Sunday Worship: Strangers in a Strange Land
April 9, 2017, 10 am
The current national dialogue challenges us as Unitarian Universalist to reach out to immigrants and question the unfolding laws that put them at risk. Join us for a stimulating discussion about the work UU members and friends have done over the years with immigrants and learn ways you too might get involved.
(* Those who have a yellow “Standing on the Side of Love" T-Shirt are encouraged to wear them for this service)
Following the service, the presenters will participate in a dialog about immigration justice. All are welcome.
Presenters:
Attorney Steve Converse’sfirst job was in Poverty law working daily in the trenches with basic legal services and impact litigation in the heart of rural South Florida. But only an hour’s drive from Mar-a- Lago! In 1981 he established his own firm, Anderson, Converse, and Fennick. Eventually he gravitated to immigration law cases, partly because he found them more interesting and rewarding, and partly because he was bilingual in Spanish and that was a draw for new clients. About 75% of his clients are Spanish speaking from Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Spain. The rest are from just about everywhere else you can think of: Europe, Asia, Africa, Russia and former Soviet republics. He sees many clients every week at York County Prison as well as non-detained people at his office. Steve is a long time member of UUCY and currently serves on the Board.
Attorney David MacVeigh- has worked as a public defender and First Assistant District Attorney. He is a volunteer ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher with the Literacy Council . He handled one immigration case—a gay, Muslim student whom his wife Carol met in detention at the York County Prison. That is where he learned first hand the bizarre challenges of immigration law. David has been a contributing friend of UUCY for over 30 years.
Carol Stowellhas been a volunteer teacher of ESL for 30 years—her first student was a Vietnamese refugee, who like herself, was pregnant. During her day job, as the Physician Recruiter for WellSpan, she recruited many international physicians: this was her introduction to US’s complicated immigration law. Two years ago, she and other UUs began to volunteer as ESL teachers at the York County Prison. Carol has been a UU for over 30 years and looks forward to returning to her home church in York after a 3 year enriching experience in our “sister” Gettysburg UU church. Carol is a member of UUPLAN, the Pennsylvania Resouce Council and RiseUp York.
Linda Collison- Linda has been an ESL teacher for over 30 years—often paid but mostly as a volunteer. She not only teaches ESL at the prison but has welcomed many immigrants into her home and life over the years, including her lovely Chinese granddaughter. She is a long time member of UUCY.
Frances Baumgartner-Fran is a RN who first became involved in Unitarian Universalism in 1975. She has been a part of the UUCY community since returning to central Pennsylvania in 2012. It was while teaching diabetes classes many years ago that she realized how rewarding and how much fun it can be in a classroom. In 2014 she participated in UUCY'sConversation Club for English learners. Two years ago she took her teaching skills into the York County Prison, where she teaches refugees. It has been an eye-opening experience for her.
Marilyn Neuburger- has taught ESL to adult immigrants and refugees in York for 20 years. She initiated and helps runs the English Conversation Club that has met weekly at UUCY for the past 3 years. She has lived in York County for over 30 years and is the mother of two grown children. She is involved in RiseUP York
LilianaGaitan-Gomez is from Mexico and has lived in York with her husband for 17 years. They have two children in York City schools. She attends the English as a Second Language Class and Conversation Club at UUCY.
Dr. Emily Stetler- Emily is aYork native. Shehas her Ph.D. in Theology from Notre Dame and taught theology for four years, withresearch interests inthe intersection between theology and mental illness, personal and communal trauma, and justice and human rights. Wanting to work more directly with vulnerable populations, she returned to school and is getting her MSW at University of Maryland, Baltimore, with the goal of helping refugees and immigrants with their mental health needs.. Emily will introduce a volunteer opportunity to work with refugees who are detained at York County Prison. She is a member of RiseUP York and the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Council.