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October 26, 2017

Praying with Dreamers Week
#Faith4Dream
October 29-November 4

 
Advocating for the Dream Act (S. 1615 / H.R. 3440) is putting the faithful call to love our neighbors into action. Congress must hear from us this week and every week until Congress passes a clean Dream Act with a pathway to citizenship. See here for background: discipleshomemissions.org/refugee-immigration-ministries/immigrants.
 
Prepare Now!

Plan Dream Sabbath Events
  1. Plan #Faith4Dream events to happen before or during the week of action.
  2. Use the Interfaith Immigration Coalition's Dream Sabbath toolkit: http://www.interfaithimmigration.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Dream-Sabbath-2017-4-FINAL-09.108.17.docx to incorporate Dreamers' stories and solidarity into your faith-led advocacy, worship services, scripture study, educational events, vigils, and public witness.
  3. Consider connecting with local Dreamers and holding a vigil on your college or university campus: https://www.discipleshomemissions.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/CAMPUS-Solidarity-with-DREAMERS-Prayer-Vigil.pdf in support of the Dream Act.
  4. Remember to invite your Members of Congress and their staff to attend the events!
  5. Print signs here: https://www.discipleshomemissions.org/missions-advocacy/refugee-immigration-ministries/immigrants/ including the Disciples one above and others to visibly demonstrate your faith support at all your actions.
Write for Media 
Elevate the public call by publishing a letter to the editor before the end of October in support of the Dream Act of 2017 (H.R. 3440, S. 1615). 
  1. Include your faith tradition, scriptural grounding, and congregational affiliation to demonstrate your connection to the community.
  2. Call on your Member of Congress (by name!) to work to pass the Dream Act of 2017.
  3. Find a draft letter to the editor and local media outlets to submit your letter to here.
  4. Let us know if you get published by sending a link and the text of your media piece to awilson@networklobby.org so that we can share these with your Member of Congress.
Faith leaders are invited to write longer opinion editorials , especially in TN, ME, NV, ND, UT, AZ, OH, FL, SC, NJ, PA, and NY. If you are a faith leader and would like support writing, pitching, or placing a faith leader piece, please reach out to Ashley Wilson at

Sign this Letter
Faith leaders can also sign a letter in support of the Dream Act that we will deliver to Congress.
 
 

During the Week of Action



Urge Your Members of Congress to Enact the Dream Act of 2017!
Call 1-866-940-2439
Sample Script: I'm your constituent from [ City, State]. As a person of faith, I support Dreamers. I strongly oppose President's Trump's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. DACA has provided nearly 800,000 immigrant youth the opportunity to work, raise a family, and pursue their dreams. Congress must do everything in your power to protect immigrant youth - I am calling to urge the [ Senator/Representative] to support a clean passage of the Dream Act of 2017 (S.1615 / H.R.3440). 
Call 3 times to connect to your 1 Representative and 2 Senators.

Join the Virtual Prayer Chain     
  Take over social media with our prayers with Dreamers for the passage of the clean Dream Act:
  1. Download a #Faith4Dream sign like the one at left: http://www.interfaithimmigration.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Final-Pray-With-Dreamers.pdf, PDF,  PNG Then, record a video of yourself holding a printed, filled out one.  Say: My name is _________________ and I'm ______________ (faith tradition). I am from ___________________ (city, state). I pray with Dreamers for the Dream Act because_______________________
  2. Upload your video to Twitter with the hashtag #Faith4Dream and tag the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (@interfaithimm) and tweet https://twitter.com/cspan/lists/members-of-congress/members?lang=en at your members of Congress.
  3. Post the video to Instagram and Facebook with #Faith4Dream. Make a post public on Facebook and tag Interfaith Immigration Coalition and your members of Congress!
Plan a Visit to Your In-District Member Offices
Members of Congress will be in-district the week of Nov. 20, during the days preceding Thanksgiving. During the faith week, schedule visits to meet with them! Key states are FL, TN, AZ, OH, PA, NY, NJ, KY, NC, OK, AK, CA, IN, IL & MI. All visits are important. Fill out this form if you're interested in leading or joining a meeting with other faith partners.
 
Track Our Impact Together!
Demonstrate the faith communities' power around the country by putting your planned event, media piece, or in-district advocacy visit on the map before Oct 29: bit.ly/DreamSabbathMap or email your event information to nandersen@cwsglobal.org or sstanley@dhm.disciples.org.

Find more resources at:
https://www.discipleshomemissions.org/missions-advocacy/refugee-immigration-ministries/immigrants/ and http://www.interfaithimmigration.org/dream
.

For help, contact: Rev. Sharon Stanley-Rea, Director, Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries, 202-957-7826, sstanley@dhm.disciples.org