WI Faith Voices for Justice
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dane sanctuary coalition

The Dane Sanctuary Coalition assists vulnerable immigrant and refugee communities by providing physical sanctuary and other services as needed, and by engaging in advocacy, direct action, education, and trainings on immigrant rights. Formed on July 7, 2017, in partnership with Voces de la Frontera and Centro Hispano of Madison, Dane Sanctuary organizes congregations and organizations to provide physical sanctuary to our immigrant friends and neighbors who are at risk for deportation. We do this as part of the national New Sanctuary Movement. 
 
The Dane Sanctuary Coalition has been created in response to immoral immigration policies that threaten families, instill fear in our communities, and violate the most basic ethical standards all our faith traditions teach – that we are all created in the image of God, endowed with inherent worth and dignity, and deserving of a life free of violence and deprivation. 
 
The mission of the Dane Sanctuary Coalition states:
Based on our shared faith commitments to social justice, we will assist vulnerable immigrant and refugee communities. We will do this, under the leadership of Voces de la Frontera and Centro Hispano, by providing and supporting physical sanctuary as needed, and by acting as a conduit for information, education, and trainings on other immigrant justice actions.

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Congregations currently offering sanctuary are:
  • First Unitarian Society
  • Congregation Shaarei Shamayim
  • Madison Christian Community – Advent Lutheran Church
  • Community of Hope United Church of Christ
  • Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
  • Madison Mennonite Church
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Supporting congregations include:
  • First Congregational United Church of Christ
  • Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ
  • First Baptist Church
  • James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Congregation
  • Lake Edge Lutheran Church
  • Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society
  • Temple Beth El
  • Presbyterian House - UW Madison
  • Beth Israel Center
  • Christ Presbyterian Church
  • Lake Edge United Church of Christ
  • St. Francis House
  • The Crossing, Inc.
  • Midvale Lutheran Church
  • Santa Maria ELCA

​Many more congregations are in the process of deciding what their place in the Coalition will be. Additionally, the following organizations have joined our Coalition in support of our immigrant and refugee communities:
  • Worker Justice Wisconsin
  • Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice
  • Family Farm Defenders
  • Supporting Our Immigrant Neighbors
  • Teaching Assistants' Association
  • Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - Madison
  • Community Immigration Law Center. 

Thirty-six times, the Bible commands us to love the stranger in our midst. But these are not strangers among us. They are our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers. They sit beside us in class. They own businesses in our neighborhoods. They are part of the fabric of our community and we are richer for their presence among us.
 
As people of faith, we strive to bring to reality our vision of a world where every person is treated with dignity and respect, where their contributions to our society are valued, and where all can live together in freedom and safety.  This vision impels us to stand together in unity with our immigrant and refugee friends and neighbors, to offer our support and help, and to provide Sanctuary to those in need. We invite you to join us in this work!


Email danesanctuary@gmail.com for more information and to arrange for speakers to come to your congregation.
  • Like us on Facebook! 
  • Download our​ brochure
  • Guidelines (English) 
  • Directrices (Spanish)

​Click here* for more resources on Sanctuary
*any linkages from this web site to the web site of another party does not constitute or imply the endorsement or recommendation of any particular items on that website.

Watch videos of past events

The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez:
​An Evening with the Author, October 8, 2020
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An evening with Aaron Bobrow-Strain, author of our Big Read book - The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez. Watch here.


New Developments in Immigration Policy
Oct. 15, 2020

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Aissa Olivarez, Managing Attorney at the Community Immigration Law Center, updated us on current immigration law, the situation at the border, and what is happening in detention centers right here in Wisconsin. Watch here. 

Get To Know Our Immigration Partners
Oct. 21, 2020

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Leaders in the immigration rights community in Dane County talk about their work, and how you can volunteer on behalf of our immigrant families in our community. 
​​Watch here.


​dane sanctuary coalition launch press conference - July 2017

Statements from the press conference

press_conference_statement_-_rev._nick_utphall_-_oracion__santuario_.pdf
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press_conference_statement_-_rev._nick_utphall.pdf
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press_conference_statement_-_karen_menendez_coller.pdf
File Size: 275 kb
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press_statement_bonnie_margulis.pdf
File Size: 265 kb
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press_statement_bonnie_margulis_-_spanish.pdf
File Size: 132 kb
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press_conference_statement_-_kelly_crocker.pdf
File Size: 147 kb
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press_statement_kelly_crocker_-_oracion__santuario_.pdf
File Size: 176 kb
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press_conference_statement_-_ruthanne_landsness_spanish.pdf
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press_statement_r_landsness_orucc.doc.pdf
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Fill out the form below to sign up for volunteer opportunities!
Download the Spanish version here and send it to danesanctuary@gmail.com.

    Dane Sanctuary Volunteer Opportunities

    Please check off areas where you are interested in volunteering. Check all that apply.
Submit

KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER PRESS CONFERENCE - JUNE 30, 2018: sPEECHES

Keeping Families Together: On June 30, 2018, the Dane Sanctuary Coalition sponsored a press conference protesting the 'zero-tolerance' policy of the Trump Administration.  Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, Worker Justice Wisconsin, and End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin co-sponsored the press conference. Mario Garcia Sierra of Voces de la Frontera acted as MC. Speakers included Rev. Tina Lang of First United Methodist Church, Rev. Karen Armina of James Reeb Unitarian Congregation, Rev. Susan Schneider of Trinity Lutheran Church, Dr. Sadat Abiri,Becky Schigiel of Worker Justice Wisconsin, Dr. Erica Serlin - psychologist; Fabiola Hamdan,and Sister Maureen McDonnell.  You can see photos on our Facebook page.  You can download copies of some of the speeches at the bottom of this page.
keep_families_together--rev._karen_armina.pdf
File Size: 239 kb
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keep_families_together--sr._maureen_mcdonnell.pdf
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keep_families_together--rev._tina_lang.pdf
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keep_families_together--rev._susan_schneider.pdf
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familiesbelongtogether_-_becky_schigiel.pdf
File Size: 77 kb
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immigration__policy_and_trauma_-shortened_version_dr._erica_serlin.pdf
File Size: 75 kb
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keep_families_together-rev._eldonna_hazen.pdf
File Size: 34 kb
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keep_families_together--sadat_abiri_june_30.pdf
File Size: 71 kb
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July 24, 2018 Press Conference for Maria Portugal and Franco Ferreyra

On July 24, 2018, Voces de la Frontera and the Dane Sanctuary Coalition held a press conference to raise awareness of the plights of Maria Portugal - a domestic abuse survivor being threatened with deportation, and Franco Ferreyra, who had been detained by ICE at a regular check-in. Read Rev. Sonja Ingebritsen's speech at the press conference here.

Read about Maria's situation and sign a petition here and read about Franco and sign a petition to free him here.
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice | Moving from Charity to Justice
c/o Madison Christian Community
7118 Old Sauk Road
Madison, WI 53717
608-513-7121
wifaithvoices4justice@gmail.com
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