As people were leaving they shared lots of praise and enthusiasm about yesterday's immigration forum organized by the Social Justice Fund for Ventura County held at California Lutheran University. The purpose of the event was to discuss and explore "Immigration: challenges and strategies right here in Ventura County". As Gretchen Wenner said in her Ventura County Star article:
"The forum brought together educators, activists and others to talk about immigration issues in Ventura County, where an estimated 80,000 residents are in the U.S. without legal permission. U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, a Westlake Village Democrat, gave the keynote speech. The gathering was held amid a divisive national debate on immigration and as the legal status of so-called Dreamers, those brought to the U.S. without legal permission as children, hangs in limbo."
Thanks to California Lutheran University and The Center for Equality and Justice for joining us on this event.
Special thanks to all of our speakers (in order of presentation):
- José Marichal, Professor of Political Science at CLU,
- Lavariega Monforti, CLU Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences,
- Julia Brownley, US House of Representatives (CA 26th),
- Ellen Brokaw, House Farm Workers: Housing and the Farming Industry,
- Alicia Flores, La Hermandad: Families and Education,
- Vanessa Frank, Law Office of Vanessa Frank: Legal and Deportation Issues,
- Matthew Ward, CLU: Dreamers in Higher Education,
- Lucas Zucker, CAUSE: Working Conditions and Political Activism
And of course, a big thanks to the many volunteers who made the event work.