Students, scholars and social workers from across the country will convene on October 16 at Connecticut College to discuss an issue of great importance here in los Estados Unidos: undocumented immigration, mainly from Latin America and the Carribean.
According to Professor Frank Graziano, the conference could not have come at a better time.
‘’Immigration policy in the United States is a mess — a lot of people call it ‘broken’ — and under Obama’s administration the US Congress is beginning comprehensive immigration reform. The conference coincides with this historic moment.’’
Connecticut College students are more than welcome to participate in the conference.
Eleven classes are being offered this semester that tie in with the event, and the conference also has a support staff of nine dedicated students.
“All Conn students are welcome to attend free of charge and do not need to register for the conference. It fits perfectly into the college’s idea of an interdisciplinary, international education,” said Graziano.
The list of speakers includes some top-notch academics, including professors from three Ivies and many other outstanding universities from the United States and beyond.
Just as impressive are the non-academic speakers who will be joining the conference, including public servants from the Department of Children and Families, officers of the Coast Guard tasked with intercepting the vessels of undocumented immigrants, personnel from non-profit organizations, practicing immigration attorneys and Latino/a immigrants telling their own stories.
The conference will consist of a series of panels, each consisting of two to four speakers.
Topics up for discussion range from activism, human rights, healthcare, education, second generation immigrants and the representation of undocumented immigrants in fiction and the media.
Daniela Madrid ‘10, a public relations rep for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) a Chicano/a group on campus, said her main fear is that Conn students will overlook this important event.
“I’m not sure that most students understand the magnitude of this conference. Dozens of speakers from all over the country will be there. I didn’t completely grasp its importance until I looked at the speaker list – all three pages. We are very fortunate to have this conference here at Conn,” said Madrid.
According to Nancy Martinez ‘10, the other MEChA co-chair, students from all over the Northeast region, including Yale and Smith Colleges, will travel to New London to attend the Migration Conference.
The conference will be held from Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18. Admission is free for Connecticut College students; other interested parties must register for the conference ahead of time. Contact Professor Frank Graziano or visit the conference website.
