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October 2, 2006
ANDOVER, Mass. — As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, Phillips Academy will host a panel discussion, "Immigration in America: Closed Borders — Open Arms,” on Tuesday, October 10, at 6:30 p.m. in Kemper Auditorium in the Elson Art Center. The event is open to the public. No tickets or reservations required.
The issue of immigration is one of the most complex and controversial topics in America today. With more than 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S., the issue of immigration reform has become a matter of hot debate on both Capitol Hill and in state legislatures. Since 9/11, the issue has even been tightly tied to issues of national security.
The panel, organized by Andover’s Office of Community and Multicultural Development, will focus on understanding the economic and demographic impact of legal and illegal immigration on communities across America, underlying assumptions Americans have about immigrants, and national and local initiatives to address the current waves of immigration.
Among the panelists will be Dr. Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, a professor at NYU Steinhardt School of Education, who will speak broadly about globalization and immigration in America. Dr. Suárez -Orozco lectures widely throughout the world and is the author of numerous scholarly essays, books, and edited volumes including: Globalization: Culture and Education in the New Millennium and Latinos: Remaking America.
Joining Dr. Suárez-Orozco on the panel will be Dr. Ramon Borges-Mendez, a professor at UMass Boston who has worked as a consultant with a number of organizations, including the World Bank and the U.N. Economics Commission on Latin American and the Caribbean. He will discuss recent immigration patterns in Lawrence and New England. Also on the panel will be Dr. Marcia Hohn, director of public education at the Immigrant Learning Center in Malden, Mass. Her agency helps to support immigrants by offering English language classes and developing a public education program, which includes conducting research on immigrant issues in Massachusetts.
Congressman Marty Meehan from the Fifth Congressional District of Massachusetts will serve as a fourth member of the panel. The Democratic Congressman, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 10 years, will focus on the status of current legislation related to immigration issues. Peter Drench, chair of the PA history department, will moderate the discussion.
In addition to speaking on the panel, Dr. Suárez -Orozco will be a featured speaker at the Academy’s All-School Meeting on Wednesday, October 11.
Hispanic Heritage Month began on September 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on September 16, and Chile declared independence on September 18.
On October 14-15, Phillips Academy will host its annual Latin Arts weekend.
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