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Summit centers on pros of immigration
Second annual event includes address by Baltimore Mayor, three breakout sessions
by Sharon Leff

November 21, 2005

The second annual Baltimore Immigration Summit, held on Friday at the American Visionary Art Museum, concentrated on the plurality of immigration in Baltimore.
Elizabeth Clifford, assistant professor in the sociology, anthropology and criminal justice department, had been organizing the Summit since the middle of the summer.

“This year’s focus was on the diversity and strength of Baltimore’s immigrant communities,� Clifford said. “Last year, being the first time, it was just for people to learn about the different organizations.�

While last year’s event was held on Towson’s campus, it was moved into the city this year because the city is so integral to the subject matter.

The original concept for the Summit was developed last year after Clifford recognized how many people were working in some way with immigration issues.

“I work with an immigration organization in Baltimore and I just realized how many different organizations and people were caring about this issue,� she said.

The event included three breakout sessions with information on the documentary “Freedom Dance� by its filmmakers and panel discussions on topics including “Fostering Academic Achievement.� Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley and TU Provost James Brennan also spoke at the event. Though representatives from other schools participated, Towson was the only university to sponsor the Summit.

Clifford believes the event is important for the University as it aims to increase its role in the community.

“If Towson is really serious about being Maryland’s Metropolitan University then it has to be engaged in the community it’s located in,� Clifford said.

Setareh Rayat, a senior at Patterson High School, came from Iran three years ago and is a part of a group that goes to elementary schools to explain what it is like to be an immigrant.

Rayat was on the panel for “Fostering Academic Achievement� and will be attending Towson in the fall.

Clifford feels that some people may think of immigration as a negative, despite the positive aspects it brings to the city.

“Some people think it’s a drain on society…[but] immigrants contribute in a myriad of ways to society,� Clifford said.

She hoped participants would come away with “a greater appreciation of how immigrants contribute to the society.�

Clifford estimated that there were around 160 people at the event.

“We had people register from over 80 organizations and departments,� she said.

She felt putting the event together for the second year was easier than the first time, though the event still required months of planning.

Clifford feels this year had more of a focus and was more specific than the previous Summit.

“I think just that last year it was much more about basic information, what organizations are there, what are they doing,� she said. While she feels “it was helpful and useful to do that� she wanted to make sure to “also talk about some of the strengths� of immigration.