“We are committed to working for a world where dignity and rights are upheld regardless of migration status and not on the basis of citizenship or perceived deservedness.”
How are Friends working for this vision of migration justice locally, nationally, and internationally? How does Quaker action on immigration intersect across these arenas? And what are the prospects for change in the coming year?
Register to join our February Quaker Changemaker event to explore these questions and more
FCNL’s February Quaker Changemaker event will highlight common threads in Quaker work for just migration policies, in local communities, on Capitol Hill, and internationally.
Speakers include Oscar Hernandez Ortiz, a member of FCNL’s young adult Advocacy Corps who is organizing and lobbying in Arizona; and Laurel Townhead, Human Rights and Refugees Representative for the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO). FCNL recently joined QUNO and other Quaker organizations in issuing the joint Quaker Statement on Migration. Marisa León-Gómez Sonet, FCNL’s program assistant for immigration and refugee policy, will moderate the conversation.
About the Speakers
Oscar Hernandez Ortiz recently graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) with a master’s degree in education. He also just finished a two-year commitment teaching 5th grade in Arizona with Teach for America. During his undergraduate years, Oscar majored in public policy. His undocumented and low-income background galvanized Oscar to focus on immigration and education. As an undergraduate at ASU, Oscar co-founded the organization, Undocumented Students for Education Equity, so they can find the appropriate resources needed to navigate higher education.
Laurel Townhead has served as QUNO’s Human Rights and Refugees Representative since 2014. She is grateful for the opportunity to work on behalf of Friends in a role that brings together her faith with her knowledge and skills and allows her to keep asking what love requires of us in global policy making. Laurel has over 15 years experience working on human rights protection nationally in the UK and through the UN human rights system. Alongside other issues, she leads QUNO’s work for a world where no one is discriminated against because of the borders they cross and where everyone who needs protection in another country receives it.
