Thread: Chicago Sun-Times to Host Roundtable Discussion on Immigrant

Chicago Sun-Times to Host Roundtable Discussion on Immigrant Integration in Chicago

CHICAGO, June 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Chicago Sun-Times will host a roundtable discussion on June 28, 2007, "Immigration reform legislation and integrating immigrants into Chicago's community," the first in what will be an occasional series of "Let's Get Into It" public discussions on the Chicago area's most pressing topics.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Esther J. Cepeda will moderate a panel discussion at the Beer Garden at Navy Pier, from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. "Let's Get Into It" is part of the Chicago Sun-Times branding and marketing campaign kicked off by the city's most popular newspaper in April.

The U.S. Senate earlier this month began discussion of a controversial immigration reform bill that would place restrictions and penalties on illegal immigrants.

"This compelling topic, which affects so many Chicagoans, is just one example of the issues the Chicago Sun-Times and suntimes.com aggressively take on every day," said Sun-Times Publisher John Cruickshank. "We are honored to have guests of such caliber to talk about such an important subject that has ramifications for so many residents in the city and suburbs."

The distinguished panel includes some of the city's most prominent authorities on immigration and social issues:

-- Frank Beal, Executive Director of Chicago Metro 2020. Mr. Beal is a specialist in regional/urban planning and economical/infrastructure development. -- Dave Gorak, Executive Director of the Midwest Coalition to Reduce Immigration. Mr. Gorak's goal is to educate the public about the long-term consequences of present immigration laws and the need to reduce immigration to its traditional and sustainable levels. -- Billy Lawless, Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform. Mr. Lawless is an immigrant and is knowledgeable of the integration process of Chicago's earlier waves of Irish immigrants. -- Ngoan Le, co-chair of the New Americans Policy Council, a taskforce of private sector non-profits that work with the state of Illinois on programs designed to help immigrants integrate into Illinois communities. Ms. Le is an executive with the Chicago Community Trust. -- Rosanna Pulido, You Don't Speak for Me, a national organization of legal immigrants. Ms. Pulido is the former head of the Illinois Minuteman Project. -- Juan Salgado, Instituto del Progreso Latino. He's also on the Board of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights as well as a co-Chair of the New Americans Policy Council.

Admission is free to the public. Food is available for purchase at Navy Pier. Attendees will be invited to ask the panelists questions. The discussion will be available via podcast at http://www.suntimes.com/ at the conclusion of the event.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show ... 7215.shtml

at the Beer Garden at Navy Pier, from noon to 1 p.m. CDT

Thanks for that informatiotion.

I suspect they set it up this way to reach out to people who had some time available between lunch bites, but a round table discussion for One (1) hour during the lunch break seems hectic, tight and inadequate. It should take them the hour just for the introductions and each participant to say a few opening words !

I'll call the Sun Times and ask them if they might repeat or take the show on the road.