Immigration Action Steps at Temple Emanu-El
Organizing and Advocacy for Systemic Change
HIAS
Founded as the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society to help Jews fleeing from pogroms in Europe, HIAS today works to uphold and expand the rights and protections of refugees, asylum seekers and other forcibly displaced people around the world. Learn more at hias.org.
Dallas Area Interfaith
Dallas Area Interfaith (DAI) is a nonpartisan, multi-ethnic coalition of Dallas-area faith institutions, collectively representing more than 90,000 members. DAI focuses on empowering individuals to collaborate in identifying common issues, creating practical solutions and implementing systemic changes for the common good. Temple contact: Erica Matsil, ematsil@tedallas.org
Temple Advocacy Opt-In Network
The Temple Emanu-El opt-in network provides frequent updates on all Temple Advocacy. Sign up here.
Temple Advocacy Committee
This committee works with Temple leadership to identify advocacy issues to bring to the Board of Trustees.
Chairs: Alice Barnett, kupbar@sbcglobal.net and Mike Sims, mike_sims@hotmail.com
Hands-On: Helping Refugees and Immigrants
Jill Stone Community Garden at Temple Emanu-El
Join our gardeners on any Sunday or Wednesday morning at 8:30am to grow and harvest food for our neighbors in Vickery Meadow. The all-organic harvest is donated to the Vickery Meadow Food Pantry.
Contacts: Gail Lawrence, gailelawrence@gmail.com and Wendy Leanse, shoremrcle@gmail.com
Vickery Meadow Food Pantry and Clothes Closet
Help us distribute food and clothing to Vickery Meadows clients on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Contact: Carol Weinstein, VickeryMeadowNA@gmail.com
Literacy Achieves
Many non-native English speakers have difficulty finding the time, transportation, technology, child care or funds they need to attend English-language classes. Literacy Achieves helps remove those barriers. Volunteers are needed to teach weekly English language classes.
Contact: Jorge Lariz, jlariz@literacyachieves.org
Heart House
Heart House empowers refugee, immigrant, and under-resourced children in Vickery Meadow by providing opportunities for educational equity. Volunteers help out with the program, participate in field trips and tutor students in reading. Fill out the volunteer application at hearthousedallas.org
McShan Elementary School Garden
Temple Emanu-El partners with United to Learn to rehabilitate the McShan Elementary Garden with new equipment, lesson planning and support. Volunteer for the Garden Club on Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. and help students learn about the benefits of healthy food. Contact: Erica Matsil, ematsil@tedallas.org