The podcast explores the ongoing humanitarian crisis of immigration, discussing current policies and their impact on cities and resources. It also highlights the connection between the climate crisis and immigration, and proposes a more humane and sensible immigration policy. The episode features immigration lawyer and artist Carolina Rubio-MacWright, who shares her advocacy work and the importance of taking action at the local community level.
Carolina Rubio-MacWright combines artistic workshops with legal advocacy to foster human connections between immigrant and non-immigrant communities, educating on rights and building empathy.
Carolina emphasizes the need for comprehensive immigration reform, including temporary visas, prioritizing family unity, and investing in border cities for employment opportunities and stability.
Deep dives
Creating Connections Through Food and Rights
Carolina Rubio McRite combines legal advocacy with artistic practices to create workshops that bring together immigrant and non-immigrant communities. Through activities like salsa-making workshops, she fosters human connections and provides education on immigrant rights, housing rights, and environmental rights. Her workshops aim to humanize immigrants and build empathy within local communities.
The Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Carolina highlights the failures of the current immigration system and the harsh policies imposed by previous administrations. She emphasizes the importance of comprehensive immigration reform to provide a pathway to legalization for undocumented individuals. Carolina suggests creating temporary visas and prioritizing family unity, as well as developing programs that invest in border cities to provide employment opportunities and stability to immigrants.
The Power of Art in Advocacy
Carolina's artistic background influences her advocacy work, as she believes art has the power to embody a better future. Through her artwork and creative interventions, she aims to teach immigrants their rights and create spaces for diverse communities to come together. Her innovative projects, such as the Ice Cream Truck of Rights, use art as a tool for education and empowerment.
Taking Action at the Local Level
Carolina emphasizes the importance of taking action at the local level and engaging with one's local community to pursue justice and equity. She encourages individuals to connect with organizations and groups aligned with their passions, whether it's immigration, racial equality, or environmental issues. By building connections and making small, gradual changes, Carolina believes true societal change can be achieved.
Immigration in America is a humanitarian crisis and a political disaster. It has been for years. In this episode, Khalil and Ben talk to immigration lawyer, artist and activist Carolina Rubio-MacWright about current immigration policy, and what’s happening today in cities like Chicago and New York with ballooning populations of immigrants sent from border states. Carolina also shares the innovative ways she uses art and advocacy to connect with people at the heart of the crisis, people whom most of us can’t live without.