Immigration is a complex and difficult social justice issue that affects millions in the US daily and thousands in the larger Seattle area. Seattle Prep instills in students a passion for social justice and advocating for reform in the community. Many students have become involved in social justice organizations that aim to promote social change and work effectively within communities to create a more inclusive and understanding space. Juniors Layla Schueneman and Cece Rocha are key leaders in the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center, IPJC. IPJC is a Catholic organization that builds a community to act for systemic change in the world. They have helped to run advocacy summits within Washington, most recently being the Sacred Salmon campaign. Schueneman and Rocha are a part of the Youth Action Teen Internship, an internship for high schoolers who want to act for social change in their community.
This year, the program’s specific focus is immigration and how it affects youth in Seattle. In the first semester, Rocha and Schueneman conducted one-on-ones with 6-9 people, trying to identify a common theme for what the youth in the community were struggling with. It was determined that immigration and deportation were huge fears amongst teens, not necessarily for themselves, but for friends and family members they knew.
“This is because there are no more protected spaces in the US anymore. Previously, ICE was unable to come into churches and schools, but they are now able to” said Schueneman.
This is Schueneman’s first year working and volunteering for IPJC, but she has constantly been involved in social justice programs at Prep since her freshman year. She is a member of GJC, has led Peace and Justice Week events before, and has attended the Seattle Prep Arupe Summit and the Ignatian Teach in in DC.
“Since high school, I have had an interest in social justice, specifically in health care and immigration. I liked the idea of listening to teens in the community and seeing what challenges they are facing,” Schueneman said.
“Sometimes, Prep can feel like a bubble, and you might not get a comprehensive understanding of the struggles that people in Seattle face.” She added. “It’s cool to go outside Prep and really listen to the greater Seattle community and take actions towards a common issue.”
After identifying immigration as a common fear amongst teens, it was decided that for the second half of the year, IPJC would build a movement against anti-immigration. Schueneman and Rocha were both heavily involved with this process, creating a campaign called Refuge for the Weary. While fighting against anti-immigration is constantly ongoing, the campaign culminated in a panel hosted by IPJC interns featuring five immigrants with unique stories surrounding their experience with the US immigration system and their treatment afterwards.
Rocha, along with many other junior Prep students, were heavily involved in the panel’s creation and putting on the event on March 31st. “Going through this process and creating the event has given me so many powerful tools and very unique insights into what the US immigration system is like for so many people,” Rocha said.
“It has been one of the most rewarding experiences to be a part of IPJC and create events like this. I have learned how to communicate and be professional and have been given the tools to create social change in my community,” she said.
Most importantly, Schueneman and Rocha both talked about the use of power and how IPJC has educated them on the importance of using their power for good and change.
“IPJC has taught me what power means and how I now have the power to change things in today’s world”. Rocha said. “We all have a responsibility to use our voice and power to help those that we can and constantly stand up for those who can’t.”
