Newberg Steps up
4/18/17
The work of Unidos is growing! With the establishment of the Newberg Network of Unidos, we come closer to our goal of bringing our mission to all of Yamhill County .
Following the November election and the establishment of McMinnville as an Inclusive City, we heard from many community members and advocates in Newberg who wanted to ensure that their Latino neighbors felt welcome and secure in the Newberg-Dundee region of Yamhill County. This advocates were enthusiastic about educating and supporting families during the turmoil that has marginalized many immigrant families, especially those from Latin America.
The Newberg Network’s initial gathering consisted of 12 community members, but it has grown to over 70 members in the last two months. It is energizing to see so many people ready to provide the work, time, and resources to support Latino individuals and families.in Newberg.
Both Latinos and non-Latinos have organized two community events to discuss immigration and family preparedness. The Newberg School Superintendent, Kym LeBlanc-Esparza, City Councilor, Denise Bacon, and Newberg Police Chief, Brian Casey, spoke to a crowd of more than 200 people at Edwards Elementary School to assure that local leadership would be responsive to the concerns of the Latino population. A second gathering assisted more than 60 families with Family Preparedness packets as developed by the ACLU of Oregon, Latino Network (Portland), and the Civil Liberties Defense Center (Eugene.)
The Newberg Network has reached over 300 new residents of our community. We are thankful for all the individuals, organizations, and faith communities who stepped up to help serve our community and welcomed the vision of Unidos with open arms in Newberg.
The Newberg Network will be meeting soon to establish its leadership team and work groups that engage in the education, advocacy, civic participation, and leadership development that are hallmarks of Unidos. Thanks, Newberg Network, for joining with us to ensure strong and vibrant communities!