Statewide Immigrant Action Day in Salem this Saturday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2012

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director 503-269-5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director, 503-488-0263

Statewide Immigrant Action Day to be held in Salem on January 21st

Salem, Ore.-- On Saturday, January 21st , Causa will host their 14th Annual Statewide Immigrant Action Day in Salem. The day long event will bring together delegations from Portland, Gresham, Cornelius, Hillsboro, Eugene, Springfield, Beaverton, Bend, Redmond, Madras, Sisters, Woodburn, Independence, Dayton, Dallas, Silverton, Lincoln City and St. Helens and Vancouver, Washington.

Immigrant Action Day 2012
Saturday January 21st, 10am- 2pm
Chemeketa Community College Building 2
4000 Lancaster Dr NE
Salem, Oregon

The focus of this year’s Immigrant Action Day will include the following topics:

• Restoring driver’s licenses for all in Oregon
• Stopping local law enforcement collaboration with ICE
• How to get involved with our children’s education
• Getting your voice heard in the elections
• Equality for all members of our community

Lunch and childcare will be provided to those attending the event.

Please RSVP with Christian Baeff by contacting him at 503-737-7014 or christian (at) causaoregon.org

Sponsored by the Multicultural Center and the group JUNTOS at Chemeketa Community College, the Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality and with the support of Voz Hispana and Mujeres Luchadoras Progresistas.

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CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Organization, is the largest Latino and Latina civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit http://www.causaoregon.org/

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Tuition Equity Bill passes Oregon State Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 29, 2011

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director: (503) 269-5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director: (503) 488-0263

Tuition Equity Bill passes Oregon State Senate

Advocates and students applaud Senators for passing Senate Bill 742

SALEM, ORE. (March 29, 2011) -- Today, the Oregon State Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 742, bipartisan legislation that will ensure that every Oregon student has fair access to quality and affordable higher education, regardless of their status.

During today’s vote, a large group of education advocates and students filled the gallery in anticipation of the Senate’s passage of SB742. The final vote was 18 in favor, 11 opposed and 1 abstaining. The bill will now move on to Oregon State House for debate and a final vote.

"We applaud State Senators for doing the right thing for Oregon students and our state”, said Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA. “Oregon's Business Community, the University System, the Public Education System and Oregonians across the political spectrum have come out in support of this legislation”, Lopez added. "They understand the importance that affordable higher education has for the future of all Oregon students and for Oregon’s economy. We encourage members of the State House to pass SB 742 as soon as possible.”

Oregon's Tuition Equity Bill capitalizes on the state's investment in all K-12 students and will boost the education level of Oregon's Workforce, thereby attracting new businesses and jobs for the state.

Cosponsors of Oregon’s bi-partisan Tuition Equity Bill includes Oregon State Senators David Nelson (R-Pendleton), Frank Morse (R-Albany), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Portland/Beaverton), Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland), Rod Monroe (D-Portland), Chris Edwards (D- Eugene, Santa Clara, and Junction City), Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River) and Chip Shields (D-Portland), and Oregon State Representatives Michael Dembrow (D-Portland), Mark Johnson (R-Hood River), Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton), Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis), Betty Komp (D-Woodburn) and Chris Harker (D-Beaverton).

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CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, is the largest Latino and Latina civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit http://www.causaoregon.org/

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300 Supporters of Tuition Equity gather at Oregon State Capitol

Salem, Ore.--During a Senate Education Committee hearing, 300 students, teachers, faith leaders, business owners and community members gathered at the Oregon State Capitol today to testify and show support for passage of a bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill.

Senate Bill 742, which has support from both sides of the aisle, will ensure that every Oregon student has fair access to quality and affordable higher education and will make it possible for them to pay in-state tuition, regardless of their status.

"This Tuition Equity bill follows through on the investment in Oregon’s students beyond the high-school level, raises the level of education in Oregon and infuses our public universities with more tuition dollars," said Francisco Lopez, CAUSA's Executive Director. "SB 742 guarantees that Oregon’s workforce is well-educated and well-prepared to compete in our ever-changing global economy."

Cosponsors of Senate Bill 742 include Oregon State Senators David Nelson (R-Pendleton), Frank Morse (R-Albany), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Portland/Beaverton), Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland), Rod Monroe (D-Portland), Chris Edwards (D- Eugene, Santa Clara, and Junction City), Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River) and Chip Shields (D-Portland), and Oregon State Representatives Michael Dembrow (D-Portland), Mark Johnson (R-Hood River), Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton), Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis), Betty Komp (D-Woodburn) and Chris Harker (D-Beaverton).

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CAUSA to hold legislative briefing on 2011 Latino Agenda at Oregon State Capitol

MEDIA ADVISORY
February 5, 2011

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director: (503) 269-5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director: (503) 488-0263

CAUSA to hold legislative briefing on 2011 Latino Agenda at Oregon State Capitol

Salem, Ore.--On Tuesday, February 15th, members of CAUSA, Oregon's Latino Immigrant Rights Coalition, will present their 2011 Latino Legislative Agenda in a briefing at the Oregon State Capitol. Those attending the briefing will include members of the Oregon State Legislature, coalition partners and leaders from the community.

Legislative Briefing: Presentation of CAUSA Oregon Latino Agenda 2011
Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Time: 11:30 a.m
Location:
Oregon State Capitol
900 Court Street NE, Room 50
Salem, Oregon

Issues to be discussed at the February 15th legislative briefing include affordable housing, education, public safety, health, and jobs and the economy.

Members of the media are encouraged to attend. For more information, please contact Erik Sorensen at 503-488-0263 503-488-0263 or at erik@causaoregon.org

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CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition is the largest Latino and Latina civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit www.causaoregon.org

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State School Superintendent opposes anti-ESL Measure

Castillo opposes language initiative

Schools chief and Hispanic leaders discuss education

By Mackenzie Ryan
Statesman Journal

State schools superintendent Susan Castillo told Hispanic leaders Wednesday that she's against a ballot measure that limits to one or two years the time students can be taught in a language other than English.

Initiative No. 19 received enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. If passed, it would limit the time English-language learners can be taught in their native languages or take English as a Second Language classes.

It calls for students to be "mainstreamed with English-speaking students in the shortest time possible."

"I'm really concerned about it," Castillo said of the proposed statutory amendment. "It's going to take a lot of us educating people about why it's not helpful." >>continue to full article

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