Immigration reform needs to be addressed and accepted. Sister Simone Campbell stresses the importance of accepting immigrants into our community.
“We in the United States have not accepted responsibility for passing out global hope,” Campbell said. “We the people of the United States need to form a more perfect union.” As Campbell addressed the audience she referred to the idea that the United States has portrayed itself as a place of new beginnings. Unfortunately, we as a broken nation have not lived up to that standard. Sister Simone Campbell has been serving as Executive Director of NETWORK in Washington, D.C since 2004. NETWORK works as a Catholic leader to educate, lobby and organize for economic and social transformation. As a voice within the Catholic community the organization strives to influence Congress. For over 40 years NETWORK has been influencing Congress in favor of peace and justice.
As a religious member of Sisters of Social Service (SSS) she is looked up to as a leader within the community. Not only is she a strong religious leader, she is also an attorney and author with a lot of experience in public policy who advocates to the government for change. Campbell lobbies on issues of peace-building, immigration reform, healthcare, and economic justice.
A large portion of Campbell’s lobbying campaign is currently recognized as “Nuns on the Bus.” The 2012 campaign consisted of a nine-state tour, which disputed proposed budget cuts to federal safety-net programs. Campbell led another “Nuns on the Bus” trip in 2013, this time focusing on comprehensive immigration reform. From these experiences came her soon-to-be released book cleverly titled “A Nun on the Bus” which is to be released on April 15.
Campbell is a leading activist on a variety of issues and has made many different types of appearances. She has not only stood before Congress lobbing, she has spread her message through television programs such as “60 Minutes,” “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report.”
Her voice has been heard and earned her great honor in many communities. Cabrini College recognizes her ambition and determination to seek change within the world. Due to her hard work and dedication Campbell was able to humbly accept The Ivy Young Willis Award on March 13. William G. Willis created the award in 1992 to honor his late wife. The award is a combination of his wife’s involvement in the League of Women Voters and the World Affairs Council and his interest in political science.
Centered at Cabrini College the Ivy Young Willis Award is awarded to a women who has made an outstanding contribution in the field of public affairs. In accepting the award Campbell shared some her experiences that lead to this great honor. She stressed the importance of speaking up. “Use your power, use your voice,” Campbell said. As she spoke about the importance of immigration reform she addressed the image we have created of the United States, “the American dream.” Immigrants come here expecting the chance to succeed, yet we do not open our communities to them. “We in the United States have not accepted responsibility for passing out global hope,” Campbell said “we the people of the United States need to form a more perfect union.”
Within advocating for immigration reform Campbell is supporting the improvement of life for the 100 percent. She feels that success in this area will be beneficial for the United States as a whole. “They are in our community, in churches and in schools; hidden in the shadows yet woven into our community,” Campbell said. It is at this time that we recognize that immigrants are here. Here for the hope of a better life for themselves and their children, “the American dream.” Now is the time to open our hearts and advocate to our Congress the importance of immigration reform, an issue that has no quick fix. Campbell dreams of breaking hearts, breaking hearts means creating more acceptance for immigrants in the United States.
