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Advocacy Archives
November 13, 2007 -- Advocacy Report - October 2007
The Advocacy Department has been focusing much of its recent advocacy efforts on the DREAM Act, a piece of legislature that would provide a pathway to legalization for youth that were brought to the United States by their parents when they were very young. This legislature would give youth who grew up and went to school in the United States, and aspire to continue their education through college or the military, the opportunity to achieve their American dream. We have partnered with the New York Immigration Coalition and the New York State Youth Leadership Council, and have been an active part in a series of teleconferences, strategic planning meetings, and rallies to urge Congress to pass this important piece of legislature. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has committed to brining this bill up for a vote in November, before the Senate goes into recess. Along with the Public Relations Department, Covenant House New York has been able to shed some media light on the DREAM Act. A Covenant House immigrant youth, as well as the Director of Advocacy, have been interviewed by both the Los Angeles Times and National Public Radio on the topic of the DREAM Act. We are also currently working on solidifying a date to be interviewed on a Spanish language television morning show. Youth leaders from each of the sites attended a media training at the New York Immigration Coalition to prepare them for talking about and advocating for this legislature. The Director of Advocacy and the Executive Assistant attended a presentation by the Manhattan Borough President on the topic of creating and preserving affordable housing in Manhattan. The presentation was part of Columbia University Center for Homelessness Prevention Studies’ series of talks on homelessness. The Borough President discussed his recent No Vacancy report, his zoning proposal for a West Harlem Special District, and his general housing platform. Invitations to the 17th Annual Covenant House Candlelight Vigil for Homeless Youth have been sent out to elected officials at the city, state, and federal levels. We are hoping to have elected officials participate in person, or through proclamations. New York State Senator Thomas Duane and Queens Councilman James Gennaro our scheduled to visit our 41st Street site and our Queens Community Resource Center, respectively, the last week in October. Our Advocacy Attorney has been making a number of contacts and building relationships with several law schools and law clinics throughout New York City. She is engaging them for pro bono work, to conduct workshops with our youth, and as partners in an array of advocacy topics. She recently attended a three day conference with the Association of New York State Youth Boards which covered topics such as engaging, empowering, and building advocacy agendas for disconnected youth. In November, she will be leading three staff trainings in the areas of Mandatory Reporting, Youth Aging Out of Foster Care, and An Overview of the Advocacy Department.
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