About The Campaign

AGUAS (Anímate Gente, Unete, Actúa, Sobrevive - Gear Up, Unite, Take Action, Survive) is a large-scale community education campaign designed to inform and organize the immigrant community against deportations caused by programs such as 287-G, E-Verify and Secure Communities.

AGUAS strives to empower and protect families at risk by:

· Providing information and education through home-based conversations that provide simple, straightforward information that is useful and timely.

· Encouraging immigrants and their families to become active participants in the immigrant rights movement by informing their neighbors, co-workers, and friends or any other contacts that might benefit from this information.

· Collaborating with CHIRLA Base Leaders/Members, community leaders and ally organizations in order to access our broad communities.

Join immigrant students and allies this Thursday at Pershing Square, downtown Los Angeles at 10 a.m. to launch the National "Right to Dream" Campaign. Immigrant students will be calling on President Obama to stop deporting students and families and to advance real immigration relief. In 24 cities, students will gather and read a "Declaration of Dreams". CHIRLA's California Dream Network will join other networks in solidarity. Hope to see you there. See inside for details.

Para ver la presentación oprima aquí

Caring Across Generations is a national campaign for quality care and support, and a dignified quality of life for all Americans, across generations.  CHIRLA is a proud member of this national effort.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:February 15, 2012

11^th Annual Immigrant Student Retreat – One Goal, Many Dreams

Leaders from 52 California colleges and universities gather to educate, advocate, and organize

Los Angeles – The California Dream Network (CDN), a project of CHIRLA, will bring together over 250 student leaders representing over fifty-two, high school, college and university campuses from throughout the State of California the weekend of February 17-19, 2012.  The 11^th Annual Immigrant Student Retreat – One Goal Many Dreams is the first state-wide conference post approval of AB130 and AB131, the California Dream Act.  Current students, alumni, and other community leaders from all across California will participate in three intensive days of workshops, sessions, strategy meetings, and seminars to educate, organize, mobilize, advocate, and network within and for the immigrant rights movement.

WHAT:           Eighteen (18) workshops, seminars, presentations, group activities, lectures, videos, open discussions, strategy sessions, and campaign updates.  Workshop themes include:  a) Using Facebook and Twitter to Motivate your Peers; b) Bold and Beautiful:  Advancing your Cause through Media; c) Fundraising 101; d) AB130 and AB131:  Next steps for the California Dream Act; e) Branding your efforts like Coca Cola.

WHEN:           Starting Friday, February 17, 2012 thru Sunday, February 19, 2012

                        Friday:  5 pm – 9 pm

                        Saturday:  9 am – 7 pm

                                               Sunday:  9 am – 6 pm

CHIRLA, in collaboration with the Multicultural Immigrant Worker Organizing Network (MIWON), ANSWER Coalition, Center for Community Change, CARECEN, California Dream Network, Clean Carwash Campaign, Comisión Binacional de Organizaciones, COFEM, Filipino Workers Center, Full Immigrant Rights Coalition, Hermandad Mexicana Nacional, Hermandad Mexicana Transnacional, IDEPSCA, KIWA, LIUNA, LACFL/AFL-CIO, May Day Queer Contingent, NDLON, National Lawyers Guild, SEIU/ULTCW, and Vamos Unidos USA, is helping coordinate the traditional May 1 workers march downtown Los Angeles.

"I want to remind everyone that in 1992 many of the organizations serving immigrant communities were fairly new and focused on the burgeoning population of immigrants, especially those fleeing war torn countries of Central America. CHIRLA and its coalition partners responded during the 1992 civil unrest by defending immigrants living in South Los Angeles and caught up in the mass arrests by police from being deported back to the very countries they were fleeing. CHIRLA staff leaders actively participated with the City of Los Angeles leadership and with other CBOs to quell the unrest and to bring a deeper understanding of the immigrant communities that had suddenly been “discovered” living in South Los Angeles." Testimony by Jorge-Mario Cabrera, CHIRLA

CHIRLA is saddened to announce the passing of immigrant rights activist, dear friend and CHIRLA member, José Roberto Barrera. 

Many of you know José from his work with IDEPSCA, SAJE and the CLEAN Carwash Campaign.  José was a loyal son, caring brother, loving partner, and a true, non-pretentious community leader.

José lived for social justice. Everything he did, every stride that he took was for equality, justice and fairness for everybody. When it came to his family and friends, he was caring, loving, and jovial. He touched and changed so many lives. He was always willing to learn and be better, always willing to help. José was always reading and learning with a deep commitment to popular education and plans to return to school to get his degree.

It was so important to José to make his parents proud. He was one of the early organizers on the car wash campaign, and now we have three unionized car washes in Los Angeles. José was a dedicated friend, partner and son and leaves behind his parents Catalina and Enrique Barrera, and his life partner, Whelma Cabanawan. 

Jose’s passing is a huge loss to CHIRLA and the activist community of Los Angeles.  We will continue to be inspired by his dedication to our movement and we will honor his memory by fighting on for the causes that were so dear to him.  

This evening, a new star will shine bright upon the dark sky.  It's José organizing high up above.

Jose's Family needs your support:  Please click here to make a donation of any amount to assist Jose’s family in paying for funeral and other costs.  Your generous support is very much appreciated.

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