WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.110 align:middle line:90% 00:00:01.110 --> 00:00:04.380 align:middle line:84% Before Natalie is introduced by Dr. Grace Gámez, 00:00:04.380 --> 00:00:06.630 align:middle line:84% program coordinator for Reframing Justice 00:00:06.630 --> 00:00:08.550 align:middle line:84% for the American Friends Service Committee, 00:00:08.550 --> 00:00:11.490 align:middle line:84% we're continuing our spotlight on local and regional 00:00:11.490 --> 00:00:14.910 align:middle line:84% non-for-profit organizations and artists working to advance 00:00:14.910 --> 00:00:18.000 align:middle line:84% issues related to carceral justice. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:22.380 align:middle line:84% So tonight we're very excited to hear from Leah Bishop who 00:00:22.380 --> 00:00:25.110 align:middle line:84% is the community engagement coordinator of the Florence 00:00:25.110 --> 00:00:26.910 align:middle line:84% Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project 00:00:26.910 --> 00:00:29.790 align:middle line:84% and you may have seen the tabling outside. 00:00:29.790 --> 00:00:31.770 align:middle line:84% That's so that once you hear a little bit more 00:00:31.770 --> 00:00:34.800 align:middle line:84% about what they do, if you want to support and become more 00:00:34.800 --> 00:00:37.140 align:middle line:84% engaged in the work that they do. 00:00:37.140 --> 00:00:40.530 align:middle line:84% And there will also be, along with Leah 00:00:40.530 --> 00:00:43.830 align:middle line:84% will be Nadia Comaduran, who will 00:00:43.830 --> 00:00:49.260 align:middle line:84% share about how the Florence project has supported her. 00:00:49.260 --> 00:00:50.790 align:middle line:90% I want to invite them up now. 00:00:50.790 --> 00:00:53.493 align:middle line:84% And they'll be here for about 15 minutes 00:00:53.493 --> 00:00:55.410 align:middle line:84% to tell us a little bit more about their work. 00:00:55.410 --> 00:00:58.415 align:middle line:84% And then Grace will come up and introduce Natalie. 00:00:58.415 --> 00:00:59.790 align:middle line:84% Thank you so much for being here. 00:00:59.790 --> 00:01:02.772 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:01:02.772 --> 00:01:08.690 align:middle line:90% 00:01:08.690 --> 00:01:09.510 align:middle line:90% Hi, everyone. 00:01:09.510 --> 00:01:11.310 align:middle line:84% Thank you so much for being here. 00:01:11.310 --> 00:01:12.320 align:middle line:90% My name is Leah Bishop. 00:01:12.320 --> 00:01:14.240 align:middle line:84% I am the community engagement coordinator 00:01:14.240 --> 00:01:16.820 align:middle line:84% for the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. 00:01:16.820 --> 00:01:18.650 align:middle line:84% And we are a nonprofit that provides 00:01:18.650 --> 00:01:22.130 align:middle line:84% free legal and social services to folks in immigrant detention 00:01:22.130 --> 00:01:23.450 align:middle line:90% here in Arizona. 00:01:23.450 --> 00:01:25.830 align:middle line:84% And before I talk a little bit about our work, 00:01:25.830 --> 00:01:28.160 align:middle line:84% I want to say a huge thank you to the U of A Poetry 00:01:28.160 --> 00:01:30.900 align:middle line:84% Center for letting us be a part of this event. 00:01:30.900 --> 00:01:34.395 align:middle line:84% Thank you Patri and Diana for working with me and for letting 00:01:34.395 --> 00:01:35.270 align:middle line:90% us be a part of this. 00:01:35.270 --> 00:01:36.812 align:middle line:84% And then, of course, a huge thank you 00:01:36.812 --> 00:01:39.200 align:middle line:84% to Natalie Diaz for using your platform 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:42.290 align:middle line:84% to let us share a little bit about a huge issue going on 00:01:42.290 --> 00:01:44.400 align:middle line:90% in our community. 00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:47.390 align:middle line:84% I am particularly excited to be a part 00:01:47.390 --> 00:01:50.240 align:middle line:84% of the Art for Justice Project that 00:01:50.240 --> 00:01:51.920 align:middle line:90% focuses on mass incarceration. 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:55.460 align:middle line:84% Because our clients represent a group of incarcerated folks 00:01:55.460 --> 00:01:58.620 align:middle line:84% who oftentimes don't quite make it into the conversation. 00:01:58.620 --> 00:02:01.340 align:middle line:84% And that is immigrants who are detained 00:02:01.340 --> 00:02:04.280 align:middle line:84% for the simple act of existing in the United States 00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:06.710 align:middle line:90% without the correct papers. 00:02:06.710 --> 00:02:09.949 align:middle line:84% On any given day there are over 5,000 individuals 00:02:09.949 --> 00:02:11.900 align:middle line:84% incarcerated in detention facilities 00:02:11.900 --> 00:02:14.210 align:middle line:90% in the state of Arizona. 00:02:14.210 --> 00:02:17.360 align:middle line:84% And no matter how they ended up in those facilities, 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:20.300 align:middle line:84% whether they have lived in the United States for a long time, 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:23.600 align:middle line:84% whether they came fleeing domestic violence, gang 00:02:23.600 --> 00:02:26.750 align:middle line:84% violence, persecution for their gender identity 00:02:26.750 --> 00:02:30.690 align:middle line:84% or sexual orientation, whether they came seeking safety, 00:02:30.690 --> 00:02:33.200 align:middle line:84% mental health care, or food to put on the table, 00:02:33.200 --> 00:02:35.400 align:middle line:84% they all have one thing in common. 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:37.220 align:middle line:84% And that is that they have open deportation 00:02:37.220 --> 00:02:39.470 align:middle line:90% proceedings against them. 00:02:39.470 --> 00:02:42.230 align:middle line:84% And though they are not in criminal proceedings, 00:02:42.230 --> 00:02:44.880 align:middle line:84% they are housed in facilities that are identical to 00:02:44.880 --> 00:02:48.140 align:middle line:84% and oftentimes run by private prisons. 00:02:48.140 --> 00:02:50.510 align:middle line:84% And the immigration system differs 00:02:50.510 --> 00:02:52.920 align:middle line:84% from the criminal system in a number of ways. 00:02:52.920 --> 00:02:55.790 align:middle line:84% The way that most directly affects a lot of our clients 00:02:55.790 --> 00:03:02.060 align:middle line:84% is that immigrants in the immigrant justice system 00:03:02.060 --> 00:03:05.120 align:middle line:84% are not guaranteed the right to free representation. 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:08.450 align:middle line:84% This means that in Arizona about 90% to 95% 00:03:08.450 --> 00:03:10.550 align:middle line:84% of people who are detained, those 00:03:10.550 --> 00:03:13.130 align:middle line:84% who aren't able to pay for a private attorney, 00:03:13.130 --> 00:03:16.280 align:middle line:90% will end up going unrepresented. 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:19.220 align:middle line:84% Though they don't have defense, there 00:03:19.220 --> 00:03:22.190 align:middle line:84% is a seasoned government prosecutor 00:03:22.190 --> 00:03:25.400 align:middle line:84% who will go against them in front of an immigration 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:28.430 align:middle line:84% judge, whose subjective opinion will determine whether or not 00:03:28.430 --> 00:03:30.140 align:middle line:84% they are returned to the conditions 00:03:30.140 --> 00:03:32.210 align:middle line:90% that they came fleeing. 00:03:32.210 --> 00:03:34.430 align:middle line:84% For some of our clients deportation 00:03:34.430 --> 00:03:38.220 align:middle line:84% amounts to nothing less than a death sentence. 00:03:38.220 --> 00:03:41.450 align:middle line:84% So the Florence Project has existed for 30 years trying 00:03:41.450 --> 00:03:44.490 align:middle line:90% to address this injustice. 00:03:44.490 --> 00:03:48.290 align:middle line:84% Our organization is the only organization in Arizona 00:03:48.290 --> 00:03:50.990 align:middle line:84% that provides free legal and social services to folks 00:03:50.990 --> 00:03:52.400 align:middle line:90% in immigrant detention. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:54.740 align:middle line:84% And since there are about 5,000 individuals who 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:58.190 align:middle line:84% need representation and just a few dozen attorneys on staff, 00:03:58.190 --> 00:04:01.590 align:middle line:84% we operate primarily on a pro se empowerment model, 00:04:01.590 --> 00:04:04.190 align:middle line:84% which means that we give people the tools and information they 00:04:04.190 --> 00:04:07.580 align:middle line:84% need to navigate this incredibly complex system. 00:04:07.580 --> 00:04:10.550 align:middle line:84% Little by little, we are working towards our goal 00:04:10.550 --> 00:04:12.330 align:middle line:90% of universal representation. 00:04:12.330 --> 00:04:15.080 align:middle line:84% So we're now able to represent all children who 00:04:15.080 --> 00:04:16.550 align:middle line:84% are detained or formally detained 00:04:16.550 --> 00:04:19.010 align:middle line:84% and fighting their cases in the state of Arizona. 00:04:19.010 --> 00:04:20.990 align:middle line:84% We also represent all individuals 00:04:20.990 --> 00:04:23.000 align:middle line:84% with severe mental health issues. 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:26.060 align:middle line:84% And we try to connect as many asylum seekers 00:04:26.060 --> 00:04:28.950 align:middle line:90% to attorneys as possible. 00:04:28.950 --> 00:04:32.540 align:middle line:84% And finally, we recognize that a lot of our clients 00:04:32.540 --> 00:04:34.485 align:middle line:84% have suffered some form of severe trauma, 00:04:34.485 --> 00:04:36.110 align:middle line:84% whether that was the trauma that caused 00:04:36.110 --> 00:04:37.790 align:middle line:84% them to leave their country of origin, 00:04:37.790 --> 00:04:39.590 align:middle line:84% whether it happened to them in the journey, 00:04:39.590 --> 00:04:42.230 align:middle line:84% or whether it was the trauma of being detained itself. 00:04:42.230 --> 00:04:43.730 align:middle line:84% It can make it difficult for them 00:04:43.730 --> 00:04:45.440 align:middle line:84% to navigate the detention system, 00:04:45.440 --> 00:04:47.880 align:middle line:84% as well as thrive once they're released. 00:04:47.880 --> 00:04:50.060 align:middle line:84% And so we have a team of incredible social workers 00:04:50.060 --> 00:04:53.420 align:middle line:84% who provide holistic services to support them 00:04:53.420 --> 00:04:55.430 align:middle line:90% in that whole process. 00:04:55.430 --> 00:04:58.410 align:middle line:84% So I could go on and on about our work. 00:04:58.410 --> 00:04:59.880 align:middle line:90% And I promise that I will. 00:04:59.880 --> 00:05:02.670 align:middle line:84% I have a ton of business cards up at that table over there. 00:05:02.670 --> 00:05:05.450 align:middle line:84% So if you want to have a one on one conversation with me 00:05:05.450 --> 00:05:08.150 align:middle line:84% about the Florence Project and about the immigration 00:05:08.150 --> 00:05:10.340 align:middle line:84% legal system, I would love to do that. 00:05:10.340 --> 00:05:12.590 align:middle line:84% But I feel incredibly lucky that we actually 00:05:12.590 --> 00:05:15.030 align:middle line:84% have one of our clients here with us tonight, Nadia, 00:05:15.030 --> 00:05:17.210 align:middle line:84% who is going to speak about her experience. 00:05:17.210 --> 00:05:20.640 align:middle line:84% And Nadia is one of our few clients who was never detained. 00:05:20.640 --> 00:05:22.370 align:middle line:84% She came to us at a time when we had 00:05:22.370 --> 00:05:24.110 align:middle line:84% limited funding to represent children 00:05:24.110 --> 00:05:25.640 align:middle line:90% in the Tucson community. 00:05:25.640 --> 00:05:28.760 align:middle line:84% But her story really strikes me, because she 00:05:28.760 --> 00:05:31.400 align:middle line:84% can speak to how a lack of status 00:05:31.400 --> 00:05:35.360 align:middle line:84% itself can create a type of prison, limiting access 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:38.750 align:middle line:84% to resources, limiting mobility, limiting your ability 00:05:38.750 --> 00:05:39.650 align:middle line:90% to be a normal kid. 00:05:39.650 --> 00:05:41.322 align:middle line:90% So thank you so much, Nadia. 00:05:41.322 --> 00:05:42.530 align:middle line:90% And I will let you take over. 00:05:42.530 --> 00:05:43.240 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:46.156 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:05:46.156 --> 00:05:48.100 align:middle line:90% 00:05:48.100 --> 00:05:49.072 align:middle line:90% Do you want these? 00:05:49.072 --> 00:05:51.030 align:middle line:90% Thanks. 00:05:51.030 --> 00:05:52.080 align:middle line:90% Hi. 00:05:52.080 --> 00:05:53.740 align:middle line:90% Hello, good evening. 00:05:53.740 --> 00:05:55.710 align:middle line:90% My name is Nadia Comaduran. 00:05:55.710 --> 00:06:00.990 align:middle line:84% I'm currently 18 years old, and I live in Nogales, Arizona. 00:06:00.990 --> 00:06:05.140 align:middle line:84% So pretty much I'm just going to tell you my life story. 00:06:05.140 --> 00:06:09.240 align:middle line:84% So in 2000 of June, my mother gave birth to me. 00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:12.630 align:middle line:84% She was actually in the US when her water broke. 00:06:12.630 --> 00:06:15.750 align:middle line:84% And she crossed to Mexico to give birth to me. 00:06:15.750 --> 00:06:16.410 align:middle line:90% Why? 00:06:16.410 --> 00:06:17.700 align:middle line:90% I don't know. 00:06:17.700 --> 00:06:22.110 align:middle line:84% But that's what she wanted I guess. 00:06:22.110 --> 00:06:25.900 align:middle line:84% So I resided in Mexico up until I was five years old. 00:06:25.900 --> 00:06:27.780 align:middle line:84% And then that's when my parents decided 00:06:27.780 --> 00:06:31.230 align:middle line:84% to move to Nogales, Arizona in order for me to go to school. 00:06:31.230 --> 00:06:35.130 align:middle line:90% 00:06:35.130 --> 00:06:37.920 align:middle line:84% I attended school in Nogales from kindergarten 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:40.560 align:middle line:84% up until I graduated from high school. 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:43.240 align:middle line:84% And when I was in elementary school 00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:47.490 align:middle line:84% my father actually attempted to obtain my US citizenship 00:06:47.490 --> 00:06:50.580 align:middle line:84% by applying with his own citizenship. 00:06:50.580 --> 00:06:53.070 align:middle line:84% And in the process of this he passed away. 00:06:53.070 --> 00:06:55.410 align:middle line:84% And one month later after his death 00:06:55.410 --> 00:06:58.740 align:middle line:84% is when his approval for his residency had arrived, 00:06:58.740 --> 00:07:02.010 align:middle line:84% but unfortunately it was too late. 00:07:02.010 --> 00:07:04.500 align:middle line:84% Two years later, my mother passed away. 00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:06.450 align:middle line:84% So this led to my grandparents having 00:07:06.450 --> 00:07:12.240 align:middle line:84% to take guardianship of me and my little sister. 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:14.160 align:middle line:84% In high school is when I really started 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:16.800 align:middle line:84% to realize how much being an immigrant really 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:19.080 align:middle line:90% affected my life. 00:07:19.080 --> 00:07:20.985 align:middle line:84% I was really excluded in things, such as 00:07:20.985 --> 00:07:24.930 align:middle line:84% like being able to join sports or clubs, 00:07:24.930 --> 00:07:28.920 align:middle line:84% because they would ask for some type of legal documentation. 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:31.452 align:middle line:84% So I couldn't really do any other activities 00:07:31.452 --> 00:07:32.160 align:middle line:90% but go to school. 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:35.160 align:middle line:90% 00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:38.340 align:middle line:84% I was also really excluded from activities that my peers would 00:07:38.340 --> 00:07:42.180 align:middle line:84% do, such as like cross the border to Mexico to go eat 00:07:42.180 --> 00:07:44.700 align:middle line:90% or to go celebrate. 00:07:44.700 --> 00:07:47.070 align:middle line:84% And not only did it affect me with my friends, 00:07:47.070 --> 00:07:52.290 align:middle line:84% but with my family as well, due to them being mixed 00:07:52.290 --> 00:07:53.100 align:middle line:90% nationalities. 00:07:53.100 --> 00:07:54.870 align:middle line:84% Like my grandparents were US citizens, 00:07:54.870 --> 00:07:57.250 align:middle line:84% and my little sister was a US citizen. 00:07:57.250 --> 00:08:00.300 align:middle line:84% So it really like bummed me out when 00:08:00.300 --> 00:08:01.890 align:middle line:84% they would go on family trips, and I 00:08:01.890 --> 00:08:05.700 align:middle line:84% would have to stay behind due to me being undocumented. 00:08:05.700 --> 00:08:08.460 align:middle line:84% So yeah, I couldn't leave Nogales 00:08:08.460 --> 00:08:11.730 align:middle line:84% whatsoever due to like the border patrol checkpoints 00:08:11.730 --> 00:08:12.690 align:middle line:90% and stuff. 00:08:12.690 --> 00:08:16.590 align:middle line:84% So I was pretty much stuck in like a very, very small city 00:08:16.590 --> 00:08:18.900 align:middle line:90% from the age of 5 to 17. 00:08:18.900 --> 00:08:21.630 align:middle line:90% 00:08:21.630 --> 00:08:25.560 align:middle line:84% And December of 2016 is when I was put in contact 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:28.380 align:middle line:84% with an attorney from the Florence Immigrant and Refugee 00:08:28.380 --> 00:08:29.970 align:middle line:90% Rights Project. 00:08:29.970 --> 00:08:35.159 align:middle line:84% And at first we struggled a bit to acquire guardianship of me 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:39.510 align:middle line:84% for my grandparents due to the judge saying that it wasn't 00:08:39.510 --> 00:08:42.299 align:middle line:84% allowed for a US citizen to take guardianship 00:08:42.299 --> 00:08:44.670 align:middle line:90% of a non-US citizen. 00:08:44.670 --> 00:08:46.150 align:middle line:90% But that information was false. 00:08:46.150 --> 00:08:48.660 align:middle line:84% So Laura, my attorney, eventually 00:08:48.660 --> 00:08:54.210 align:middle line:84% convinced her and showed her, well, documentation of her 00:08:54.210 --> 00:08:55.300 align:middle line:90% being incorrect. 00:08:55.300 --> 00:08:56.520 align:middle line:90% So she finally agreed. 00:08:56.520 --> 00:08:59.220 align:middle line:84% And we got to get the guardianship. 00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:00.720 align:middle line:84% This is really important, because it 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:04.830 align:middle line:84% was the main key for me to get my special immigrant juvenile 00:09:04.830 --> 00:09:06.790 align:middle line:90% status. 00:09:06.790 --> 00:09:08.400 align:middle line:84% So they immediately helped me apply 00:09:08.400 --> 00:09:10.650 align:middle line:84% for a work permit to be able to work, 00:09:10.650 --> 00:09:15.510 align:middle line:84% and a special immigrant juvenile visa in order to be in the US 00:09:15.510 --> 00:09:16.980 align:middle line:90% legally. 00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:20.970 align:middle line:84% So not even a year later in November 2017, 00:09:20.970 --> 00:09:22.500 align:middle line:90% I won my petition. 00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:25.140 align:middle line:84% And my life immediately improved. 00:09:25.140 --> 00:09:26.880 align:middle line:90% So I was now able to work. 00:09:26.880 --> 00:09:30.540 align:middle line:84% And I was able to supply myself with things I couldn't before. 00:09:30.540 --> 00:09:32.430 align:middle line:84% I was not able to be in the United States 00:09:32.430 --> 00:09:36.210 align:middle line:84% without fearing of being deported or being picked up 00:09:36.210 --> 00:09:39.450 align:middle line:90% by ICE or any border patrol. 00:09:39.450 --> 00:09:42.540 align:middle line:84% After this we petitioned for my residency. 00:09:42.540 --> 00:09:46.560 align:middle line:84% So in February 21 of 2019 I received 00:09:46.560 --> 00:09:49.030 align:middle line:90% my lawful permanent residency. 00:09:49.030 --> 00:09:50.842 align:middle line:90% This is honestly-- 00:09:50.842 --> 00:09:52.800 align:middle line:84% I'm not even exaggerating-- one of the greatest 00:09:52.800 --> 00:09:54.688 align:middle line:90% days of my life. 00:09:54.688 --> 00:09:55.230 align:middle line:90% I don't know. 00:09:55.230 --> 00:09:57.540 align:middle line:84% The thought of just being in a small city, 00:09:57.540 --> 00:09:59.760 align:middle line:84% and like finally being able to leave 00:09:59.760 --> 00:10:02.170 align:middle line:90% was so extraordinary to me. 00:10:02.170 --> 00:10:03.940 align:middle line:90% I couldn't believe it. 00:10:03.940 --> 00:10:06.420 align:middle line:90% It's like if I was finally free. 00:10:06.420 --> 00:10:09.060 align:middle line:84% The first thing I did when I got my residency, 00:10:09.060 --> 00:10:13.770 align:middle line:84% I crossed the border to Mexico to visit my father's grave. 00:10:13.770 --> 00:10:14.670 align:middle line:90% And I don't know. 00:10:14.670 --> 00:10:17.340 align:middle line:84% It felt really good to be able to visit him. 00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:21.330 align:middle line:84% Adding to that, I was finally going 00:10:21.330 --> 00:10:23.640 align:middle line:84% to be able to attend college with in-state tuition, 00:10:23.640 --> 00:10:26.478 align:middle line:84% because before I was able to go to school, 00:10:26.478 --> 00:10:28.020 align:middle line:84% but they would charge me out of state 00:10:28.020 --> 00:10:30.630 align:middle line:84% doing to me not being a US citizen, 00:10:30.630 --> 00:10:31.770 align:middle line:90% or a resident from here. 00:10:31.770 --> 00:10:33.900 align:middle line:90% I'm sorry. 00:10:33.900 --> 00:10:35.640 align:middle line:84% Which was something that had definitely 00:10:35.640 --> 00:10:39.850 align:middle line:84% affected me, since I was really eager to continue my education. 00:10:39.850 --> 00:10:42.930 align:middle line:84% So I'm now applying to colleges and financial aid 00:10:42.930 --> 00:10:45.840 align:middle line:90% and hoping for the best. 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:48.690 align:middle line:84% I'm very grateful to have this opportunity that many others 00:10:48.690 --> 00:10:51.620 align:middle line:90% don't get to obtain. 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:54.060 align:middle line:84% To have the opportunity to be able to have a career 00:10:54.060 --> 00:10:56.700 align:middle line:84% and be successful, and especially 00:10:56.700 --> 00:11:01.180 align:middle line:84% to roam freely with no fear of anything. 00:11:01.180 --> 00:11:04.860 align:middle line:84% I just want to be one to prove that not all immigrants are 00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:05.910 align:middle line:90% bad people. 00:11:05.910 --> 00:11:08.460 align:middle line:84% We're just looking for a better place 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:11.910 align:middle line:84% to live where we can expand our opportunities. 00:11:11.910 --> 00:11:13.860 align:middle line:84% I hope that from my insight you can all 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:16.620 align:middle line:84% understand a little better on how 00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:19.320 align:middle line:84% hard the life of an undocumented person can be. 00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:21.000 align:middle line:84% Thank you so much for taking your time 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:22.140 align:middle line:90% to listen to my story. 00:11:22.140 --> 00:11:24.505 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:11:24.505 --> 00:11:31.982 align:middle line:90% 00:11:31.982 --> 00:11:33.690 align:middle line:84% I'm going to embarrass Nadia for a second 00:11:33.690 --> 00:11:36.232 align:middle line:84% and tell you all that I think this was her first time telling 00:11:36.232 --> 00:11:37.365 align:middle line:90% her story publicly. 00:11:37.365 --> 00:11:37.865 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:11:37.865 --> 00:11:42.360 align:middle line:84% So the start of a long advocacy career. 00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:44.880 align:middle line:84% And I'm just going to take one more minute of your time 00:11:44.880 --> 00:11:46.560 align:middle line:84% before I let you listen to the poetry 00:11:46.560 --> 00:11:49.410 align:middle line:84% that you ostensibly came to hear. 00:11:49.410 --> 00:11:51.480 align:middle line:84% I want to encourage all of you tonight 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:54.792 align:middle line:84% to commit in some way to connecting with us. 00:11:54.792 --> 00:11:56.250 align:middle line:84% And, of course, we are a nonprofit. 00:11:56.250 --> 00:11:59.640 align:middle line:84% So one way that we need support from our community 00:11:59.640 --> 00:12:00.828 align:middle line:90% is financial support. 00:12:00.828 --> 00:12:03.120 align:middle line:84% So if you're in a place where you can give comfortably, 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:05.100 align:middle line:84% I would encourage you to consider this year when you're 00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:07.980 align:middle line:84% doing your charitable giving to make a donation to the Florence 00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:08.830 align:middle line:90% Project. 00:12:08.830 --> 00:12:11.040 align:middle line:84% But if you're not able to do that right now, 00:12:11.040 --> 00:12:13.530 align:middle line:84% we still want you to be a part of our work. 00:12:13.530 --> 00:12:16.950 align:middle line:84% We have a growing volunteer program. 00:12:16.950 --> 00:12:19.890 align:middle line:84% And Alvaro, our volunteer coordinator, his cards 00:12:19.890 --> 00:12:21.180 align:middle line:90% are out right next to mine. 00:12:21.180 --> 00:12:23.700 align:middle line:84% So you could grab both at the same time. 00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:28.000 align:middle line:84% And actually, we have a pro bono program. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:30.600 align:middle line:84% So if you're an attorney-- you don't have to be an immigration 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:32.340 align:middle line:84% attorney-- an attorney of any kind, 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:35.692 align:middle line:84% we have mentors on staff who can help you take on an immigration 00:12:35.692 --> 00:12:37.650 align:middle line:84% case and defend somebody who otherwise wouldn't 00:12:37.650 --> 00:12:39.430 align:middle line:90% have direct representation. 00:12:39.430 --> 00:12:41.318 align:middle line:84% And if you're not an attorney, I would still 00:12:41.318 --> 00:12:42.360 align:middle line:90% love to connect with you. 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:44.235 align:middle line:84% And I'm sure Alvaro would about ways that you 00:12:44.235 --> 00:12:46.830 align:middle line:84% could make a long term volunteer commitment. 00:12:46.830 --> 00:12:50.790 align:middle line:84% And then finally, if you aren't blessed with abundant resources 00:12:50.790 --> 00:12:54.720 align:middle line:84% of time or money, we can still really use 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:58.570 align:middle line:84% the support of spreading the word about our work. 00:12:58.570 --> 00:13:01.470 align:middle line:84% I truly believe that the reason that the immigrant detention 00:13:01.470 --> 00:13:05.250 align:middle line:84% system thrives is because it is so well hidden. 00:13:05.250 --> 00:13:07.530 align:middle line:84% If you've been to one of the detention centers, 00:13:07.530 --> 00:13:10.530 align:middle line:84% you know that they're geographically hard to get to. 00:13:10.530 --> 00:13:14.550 align:middle line:84% They're hidden out of plain sight. 00:13:14.550 --> 00:13:17.670 align:middle line:84% And then in the media, and when you talk about immigration, 00:13:17.670 --> 00:13:19.710 align:middle line:84% I think that what our clients face, 00:13:19.710 --> 00:13:24.540 align:middle line:84% which is a lack of access to justice in the legal system, 00:13:24.540 --> 00:13:26.970 align:middle line:84% and prolonged stays in detention, 00:13:26.970 --> 00:13:29.650 align:middle line:84% those things don't quite make it into the mainstream media. 00:13:29.650 --> 00:13:32.160 align:middle line:84% So I would encourage all of you to spread the word 00:13:32.160 --> 00:13:35.280 align:middle line:84% and share Nadia's story if you want. 00:13:35.280 --> 00:13:38.010 align:middle line:84% We have a lot more stories of other clients on our website 00:13:38.010 --> 00:13:39.100 align:middle line:90% and in our materials. 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:42.810 align:middle line:84% So if you could all join me in shedding light 00:13:42.810 --> 00:13:46.230 align:middle line:84% on this huge injustice, we would really, really appreciate it. 00:13:46.230 --> 00:13:47.305 align:middle line:90% Thank you so much again. 00:13:47.305 --> 00:13:48.930 align:middle line:84% And I'm so excited to hear the reading. 00:13:48.930 --> 00:13:51.980 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:53.300 align:middle line:90%