University Teams Up to Host Immigration Policy Open Forum Feb. 26

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A forum on Immigration Policy will be held at the Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Center on Saturday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m. Open and free to the public, the event is being sponsored jointly by the Cal Poly Pomona Michi and Walter Weglyn Endowed Chair in Multicultural Studies and the Latino/a Roundtable of San Gabriel and Pomona Valley.

The forum will focus on important immigration policy issues facing Southern California and the nation, and includes presentations by:

  • Assemblywoman Gloria Negrete McCleod (61st district)
  • A representative from the office of Representative Hilda Solis (32nd district)
  • Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights in Los Angeles
  • Ben Monterroso, Service Employees International Union
  • Marco Raposo, Diocese of San Bernardino
  • Francisco Suarez, Pomona Latino Chamber of Commerce
  • Patricia Gurrola, Pitzer College Empowering Latinos Association.

After the presentations, Jose Zapata Calderon, president of the Latina/o Roundtable will lead a question and answer session.

Calderon is the chair of the newly endowed Michi and Walter Weglyn Chair for Multicultural Studies for the 2004-2005 academic year. Calderon has had a long history of connecting his academic work with political activism, immigrant issues and multi-ethnic coalition building. Hes been honored by the United Farm Workers Union for his contributions to the farm worker movement. Recently, he has helped create the Pomona Day Labor Center, which helps negotiate and manage a program for fair pay for workers. He has also put together a partnership with the community and the Mexican consulate in providing IDs for immigrant workers so they can open checking accounts and other necessities, in response to recent border patrol sweeps that have upset local residents.

For more information about this event, contact Calderon at (909) 869-3542.