Randolph-Macon College will host a three-part Eyes on Immigration series. The purpose of this series is to raise awareness about the plight and contribution of the immigrant community; to foster compassion for immigrants and understanding of their challenges; and to provide opportunities to support and advocate for the immigrants in our own community.

The series is sponsored by RMC’s Department of Modern Languages, Campus Ministry, and Committee on Assemblies and Special Events (CASE), as well as Together Hanover. The series is free and open to the public.

October 22
“Documented”
7 p.m. SunTrust Theater, Brock Commons (304 Henry St.) Map and Directions

Powerful and deeply moving, this film captures the essence of DREAMers and undocumented immigrants; why they are undocumented; the difficulties of seeking legal status; and the positive contributions of immigrants to the life and economy of this country. The film tells the story of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, who is one of 11.3 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. In 2011, he outed his immigration status in the New York Times magazine. After the film, Phil Storey, immigrant rights attorney at the Virginia Poverty Law Center, and Yanet Amado, immigrant rights advocate at Virginia Interfaith Center, will lead a discussion.

October 27
UndocuAlly Training
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Dollar Tree Room, Brock Commons (304 Henry St.) Map and Directions

Learn how to be an ally to immigrants in your community. Students from VCU’s UndocuRAMs will offer UndocuAlly Training for students, faculty and community members. This program gives an overview of the history, laws and policies affecting undocumented youth, as well as practical ways in which to work with them. Presented in collaboration with RMC’s Office of Campus Ministry. Space is limited, and a light lunch will be provided; please RSVP at patriciareagan@rmc.edu.

November 15
“A Closer Look at Immigrants in Virginia”
7 p.m. Dollar Tree Room, Brock Commons (304 Henry St.) Map and Directions

Who are the immigrants in Virginia? In this panel discussion three experts will discuss the economic, cultural and business contributions and challenges of immigrants in Virginia. The experts include Laura Goren, research director of the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, Veena Lothe, immigration attorney, and Gustavo Angeles, immigrant rights community organizer from New Virginia Majority. The discussion will be followed by a Q & A.

Powerful Work
“I see this series as an opportunity to put a human face on the immigration debate, especially in the midst of such heated anti-immigrant rhetoric,” says RMC Spanish Professor Patricia Reagan, who brought this series to campus in collaboration with Together Hanover.

Reagan, who teaches a service-learning course focused on Latino immigrants, adds, “In that course, it is common at first for students to think of immigrants in the abstract and not as individuals with families and friends, goals and dreams, and joy and pain just like the rest of us. Recognizing and humanizing the immigrant reshapes the way students think and inspires them to be more informed, active and compassionate citizens. The goal of this series is to bring a little bit of that powerful work to the community at large.”

A Booming Population
Reagan says the series sheds light on the booming immigrant population in Virginia. Immigrants make up more than 12 percent of Virginia’s total population; one in six Virginia workers is an immigrant; and more than 20 percent of Virginia business owners are foreign-born entrepreneurs.

Reagan, who is currently working on a book project investigating the portrayal of immigrant children in border-crossing films, hopes the series will “bring understanding and empowerment for important social change to our communities on campus and beyond.”