Read 2003 IDF News

Read 2002 IDF News

Read 2001 IDF News

Recap of the Fall Human Rights Film Series

This fall the Illinois Disciples Foundation hosted its semi-annual Human Rights Film Series. This semester we focused on immigration issues as part of our involvement with the Champaign-Urbana New Sanctuary Movement. Every week we presented an important documentary film on immigration, and a volunteer from the campus community facilitated a discussion after the film. On average about thirty people came out each week, and there were some very insightful discussions after the films.

On Thursday, September 20th the IDF showed Arturo Perez Torres’ Wetback: The Undocumented Documentary. The film follows migrants from Chinandega, Nicaragua as they cross through Central America, Mexico and the U.S. in their attempt to reach Canada. Along the way, other migrants are interviewed as they are detained by Mexican authorities. Catholic human rights workers offer their perspectives, particularly on the abuse of immigrants by gangs. The film also includes interviews with U.S. Border Patrol Agents and Arizona Minutemen.

IDF board member, Martin Nieto facilitated a lively discussion after the film. Many participants were curious about the logistics of migrating from the south to the north. Many had their own expertise to add to the discussion, as well.

On September 27th the IDF sponsored a viewing of PBS’ Taxi Dreams. The film discussed the experiences of immigrants working in the New York City taxi industry. Most NYC cabbies are recent immigrants, a mixture of people: 90 nationalities, all religions, and education levels ranging from none to Ph.D. Using a mixture of humor and seriousness the film follows the stories of four cabbies, their experiences, struggles and their clashes with American culture. Shiraz Tayabji, father of IDF Executive Director and Campus Minister Jen Tayabji, facilitated a very interesting discussion after the film.

On October 4th the film series continued with Farmingville. This film depicts a familiar American story: an influx of illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico to do work the locals won't; a flourishing "low-wage" labor market that depends on them; rising tensions with the resident Anglo population; charges and counter-charges of lawlessness and racism; organizing and counter-organizing — then a violent hate crime that tears a community apart. But this isn't the story of a California, Texas or other Southwestern town. It's the story of Farmingville, New York, on Long Island. Farmingville meticulously reveals the underlying forces, and the human impact, of what has become the largest influx of Mexican workers in U.S. history — a migration that economic globalization is carrying beyond border areas and major cities and into the small cities and towns of America. Farmingville achieves a remarkable intimacy with many of the principal players in the town's drama, who share their personal hopes and fears, revealing just how profoundly local all politics, even global politics, are.

Ricky Baldwin, involved with Central Illinois Jobs with Justice and many local struggles for worker justice, facilitated Farmingville’s discussion and many in the audience were excited to put in a word. The racist and nationalist politics that repeatedly rear up in the actions of the people presented in Farmingville frustrated many of the viewers.

Our last film showing took place on October 11th with Letters From the Other Side. "How many more deaths does it take for the U.S. government to do something? Let it be on their conscience that since our tragedy many more have died and many more will die!" So says Laura in a video letter to the U.S. government, speaking about her husband who died trying to cross the U.S./Mexico border to search for work. Letters From the Other Side interweaves video letters carried across the U.S./Mexico border with the intimate stories of women left behind in post-NAFTA Mexico. By focusing on a side of the immigration story rarely told by the media or touched upon in our national debate, the film paints a complex portrait of families torn apart by economics, communities dying at the hands of globalization, and governments incapable or unwilling to do anything about it.

Rev. Mike Mulberry, pastor at Community United Church of Christ and a leader in the Champaign-Urbana New Sanctuary Movement, facilitated the discussion, equipped with statistical and economic information about the global economy and crossing borders. Many were engaged in what Mike and the film had to say.

This fall's series was cosponsored by: Activist Forum; Anti-War, Anti-Racism Effort (AWARE); Anti-War, Anti-Racism Effort on Campus; Central Illinois Jobs with Justice; Channing-Murray Foundation; Community United Church of Christ; International Socialist Organization; La Casa Cultural Latina*; School for Designing a Society; South Asian Collective; Students for Social Equality; United Students Against Sweatshops; University YMCA; Urbana-Champaign Friends Meeting; and Vietnam Veterans Against the War (CU chapter).

The IDF would like to especially thank La Casa Cultural Latina for their generous sponsorship.

Overall, the Human Rights Film Series had a great four weeks. The IDF thanks all of its co-sponsors and all of you who came out to the series!

Bayer Challenges IDF

Rev. Charles Bayer came to speak at IDF for two events on March 28-29, 2007. On March 28, he spoke to the local community in a talk entitled, "Bring Them To Justice." On March 29, he gave a workshop for clergy and lay leaders entitled, "Reclaiming The Prophetic Vision."

Charles Bayer, Director of Progressive Christians United of Inland Valley area of Los Angles, California, presented a challenge to the Illinois Disciple Foundation when he was here in late March. Rev. Bayer is a minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and has been a leader of the denomination in the field of political and social concerns area. He was the primary mover behind the creation of the Disciples Justice Action Network, a national justice action network for the Disciples of Christ.

The challenge presented to the IDF was that as a ministry on the campus of the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, we should identify what students are interested in and reach them regarding those interests from a Christian Faith perspective. He cited the example of what IDF has done regarding the "Anti- Chief" issue as a racism issue and how that is a Christian moral issue.

Just as congregations today must find new forms of ministry and new mission emphases, so must IDF identify new ways to minister to students of the University community. Much of the challenge also is related to how the IDF can fund its ministry and mission with the lack of funding coming from other church institutions today.

Bayer also indicated that we must find ways to put emphasis on the theological and pastoral care issues and less on administrative and organizational efforts. We must be clear on our priorities as a mission and ministry in this student oriented community. "The gospel," said Bayer, "is not just social action, but is about transformation of lives. This is really evangelism as its' primary intent." IDF Bayer suggested, "is in a position to reach out to liberals who are not comfortable with church as they know it and make the church a viable part of their lives. We should also be positioned as a ministry on campus, "to reach out to the people who are feeling pushed aside or perceived as being "outcasts", such as gays and lesbians, as well as others who are left out of the institutional church." We are challenged to form new "para-church" groups that receive care and support, but who also are engaged in witnessing to the world from a gospel perspective.

Recap of the Spring Human Rights Film Series

The Illinois Disciples Foundation recently hosted its Semi-Annual Human Rights Film Series. Each Thursday, for four consecutive weeks, the IDF invited students and community members to view films on social justice issues. After the films audience members had the opportunity to discuss the issues of the film with someone knowledgeable on the subjects presented.

The first Thursday, the film Declining By Degrees was shown. The film featured the struggles of today’s students and professors in an overwhelmingly pricey and competitive college environment. This film took viewers on a journey of the prices some had to pay in order to receive, what has become, essential education. The documentary looked at the lives of hard working college students who had to pay both their tuition and study, college students not so prone to work and study, professors trying to find time to teach amongst their publishing and schools that were desperately trying to figure out how to make their programs for students better. The discussion afterwards was very demanding of applicable activism on how to get professors and students involved in helping to make colleges a more fruitful time of life for all college affiliates.

The next screening that was shown was Hungry For Profit. This documentary reviewed the global agricultural business and its exploitation of the underpaid farm workers. Discussion about community activism in regards to shopping at fair trade centers as well as food co-ops seemed to be the main topic of discussion.

The following Thursday, Who Killed the Electric Car had, by far, the best turn out of people. This movie explained the demise of General Motors electric car, the EV1. Oil companies, the federal government and a lack of consumer consciousness seemed to added to taking away these very environmentally sound vehicles. During the discussion many voiced concern about how much coal, another global warming emission, would also effect the environment. Also, the question of where consumers would be able to charge their car ensued. The discussion leader explained how hybrid cars with rechargeable batteries were probably peoples’ best bets for driving an environmentally sound car.

The final film, Why We Fight, also had a good turn out of people. The film discussed how America has effectively made one of the most powerful war machines. American government officials have continually pumped money into a very scary and dangerous military. Some discussed, how at the college level, activist groups could organize and educate. Others described a very helpless feeling about their role in choosing their government.

Overall the films brought community members and college students together to discuss and educate themselves about current impending issues. Many walked away with a new sense of activism and a want to make the world a better place.