Rooted in Resilience
Community power social
Tuesday, September 22nd
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Esperanza Arts Center
4261 N 5th St, Philadelphia, PA 19140
Honoring the Power of Immigrant Leadership in Pennsylvania
For over 20 years, the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition (PIC) has championed the rights of immigrants, migrants, and refugees across the state. Our collective strength is rooted in the people power of our immigrant communities—the very folks PIC member organizations work and organize with every day.
Now more than ever, it’s crucial to make space for joy and reflection. That is why we’re coming together on September 22nd of this year to celebrate the leaders who power this movement.
Join us for a powerful evening as we honor the individuals who are driving change in their communities through our Community Power Awards. These awards, nominated and selected by PIC members, recognize leaders who have advanced immigrant rights across Pennsylvania. We are excited to announce that dinner will be catered by renowned Chef Kurt Evans, owner of Black Dragon, artist-activist, and social entrepreneur who uses food as a vehicle to address mass incarceration and systemic racism.
Champion $5,000
Host $2,000
Supporter $1,000
Friend $500
Ally $100
We are thrilled to welcome Poet, Trapeta B. Mayson as our keynote speaker for the evening. Trapeta B. Mayson, LCSW, MBA, is a Liberian-born poet, community leader, and Chief Executive Officer of COMHAR, Inc., a leading Philadelphia behavioral health organization. Raised in Philadelphia, she has more than two decades of experience in human services and community leadership. A former Philadelphia Poet Laureate, Mayson is also the founder of Healing Verse and the Healing Verse Poetry Line. Her work explores migration, belonging, memory, healing, and community. Together, we’ll lift up the power, passion, and resilience that fuels our shared movement and make lasting memories that will guide us on the road ahead.
We’re proud to present the Community Leader Award to;
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Nery Betty Mejia - leader with Centro de Apoyo Comunitario
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Veronica Perez - leader with El Comité de Trabajadorxs
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Luz Amanda Hank - leader with Frontline Dignity
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Fatuma Muhina - partner of Somali Bantu Community Organization of Pittsburgh
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Purma Muschajew - leader with Sarin Gal
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Pheng Seng - leader with Vietlead
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Edward Chong Lee - leader with Woori Center
We’re proud to present the Youth Leader Award to;
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Suann Lee - youth leader with Woori Center
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Merry Shepard - youth leader with Make the Road Pennsylvania
And we are overjoyed to honor Steven Larín with the Legacy Leader Award for his lifelong dedication to immigrant rights. Steven Larín is an experienced nonprofit director and immigration law attorney. He began his immigration law practice over 25 years ago in a community-based nonprofit in Los Angeles serving primarily Latin American families. After relocating to Philadelphia, Steven worked for 20 years at Nationalities Service Center, representing clients in immigration matters and serving in various management roles from Legal Director to Deputy Director. There, he led programs to make legal and social services more accessible to immigrants, and partnered with community members and organizations to engage in policy advocacy at the local, state, and national levels. Two decades of advocacy included efforts to combat notario fraud, improve language access for city services, establish a statewide program for the representation of detained immigrants, and seek humanitarian relief for children and adults fleeing violence, armed conflicts, and natural disasters.
