“If the goal was to increase the love, rather than winning or dominating a constant opponent, I think we could actually imagine liberation from constant oppression. We would suddenly be seeing everything we do, everyone we meet, not through the tactical eyes of war, but through eyes of love. We would see that there's no such thing as a blank canvas, an empty land or a new idea - but everywhere there is complex, ancient, fertile ground full of potential.”

                                                            ― adrienne maree brown,
Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing World

Dear IMIrJ leaders and friends,

At the heart of our mission here at IMIrJ is equipping and accompanying Oregon faith communities and leaders in our shared work to advance immigrant justice. 

As much as ever, we know that our movements, and this moment in history, call for courageous leaders, leaders led by love, leaders with the skills, tools, and relationships to support our communities and beloveds in moving from fear to faith, from despair to meaningful action, from transaction to transformation.

Towards that end, IMIrJ is planning to bring together a core group of leaders (both lay and clergy) from Oregon faith communities for a pilot Encuentro - an opportunity, over the course of 3 days (2 nights) from November 17th-19th, to deepen our relationships with each other as we learn and workshop key concepts, theologies, and tools for faith-based organizing. 

Our hope with this pilot workshop/retreat/training/gathering (we're still landing on the language!) is to strengthen the relational fabric and collective power of our growing IMIrJ community, and lay the groundwork for a larger, intersectional, and cross-organizational Encuentro for faith-based leaders in 2020.

We invite you to learn more about this pilot Encuentro here and, if you feel called to participate, to use this form to share with us a short paragraph indicating your interest, no later than Sunday, October 13th.

Please note that space for this pilot Encuentro is very limited. Preference will be given to immigrants and refugees, people of color, leaders outside of Portland, and people coming from communities, backgrounds, and faith traditions that are generally underrepresented. We're also aiming for a good mix of newer and more seasoned leaders. 

As our IMIrJ community grows, we're excited about offering innovative and meaningful ways to strengthen our collective capacity for transformative change. This Encuentro is one part of that. We're eager to hear what else you'd like to see and what ideas you have for how IMIrJ can more fully live into our mission in this regard!

In solidarity,
Alaide, Ron & Sarah


PS. We're also seeking institutional sponsors for the Encuentro to help make it more affordable for participants and also weave a stronger community between our various groups. If your congregation, denomination, or institution is interested in exploring sponsorship options, please reach out to us! We'd love to talk to you.