Immigration Civic Lab Learns Locally

On their first Civic Lab Fieldwork Day of the year, members of the Parker community had the unique opportunity to learn more about the life experiences of some recent Venezuelan immigrants. 

Parker’s Civic Lab program pushes 11th grade students beyond the classroom and allows them to think in ways they can effect change in their community and participate as active citizens. Students involved in the Immigration Justice Civic Lab meet with lawyers and judges, policy makers and activists and also hear from immigrants about their life experiences throughout the year to help broaden their perspective about the issues.

St. Pauls United Church of Christ is a Lincoln Park institution that until recently provided temporary housing to four families who recently immigrated to Chicago from Venezuela. While these families transition to long-term housing, representatives from St. Pauls help provide English classes, food, medical care, educational opportunities and employment possibilities. Parent emerita and Associate Director of Enrollment and Financial Assistance Karen Fisher and fellow parent emeritus Geoff Gist ’79 had already been assisting the church with their immigration outreach and connected teacher Matt Laufer and his 11th grade Civic Lab students with the site.

In their time together at St. Pauls, students learned firsthand about the horrific journey these people took from Venezuela to local Chicago police stations and their eventual arrival at St. Pauls, developing a better understanding of and empathy for the current immigrant experience in Chicago and Cook County.