OUR PURPOSE
Becoming Beloved will create and update a digital asset map of Sanctuary and/or Immigrant Welcoming congregations, along with Refugee Resettlement; and other DFW immigrant rights movements and organizations. The asset map will include contact information, mission/vision statements and portals for people who are prepared to become involved. The map will be available to participating organizations and congregations. The interactive nature of the portal will allow for applications and contact lists to be generated. More than a directory resource, one important outcome is the fluid ability to discern where there are unmet needs. Eventually we will create a contact list for North Texas/ DFW/Disciples currently active in immigration justice work for the potential creation of a response team.
The project is grounded in the Disciples of Christ Immigrant Welcoming Congregation.
At a time where the news of asylum seekers, especially children, who are at the U.S./Mexico border and the history of Dallas housing nearly 3,000 boys at the KBH Convention Center; this becomes a critical time for people of faith and conscience to build awareness of action, pray and prepare for justice and engage in solidarity with children and families seeking asylum and those who are immigrants and refugees in our community. Dallas also is the site of DHS-ICE Immigration Court. While other Texas areas; Austin, Houston, the Border; have multiple organizations and congregations involved in the work of immigration reform and reconciliation; Dallas does not have a coordinated effort in this area.
The arching goals of this project are to engage in the work of dismantling systemic racism through the lens of immigration justice issues. By empowering the most affected communities and forming intimate relationships our attitudes and shared common experiences will transform us individually and communally.
Together with the asset mapping and the creation of a response team; the other key elements of the program:
All of this work is done by empowering the immigrant community as we work in solidarity in addressing issues of immigration/refugees; and continue to create relationships with organizations and congregations.
Facilitation of training and shared best practices as we create a network response team.
Resources for congregations welcoming asylum seekers and unaccompanied migrant children and those needing refugee resettlement.
Host prayer vigils and have prayer resources.
Reach out to elected officials
Consider the multiple ways to support and sponsor asylum seekers as a congregation.
Creation of Immigration Court Watch Observation teams, where people observe and accompany immigrants in the deportation process.
Through these series of activities we want to invest in the broad scope of anti-racism/reconciliation work through the lens of immigration. We need to be integrated more closely to anti-racism and the justice actions with our immigrant communities. While news articles, protests and other actions have seen individual Disciples (DOC) present, but we have not yet organized as Disciples. The potential for mutual influence and stronger solidarity with all congregations and organizations has yet to be realized.