ALPHA members continue to organize and lead our campaign: Immigrants Make America Strong, which seeks to obtain humane and comprehensive immigration reform. Through social media and community outreach, we share our own message and testimonies on how our contributions strengthen the United States.
Goals of the campaign:
To obtain a just and fair immigration reform for the DACA and TPS holders and for the millions of undocumented immigrants that have lived and worked in this country, contributing and blessing this nation with their culture, diversity, skills, and talents.
We also look after the wellbeing of immigrants, fighting for State laws that help families to live without fear of being deported or separated from their loved ones.
Understanding the root cause of the problem:
We know that racism and xenophobia are the root causes of all anti-immigrant and punitive laws that have been implemented against all immigrants. We have also understood that in order to change immigration laws, first, we have to change the negative rhetoric that some people use when referring to immigrants in general.
Throughout this campaign, Immigrants Make America Strong (IMAS) we want to raise awareness among our friends, family members, community, churches, elected officials to recognize and value the positive contributions immigrants make to this nation.
We want to have dialogues with those who still don’t know the story of an immigrant. We want to create spaces of mutual learning, without any prejudices where all individuals are respected because all have been created to the image of God. With God’s direction and with the commitment of each of you, we will obtain the immigration changes we having been seeking. We believe it and we invite you to share this truth – Immigrants Make America strong!
Strategies for achieving our goals:
We truly believe that those that are most affected by a lack of immigration reform should and must play an active role in the struggle for immigration reform. We believe in promoting the leadership of our members throughout community organizing. This means creating spaces where all of us use our own voices and play active roles as we collectively find the solutions to our immigration challenges. We will achieve this by lifting up all the positive contributions we contribute to this nation regardless of our legal status.
The following are some activities our members have identified as strategies needed to achieve our short and long term goals:
- Training about community organizing, power analysis, developing alliances, understanding how a bill becomes a law, and developing skills for public speaking, among others.
- Monthly meetings called “Coffee Hour” held in different cities, offering safe and informal spaces where all of us feel empowered and free to share, learn, and together seek solutions to our common problems.
- Invitations to participate actively at community events to share our stories to humanize the immigration topic. For example visits to our legislators, collection of signatures on behalf of our campaign, presentations about IMAS at different places, and supporting rallies among activities.
How you can get involved?
As an individual:
1. Take the challenge #IMAS and share it across social media! After that, invite your friends to do it too.
2. Join us during a COFFEE HOUR. It is a safe and joyful place where you can share and learn more about our community efforts! Register here.
3. Let us know if you want to be part of this initiative by emailing us at info@agenciaalpha.org, or by calling at 617-522-6382. Give us your name and phone number that way we can keep you informed about the most important facts of this campaign. You will receive our newsletter every two months.
4. Make a donation TODAY
As a group or church:
1. Same as above but as a group or church.
2. Send your group or church members to support the IMAS activities or community training.
3. Invite ALPHA to talk about the responsibilities and privileges of being part of the “Immigrants Make America Strong” campaign.