Webinar: Lock Up Your Neighbors? How the United States Deals with Immigration

This webinar is designed to share information about the scandalous use of private prisons to incarcerate and detain individuals and families who are simply seeking better lives for themselves in the United States. Learn how you and your congregation can get involved supporting those presently being detained along with their families and loved ones. From someone actively working in this area of ministry, you will be given the tools to become an effective advocate for those detained in our immigration facilities.

Webinar Presenters

• Rev. Tiffany Curtis – Prison and Jail Ministries Peer Group Member and Pastor of First Christian Church, Santa Fe: Rev. Tiffany Curtis is trained as a clinical chaplain and spiritual director, and has worked extensively as a community organizer and in prisons. She has ongoing commitments to grassroots community work in the United States, Ecuador, and Honduras. Tiffany grew up in Los Angeles in a bilingual family and lived in California for many years before moving to Boston to attend Harvard Divinity School. After eight years in Boston, Tiffany recently moved to Santa Fe with her partner, Desiree. Tiffany holds a B.A. in Peace Studies and Latin American Studies from Chapman University, and an M.Div. from Harvard University. In addition to serving as pastor, Tiffany is planting a new ministry rooted in social transformation and embodied spiritual practice. Tiffany hopes to facilitate courageous, sacred spaces of communal healing through contemplation and action.
• Amilcar Valencia – Executive Director, El Refugio Ministry – After five years coming alongside families and detained immigrants at Stewart Detention Center, El Refugio Ministry appointed Amilcar Valencia as their first Executive Director in June 2015. Amilcar is originally from La Libertad, El Salvador. Since his arrival to the United States, Amilcar has been involved in the immigrant rights movement in the state of Georgia. Amilcar has the experience of accompanying people affected by immigration detention since 2010 as one of the founding coordinators of El Refugio’s hospitality house. Amilcar has been a member of the advisory board of Alterna Community since 2011, and a steering committee member of Georgia Detention Watch since 2010. Amilcar has the experience of working for non-profit organizations both in El Salvador and in the United States. He previously worked for the Georgia Latino Alliance for Humans Rights (GLAHR) as a community organizer and hotline intake manager. Amilcar graduated from the University of Central America, UCA, El Salvador.
• Moderator: Rev. Héctor J. Hernández – NBA Prison and Jail Ministries Peer Group Convener

Learn more about Resolution GA-1723, “On Becoming Immigrant-Welcoming Congregations,” which was adopted at the 2017 General Assembly.