For Immediate Release April 17, 2013
VILLAGE SQUARE HOSTS FORUM ON IMMIGRATION REFORM
“Immigration and the American Melting Pot” examines national, state and human issues
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – April 17, 2013 – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio now occupies the pivotal position in whether sweeping immigration reforms soon become law. Next Tuesday evening, Rubio’s General Counsel since taking office, Len Collins, will join a headliner panel at The Village Square’s Dinner at the Square program, “Immigration and the American Melting Pot,” to discuss proposed reforms and the human and policy dimensions of the immigration crisis. Collins left the position on Friday to return to Tallahassee to practice law at the statewide law firm Broad and Cassel.
Reform of the immigration system – considered on both sides of the aisle to be profoundly broken –represents a unique opportunity for cooperation on substantial legislation at a time when hyper-partisanship has made even the most routine acts of Congress impossible.
Joining Collins on the panel is State Senator Anitere Flores (R-Miami) who chaired a series of 2011 immigration hearings and worked on a bill to tighten Florida’s immigration laws; Antonio Ginatta, advocacy director for the US Program at the international organization Human Rights Watch – specializing in the policy and legal issues that impact immigrants; and FSU President Emeritus and past American Bar Association president Sandy D’Alemberte.
D’Alemberte is currently representing “DREAMer” Jose Godinez-Samperio in his case before the Florida Supreme Court. High school valedictorian, Eagle Scout and FSU Law School graduate Godinez-Samperio was brought to America from Mexico at age nine by his parents; he is petitioning for the right to join the Florida Bar in order to practice law, a right currently denied him due to his undocumented immigrant status. A decision in the case is expected shortly.
“Immigration and the American Melting Pot” will be held on Tuesday, April 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church, downtown. The program is the last in the Dinner at the Square 2012-13 season titled “E Pluribus Unum,” exploring issues that unite and divide us as Americans.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Rabbi Jack Romberg of Temple Israel.
For more information or to purchase tickets, go online to www.tothevillagesquare.org, call 590-6646 or email info@tothevillagesquare.org. A limited number of scholarship tickets are available.
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Read all about our upcoming program “Immigration & the American Melting Pot” BY CLICKING HERE.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio made the Sunday talk show circuit yesterday outlining the basics of an immigration reform plan being hammered out by the bipartisan “Gang of 8.” We’re delighted that next Tuesday, April 23rd Rubio’s General Counsel will be joining our panel for Immigration and the American Melting Pot to give us the latest inside information about the deal from the perspective of the senator who is the key to getting it done.
Joining Collins on the panel is State Senator Anitere Flores (R-Miami) who chaired a series of 2011 immigration hearings and authored a bill to tighten Florida’s immigration laws; Antonio Ginatta, advocacy director for the US Program at the international organization Human Rights Watch and FSU President Emeritus and past American Bar Association president Sandy D’Alemberte, who is currently representing “DREAMer” Jose Godinez-Samperio in his case before the Florida Supreme Court to join the Florida Bar. High school valedictorian and FSU Law School graduate Godinez-Samperio was brought to America from Mexico at age nine by his parents.
“Immigration and the American Melting Pot” will be held on Tuesday, April 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church, downtown. Learn more about the panelists and reserve your seat now.
From USA Today, by TaMaryn Waters
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — It wasn’t really a dating scene.
But a non-profit here borrowed the concept of speed dating to allow a dozen officials and leaders to get some face time with about five dozen constituents Thursday.
Some participants quizzed leaders on water and air quality, budget issues, the homeless, development in rural areas, educational programs and police officers in schools. Others said little and allowed the leaders to share unknown facts about themselves or their stance on issues. Read the rest of the article at USA Today.
Watch the Video: HERE
By TaMaryn Waters
It wasn’t really a dating scene.
Although, every seven minutes, a bell sounded to alert a dozen featured officials and leaders that it was time to switch tables at The Village Square’s “Speed Date Your Local Leaders” event Thursday night. The inaugural event attracted more than 60 people, all eager to pose questions and get face time with some of Tallahassee’s most influential people.
Read the entire article at Tallahassee.com
“We can disagree without being disagreeable. As Christians, we’re commanded to love our enemies, not just our neighbors – but our enemies. We can stand up for our convictions without demonizing those who are opposed to us, those who disagree with us. That’s supposed to be what America’s about. We’re supposed to be able to disagree and respect each other’s personhood and respect each other’s dignity.” -- Dr. Richard Land, Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee on “This Week”
Last week’s OUR TOWN forum featured city and county commissioners and the Tallahassee Democrat’s Bob Gabordi as moderator. If you didn’t catch it then, WFSU will be airing the program tomorrow night, Saturday April 13th at 7pm. Miss that one too? You’ll be able to listen to the program online at WFSU shortly after it is aired.
Listen to the last Faith, Food, Friday of the year HERE. Listen to the whole season of programs HERE. We’ll see you next October!
We are currently full for this evening. If you’d like to come to St. John’s, we may be able to accomodate you, but can’t promise. Maybe you’ve never tried it yourself, but everyone’s heard of speed dating. First offered by an Israeli rabbi to help Jewish singles find love, now there’s Christian speed dating, graduate student speed dating, even speed dating for pet adoption and – for the truly noncommittal – online speed dating.
But nothing beats civic speed dating.
At a time when interactions between citizens and their government are either increasingly hostile or practically non-existent, it’s probably past time for a little matchmaking. It’s free and we’re even treating for pizza and drinks.
Leaders will rotate from table to table every 7 minutes, offering each group of participants an opportunity to ask questions or offer ideas that might never have rated a phone call or public testimony, but are the grist of good citizenship and good governance nonetheless.
If you’re waiting for your civic responsibility to get more entertaining, you’re probably out of luck. Click here to reserve your seat (seating is limited, so suggest you not delay).
For Immediate Release April 9, 2013
THE VILLAGE SQUARE AND LEADERSHIP TALLAHASSEE HOST ‘SPEED DATE’ TOWN HALL
Citizens invited to interact with local leadership using ‘speed date’ format
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – April 9, 2013 – Maybe you’ve never tried it yourself, but everyone’s heard of speed dating. First offered by an Israeli rabbi to help Jewish singles find love, now there’s Christian speed dating, graduate student speed dating, even speed dating for pet adoption and – for the truly noncommittal – online speed dating.
But nothing beats civic speed dating.
At a time when interactions between citizens and their government are either increasingly hostile or practically non-existent, it’s probably past time for a little matchmaking.
Single or married, this Thursday, April 11, citizens have the unusual opportunity to “Speed Date Your Local Leaders” – enjoying pizza and chatting informally with commissioners, the police chief, superintendent of schools, editor of the newspaper, and other officials.
Leaders will rotate from table to table every 7 minutes, offering each group of participants an opportunity to ask questions or offer ideas that might never have rated a phone call or public testimony, but are the grist of good citizenship and good governance nonetheless.
Co-sponsored by Leadership Tallahassee, the forum is a continuation of the ongoing OUR TOWN series of local issues forums offered by The Village Square, a nonprofit formed by local leaders to improve the civic dialogue. The project is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Fund at the Community Foundation of North Florida. The Knight Foundation supports innovative ideas to create informed and engaged communities nationwide.
The April 11 program is from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church at 211 North Monroe Street. It is free and open to the public, though a reservation is required (participants will print a ticket online). Pizza and drinks will be provided at no charge.
For more information, a list of participating officials and to RSVP, go online to tothevillagesquare.org or call 264-8785. Space is limited.
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When FSU law school graduate Jose Godinez-Samperio passed the Florida Bar, it wasn’t exactly national news. Except that Godinez-Samperio wouldn’t be admitted to the Bar because he was an undocumented immigrant. Brought to America from Mexico at age nine by his parents, “DREAMer” Godinez-Samperio enlisted the help of his law school professor FSU President Emeritus and past president of the American Bar Association Sandy D’Alemberte to bring his case to the Florida Supreme Court.
In two weeks, on Tuesday evening April 23, D’Alemberte will join a Village Square panel to discuss the human and policy dimensions of immigration – and proposed reforms – in the United States and Florida. Meet our other panelists and reserve your seat by CLICKING HERE. Listen to the NPR Morning Edition story about Jose Godinez-Samperio here.
Here’s who’ll be available to visit with citizens Thursday evening in our first ever Speed Date Your Local Leaders forum (remember, we buy the pizza and drinks…)
City Commissioners Nancy Miller, Gil Ziffer and Scott Maddox; County Commissioners John Dailey, Bryan Desloge, Nick Maddox and Mary Ann Lindley; Tallahassee Democrat Editor Bob Gabordi, Leon County Schools Superintendent Jackie Pons, City Manager Anita Favors Thompson, County Administrator Vince Long, TPD Chief Dennis Jones, and School Board Member Dee Dee Rassmussen. Make your reservation NOW or there won’t be any space left…
Did you miss OUR TOWN, featuring city and county commissioners last week? You’re in luck. You can watch the video online at Tallahassee.com.
