4th National Convening

May 23rd - 25th, 2014

Little Haiti Cultural Center - Miami, Florida

www.blackimmigration.net

RISING TOGETHERBLACK IMMIGRATION NETWORKKinship Assembly: A Gathering for Action

Keep Up online! #BIN2014 #RISINGTOGETHER

PROGRAM CONTENTS

Thanks and Acknowledgments …....................................................…. 1

Letter to Conference Attendees …...................................................… 2

About the Black Immigration Network ….............................................. 4

Kinship Assembly Schedule .......…....................................................... 5

Local Miami ..............................…...................................................…. 11

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Thanks and Acknowledgments

Florida Host Committee Organizations: Florida Immigrant Coalition, Haitian Women of Miami, Power U Center for Social Change, The Dream Defenders, and Caribbean Bar Association. Kinship Assembly Planning Committee: Tia Oso, Trina Jackson, Francesca Menes, Krystina Francois, Denise Perry, Xia Xiang, Donald Anthonyson, Terence Courtney and Amanda Jackson. BIN Steering Committee Members: Donald Anthonyson, Amanda Jackson, Trina Jackson, Nunu Kidane, Gerald Lenoir, Francesca Menes, Colette Pichon Battle, Elandria Williams and Xia Xiang. BAJI Staff: Gerald Lenoir, Co-Director Opal Tometi, Co-Director Tia Oso, National Network Coordinator Lloyd Lesperance, Policy Coordinator Terence Courtney, Southeast Regional Organizer Juwaher Yusuf, Program Associate BAJI Board Members: Thomas Assefa, Black Organizing for Dignity and Leadership Aimee Castenell, Color of Change Marybeth Onyeukwu, DACAmented Activist Nunu Kidane, Priority Africa Network Leonard McNeil, Professor at Contra Costra College Pastor Kelvin Sauls, Board Chair, Holman United Methodist Church Janis Rosheuvel, Vice Chair, United Methodist Women, Racial Justice Office Reverend Phil Lawson, BAJI Co-Founder, Chair Emeritus

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Dear Sisters and Brothers: Welcome to the 4th National Convening of the Black Immigration Network (BIN). Our Kinship Assembly in Miami, Florida comes at a time when the attacks on immigrant rights and racial injustice are still powerful forces in US society. During the five years of the Obama Administration, over two million undocumented immigrants, over 95 percent of whom were brown and black people from Latin America, have been expelled from the country, hundreds of thousand of them without due process. Even the weak immigration reform bill passed by the Senate in 2013 has been rejected by the Republican-ruled House of Representatives and a climate of immigrant bashing prevails. The anti-immigrant rhetoric of the white supremacist movement and Tea Party adherents has stifled any rational debate about immigration reform. In addition, voting rights and affirmative action have been seriously eroded by the US Supreme Court and by the gerrymandering of congressional districts and the illegal purging of voter rolls in Republican-controlled states, such as North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin. Despite the poisonous atmosphere, the immigrant rights movement has won notable reforms in the past two years. Dreamers pressed their case through direct action, civil disobedience and grassroots lobbying and won a major victory—Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)—a program to allow thousand of young undocumented immigrants to gain temporary legal status. Judicial rulings, local ordinances and/or state legislation have significantly blunted the impact of Secure Communities, the federal program that allows local law enforcement to hold undocumented immigrant and turn them over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In places such as California, Oregon and Philadelphia, ICE’s authority has been severely eroded. In addition, the Obama Administration, under pressure from the immigrant rights movement, is currently reviewing its detention and deportation policies.

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On the broader racial justice terrain, the fight back against the mass incarceration of black and brown citizens and immigrants is gaining steam. Spurred by the study of Michelle Alexander’s searing analysis in her groundbreaking book, “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” the movement to dismantle the prison-industrial complex is developing politically and growing numerically. As a result of increased public attention, the Justice Department is reviewing laws and policies with an eye toward reducing racial disparities and unjust policing, prosecution and sentencing, especially as it relates to drug laws. Nationally, the movement to pressure Congress to restore the voting rights gutted by the Supreme Court is expanding. The strategic militancy of undocumented Dreamers across the country, the Moral Monday activists in North Carolina, the Dream Defenders in Florida and other groups are inspiring individuals and communities to step up their resistance to unjust laws and immoral economic exploitation. But the fight has only just begun. The Black Immigration Network has the opportunity, indeed, the obligation to build upon the current momentum and to contribute to building the movement for racial equity, immigrant rights and economic justice. Onward, BIN Steering Committee Members Donald Anthonyson, Amanda Jackson, Trina Jackson, Alethia Jones, Nunu Kidane, Gerald Lenoir, Francesca Menes, Colette Pichon Battle, Opal Tometi, Elandria Williams, and Xia Xiang. !!

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About the Black Immigration Network

Black Immigration Network (BIN), a national kinship of nearly 30 Black-led organizations that are connecting, training, and building towards policy and cultural shifts for a racial justice and migrant rights agenda. BIN is a vehicle for mutual education, appreciation and collaboration. Our network furnishes an important space for gathering the African Diaspora for joint strategizing, information sharing and work for the benefit of all of our communities.

BIN also builds alliances with other organizations and networks in immigrant communities and communities of color for mutual benefit. The Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) is the coordinating organization for the Black Immigration Network. BAJI is a racial justice and migrant rights organization, which engages in education, advocacy, and cross-cultural alliance building in order to end racism, criminalization, and economic disenfranchisement of African American and Black Immigrant communities. BAJI's headquarters are in Brooklyn, NY with additional offices in Oakland, CA, Atlanta, GA, and Phoenix, AZ. What the BIN Kinship Believes

We believe that the struggle for immigrant rights is one of the cutting edge issues in the fight for racial justice and democracy in the United States today. We believe that bringing a range of groups and individuals together to address the issues of race, immigration, globalization and related issues can magnify the impact of all of our groups in changing immigration policy and promoting racial justice. We also believe that BIN can be instrumental in bringing the issues, perspectives and leadership of various Black immigrant communities and African Americans born in the United States to the broader immigrant rights, racial justice and economic justice movements. BIN will help to build the capacity of its members to meet the global challenges that face all of us and to bring together a durable social movement that transcends the lines of race, gender, religion, sexual identity and nationality.

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BLACK IMMIGRATION NETWORK Conference Agenda

FRIDAY MAY 23, 2014 Registration Begins 8:30 am – 11:00 am Welcome and Opening Remarks 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Location: Theater Tia Oso, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Amanda Jackson, BIN Steering Committee, Francesca Menes, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Hashim Benford, Power U Center for Social Change and Opal Tometi, Black Alliance for Just Immigration. Getting to Know the BIN Kinship, Our Beloved Community 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Location: Theater Session Facilitated by Elandria Williams, Highlander Center and Xia Xiang, BIN Steering Committee. This interactive session will serve as a grounding for both building relationships and mapping of the state of black communities and immigration. Five key questions will shape this session and lay the framework for the conference moving forward. Where do we come from/who are our people? What are the critical issues in our communities? What is the relationship between African Americans, Black immigrants and refugees and what will it take to improve those relationships? What is the organizing and policy landscape? What connections or support are needed to move the work forward? Lunch 1:30 pm – 2:30pm Location: Lobby African Diaspora Dialogues 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm Location: Theater Session Facilitated by Nunu Kidane, Priority Africa Network and Gerald Lenoir, Black Alliance for Just Immigration. The goal is to bring transformative change in mutual understanding between African Americans and Black Immigrants on issues of race, culture and identity in the contemporary US, through this transitional dialogue model. www.africandiasporadialogues.net Break 5:00 pm

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BIN Kinship Reception 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Location: Lobby & Courtyard Mix, mingle, and dine with the kinship and invited local leaders. Global to Local Community Town Hall: Strengthening Connections for Transnational Justice through Local Action 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Location: Theater Moderators: Cheryl Mizell, Talk Show Host, "Community Voice," WEDR - 99 JAMZ and Opal Tometi, Co-Director, Black Alliance for Just Immigration. Panelists: Francesca Menes, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Gihan Perera, Florida New Majority, Ejim Dike, US Human Rights Network, Aly Wane, Syracuse Peace Council, Nunu Kidane, Priority Africa Network and Ninaj Raoul, Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees. The Town Hall meeting is an opportunity to share with conference participants and with the broader community the current developments in and challenges for the movements for immigrant rights, racial justice and human rights. The panel presentations are divided into international, national and local issues.

SATURDAY MAY 24, 2014 Light Breakfast & Coffee 8:30 am – 9:00 am Location: Lobby Overview 9:00 am – 9:30 am Location: Theater BIN Talks 9:30 am – 10:30 am The “ BIN Talk” Organizing Case Studies: Listen to short, informative snapshot of successful and ongoing campaigns from around the country that will inspire, challenge and educate you about the power of community organizing. Talk sessions are 30 minutes each. (Choose 2 Talks to Attend) TALK 1: “Taking Over the Florida Capitol” with Steven Pargett and Shamile Louis, Dream Defenders (Location: Community Room) TALK 2: “Moral Mondays North Carolina” with Ajamu Dillahunt, Black Workers for Justice (Location: Computer Room) TALK 3: “City of Philadelphia Ends I.C.E. holds” with Mia-lia Kiernan, 1Love Movement (Location: Gallery) TALK 4: “Free Marissa Alexander” with Sumayya Coleman, African American/Black Women Cultural Alliance (Location: Arts & Crafts Room)

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Analysis Workshops (Choose 1 to attend) 11:00am – 12:30 am Unearthing the Root Causes of Migration - Globalization, Race and Economics Location: Computer Room Nunu Kidane, Priority Africa Network, Gerald Lenoir, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, and Janis Rosheuvel, United Methodist Women, Racial Justice. Immigrants migrate for a number of reasons, particularly those related to the impact of global economic policies on their place of origin and their daily lives. This workshop will analyze this phenomenon from the perspective of migrations by Black Immigrants to provide an understanding of why people move. Participants will come away with an understanding of displacement and exploitation of Black people in the United States and across the globe. Mass Criminalization: Understanding The Mass Incarceration and Immigration Detention Systems Location: Computer Room Philip Agnew, Dream Defenders, Donald Anthonyson, Families for Freedom, Kenneth Glasgow, The Ordinary People Society and Alix Nguefack, American Friends Services Committee Life itself is criminalized in various spheres for US and foreign born people of African descent. This workshop will examine the ways in which Black Immigrants and African Americans are targeted for mass incarceration/detention/deportation, and how stigmatization by the prison/detention system leads to disenfranchisement and suffering. Re-defining Civic Engagement for Community Organizing

Location: Arts and Crafts Room Moderator: Tia Oso, Black Alliance for Just Immigration Panelists: Adrienne Bambou, The Honorable Alona Clifton, Krystina Francois, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Maurice Mitchell, NY Civic Engagement Table, Marybeth Onyeukwu, DACAmented Activist. From systemic attacks on Voting Rights and disenfranchisement in electoral politics to low participation in DACA and naturalization activities, it seems Black communities that once heralded democratic engagement as a marker of progress and advancement have lost interest in civic participation. This panel discussion examines the challenges Black Communities face in civic participation and how we can turn these challenges into an organizing strategy. Gain insights and ideas to ignite the next movement for justice, democracy and cultural pride in the Black community. *This session will only last one hour due to room commitment.

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Economic Justice and Workers Rights Location: Gallery Tamieka Atkins, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Ajamu Dillahunt, Black Workers for Justice and Lola Smallwood Cuevas, LA Black Workers Center. Black US and foreign-born workers face some of the highest unemployment rates and lowest wages of all employees in the American workforce. For people of African descent, economic exploitation and hyper-exploitation represent the most common condition in the 21st century, creating poverty and other social ills. Black workers need Economic Justice and Workers Rights if they are to improve the material conditions of their lives, and their families. This workshop will examine the effects of a lack of organization on the job, and what we can do gain a democracy in the work place. Lunch 12:30 pm – 1:30pm Arts & Activism: Amanda Jackson, BIN Steering Committee Featured Artists: Tony Polanco and Cindy Peralta Cultural Activities 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Skills and Capacity Building Workshops & Coaching Sessions

2:30 pm – 4:00 pm Communicating for Change Location: Community Room Makani Themba, Praxis Project How do we make sure we are a visible, powerful voice in the public conversation? What will it take to reframe the debate in ways that include our issues and concerns? These and other questions will be explored in this session on strategic communications to advance immigrant justice. Participants will learn about framing and building a messaging and communications plan around their specific campaigns. Raising Money as Community Organizers Location: Computer Room Marjorie Fine, Public Interest Projects Join Marjorie Fine, noted grant-maker and fundraiser and your colleagues for some learning, sharing, discussion and cheerleading on finding the pleasure and excitement in fundraising. Whether you are a new or seasoned fundraiser, paid staff or board member, comfortable or nervous about asking for money – this session is for you. We will explore attitude adjustments about money, values and skills organizers and fundraisers have in common, where to find donors and how to ask for money.

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Consultants Café Location: Gallery Thamara LaBrousse, Miami Workers Center, Gerald Lenoir, Black Alliance for Just Immigration and Denise Perry, Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity. Sign up to receive one on one coaching. Do you desire to better develop your organization? Do you think that coaching from an experienced Director of a movement building organization could help you? Be sure to sign up to speak with one of 3 experts on community-based organizational development These coaching sessions can provide critical, confidential insight that’ll support existing organizations or provide knowledge to those who are just beginning to put together their strategy to serve a community in need. Come get coached during a 20 – 30 minutes session!

Strategy Session Part 1 (Choose 1 to attend) 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Our mission is to connect, train and build, towards policy and cultural shifts for a racial justice and migrant rights agenda. What does this look like? Join a strategy session where you will connect with other leaders to develop and create a national movement for progress in Black Communities around critical issues. These sessions will shape BIN’s work over the next two years. Option 1: Taking Action to End Mass Incarceration and Immigration Detention Location: Community Room Option 2: Reuniting Haitian-American Families Campaign Strategy Session Location: Arts and Crafts Room Option 3: Taking Action for Workers Rights and Protections Location: Computer Room We Are All Each Other’s Keeper: The Importance of Youth Organizing & Supporting All Young Black People. I am my sister's keeper too

Location: Gallery Ruth Jeannoel, Power U Center for Social Change, Jarrel Strong, Power U Youth Member, Annie Thomas, Power U Youth Member, Sherika Shaw, Dream Defenders In light of the My Brother's Keeper Initiative we will discuss the importance of youth organizing within movement organizing and the ways that we can create spaces for black girls to be leading that. We need to be My Sister's Keeper and have her back too. We need to take care of our sister the same way that we take care of our brother. In fact, we need resources to elevate and support all of our young Black people. *Note: This is not a strategy session.

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SUNDAY MAY 25, 2014

Light Breakfast & Coffee 8:30 am – 9:00 am Location: Lobby Prophetic Role of Faith Traditions For Justice 9:00 am – 10:00 am Location: Theater Reverend Kelvin Sauls, Holman United Methodist Church Griot Session: Sharing Outcomes of Strategy Meetings 10:00 am – 11:00 am Location: Theater

Strategy Session Part 2 (Choose 1 to attend)

11:00 am – 12:00 pm Option 1: Taking Action to End Mass Incarceration and Immigration Detention Location: Community Room Option 2: Reuniting Haitian-American Families Campaign Strategy Session Location: Arts and Crafts Room Option 3: Taking Action for Workers Rights and Protections Location: Computer Room

Envisioning A World With Racial Justice and Migrant Rights 12:00 pm – 1:30pm Location: Theater Moderator: Elandria Williams, Highlander Center Panelists: Philip Agnew, Dream Defenders, Monica Hernandez, Southeast Immigrant Rights Network, Ruth Jeannoel, Power U, Gerald Lenoir, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Amanda Lugg, African Services Committee and Jasson Perez, Black Youth Project. Come hear from an intergenerational panel of movement leaders. After three days of convening at the Black Immigration Network assembly these community-based movement leaders will share their vision of movement building at the intersections amongst our kinship assembly. They will share about youth engagement, significance of Black-led labor movement, criminalization, immigration detention, mass incarceration and will talk about the exciting things being done to ensure workers protections and economic thriving across the nation. Closing & Lunch to Go 1:30pm

Keep Up online! #BIN2014 #RISINGTOGETHER

LOCAL MIAMI TREATS

PLACES TO VISIT African Heritage Cultural Arts Center 6161 NW 22nd Ave. 305/638-6771 Colorfully designed with the vision of being a center for Liberty City’s artists and youth to display their work and enhance their talents, it opened in 1974. The center has an auditorium, art and dance classrooms and an exhibit area that can be utilized by the community and after-school arts programs.

The Historic Overtown Folklife Village Northwest 2nd and 3rd avenues between 8th and 10th streets Traditionally Overtown’s cultural and entertainment area, the State of Florida designated it the Overtown Main Street Community. Its redevelopment includes a mixed-use marketplace with a retail component that is focused on the arts and humanities of the Harlem Renaissance, the Caribbean and West Africa. The African-themed Ninth Street Pedestrian Mall opens up to the adjacent Lyric Theater, creating a year-round destination for various events including family and class reunions and festivals.

The Ninth Street Pedestrian Mall Northwest 9th Street and 2nd Avenue The mall was dedicated in December 1994 during the Summit of the Americas celebrations. It was designed by artist Gary Moore, who featured vibrant variations in color resembling African Kente cloth patterns. The mall presents a luscious landscape and ornate street fixtures. It is located next to The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater Welcome Center Complex and is often alive with community festivals and celebrations that continue to make the Historic Overtown Folklife Village an exciting place to visit.

*information above provided by Miami Black Visitors GuideFOR MORE TO DO VISIT: www.miamiblackvisitorguide.com

Sherri Nigerian Restaurant 16595 NW 27th Ave. Miami, FL 33054 (305) 622-3100

TapTap 819 5th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 672-2898

Chez le Bebe 114 NE 54th St, Miami, FL 33137(305) 751-7639

Chef Creole 200 NW 54th St, Miami, FL 33127 (305) 754-2223

People's Bar-b-que 360 NW 8th St, Miami, FL 33136(305) 373-8080

BLACK IMMIGRATION NETWORKc/o Black Alliance for Just Immigration

660 Nostrand AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11216

(347) 410-5312

www.blackimmigiration.net

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/BlackImmigrationNetworkTWITTER: www.twitter.com/BlackImmNetwork

YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/BlackImmNetwork