In 2011, FFF armed hundreds of New York families who were most at risk of criminal and deportation prosecution with vital information about their basic rights allowing them to speak out against unjust immigration enforcement in New York. Our continual education work has deepened our community's response to the increasingly brutal enforcement of immigration laws in New York City and helped people fight their deportation cases.
Throughout 2011 we conducted Know Your Rights trainings for people locked up in Rikers Island, a weekly clinic for family members with loved ones facing deportation, in depth Deportation 101 training for immigrant rights allies and Speakers Bureau training community leaders on the intersections between the criminal justice and deportation systems. Families for Freedom's educational philosophy is deeply grounded in our belief that those most directly affected by destructive immigration laws once armed with the proper information, can organize against these policies.
In 2011 we held workshops and trainings with many of our ally organizations including New Sanctuary Movement, Applied Research Center, Brandworkers International, Community Voices Heard, Sakhi for South Asian Women, Women on the Rise Telling Their Stories, African Services Committee, Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC-NYC) and more.
In the coming year we will expand our efforts to help immigrant families protect their rights, by educating more immigrant communities by expanding the number of trainers conducting monthly know-your-rights presentations at Rikers Island and by having newly trained community educators roll out additional presentations across NYC. Our Speaker's Bureau will allow participants to educate and organize their communities to create real safe spaces to empower immigrant families. If you are interested in participating in our Speaker's Bureau or in having Families for Freedom conduct a Know Your Rights training with your organization please contact us 646 290 8720 or e-mail donald [at] familiesforfreedom [dot] org.