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The Advocates' Night at the Guthrie
Save 50% on tickets
CLE credit available
Wed., April 29
7:30 p.m.
Guthrie Theater
818 S. 2nd St.
Minneapolis, MN
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The Crucible, a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay during 1692 and 1693, grapples with group think, corruption and power of government, and harmful myths and practices said to be grounded in religion or culture. It also focuses on the critical role played by strong democratic institutions and individuals to uphold people's human rights. Following the performance, The Advocates will join the Guthrie Theater for a post-play panel discussion about The Crucible's hauntingly realistic examples of present-day persecution and the critical role of asylum. Learn more.
Attend this performance and SAVE 50% on tickets. Call the Guthrie Box Office at 612-377-2224 and quote code “ADVOCATES.”
Attorneys: Register for 1 standard CLE credit here.
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Project Launched in Minneapolis Latino Community Helping Immigrants
While President Obama's actions to help undocumented immigrants are tied up in court and on hold, The Advocates for Human Rights, Pillsbury United Communities, and leaders of Minnesota's Latino community have moved full steam ahead to help people who are part of Minnesota's large undocumented immigrant population.
The groups teamed up to create a program and launch a support center to help immigrants wanting to take advantage of President Obama's Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Free legal services for families are part of the center's program, known as the Administrative Relief Engagement Project.
Opening its doors April 1, the center is housed in the Mercado Central grocery, 1515 Lake Street, Minneapolis (pictured below). Two more centers will open later this year.
"Together with Pillsbury and the Latino community, our work will eliminate risks of separating families; increase employment options; provide new tax revenue; and as a result of more stable families, improve children's success as school," said Michele Garnett McKenzie, The Advocates' director of advocacy. Learn more.
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5th Circuit Court of Appeals to Decide on Measures to Keep Families Together
Millions of Immigrants hoping for relief under the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program, as well as an expansion of the existing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program received bad news when it was announced that a panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is taking up the recent executive actions.
A three-judge panel will decide whether to reinstate these programs that could bring relief to nearly five million undocumented immigrants and keep families together. Oral arguments are set for today, Friday, April 17.
It is anticipated that given the composition of the panel of judges considering the appeal, the rough ride the measures have experienced in federal court will continue. Learn more. |
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Volunteers Gain First-hand Experience Working at UN
A team of volunteers worked side-by-side with The Advocates for Human Rights' staff at the United Nations in Geneva, conducting on-the-ground advocacy on violence against women, the death penalty, pre-trial detention, and immigration. They also engaged with the United Nations as part of The Advocates' work preparations for the upcoming reviews of the human rights records of Bulgaria, Croatia, Honduras, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, and the United States.
"Building on the tremendous work already completed by The Advocates, my colleagues and I met with delegates from literally every part of the world, sharing recommendations and providing delegates with fact-filled one-pagers," said Joan Kuriansky, attorney and long-term volunteer with The Advocates' Women's Human Rights Program. "These delegates will be submitting comments on the status of the countries up for review this May. Thank you, The Advocates for Human Rights, NGO extraordinaire."
It did not take long to realize success. "Within days of our return to Minnesota, the Human Rights Committee issued its Concluding Observations of Croatia regarding domestic violence in that country, using our language in its recommendations," said Jennifer Prestholdt, The Advocates' deputy director and its director of the International Justice Program. "Our Croatian partner was thrilled about the strong recommendations, and plans to use them to lobby at home in Croatia.”
Learn more by reading blog posts by Joan Kuriansky and others. |
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At Work with Human Rights Council
The United States and seven other nations will be under the microscope of The Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva in May.
Universal Periodic Reviews (UPR) will be conducted of Liberia (May 4), Malawi and Mongolia (May 5), Bulgaria (May 7), Honduras (May 8), the United States (May 11), Croatia (May 12), Libya (May 13).
The Advocates and its partners submitted stakeholder reports for each UPR, and we were in Geneva in March to lobby HRC delegates. We’ll be eagerly watching the live webcasts to hear the recommendations that governments around the world make on the issues we have identified.
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"Thank You," Volunteers
We want to call out some very special people—our volunteers—during National Volunteer Week, April 12-18, as proclaimed by President Obama.
"We honor all of our volunteers for their life-saving, life-changing work," said Robin Phillips, the organization's executive director. "And at our Human Rights Awards Dinner on Tuesday, June 16, we've selected nine who epitomize the best of people."
Volunteer Awards will be presented to:
Eleni Beyene
Amharic translator and interpreter
Hon. Elizabeth Cutter
Presenter and commentator on domestic violence laws
Mary Diaz
Spanish Interpreter for Central American clients
Jörg Pierach, on behalf of Fast Horse
Designer of The Advocates’ brand and website
Caren Heegaard
Docent who conducts human rights tours at
the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Sophia Leenay
French translator
Teresa Mesa
Spanish interpreter and translator
Ali Tews
Spanish translator
Barbara Weissberger
Spanish interpreter in court for unaccompanied
minors and families from Central America
"We each have the power to strengthen the fabric of our society and make the world a better place," President Obama said when proclaiming National Volunteer Week. "Every day, Americans across the country realize this enormous potential through service to others and by giving back to their communities."
The Human Rights Awards Dinner is being held Tuesday, June 16, at 5 p.m., at The Depot, in Minneapolis. S onia Nazario, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Enrique's Journey, will be the keynote speaker. She will presented the Don and Arvonne Fraser Human Rights Award for her work on behalf of Central American refugees.
VocalPoint and Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha will each be presented with The Advocates' Special Recognition Award.
To register for or to sponsor the Human Rights Awards Dinner, click here. |
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Enroll in Discover Human Rights Spring Training Series
This two-day training provides concrete steps for the way in which organizations and individuals can use the standards, principles, and methods of human rights to combat entrenched poverty, discrimination, and injustice in their community, as well as to ensure inclusive, participatory, and sustainable solutions to social justice issues.
Participants will analyze situations from their own experiences, and evaluate how applying a human rights framework would change their approach to solving problems. Using tools such as organizational assessments, case studies, and implementation models, participants will create an action plan for incorporating human rights in their work.
Fri., May 1, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., and
Fri., May 8, 9:00 am- 4:00 pm
(Participants must attend both sessions.)
The Advocates for Human Rights Office
330 Second Ave South, 1st floor Training Center
Minneapolis MN 55401
Cost: $75, which includes a copy of the Discover Human Rights manual, as well as activities and presentations for your own use. Register here.
For further information and to register, click here. Download the flyer by clicking here.
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"Don't-Miss" House Party to
Support The Advocates
International Justice House Party
Tues., May 7
5:30 p.m.
4726 Girard Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN
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Volunteer Orientations Scheduled
Volunteers make The Advocates tick. You will work with us to protect and promote human rights around the world, throughout the United States, and in Minnesota. There are volunteer opportunities for everyone.
Check out opportunities at one of these volunteer orientations:
Tues., Apr. 28 – 5-6:00 p.m.
Thurs., July 16 – 5-6:00 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 14 – 5-6:00 p.m.
The Advocates' office,
330 Second Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN
Learn more.
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