In Focus | Local | National | Our Town

Jewish Latino Teen Coalition lobbies in D.C. for immigration reform

Members of the Jewish Latino Teen Coalition with U.S. Representative Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona, April 3, (L-R): Elliot Baruch, Katie Kantor. Lily Molina, Derek Contreras, Mia Martinez, Amari Lampert, Kirkpatrick, Sofia Lyon, Bella Wexler, Shira Dubin, Noah Richter, Gavin Carmichael Photos courtesy Jewish Latino Teen Coalition)

Eleven members of the Jewish Latino Teen Coalition, a program founded by the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Jewish Community Relations Council and the Office of U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, visited Washington, D.C., March 31-April 5 to lobby lawmakers on immigration reform. In addition to meeting with a dozen lawmakers or their chiefs of staff, the teens visited the Newseum and met with members of Operation Understanding, a similar D.C.-based group that brings together the Jewish and African American communities. They also met with former Tucsonans Josh Lederman, a journalist who covered the White House for the AP, and Josh Protas, vice president of public policy for MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, who is a former JCRC director. Other meetings included the American Immigration Council and HIAS.

Members of the Jewish Latino Teen Coalition talk with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina (right) on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, April 4.