Embracing Our American Values: A MomsRising Blog Carnival on Protecting Family Unity, Strengthening Communities and Ensuring a Thriving Economy with the Contributions of Immigrants
Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner at MomsRising Blog - 1 minute ago
As we commemorate today’s anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, MomsRising is pleased to launch a blog carnival to further the national dialogue on the urgent need for making our immigration system humane and workable. With the participation of over 30 voices, ranging from members of [...]
Member Voices: Let’s Talk about Taxes
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 1 minute ago
Well, you can’t swing a toothpaste-squeezing Elf-on-the-Shelf (Seriously? Making extra messes in my house is now a holiday tradition? Sigh.) around anywhere nowadays without hitting a politician who has something vehement to say about the rapidly approaching edge of the fiscal cliff, a fearsome collection of tax increases and spending cuts set to take effect soon after the [...]
Immigration Reform is Critical for the Health of California and the Country
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 1 minute ago
The landmark health reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), is a tremendous starting point for improving the health of communities of color in California and across the country. But to truly achieve lasting progress in the fight against health disparities, we need comprehensive reform of our immigration policies. As advocates, we [...]
2013 Must be the Year to Keep Families Together
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 1 minute ago
Photo: Gustavo Torres, president of Casa in Action and board member of Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM), center, and community advocates during a rally of immigrant rights in front of the White House after the November 2012 election. (Credit: CASA in Action). Immigration reform has been established as one of the most important issues [...]
Immigrant Integration Means Health, Dignity, and Justice for Immigrant Latinas and Communities
Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas at MomsRising Blog - 1 minute ago
It is an understatement to say our current immigration policies and practices hinder, instead of promote, immigrant integration. Aggressive enforcement practices tear families apart and undermine the safety of our communities. Our government’s failure to establish a path to citizenship perpetuates labor exploitation, threatens families’ economic security, and undermines equality of opportunity. Yet in the [...]
When I Cast My Ballot on Election Day, I Voted for Human Rights
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 1 minute ago
(Photo Credit: Amnesty International USA) As the challenges facing human rights progress are vast, it is crucially important to acknowledge victories that bring us closer to a world where human rights are a reality for all. The passage of the Maryland Dream Act manifested our belief that education is something that we value, and that [...]
Immigration Reform Picture Not Complete Unless It Includes the Face of Women
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 1 minute ago
“Many people cross to seek riches, a truck, a new house, but mothers need to be with their children out of necessity. I am only crossing to see my daughter again, nothing more.” – Maria President Obama recently announced that immigration reform will be a top priority in his second term. As comprehensive immigration reform [...]
Immigrant Women Strengthen Our Economy — and Our Country
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 1 minute ago
As a lifelong human rights activist, I’ve never been afraid of controversy. But saying that immigrant women are good for our economy—good for our country—isn’t controversial. It’s common sense. Immigrant women are job creators. They are innovators and entrepreneurs who strengthen our national economy. In fact, women run 40% of all immigrant-owned businesses in the [ ...]
American Dream Should Be Available for All Who Seek It
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 1 minute ago
The immigrant experience is the foundation of America. In the preamble to the Constitution, we are told that we are forever moving toward a more perfect union. And the 40 million immigrants living in America today are a central part of making our union more perfect. The American Dream that is at the heart of [...]
Protecting Family Unity, Strengthening Communities and Ensuring a Thriving Economy with the Contributions of Immigrants
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 1 minute ago
Photo: LULAC hosted an immigration reform rally in 2006 to galvanize our community around this important issue. We look forward to coalitions to again gain momentum to finally achieve Comprehensive Immigration Reform! There are more similarities between the everyday American family and the immigrant family than there are differences. The immigrant family works hard for [...]
We Need Immigration Reform to Keep Families Together
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 3 minutes ago
Every morning in this country, mothers and fathers focus on getting their children ready for school and then get to work themselves. But imagine having to do all this knowing that at any moment your family could be separated thanks to outdated immigration policies. This is the reality for nearly one in ten American families, [...]
A Hope for DREAM
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 3 minutes ago
Child advocates have fought for years against the deportation of promising undocumented students. A bill in Congress to recognize them has failed before, but new action on the Hill gives us hope. The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors, or DREAM, Act is a bill to protect from deportation undocumented students who have kept [...]
Immigrant Youth Vow to Fight for Their Parents, Families, and Citizenship
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 3 minutes ago
After Republicans reached an historic low among Latino voters in last month’s election, political analysts of all stripes began to say that the GOP should change its immigration plank and work with Democrats to enact reasonable and humane reform in Congress. They said the Democrats want it, and the Republicans need it. This is a [...]
Still Waiting for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Civil and Human Rights Activists Organize to Fight Anti-Immigrant State Laws
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 3 minutes ago
There is renewed hope that comprehensive immigration reform will now be possible in Washington, D.C., following the November election that saw Latino and Asian American voters turning out in record numbers. The failure to pass comprehensive reform at the federal level has been a major disappointment made worse by states such as Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, [...]
South Asians Say It Loud: Fix the Immigration System Now
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 3 minutes ago
Like so many others in the United States, I am a product of the American immigration system. I was twelve when my mother and brother took a long plane ride from Kerala (India) to Kentucky to join my father. We had been separated for a year from him as he navigated the Immigration and Naturalization [...]
A Close Up of Gaby Pacheco, One of this Country’s Best Known DREAMers
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 3 minutes ago
Gaby Pacheco’s story will be featured in a collection of stories for young people by Lily Eskelsen and Alberto Garcia called “Rabble Rousers” about people who organize communities to fight for social justice. Gaby was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She doesn’t remember much of her city, but her family was close. She remembers her grandmother [...]
Keeping the Dream Alive
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 3 minutes ago
America’s immigration system is broken. Children are separated from their parents, husbands are separated from their wives, and businesses are suffering without efficient workers needed for economic stability. Immigrant families without a breadwinner are struggling to keep their heads above water. Our current archaic immigration policy is long-overdue for comprehensive reform that reflects our nation’s [...]
New Electoral Reality Makes Our Community a Target of a Different Kind
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 3 minutes ago
I wrote this piece for the Harvard Kennedy School newspaper, where I am a mid-career MPA student. Last year I took a break from community organizing after a heartbreaking loss of the DREAM Act in 2010. As I take this year to read and reflect, I can feel myself pulled back into the fight, especially [ ...]
Now is Our Chance to Help Keep Immigrant Families Together
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 3 minutes ago
What would you do if you found out your daughter had a life-threatening illness — and you had no way to pay for the treatment? Would you pack up everything, cross a border, and move to a new country, if it meant the chance to work and earn enough to save her life? I’m a [...]
United to Keep Our Families Together
Iva Ingar at MomsRising Blog - 3 minutes ago
Since the election the headlines have been all about immigration reform and the urgency for Congress to finally get serious about it. As someone who works on immigration policy, I’ve been excited about the momentum that is building. But more importantly, as an advocate for children and as a daughter of immigrants, I’ve been mostly [...]
New School Foods: Beyond Burgers and Fries
Kate Uslan at MomsRising Blog - 2 days ago
Jessica Johnson may be new to her position as the Food Service Director for Sycamore School District in Cincinnati but she is no novice when it comes to finding innovative ideas to keep her students and staff smiling. Since Johnson started her job just more than one year ago, she has had to work quickly [...]
Making Room at the Table: Addressing Differences in Diet During the Holidays
Jacqulyn Hamilton at MomsRising Blog - 3 days ago
What happens when one of us changes? There’s something about a person shifting eating habits that seems to scare the crap out of loved ones—especially during the holidays. Gathering with family and friends to celebrate and reconnect, the boding we do over food is rich with ritual and tradition. We look forward to getting together [...]
2% Milk and Fruit – this is a big deal!
Tracy Fox at MomsRising Blog - 3 days ago
So, as I was making my way to the kitchen in my office suite this morning I noticed a really nice fruit basket on the main island. I did not think much about it – I rent office space from a management company and they just finished a kitchen renovation, but given my profession (dietitian), [...]
Bringing Water Back to Schools
Manel Kappagoda at MomsRising Blog - 3 days ago
Have you checked out the water fountains at your kids’ school lately? See any like the ones you remember from your childhood? If so, are they in good working order? And how does the water taste? Sad to say, the prevalent drinking fountains of our youth are all but relics of the past. At many [... ]
Quinoa Salad
Vianney Rodriguez at MomsRising Blog - 3 days ago
Quinoa (KEEN-wa) was once called “the gold of the Incas,” or “mother grain.” The Inca tribe turned to this ancient grain to increase the stamina of their warriors and believed the grain to be sacred. I, like the Incas, also believe Quinoa packs a powerful punch. The punch our body needs, craves and deserves. Weeks [...]