Symposium spotlights immigrants, refugees

Panelists at the third annual Padnos/Sarosik Civil Discourse Symposium told their own stories of coming to America as immigrants or working to support immigrants and refugees find their place in Michigan.

The event was held November 10 at the Eberhard Center. Anne Hiskes, dean of the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, said she hoped the timing of the symposium encouraged participants "to move beyond the divisiveness of the presidential election and work together to support immigrants."

Jack Mangala, Padnos/Sarosik professor for civil discourse, said the symposium expanded on his course, "Immigration: Think Global, Act Local." Students in the class have discussed opportunities and challenges that immigrants face, and they have connected with local organizations that support that community.

Mangala, a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also said he challenged students to find their own immigration story.

"I've asked them to find a personal link that connects them or their family to the larger immigration story," he said. "At its core, civil discourse is about this need we all have to be heard and understood. It requires a shift from the argument culture — so dominant in today's society — to a culture that favors dialogue and deliberation."

Lupe Ramos-Montigny, member of Michigan State Board of Education, was among the panelists. Born in Texas, Ramos-Montigny was a first-generation U.S. citizen and used to travel with her family to northern Michigan as a young girl to pick cherries.

Like other panelists, Ramos-Montigny said she was concerned about immigration reform under Donald Trump's administration. She discussed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) act as a policy that might be in jeopardy. DACA offers protection from deportation to eligible immigrant youth.

"As an educator, I know students are worried about what might happen to them and their parents," she said. 

Other panelists were Raquel Garcia Andersen, director of partnerships and community outreach for Global Detroit; Susan E. Reed, managing attorney for Michigan Immigrant Rights Center; Kizombo Kalumbula, pastor of family life for Tabernacle Community Church; Anh Nguyet Tran, president of Liaison Linguistics; and Amer Zahr, adjunct professor for University Detroit Mercy School of Law.