Things had gotten pretty sad in Muskegon.
Michigan Organizing Project's (MOP) Muskegon chapter had not had
a major meeting in over three years when leaders decided it was
time to get moving again.
Step one was to find out what issues people were
willing to take action on. A listening campaign began. Over 25 church
meetings were held. Some church members took to the streets and
invited their neighbors over for coffee and conversation.
Muskegon MOP’s Latino organization, Manos Abiertas, dedicated
themselves to doing 300 one-on-one conversations with friends, relatives,
and neighbors.
These meetings uncovered dozens of issues around Muskegon.
Step two was where leadership
came together at Muskegon MOP’s March 29th Church and Community
Convention to prioritize the potential issues and choose three for
action over the next two years. Manod Abiertas leadership challenged
the rest of the leadership team to tackle new issues including the
Student Adjustment or “Dream Act.”
The Student Adjustment or “Dream Act” is a proposal
to give immigrant high school students whose parents are undocumented
the opportunity to go on to college. The bill would provide a public
college education at in-state tuition rates. Muskegon MOP was determined
to not let our undocumented kids be “dead end kids.”
“We are going to plow through the dead end and create opportunity
instead,” said Peggy Watkins, president of Muskegon MOP.
Two hundred fifty Muskegon residents met at Our Lady of Grace Church
where reports were heard from the church meetings and all of the
one-on-one conversations. The Convention voted for the top three
issues that are going to be tackled. People voted by standing up
and choosing the issue they wanted: access to quality jobs, improving
education and schools, and immigrants’ rights.
Step three was to challenge and take action. Rep.
Pete Hoekstra’s(R-MI) representative attended the meeting
to answer questions on the Dream Act. Rep. Hoekstra, a conservative
Republican, has expressed that he will not support a college opportunity
for undocumented students. MOP has decided to take the campaign
to Pete Hoekstra’s friends in the business and church community.
By developing allies for immigrant kids within Hoekstra’s
own base of support MOP will continue to work to win his vote.
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