National Conference February 6-7, 2009 – Oakland, CA
We invite you to endorse, attend and be part of the “Cities for All: Integrating Our Communities” National Conference on February 6-7, 2009 at Laney College in Oakland, California. The purpose of this conference is to highlight and explain the implementation of municipal identification cards as a tool for the social, economic and political integration of our communities. As you have probably already learned there are currently two cities–New Haven CT and San Francisco, CA– in the United States that have adopted municipal identification card programs that offer ID/resident cards to all residents. These programs, initially pushed by the undocumented community have turned into inclusive, community-wide positive projects that help provide proper governmental identification cards to those that otherwise do not posses one. For an array of reasons many citizens often lack a valid government issued identification which prevents them from accessing many services such as bank accounts and libraries. Lack of valid identification may as well expose them to identification verifying issues with local police and businesses. Many of these residents are already marginalized members of our community such as low income, the homeless, youth, elderly and undocumented; the lack of an ID only exacerbates the compromising economic and social conditions that already exist.
We are hosting this conference to share the experiences of the SF and New Haven ID programs and also to brainstorm with you about how similar programs can be established in your cities to help integrate all our residents. Such programs are legally valid and well within the general powers of our municipal governments. At first the concept of a municipal ID may seem unnecessary. However, in addition to providing an official ID to those who would otherwise lack one, groups working on these programs have learned that the implementation of municipal identification cards can creatively and effectively spur local economic activity and make our communities safer. For example, groups in Oakland are currently working on ways to create pride in local economic spending through business and recreational activity discount programs as part of their ID project. In New Haven, the municipal ID cards have proven effective with law enforcement authorities since more people are now willing to cooperate with police because they no longer have to fear being harassed for not having proper identification.
Please see the program websites in San Francisco and New Haven.
The conference main goals:
a) Consolidate the implementation of municipal ID’s in Bay Area Cities.
b) Share our experiences at local level with other organizations and authorities from other different states.
c) Break barriers and convince, with valid justifications and facts, that the municipal ID card is the solution to many community problems.
d) Involve the participants in a national movement.
Talking points:
a) Social integration=human rights.
b) Identity/safety.
c) Economic sustainability as a potential global benefit.
Conference body:
a) Sharing experiences: immigrants, homeless, LGBT groups.
b) What is a Municipal ID Card? FAQ.
c) Overcoming barrier/ Introducing strategic planning.
d) Support new coalitions offering tour of presentations.
e) Setting a time to launch a national movement.
Workshops/presentations Include:
People Privacy-Inclusiveness.
Economic/Social/Political Context for Federal Law Immigration Reform.
Identity and Safety.
What is a Municipal ID Card and it’s Multiple Uses.
Legislation Yale Report.
Grassroots Strategies to Integrate Our Communities.
Local Commerce and Economic Sustainability for Marginalized Communities and new technologies.
Overcoming Politics of Division Cross-Alliances.
Implementation, Key Studies : New Haven/San Francisco.
Alternative presentations and performance on: Art, Culture & Social Integration.
We respectfully invite you to join us to learn about this important and positive project for our communities. The implementation of the municipal ID card in different cities would help uphold local control and community input over programs that are inclusive and positive for all in our communities. If implemented properly and with the input of all marginalized community members these programs can be powerful tools for community integration.
If you are interested in endorsing of this event, please see the attached sheet. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Miguel Robles at:
415.368.8481/alianzalatinoamericana@gmail.com
