Lobbying for Change

NISI is organizing to meet with Senators Gillibrand and Schumer, and Congressman Bishop to lobby for immediate action on comprehensive immigration reform. NISI is creating a lobbying subcommittee that will be developing a set of talking points both for meeting with these elected officials and for supporters to use when discussing comprehensive immigration reform and/or writing letters to elected officials or to newpapers in support of this much needed reform. This subcommittee has a tentative meeting with Sen Gillibrand for mid-August. We will use this site and email to keep all of our members informed. Below is a link to an article reporting on Sen. Schumer's efforts.

Sen. Schumer

We the people

NBC's Today Show has produced a series of features on various aspects of the growth and impact of the Latino population in the United States. These features cover topics ranging from the separation of families, to the growth of dual language education,to the life of Justice Sotomayor, to the rise in breast cancer in Latino women. Click on the link below to view these programs and many more.

WE THE PEOPLE

PUBLIC FORUM HELD ON IMMIGRATION

Too often public discussion of controversial issues results in little more than a shouting match. Only the loudest of voices are heard and substantive, thoughtful comments are in short supply. It is rare when public meetings of this kind affect changes of opinion or create new understandings. Volume and vitriol seem to be the order of the day rather than respect and reason. In these situations, the bravado of the few creates the impression that they speak for the many. Unfortunately, this has been the case when the topic of immigration has been the focus of these public discussions. Nonetheless, several local eastern Long Island politicians and community leaders believe that despite this troubling history public discussion can be a good thing producing good results. MORE