We Gather and Stand Together

 

Project Overview

 

 

The We Gather and Stand Together Project works to identify, document, and respond to issues facing year round Latino/a immigrants in Ohio.  Such issues include status questions, spiritual needs, workplace justice, and human development (housing, health care, personal safety, education, and language skills).

 

The project is coordinated through a select committee comprised of representatives from Catholic rural life directors, Catholic Hispanic/migrant ministry coordinators, migrant ministry workers (FLOC, Rural Opportunities, Escuela Popular), Ohio Council of Churches, and Catholic Conference of Ohio.  The project has hired staff through the funding of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Program.

 

One important vision of this project is to promote dialogue and collaboration between and among documented and undocumented immigrant workers, employers and government officials.

 

The We Gather and Stand Together Project calls for social justice, and it promotes solidarity with immigrant workers through initiatives such as:

 

  • English as a Second Language classes
  • Job mentoring
  • Crisis intervention
  • Cultural exchanges
  • Family Visitations
  • Faith based celebrations
  • Public dialogues
  • Coalition building
  • Fundraising
  • Social justice advocacy

 

 

Project Successes

 

1.            Outreach to Latino/a Community

·         Training of ESL tutors

·         Creation of network to access health services

·         Home meeting and workplace discussions

 

2.         Cultural Arts Outreach

·         Sharing, educating and celebration culture and traditions

·         Community involvement in arts projects such as mask making, gigantes (giant puppets) and alfombras (carpets of sawdust)

·          

3.         Pastoral Outreach

·         Home visitations

·         Faith-based support and encouragement

 

4.         Social Justice Advocacy

·         Dialogues between workers and employers

·         Trainings as to workplace and immigration rights

·         Interventions regarding status related questions

·          

 

For more information on this project, contact your Catholic diocesan rural life director or the

Catholic Conference of Ohio at 614-224-7147