and welcomed part of our communities…”
Click here for the Volunteer Sign-Up for WMASN
-Become part of the Support Network by providing safe housing or assisting with grants, fund raising, job hunting, healthcare, education, food, clothing, transportation, outings and companionship
-Get involved in the Pro Se Project-(legal advice)
Volunteers for WMASN attend an orientation and training (2 hrs) to learn about the WMASN organization, strategy and values.
Click here for Hosting Volunteer Form
If you are interested in getting involved in the planning and organizational work for rapid response and safe housing, please contact Alice Levine at [email protected].
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY:
We’re connecting with a wide network of organizations, with a primary agenda of advocating for increased state protections for undocumented residents. These include The Location Shield Act, which prohibits the sale or trade of cellphone data, and The Safe Communities Act and the Dignity not Deportations Act, both of which limit the ways that state police and other officials can cooperate with ICE.
Our next meeting of the legislative group, WMILAN (Western Massachusetts Immigrant Legislative Advocacy Network) will take place via Zoom on Monday February 3 from 7:30 to 8:30 pm.
You can register here. For more info on this aspect of the work, contact Dina at [email protected].
In the meantime, here are a few simple actions you can take:
· JALSA (Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action) has easy templates to email your state reps. and ask for their support of the Location Shield Act and Dignity Not Deportations Act.
· Indivisible is coordinating a campaign to write to Governor Maura Healey to ask her to make sure to continue to issue U.S. birth certificates to all babies born in the Commonwealth, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
There are many other things we can do—large and small, but our goal is not to overwhelm you. What this means, going forward, is that you may receive more emails from us, but they will be shorter and more action-oriented than our previous newsletters. Please participate in these actions as you are able. We recognize that no one can do everything, but together we can—and we will—make a difference!
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Office Administrator
& Communications Coordinator
Jewish Community of Amherst
