To: The Wellesley Community
From: President Paula A. Johnson
Re: Important Campus Events Regarding Immigration
Date: April 3, 2017
I want to invite you to take part in an important series of campus conversations, town hall meetings, and workshops about the changing landscape of immigration in the United States and how it affects us all. This series has been organized by the College’s Working Group on the Effects of Immigration Policy on the Wellesley Community.
You may recall that in December I announced I was convening this group of faculty, students, and staff. I have charged its 20 members with helping the College understand and support the needs of any undocumented members of our community—or any other community members—who may be feeling vulnerable as the political climate and regulations related to immigration and refugee status continue to change. As these changes have troubling and far-reaching ramifications, I also asked the group to begin advising senior administrators about how we can best uphold our commitment to a residential learning environment free from hostility and fear.
I want to thank the dedicated members of the working group for their hard work thus far. This is truly a campus-wide endeavor with representatives from across College divisions and programs, such as the Slater International Center, Human Resources, Intercultural Education, Public Safety, Career Education, the Office of the Provost, and the Alumnae Association. Since its inception, the working group has developed connections and initiated conversations with affected community members and groups to ensure that its goals are rooted in community needs and experiences.
Their work is a crucial part of our broader ongoing commitment to ensuring the utmost safety of all our students and community members. We will continue to look to the working group for recommendations and current and updated information. In fact, I am pleased to report that the group has launched a website that community members can visit for more information.
At Wellesley, we are deeply concerned about the effects of changes in federal policy regarding immigration and refugee status on our students, faculty, and staff, including our undocumented students. We embrace and honor difference and diversity as part of a global community. In that spirit, I encourage everyone to take part in these events. Complete details can be found below, or at this website.
The following events were created in collaboration with the Project for Public Leadership and Action, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, and Slater International Center with support from the Office of the President.
Town Hall Meeting: Know Your Rights: A Workshop with Attorney Aliya Khalidi ’07, Thursday, April 6, 4:30-5:30 pm, Library Lecture Room
This workshop is designed to help community members understand their rights under the new executive orders.
Religious Freedom and Discrimination: A Conversation with the Multifaith Council in Light of the Executive Orders, Wednesday, April 12, 12:30 pm, Multifaith Center
Organized and facilitated by students on the Multifaith Council, this is a student only conversation on the effects of the executive orders on religious minorities.
Town Hall Meeting: Understanding the Executive Order: A Conversation with an Immigration Attorney, Wednesday, April 12, 5-6 pm, Library Lecture Room
A facilitated town hall meeting with a leading immigration attorney designed to help students, staff, and faculty understand how to navigate the new executive orders.
Wellesley in MetroWest: Building Connections between Campus and Community, Tuesday, April 18, 4:15-6:15 pm, Alumnae Ballroom
The Project for Public Leadership and Action invites Wellesley students, faculty, and staff to meet community organizers and advocates from Framingham, Mass., to discuss current community initiatives and potential Wellesley partnerships. Speakers represent organizations such as MetroWest Worker Center/Casa de Trabajadores, MetroWest Health Foundation, Out MetroWest, and Framingham Public Schools.
Cross Movement Solidarity: A Workshop with Shannon Al-Wakeel of the Muslim Justice League, Tuesday, April 25, 4:30-5:30 pm, Harambee House
Wellesley College community members are invited to participate in this workshop to learn about concrete ways to support and build solidarity with and among diverse communities affected by both the new executive orders and the ongoing “countering violent extremism” (CVE) programs in Greater Boston.
