“A Call for Reform”

February 20^th, 2009

Austin, Texas

Agenda

12 Noon Registration

1:00 p.m. Welcome to the Texas Convention

• Adriana Cadena, Coordinator, Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance, El Paso
• Caroline Keating-Guerra, Coordinator, Austin Immigrants Rights Coalition, Austin

1:10 p.m. Invocation

1:15 p.m. Family Reunification

It is about Families, It is about Texas

(Moderator: Marta Sanchez, La Union del Pueblo Entero, San Juan)

Testimonies of Texas immigrant families.

1:30 p.m. Civil Right, Human Rights, American Values

The Road of Faith, the Welcoming of Immigrants

(Moderator: Lori Stafford, Welcome Immigrants Network, Dallas)

• Kim Kamen, Regional Director, American Jewish Committee, Dallas
• Pastor Lynn Godsey, President, The Hispanic Evangelical Alliance of DFW; Texas Director, Esperanza para America Campaign, Dallas-FortWorth
• Rev. Stephen Jasso, All Saints Catholic Church, Fort Worth
• Pastor Omar Chavarria, La Iglesia Bautista Manantial de Vida, Penitas
• Pastor Jaime Mathias, Cristo Rey Parish, Austin

1:50 p.m. Pathway for Citizenship

The Organized Voice in Texas.

(Moderator: Douglas Interiano, Coalition for Immigration Reform, Fort Worth)

Testimonies of RITA members and other organizations in Texas.

• Paul Parsons, Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Austin

2:20 p.m. Future Flows

PANEL: Immigrants and Economic Recovery

(Moderator: Louie Gilot, Border Network for Human Rights, El Paso)

• J. Carnes, President and owner, Winter Garden Produce, Uvalde
• Sam Guzman, President/CEO, Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC), Austin
• Marc Levin, Director, Center for Effective Justice, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Austin
• Eliseo Medina, Executive Vice President, Service Employees International Union, Houston

2:50 p.m. Accountable Border Enforcement

SPEAKER: Border Security and Immigration Reform.

Mayor Chad Foster of Eagle Pass

3:00 p.m. Community Security

We are Part of the Solution: Community Security, National Security and Immigration Reform.

(Moderator: Fernando Garcia, Border Network for Human Rights, El Paso)

• Sheriff Richard Wiles, El Paso County
• Officer Daniel Segura, Fort Worth Police Department
• Chief Art Acevedo, Austin Police Department (Pending)
• Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Harris County (Pending)

(Youth theater)

3:25 p.m. Immigrant Integration

PANEL: Dream Act

Our Country, Our Future: Access to Education to Immigrant Students.

(Moderator: Julieta Garibay, Director, DREAM Campaign, University of Texas, Dallas)

• Zelene Pineda, Founder, Jovenes Fronterizos por un Mismo Sueño, El Paso
• Jose Torres, President, University Leadership Initiative, University of Texas, and LULAC member, Austin
• Kemi Bello, Leader, Texas Dream Act Alliance, Houston
• Jose Magaña, law student, DREAM Act activist, Waco
• Teri Alberch –UT Administrator, Austin (Pending)

Voter Engagement

Speaker: Pastor Mark Gonzalez, Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (HCFCIR) and Vice President, Governmental Affairs, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC)

3:55 p.m. Texas and Immigration Reform

Elected Officials for Immigration Reform

(Moderator: Adriana Cadena, Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance)

• State Rep. Norma Chavez, El Paso
• State Rep. Joseph Moody, El Paso
• State Rep. Marissa Marquez, El Paso
• State Rep. Elliot Naishtat, Austin
• State Rep. Carol Alvarado, Houston
• Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez, Austin
• Mayor Trini Lopez, City of Socorro

4:30 p.m. Key Note Speaker:

Ali Noorani, Director, National Immigration Forum, Reform Immigration for America Campaign, Washington, D.C.

5:00 p.m. Closing

Caroline Keating-Guerra, Coordinator, Austin Immigrants Rights Coalition, Austin

“A Call for Reform”

February 20^th, 2009

Austin, Texas

Tentative Agenda

12 Noon               Registration

1:00 p.m.             Welcome to the Texas Convention

1:10 p.m.             Invocation

1:15 p.m. Family Reunification

It is about Families, It is about Texas

Testimonies of Texas immigrant families; their successes as well as the impact of immigration policies on their lives.

1:30 p.m. Civil Right, Human Rights, Values

The Road of Faith, the Welcoming of Immigrants

Testimonies off faith-based institutions.

1:50 p.m. Pathway for Citizenship

The Organized Voice in Texas.

Testimonies of RITA members and other organizations in Texas calling for immigration reform.

2:20 p.m. Future Flows

PANEL: Immigrants and Economic Recovery

Testimonies of business owners and union members in Texas about the contributions of immigrants to the Texas economy and to the national economy, and about the economic benefits of immigration reform.

2:50 p.m. Accountable Border Enforcement

SPEAKER: Border Security and Immigration Reform.

3:00 p.m. Community Security

We are Part of the Solution: Community Security, National Security and Immigration Reform.

Testimonies of law enforcement officials.

3:25 p.m. Immigrant Integration

Our Country, Our Future: Access to Education to Immigrant Students.

Testimonies from students and professors about the impact of immigrations laws on education.

3:55 p.m. Texas and Immigration Reform

Elected Officials for Immigration Reform

4:30 p.m.             Key Note Speaker

5:00 p.m.             Closing

What is the Texas Convention for Immigrant Integration?

The Texas Convention will be a historic moment when hundreds of Texas immigrant families, civil rights advocates, students, business representatives, unions, and local and federal elected officials will come together in the Capital of the State (Austin) to recognized the contributions of immigrants to the well-being and greatness of the state of Texas and the nation.

What is the goal of the Texas Convention?

All participants and represented sectors at the convention will make an unequivocal call to reform our obsolete immigration system and to establish a comprehensive policy that: 1) will bring out of the shadows millions of immigrant workers; 2) integrates efficiently immigrant families to the economic, social, cultural and political fabric of our society; 3) develops and implements accountable, humane and responsible border and interior enforcement policies; 4) provides long-term solutions for immigration flows based on the needs of our economy, the dignity and rights of immigrant workers and the realities of the global migration process.

What are the objectives of the Texas Convention?

The leadership of the US Congress and the Obama administration have expressed their commitment to start meaningful discussions to reform our current immigration system in the first half of 2010. In this context, the Texas Convention aims to unify the voices of Texans that favor comprehensive immigration reform. Furthermore, the Texas Convention aims to place Texas, the second state in the nation with the most immigrant families and the largest border state, in a leadership role in the national discussions. In Texas, we believe that a thoughtful overhaul of the immigration system is good for our economy, for our families and for our community security.

Who is convening and organizing the Texas Convention?

The Texas Convention is convened and organized by the Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA), a statewide coalition integrated by immigrant and human rights organizations, service providers, workers’ unions and faith-based institutions. The Border Network for Human Rights (based in El Paso) coordinates the logistics and communications of RITA, and the RITA Executive Committee, composed by RITA’s founding organizations from several cities in Texas, has the role of developing our statewide strategies and work plans.

Who can participate at the Texas Convention?

Any organization, institution, group and individual that shares the goal and objectives of the Texas Convention is invited to participate.

How can I participate at the Texas Convention?

Organizations and individuals may attend the Convention free of charge. Please register by clicking here.

The agenda of the Convention will reflect the different sectors in Texas that support sensible immigration reform. If your group would like to provide testimony on the impact of the current immigration laws on families, businesses, or congregations, please contact Adriana Cadena, RITA Coordinator, at 915-577-0724 or acadena@bnhr.org.

Direct media inquiries to Louie Gilot, Communications Director of the Border Network, at lgilot@bnhr.org.

Who can I contact in my region to coordinate my participation?

Austin: Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition • 512-476-2472  • info@autinirc.org

El Paso: Border Network for Human Rights  • Betty Tercero  •

915-577-0724 • btercero@bnhr.org

Dallas: Catholic Charities of Dallas • Catarina Torres • 214-520-6590 X124 • ctorres@central.catholiccharitiesdallas.org

Forth Worth: Coalition for Immigration Reform of Dallas/Ft.Worth & North Texas • 817-922-0280 • proyectoinmigranteics@yahoo.com

Stephenville: Welcoming Immigrants Network • Dean Reed •

254-485-5832 • rdr17@me.com

Houston: Mi Familia Vota Civic Participation Campaign •

Thomas Servello • 713-296-1623 • thomas@mifamiliavota.net

Brownsville: Movimiento del Valle por los Derechos Humanos • Maria Cordero • 956-832-4989 • mariaranchoalegre@yahoo.com

San Juan: La Union del Pueblo Entero • Marta Sanchez  •

956-584-3636  • martas@lupenet.org

Where will the Convention be held and what time will it start?

The Convention will be held at the Travis County Expo Center, located on 7311 Decker Lane in Austin, TX  78724, from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

What should I take to the Texas Convention?

U.S. & Texas flags, photos of family members affected by immigration laws, and banners and t-shirts of organizations.

Adriana Cadena

RITA Coordinator

RITA (Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance)

(915) 253-2262, acadena@bnhr.org

Louie Gilot

Communications Director

Border Network for Human Rights

(915) 274-0541, lgilot@bnhr.org

**Save The Date: February 20, 2010**

TEXAS CONVENTION FOR IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION

“A CALL FOR REFORM”

A STATEWIDE CONVENTION IN AUSTIN

Travis County Expo Center

7311 Decker Lane

Austin, Texas 78724

Saturday, February 20, 2010

1-5 p.m.

Immigrants in Texas represent 16 percent of the population, more than the national average of 12.5 percent. These men, women and children may not have been born in Texas, but they are proud Texans just the same. They are hard-working and law abiding families. Some of them are forced to live in the shadows by a broken immigration system that keeps them from contributing fully to their adopted country.

The United States and Texas need a comprehensive immigration reform in 2010. It’s good for the economy, good for security and good for families.

Community members, advocacy groups, elected officials and allies from all around Texas will convene in Austin on February 20 for a convention on immigrant integration. At least 500 participants are expected. Please join us for this important event.

More information about the Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA): This alliance is a multi-sector, statewide network dedicated to building support for a sensible immigration policy. Visit us at www.reformimmigrationfortexas.org.