Dear friends,

This summer has truly been a joyous time full of the Lord’s blessings, but we know that it has also been a difficult time for many. At Esperanza, we have been striving to support our communities as they deal with the challenges brought on by the economic recession. Increasingly, families are facing hardships such as job loss, housing foreclosure, and for the immigrants in our communities, the suffering that comes from a broken immigration system. Now, as the summer comes to an end and we move into the routines of the fall, we are working harder than ever to uphold our commitment to service. We are anticipating and planning the third Esperanza Capacity Institute (ECI), which will take place this coming October 8-10, 2009 at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Philadelphia, PA.

I am pleased to announce that this year we have added a third day of workshops to the ECI that will focus on immigration-related work. As many of you know, Esperanza has been a strong and faithful advocate of comprehensive immigration reform for close to a decade. This year is particularly important because the immigration debate will be on the Senate’s agenda. It is crucial that you join our efforts to make fair immigration legislation happen within the next year. Please join the Esperanza Immigration Network and help fight for comprehensive immigration reform for our community and our country. CLICK HERE to sign our immigration pledge and show your support, and STAY TUNED for more communications from us about our advocacy campaign, including ways you can get involved.

1. Grassroots Advocacy Training – Learning to be effective in your state
2. Immigration Reform Policy – How to frame the issue locally and nationally

You will learn how to serve your community by providing support to immigrant and undocumented individuals and families in your area. You will also learn how to organize within our churches, giving people a voice to call for a compassionate solution and a fair policy for immigration reform. All immigration-related sessions held during the Capacity Institute will be presented by our Immigration Advocacy Campaign Director and our Immigration Attorney.

We established the Esperanza Capacity Institute as a way of sharing our experience in community development, and to help equip Latino faith-based and community organizations to do the same in their communities. This year we will be able to do even more by instructing participants on how to become immigration advocates. I invite you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Please CLICK HERE and register on-line today. For additional information and details, please contact Verónica Robles at (215) 324-0746, ext. 243 or at vrobles@esperanza.us.

In Christ’s name,