Incarcerating Children

Incarcerating children is based on lies that include, "you are not worthy of participating in our society"; and "we are safer without you."   The truth will set us all free.  

Photo from Richard Ross Juvenile-In-Justice 

Service Spotlight-Anton Flores

So when I decided I would like to feature Human Services professionals whose work and passion inspire me, Anton Flores of Alterna was an easy decision for my first Service Spotlight! He left a tenured position as a Human Services professor at La Grange College to co-found Alterna and was named Atlanta Latino's Person of the Year in 2009.

OK I have to confess what my family already knows, I joking-not-jokingly refer to him as my "Online Spiritual Role Model." The best example of why, is found here or below.

So you may wonder (especially if you're not in Human Services) why someone would walk away from a salary to making no salary. I think the best example can be found below ;)

I first met Anton at a Board of Regents of the University System of GA public hearing in 2006. These were the hearings where board members told the media they made their decision BEFORE the hearings and then did NOT EVEN SHOW UP to the hearings! I don't remember at all what I said, but I remember that Anton brought his diploma and was offering to give it up so that "undocumentable"students would still have the chance to win in-state tuition in lottery drawings at their colleges and universities.

He is known for organizing a Holy Week Pilgrimage for Immigrants where in Marietta Americans wash the feet of immigrants, some wearing ICE ankle monitors. (Yes, comforting the disturbed and disturbing the comfortable just seems to come naturally to Anton!)


If you're wondering how you can help, this is just one way, and there are more on alterna's website...

If you want to know more, I would recommend his interview with JesusRadicals.com (the have also featured Dr. Cornel West!), his four-part "Justice Crosses Boarders" lecture at La Grange College, and another video of his advocacy in action.   

Fill Your Cup Quote #2

"Whoever is happy will make others happy too. He who has courage and faith will never perish in misery!"  Anne Frank

Reflection on the Last Day of Georgia's Legislative Session

 

As I reflect on the last day the Georgia legislature has to pass anti-immigrant legislation, I know HB 87 is not the biggest threat to immigrants and people of color in our state.  I agree with legal experts that say HB 87 would legalize racial profiling; and it seems many agree with what some legislators still deny-that HB 87 is an Arizona copy-cat bill. 

Lest we forget what is happening in Arizona, the federal government strongly and swiftly intervened, ruling the key components of the law unconstitutional and blocking them. Not too mention the enormous price they have paid for that litigation and from boycott revenue losses.

No, the real threat towards our communities is the divisive fear of change and anything or anyone different. This is the fear that incites hateful legislation like HB 87. Like the Indigo Girls sang that day, “shame on you.”

It is shameful to target the most vulnerable among us.  It is joyful when immigrants in Georgia can rise above the attempts to dehumanize, criminalize, and frighten them. It is shameful how many children are living in Marietta, Georgia without a sense of safety, security or belonging. They live everyday with the very real fear their parents will be ripped away from them because of the 287(g) program.  There are so many adults labeled “illegal immigrants” who had no say in the matter. Their parents brought them here out of love, in the spirit of self-sacrifice, with the promise of work, and the hope to one day find a path to citizenship.

But for all too many immigrants that path to citizenship has proven to be a false hope. It is a lie to say they need to get in line and comply with our laws. Let me speak clearly, it is not too expensive or too time-consuming but for too many undocumented immigrants to become legal, but currently impossible.  We are all less safe when a group of people is left so vulnerable. We need the DREAM Act now and comprehensive immigration reform.

I would consider hearing Rep. John Lewis’s speech at the Rally for Truth on March 24th, 2011 as one of the highlights of my life. Being born and raised in Georgia, our courageous civil rights leaders hold a certain place of reverence in our hearts. Rep. Lewis said, “If any one of us is illegal, then we are all illegal.”  It is in this spirit of solidarity and neighborly love that I attended the rally.

I still feel somewhat unable to comprehend the magnitude of the dedication that Rep. John Lewis gave, or the breadth of collective sacrifice that became the American Civil Rights Movement. I have not had to make a perilous journey to provide for my children like so many parents that are currently undocumentable.  But I will say that I draw courage from them all.  The courage that leads to a commitment to speak out against the devastation of families, the denial of human dignity, the death of opportunities for children, and for a future without fear for all Georgians.

Let's Just Say I Like to Represent-TUA Honor Society

Just as advocating for the needs and rights of "all members of our society" means more to me than just fulfilling an ethical obligation; I find importance in advocating for the recognition of the Human Services field as valuable to our society, and basically I also like to represent! 

That's why I was happy to learn the National Human Services Honor Society-Tau Upsilon Alpha announced they have merchandise for sale at cafe press. I became a member my senior year and one benefit of joining is a lifetime membership ;) 

So here's what item I have on my wishlist, a cute journal (because who can say no to another journal???) 

Fill Your Cup Quote #1

Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love.
Morihei Ueshiba~Creater of Aikido

Is there a Human Services Professional in the House???

Is there a Human Services Professional in the house, the Georgia House of Representatives? OK, so we all know our local legislators may not be asking this question, but they should be!  People serving the community have a sense of what impact a proposed legislation may have.


So here is my short list of current Bills that should have you running down to the state capitol (or at least calling your state representative and senator.) I would suggest having those two on speed dial. OK, so I still need to enter in Rep. Terry Johnson and Sen. Steve Thompson into my phone! If you don't know who your local legislators are just go to the GA Secretary of State website and click on My Voter Page in the left corner. 


A few of the embarrassing highlights at the GA state capitol this year have been the Obama "Birther" bill and basically anything said by Rep. Bobby Franklin. The unfortunate changes to HOPE scholarship were approved last week, and are set to go into effect this fall.  It seems that there has been no shortage of anti-immigrant legislation  this year and no anti-LGBT legislation.


1. HB59 "Destroyer of the Dream" Bill that denies higher education to all undocumented students. 


2. HB87 & SB40 & SB104 "Arizona Copy-cat" "Show-me-your-Papers" both legalize racial profiling


What bills are on your watch-list this year? Let me know if I need to add to this list :)




***Update 3/18/11***
HB87 & SB40 have passed the House and Senate respectively.