Standing at the Intersection of Immigration, Mental Health, and Public Safety/Law Enforcement
Working to create a community consistent with our highest values - because immigrant justice is justice for all.
In the United States today, there are 37 million immigrants, making up 12 percent of the total US population. Of those, 35 percent are naturalized citizens; 33 percent are residents; two percent are here with some type of temporary status; and 31 percent are undocumented.
Facing the reality of our country’s future, and our role in a global world of borders and migrations, we believe that immigrants make our community stronger and more resilient. As residents, humans, and citizens, we are defined by how we welcome and treat all immigrants - all those that migrate, seek asylum, refuge, and safety. The Immigrant Rights Summit offers a snapshot of the intersectionality of the broad challenges and socio-political forces that affect immigrants, and all those that live alongside and with immigrants.
About The Summit
Join Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates and key immigrant/human rights advocates for a day-long learning experience geared toward helping advocates, professionals, and community members learn about making West Michigan more welcoming to immigrants and refugees. We will explore the challenges immigrants and refugees face, resources available to this vulnerable community, and strategies for making West Michigan a more inclusive place.
Date
November 8, 2023
Attendance
General Admission
$150
Early Bird by October 3
$125
Students
$55
Location
Port 393
393 Cleveland Ave
Holland, MI 49423
Speakers
Prof. Joseph Kuilema
Keynote Speaker
Joseph Kuilema is a social work professor at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI. He has developed and led study abroad programs in Liberia and Ghana, and has significant experience in anglophone West Africa. Before coming to GVSU he taught for 14 years at Calvin University, including in their Prison Initiative at the Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia.
Sarah Yore-Van Oosterhout
Immigration Advocate
Locally renowned for their work, Sarah is the founder and managing attorney of Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates. She is one of the preeminent immigration attorneys in Michigan, and will share about the future of immigration and the U.S. as it relates to midwestern communities, and the key role they have to play in moving us from a post-Civil Rights world to one where all are welcome, always.
Rebecca Deng
A former "Lost Girl" of Sudan, Rebecca Deng is now a South Sudanese-American and storyteller with passion for post-war recovery and rebuilding lives shattered by conflict. She is the author of the book, What They Meant for Evil: How a Lost Girl of Sudan Found Healing, Peace, and Purpose in the Midst of Suffering.
Fridah Kanini
Fridah Kanini was born in Kenya and graduated from Kenya Utalii Hospitality College in Nairobi before moving to Michigan in 2005. She is the founder of A Glimpse of Africa festival, works at the Cultural Intelligence Center in Grand Rapids, and serves as CEO and owner of Flora’s Elegance Events. She is motivated by positive people, good energy, and knowing that her work will make a difference in someone’s life.
Vidal Sequeira Cortez
Born and raised in Managua, Nicaragua, and after traveling as a musician, Vidal now works as an accredited Department Of Justice Representative at Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates in Holland. He is currently working towards his Bachelor’s degree, hoping to apply for law school. He believes that every human being deserves the opportunity to live a life of dignity in peace and safety.
Brandon D. Davis, Esq.
Brandon’s entire career has been devoted to public service. Prior to serving as the Director of Office of Public Accountability for the city of Grand Rapids, he served as the Senior Labor Relations Specialist for the City of Grand Rapids. Brandon was a noted trial attorney in Muskegon County and handled serious felony cases as a Senior Assistant Prosecutor. Brandon began his career in his hometown of Detroit, MI where he served as both a defense attorney and prosecutor.
“I loved the diversity of the presenters. Some of the information was really hard, but overall there was such a feeling of hope. I’m so thankful to have spent the day with so many amazing people.”
— Immigrant Rights Summit Attendee
“I will use every bit of the information that I gathered from the sessions. I really appreciate the work you are doing and having the opportunity to learn the things that I did today.”
— Immigrant Rights Summit Attendee
Programming
Welcome
8:30 am
Arrival - Registration - Breakfast - Networking
Complete registration to pick up your lanyards, agendas, and packets.
Summit Welcome Session
9:00 am, Sarah Yore- Van Oosterhout
Founder, Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates
Welcome from Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates, including housekeeping.
Story and Introduction to Immigration, Policing and Mental Health
9:15 am, Vidal Sequeira Cortez
DOJ Rep, Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates
This session covers the major points, retaining nuance, about Immigration - its modern history, impact, enforcement, and more - from a legal perspective. What is immigration? Status? Refugees vs. Asylum Seekers, Visas, and more. Presented by GENTEX, the Summit’s Equity Sponsor.
Movement Break
9:45 am
First door prize
Know Your Rights & Public Accountability For Law Enforcement
10:00 am, Brandon D. Davis, Esq.
City of Grand Rapids Office of Oversight and Public Accountability
Presentation on the intersection of law enforcement, mental health, and minority identity in West Michigan from local advocate Brandon Davis, Esq.
Patrick Lyoya: A Historical, Global, & Structural Analysis
11:00 am, Prof. Joseph Kuilema
Professor of Social Work, GVSU
Presented by SUMMIT SPONSOR, the Keynote session will focus on the powerful strength and resilience that border crossers harness when navigating the complex world we live in today.
Lunch
12:30 pm
Guided Networking
Enjoy lunch from local vendors that serve West Michigan with non-local cuisine + networking with fellow advocates and community members.
Presented by Varnum LLP, the Summit’s Frontera Sponsor. Stories and observations about how mental health issues present in an immigrant community. This key session will draw the bold lines of intersection between immigration, refugees, and the generational opportunity that we have to lead a sea-change for the better.
1:30 pm, Fridah Kanini
Board Member & Founder, Glimpse of Africa
Refugee Story
Movement Break
2:30 pm
Second door prize
Story by former “Lost Girl” of Sudan and author of the book, What They Meant for Evil: How a Lost Girl of Sudan Found Healing, Peace, and Purpose in the Midst of Suffering. Sponsored by RESETTLEMENT SPONSOR. Rebecca's personal account of her escape from the Second Sudanese Civil War and resettlement in Holland, Michigan, informs and inspires policymakers and communities to embrace and empower refugees.
Refugee Story and Advocacy
2:45pm, Rebecca Deng
South Sudanese-American Storyteller
Summit Closing
This closing session includes final words from LIA’s Founder, Sarah Yore-Van Oosterhout, Esq., door prizes, and gratitude from LIA. Final door prize.
3:45 pm
Port 393
Address:
393 Cleveland Ave
Holland, MI 49423
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Time:
8:30am – 6pm
Summit Sponsors
Equity Sponsors
Frontera Sponsors
Resettlement Sponsors
Community Sponsors
Doug and Ketzi Zylstra
Ann M. Weller,
Services for Publishers
In memory of Herb Weller
Sponsorship Details
We are seeking a single unique Summit Sponsor of the West Michigan Immigrant Rights Summit, identifying you as a leader who is shining a bright light for immigrants and advocates who are navigating the complex immigration system.
Partnering with LIA as Summit Sponsor of the West Michigan Immigrant Rights Summit will identify you as a leader who is committed to shining a bright light for immigrants and advocates who are navigating the complex immigration system.
Summit Sponsor
$10,000
Immigrant justice is grounded in equity as a practice. The Summit's Equity Sponsors will underwrite sessions that focus on the overlap between equity and immigration.
Equity Sponsor
$5,000
Fronteras - Borders are places where the human drama of immigration, migration, separations and reunification unfold. The Summit's Frontera Sponsors will underwrite authentic narrative storytelling focused on the strength of immigrants and their stories throughout the Summit.
Frontera Sponsor
$2,500
The net proceeds from the Summit's eight Resettlement Sponsors will directly fund the difficult but hopeful work of assisting asylum-seekers in West Michigan with their legal needs. Each sponsorSHIP will underwrite a client's active case for asylum, stories of which will be shared in print and video formats before, during, and after the Summit.
Resettlement Sponsor
$1,500
Ten Advocacy Sponsors will be listed as advocates and champions of immigrant rights in West Michigan in the Summit agenda and be thanked by the Summit hosts as Sponsors who believe in supporting the work of advocacy.
Advocacy Sponsor
$750
Support from our Community Sponsors - nonprofit and for-profit partners alike - make it possible for local families to access legal services and advocacy at affordable costs.
Community Sponsor
$500
