CILA is pleased to announce that we are accepting presentation proposals for our 3rd annual Texas Champions for Immigrant Youth Symposium.[1] The purpose of CILA’s Symposium is twofold: to facilitate learning about working with children who entered the United States unaccompanied, and to spotlight and celebrate the amazing work being done by our fellow advocates around the state of Texas. CILA would like to hear from YOU!
Across Texas advocates are working with courage, competency, compassion, and creativity to support children who entered the U.S. unaccompanied. CILA hopes that you will share your work with us by presenting on a topic of your choice at the Symposium. You can tell us about your proposed topic by filling out this form. The topic should focus on an aspect of your practice in which you have developed an interest or expertise given the challenges in today’s legal environment, whether it is a new or courageous legal strategy or a best practice for working with a particular client population.
Last year we had exceptional presentations around youth aging out, from both a practical and a federal litigation point of view; advocating for children previously in the MPP program; friend of court challenges; and case management strategies. This year, with the change in administration and the hope many practitioners feel, we anticipate your presentation proposals will be even more varied and poignant. Any topic related to working with children in immigration proceedings is welcome.
You can propose to speak individually or with 1-2 of your fellow Texas Champions for Immigrant Youth. Presenters are not limited to Texas, so if you have collaborated with a professional in another state, please invite them to join your proposal.
If nervousness about public speaking or a perceived lack of time is holding you back from submitting a proposal, you are not alone! Let CILA know in your submission if there are ways that we can support you, if needed, in preparing for the presentation. Training and assistance will be given to all speakers who feel like they need more practice with our virtual platform, Zoom.
The Texas Champions for Immigrant Youth Symposium will be held on Thursday, May 20 and Friday May 21, 2021, and more details will follow. CILA has decided that this event will be held virtually again this year, spread over two half days. If you have any questions or want to brainstorm ideas with a friendly face, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You can email victoria.giambra@abacila.org or call our main office number.
The deadline for proposal submission is Friday, April 2nd. We will select and inform presenters by Friday, April 9th. Best of luck and we look forward to receiving your proposal!
[1] Previously this conference was called the Texas UC Champions Symposium. CILA has renamed the symposium in an effort to steer clear of the legal term “unaccompanied children” and the acronym “UC” outside a legal context.