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Los Angeles, CA--(HISPANIC PR WIRE)--June 28, 2007--The Dreams Across America tour, which concluded last week in Washington, D.C. has been credited with launching a new era of politics relating to immigration reform in America. While traditional immigration work has successfully targeted unrealistic and unjust immigration legislation and laws, as a movement, it has faced many hurdles in changing public awareness on the issue in order to bring about comprehensive reform. However, Dreams Across America successfully forged a new and innovative approach to simultaneously reach out to members of Congress and the American public by sharing first-hand, personal stories of immigrants and native-born Americans impacted by the broken immigration system. Dreams Across America pledges to continue to engage the American public on the issue and change public misconceptions of immigrants and the impact of legislation through its national public awareness campaign.
Dreams Across America was spearheaded in Los Angeles by SOL (Strengthening Our Lives), a new, creative and unique organization that works to on immigrant civic empowerment focused on increasing civic participation in immigrant communities. The dreams Tour was a partnership with the Los Angeles Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Cardinal Roger Mahony and the Los Angeles Archdiocese, Radio Disc Jockey El Cucuy de la Mañana and La Raza Radio 97.9, the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and UNITE-HERE. Organizations throughout the nation joined the effort to call for reform by taking 100 people called “Dreamers,” immigrant and native-born, cross-country via train to Washington DC to share their dreams.
 This new approach which utilizes an intense multi-media program and the sharing of stories by immigrants and non-immigrants |
The new coalition solicited the help of Courage Campaign Founder Rick Jacobs who recruited online and video experts such as SpringBoard.com, SK / AR Media, Advomatic, and numerous renowned bloggers. The team assembled followed the tour online as the public was invited to support the train ride by virtually joining, sharing their family story and viewing daily updated blogs and video about the train ride on line
This new approach which utilizes an intense multi-media program and the sharing of stories by immigrants and non-immigrants, represents a conscious and organized shift away from figureheads speaking at marches, and rallies. Instead, immigrants and non-immigrants are encouraged to have a conversation with America by being via first-person accounts of the human impact of the current immigration laws.
The interim structure for Los Angeles Area will be Courtni Pugh of SEIU, Javier Gonzalez of SOL, Eun Sook Lee of NAKASEC, Attorney Victor Narro, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor leader Maria Elena Durazo with others being currently considered and soon to be announced.
To view the stories of immigrants and native born Americans impacted by this issue and for more information regarding Dreams Across America, please visit http://www.dreamsacrossamericaonline.org.
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CONTACT
Mary Gutierrez
213.276.3384
or
Carolina Guevara
213.276.2272
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