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Funders Briefing: Protecting the Rights of Children Across Borders
Date: June 30, 2008
Time: 12:00pm to 6:30pm
Location: Ford Foundation, 320 East 43rd Street, NYC
This briefing will be an in-depth discussion led by experts on the issue of children caught across borders. It will provide an opportunity for funders to become more informed about the issue and, potentially, to begin identifying key strategies for the philanthropic community to address the needs of this population.
To register for this event click here.
Agenda
12:00- 12:15 p.m. Arrival and Registration
12:15- 1:15 p.m. Luncheon
Welcome
Marta L. Tellado, Vice President of Communications, Ford Foundation, New York
Diana Campoamor, President, Hispanics in Philanthropy, San Francisco
Marta Smith de Rángel, President, Fundación del Empresariado en México A.C., México
Keynote Speaker
Sonia Nazario, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of Enrique’s Journey, Los Angeles
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1:15- 2:30 p.m.
Panel and Discussion
Issues and Challenges Facing Children Separated from Families
Every year, thousands of children cross the borders into the U.S. unaccompanied, hoping to be reunified with their families. If these children cross the border safely, they often find themselves in a detention center alongside juvenile offenders. The children in detention centers frequently receive no due process and are often subjected to food deprivation, arbitrary physical punishment, and solitary confinement. In this panel, speakers will share their perspectives on the situation facing children separated from their families, including the most significant challenges, and recommendations for the challenges described.
Moderator:
Hector R. Cordero-Guzmán, Program Officer Economic Development, Asset Building and Community Development Program, Ford Foundation, New York
Panelists:
Brian Gorlick, Senior Policy Advisor, UN High Commission for Refugees, New York
Vanita Gupta, Staff Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union, New York
Lindsay Marshall, Executive Director, Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, Florence
Suzanne Lynn, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Youth and Community Development, New York
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2:30- 3:00 p.m.
Concept Paper Presentation
Presenters:
Mario Luis Fuentes, Director, Centro de Estudios e Investigación en Desarrollo y Asistencia Social A.C., México
Maricela García, Independent Consultant and former Executive Director, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights, Chicago
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3:15- 4:30 p.m.
Panel and Discussion
Where do we go from here: Strategies and Opportunities for Grantmaking Impact
The issues facing Latino families and their children are truly transnational, and addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach. As more U.S foundations support cross-border programs, HIP hopes to bring increased philanthropic resources to this issue. This panel will focus on identifying potential impact areas and will offer recommendations for next steps from legal, advocacy and funder perspectives to ensure that the rights of children across borders are protected.
Moderator:
Helen Cunningham, Executive Director, Samuel S. Fels Fund, Philadelphia
Panelists:
Christopher Nugent, Esq., Senior Counsel Community Services Team, Holland & Knight, Washington D.C.
María Teresa Rojas, Deputy Director - U.S. Justice Funds, Open Society Institute, New York
Gouri Sadhwani, Deputy Executive Director for Organizing, Membership and Campaigns, Amnesty International, New York
Michael Layton, Director, Philanthropy and Civil Society Project, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, Mexico
4:30-6:30 p.m.
Reception
Thanks to our partners:
