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Human rights activist to speak at the University of Oregon
Founder of Border Angels to discuss impact of immigration issues
EUGENE, Ore. -- (Nov. 20, 2007) -- Human rights activist Enrique Morones will discuss the humanitarian and political aspects of border issues during a speech at the University of Oregon on Thursday, Nov. 29.
The free public event will begin at 6 p.m. in Room 175, William W. Knight Law Center, 1515 Agate St.
Morones is the former president of the San Diego Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and former director of Hispanic and multicultural marketing for the San Diego Padres. He is also the founder/director of Mexico's Border Commission and advisory group to former Mexican President Vincente Fox.
In 1986, he founded Border Angels, a non-profit organization to assist with food, water and other supplies placed near U.S. borders with Mexico to save migrant lives during harsh weather conditions throughout the year. In addition, Border Angels volunteers were active in the efforts to provide emergency supplies to those in need such as migrant workers during the recent Southern California fires.
"Enrique Morones’ visit to the UO campus is an important testimony of how the issue of immigration is no longer only of interest to those who live in border states next to Mexico," said education professor Edward Olivos. "Oregon is becoming a diverse state and it is apparent that we must become part of the dialogue of how we can approach the issue of immigration -- documented and undocumented -- with compassion and civility."
A reception in the Knight Law Center's Lewis Lounge, fourth floor, will follow the lecture.
The event is sponsored by the University of Oregon's College of Education Teacher Education, the Associated Students of the University of Oregon Multicultural Center, the UO chapter of MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan), Amigos Multicultural Services, CAUSA (an Oregon immigrant rights coalition), the UO ethnic studies program, UO Gender, Families and Immigrant Project of Center for the Study of Women in Society and the UO Center for Latin American Studies.
About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of 62 of the leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. Membership in the AAU is by invitation only. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.
Contact: Julie Brown, 541-346-3185, julbrown@uoregon.edu
Link: UO College of Education event, http://education.uoregon.edu/feature.htm?id=2049
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