Individuals
Join Jesuit and other Catholic individuals and institutions in educating, praying, and advocating for humane migration policies throughout March 2017.
Ignatian Family Advocacy Month (IFAM) encourages Jesuit and other Catholic institutions to join together throughout the month of February in educating, praying, and advocating for humane migration policy.
While we have a variety of learn-pray-advocate options below, our priorities include:
Sign Up and Report-Back: Please help us more effectively engage with you during IFAM by letting us know how you plan to participate, and sending a report-back form for any advocacy meetings completed.
1. Host a Calling Congress Party
Gather your community and your cell phones. We’ll provide the scripts. Calling Congress parties offer a quick, easy way to take action (calling only take 5-10 minutes), and serves as a great add-on to an education/prayer event, or a good opportunity to spend time with your community.
Step 1: Pick a time, date, and location. If possible, schedule the party during M-F, 9a.m-5p.m.; otherwise, your attendees will be leaving answering machine messages. The party location should be quiet enough to allow folks to make their calls. Bonus: provide snacks!
Step 2: Print your call-in scripts and help participants find their Congresspersons’ office numbers. We have provided 3 script options below for you to choose from. Each participant should call both Senators and their Congressperson, and we recommend folks use the U.S. Capitol Switchboard number (202) 224-3121 to be connected to their D.C. offices. Participants will need to know the names of their Congresspersons to use Switchboard. Have volunteers on hand to help participants look up who they are.
Step 3: Call! Call! Call! Remember, each participant should make 3 calls. After your successful event, send an email to ifam@ignatiansolidarity.net to let us know how it went!
2. Schedule In-District Visits With Your Members of Congress
Establishing and continuing relationships with your Senators and Representatives is crucial to advocating for justice. As both representatives and members of your communities, every Senator and Representative has an office–often multiple offices–in their home states. Visits to these offices are an impactful way to speak, neighbor to neighbor, with representatives and let them know why and how migration policy impacts your community.
How To Schedule Your IFAM Meeting
IFAM Legislative Advocacy Meeting Task Sheet
More Immigration Resources
Elevate the conversation and help others learn about the issue by hosting educational events in your campus, parish, or community.
Join the Ignatian family in praying for families threatened by deportation and for wisdom for leaders in Congress, and invite your family and community to join you!
Prayer Resources:
Learn more about current migration policy and ways to organize around the Pope’s visit to Mexico/Ignatian Family Advocacy Month. Join ISN and the Jesuit Conference on during the week of February 27-March 3 for a policy briefing/organizing call.
Tweets
I’m joining #IFAM17, a nationwide advocacy movement for humane #migration policies | #educate #pray #advocate | ignatiansolidarity.net/ifam
Join me for a #CallingCongress party for more humane #migration policies on [DATE][TIME] | Event details: [LINK]
I stand with #Pope #Francis in asking for more humane #migration policies. #IFAM17
I’m meeting with [CONGRESSPERSON HANDLE] to talk about #migration as part of #IFAM17
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