Screening of Made in L.A. at the Diocese of Orange

We haven't blogged for a while - but for a good reason, as we have been on the road with Made in L.A. for much of the Fall in celebration of Latin@ heritage month across the US. Here are a few events we attended:

At the end of the summer, we headed to Orange County to present Made in L.A. at a meeting of parish representatives from the Diocese of Orange, which had contacted us to promote Made in L.A. for screenings in their 60+ parishes in Orange County as a tool to explore issues of low wage work, immigration reform and immigrant rights.

Anna Nersesyan (our wonderful outreach assistant), Robert Bahar, Bishop Flores, Sister Eileen McNerney, Lupe Hernandez, Georgeann Lovett, Almudena Carracedo, Angelo Paparelli, Shirl Giacomi, Maria Aroyo.

The panel featured us and Lupe, as well as Maria Aroyo, Education and Formation Coordinator from Catholic Relief Services; Sister Eileen McNerney, Founder of Taller San Jose; Angelo A. Paparelli, Immigration Attorney and Blogger.

Georgeann Lovett, Director of Respect Life, Justice and Peace from the Diocese of Orange commented on the event: "I received VERY positive feedback from the event. It was considered very timely... very powerful (someone referred to it as potent)... The documentary and the discussion highlighted why people are immigrating into the United States both legally and illegally; the problems with trying to come here legally; how women are treated; the garment industry; worker exploitation in general; the idea that people of the same ethnic background are preying on their own; the situation of separated families; our Catholic Social Teaching regarding immigration, and the list goes on and on. Everyone walked away with powerful images and new awareness of this issue, its complexity and ways to better understand and get involved."