Immigration is a major struggle for many people around the world. Many people are trying to enter America searching for that “American Dream.” Once they find a way to get here the struggles do not always end. Working multiple minimum wage jobs is not really what most picture when they think “American Dream.”
Many immigrants wind up leaving family and friends behind and come to America alone hoping for a well paying job and a better life. Cabrini is trying to bring awareness to the issue of immigration through a series of “Lenten Lectures” that will be held throughout the entire season of Lent.
The first Lenten Lecture was inspired by the Saint Josephine Bakhita Day of Prayer against Human Trafficking. An interactive event was held where participants wore masks and embodied a character to help shed light and understanding on some of the hidden aspects of US immigration.
Vanessa Miranda, a member of the Cabrini Mission Corps on campus, is passionate about the topic of immigration. “I come from a family of immigrants. My mother is a first generation immigrant of this country so coming to this country is something I am familiar with,” she said. “I am familiar with stories of people who have come to this country.”
The interactiveness of the event, trying to embody a real immigrant and understand their story was unique and allowed students to get a new perspective on the topic.
“The biggest take away I got from the event was that migrants all have different stories,” Miranda said. “A lot of people come to the United States for different reasons and whether or not they come is a choice.”
“Conversations like these are so important to really help students, faculty and staff talk about what someone’s lived experience looks like…you can’t know by looking at someone [what their experience has been] so really talking about these very different experiences is important,” Sarah Carter, assistant director of programs in the student diversity office, said.
Dr. Raymond Ward, associate director of the Wolfington Center for peace and justice, led the interactive event. He has been passionate about the topic for a long time because he grew up in a part of Chicago that was predominately immigrant.
Ward recommends students get engaged with the issue of immigration by attending events held by the Wolfington Center. “We do a ton of community engagement around immigration,” he said. “Our partnership with Norristown right up the road centers a lot around immigration. There is a huge undocumented population living in Norristown right now mainly from Mexico or Latin America and there are a lot of opportunities to meet these people and see what they are up to.”
