Southwest Regional Youth Conference-Phoenix, Arizona

The Southwest Regional Youth Conference in Phoenix, Arizona was hosted by the Center for Community Change, an organization under the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM). JIFM was contacted to represent Texas and five bright young ladies from across Texas flew to the "hot" state of Arizona, a state critical to the immigration movement.

The purpose of the trip was to receive more information on:

• Immigration and the DREAM Act
• Guidance on Advanced Organizing
• Coalition Building
• Electoral Programs
• Network with other other organizations
• Group experiences
• How to create a regional structure and communication between states
• History of FIRM and who is involved
• Leadership Development

The other states represented were: California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona

JIFM stood out because we facilitated several workshops and discussions and we were also able to handout a complete packet of JIFM information.

We were also accompanied by a Houston Chronicle Reporter who was there to report on JIFM's participation and the stories of the girls who went. The experience was empowering and met great leaders with one common goal and that is: Immigrant Rights and the passage of the DREAM Act.

We would like to THANK CCC for the opportunity and hope that we are always kept in mind for other conferences!

Donajih Robles-

The pictures will be posted at JIFM's myspace SOON. (www.myspace.com/JIFM)