Rev. Craig Roshaven: Dream Sabbaths Renew Push for DREAM Act Passage
Post by Rev. Craig C. Roshaven, Witness Ministries Director, Unitarian Universalist Association
This month, more than 50 UU congregations are participating in Dream Sabbath, organized by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (of which the UUA is a member) and Sen. Dick Durbin, lead sponsor of the DREAM Act. Yesterday, I had the privilege of participating in an Interfaith Dream Sabbath on Capitol Hill. We sang, prayed, and listened to Father Joe Nangle, a Franciscan Friar, reflect on how his faith informs his response to the issues facing the migrant families in our communities.
The purpose of this Dream Sabbath and the hundreds of other Dream Sabbaths taking place all over the country this month is to build support for passage of the DREAM Act.
Father Joe Nangle
“Dreamers,” are the young men and women who, despite having grown up here, are at risk of being deported. If the DREAM Act were to pass, it would provide them with a path to follow that could eventually result in citizenship.
The emotional highlight of the service at the Methodist Chapel in Washington, D.C. was hearing from one of these Dreamers.
Gaby Pacheco had driven up with two friends from Florida just to participate in this service. She told us, tearfully at times, of how her parents had struggled to provide a good education to her and her brother and sister. She told us of her dream of becoming a special education teacher and her sadness at knowing she will never be able to do this, unless The Dream Act passes.
You can hear Gaby’s story yourself:
Please join the renewed push to pass the DREAM Act by asking your members of Congress to support the legislation. Click here to send a message.
On the UUA website we have compiled a list of immigration resources that can help you learn more about young men and women like Gaby and how we can stand with them on the side of love by helping them achieve their dreams.
Thank you to all the UU congregations who are committed to making DREAM a reality!
Dream Sabbaths are happening across the country!
Eureka UU Church, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Valley UU Congregation, Chandler, Arizona
UU Fellowship of Flagstaff, Arizona
Granite Peak UU Congregation, Prescott, Arizona
UU Fellowship of Kern County, Bakersfield, California
UU Church of Anaheim, California
Conejo Valley UU Fellowship, Newbury Park, California
Throop UU Church, Pasadena, California
First Unitarian Church of San Jose, California
UU San Mateo, California
Summit UU Fellowship, Santee, California
Columbine Unitarian Universalist, Littleton, Colorado
American University UU Campus Ministry, Washington, DC
All Souls Church-Unitarian, Washington, DC
UU of Clearwater, Flordia
UU Church of Fort Myers, Florida
First UU Congregation of the Palm Beaches, North Palm Beach, Florida
UU Fellowship of Ames, Iowa
UU Congregation of the Quad Cities, Davenport, Iowa
UU Society of Iowa City, Iowa
Pocatello UU Fellowship, Pocatello, Idaho
Magic Valley UU Fellowship, Twin Falls, Idaho
UU Church of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
North Shore Unitarian Church, Deerfield, Illinois
Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois
UU Church of Lafayette, Indiana
UU Fellowship of Topeka, Kansas
UU Church of Bowling Green, Kentucky
First Unitarian Church of Louisville, Kentucky
Community Church Unitarian Universalist, New Orleans, Louisiana
First Parish Cambridge, Massachusetts
UU Church of East Liberty, Clarklake, Michigan
Lake Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, Shorewood, Minnesota
First Unitarian Society, Minneapolis, Minnesota
UU Church of Minnetonka, Wayzata, Minnesota
UU Fellowship of Lake Norman, Davidson, North Carolina
Unitarian Church of Lincoln, Nebraska
UU Church of Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, New Jersey
Las Vegas UU Fellowship, Las Vegas, New Mexico
UU Congregation of Queens, Flushing, New York
Brockport UU Fellowship, Brockport, New York
UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset, New York
St. John’s UU Church, Cincinnati, Ohio
UU Church of Kent, Ohio
Olmsted UU Congregation, North Olmsted, Ohio
Oberlin UU Fellowship, Oberlin, Ohio
UU Church of Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas
Community UU Church of Plano, Texas
Cache Valley Unitarian Universalists, Logan, Utah
UU Church of Arlington, Virginia
UU Church of Roanoke, Virginia
Champlain Valley UU Society, Middlebury, Vermont
The UU Church of Lafayette IN did a service this past Sunday, too.
UU San Mateo, California had a Dream Student come to speak at a workshop on the Dream Act held between our two Sunday Services on October 2. We have formed a Task Force on Immigration, are participating in a county-wide Interfaith Coalition on Immigration (PICI)and are gathering support for the Dream Club at Sequoia High School. We appreciate the organizing platform provided by Standing On The Side of Love as we act locally to stand in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors.
Dear Craig, today I talked with Rev Craig Hirshberg at the UUC of Princeton where I am a member. She tells me that I should see you when I am in Washington attending a Friends Committee on National Legislation lobbying-training session from March 16 to 19. Could you spare me a bit of time on March 15 or 20, or on one of the days in between?
If you’ll give me your email address I’ll send you my information that way. I’m a member of the Citizens Climate Lobby Princeton chapter and would like to learn what our organizations have in common and how we can best work together. Thank you! Ellie