We’re Reimagining a World Where Immigrant Children Can Truly Thrive
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 23, 2022
Media Contact: media@theyoungcenter.org
Chicago, IL— Yesterday evening, the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights hosted its annual “Reimagine” Benefit, celebrating 18 years of advocating for the rights and best interests of children navigating our country’s immigration system. The virtual benefit featured the Young Center’s Executive Director, Gladis Molina Alt, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa, and renowned author and philanthropist, Isabel Allende, who, together, reaffirmed the Young Center’s commitment to supporting unaccompanied immigrant children through direct service and pushing for humane, children-centered policies. The benefit also included performances by immigrant musician Anabel Gil Diaz and actress Vivia Font.
At the event, Isabel Allende was honored with The Maria Woltjen Waymaker Award, which recognizes an outstanding individual, group, or organization that has made a significant contribution toward advancing the rights and best interests of immigrant children. The award was named after the Young Center’s original founder and former Executive Director, Maria Woltjen, who retired in June 2021.
Gladis Molina Alt, Executive Director of the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, said:
“Keeping families together and ensuring their safety as they seek refuge in the U.S. should be a core principle and practice of our country’s asylum and immigration systems. Yet, as is, our government’s default is to make life-changing decisions in cases involving children often without any consideration for their wishes or their safety–from whether they’ll be deported back to unsafe conditions to whether their removal will mean separation from a parent or trusted caregiver. This is unacceptable. The Young Center has been fighting to fundamentally shift how our government treats children, and we’ve made it clear that we can create an immigration system that prioritizes family unity and the rights and safety of children, always. Together, we are reimagining a world where immigrant children feel supported as they process unimaginable trauma, have access to necessary resources as they build a new life in the U.S., and have the opportunity to truly thrive."
Maria Hinojosa, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, said:
“Reimagining our country’s immigration system isn’t just about immigrants and refugees. It’s about all of us fighting to ensure our government reflects our collective values. Every child, regardless of their immigration status, deserves to be safe and should never be forcibly separated from their loved ones. Overwhelmingly, children who migrate to the U.S. want to be with their family members. Yet, their best interests are rarely considered when our government makes decisions about their immigration cases. There are so many nonprofit institutions and organizations like the Young Center that are leading in supporting immigrant children as they navigate the complexities of our country’s immigration system. These are the organizations we must seek out and invest in. They have proven they care about the humanity of all children.”
Isabel Allende, Renowned Author and Philanthropist, said:
“I am honored and delighted to have received the Young Center’s Maria Woltjen Waymaker Award. Since July 2019, my foundation, the Isabel Allende Foundation, has supported the Young Center and its mission to not just reimagine, but to recreate, an immigration system that values the inherent humanity, dignity, and rights of all immigrant children. Most children who come to this country seeking a better life, are fleeing extreme poverty, climate disasters, violence, or abuse. The last thing our country’s immigration system should do is inflict more pain and trauma. Yet, many children face the possibility of being separated from their loved ones, being deported back to unsafe conditions, and far too often, find themselves having to defend their life in court. Their best interests need to be represented. They need protection. And the Young Center provides that.”