Calendar

Click on link to the right to see more!

Consider your position in your community. What can you contribute to undocumented community members or migrant organizations?

Do you know any legal, mental health, social work professionals?

What about school employees?

We need EVERYONE to consider how they can mobilize support for vulnerable migrant families.

If you yourself don’t hold a professional position that is needed, consider this: Could you serve as a first-call, point person for someone who is detained? Reach out to them to initiate a supportive conversation.  Are you positioned to do child pick-up and safeguarding? Well-connected with community orgs or professionally situated to help with legal, medical or other needs?

See the attached flyer for more resources and ways to get involved.

Click the link on the right to learn more!

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

What to do if you are arrested, visited, or questioned by ICE

Say you wish to remain silent and immediately request to speak with a lawyer. Do not sign anything. Ask to see a warrant. https://www.nilc.org/resources/know-your-rights-what-to-do-if-arrested-detainedimmigration/

Ohio National Lawyers Guild Hotline: (614) 654-6477

Call this number if you are arrested during a demonstration or visited/questioned by ICE

Ohio Immigration Hotline: hotline@ohioimmigrant.org or 419-777-HELP (4357)

Call this number to share information about harmful incidents involving immigrants such as ICE arrests or raids, or to request resources and guidance on policy and legal matters.

Access ICE and CBP detention statistics

Scroll to bottom: https://www.ice.gov/detain/detention-management Watch this video for help interpreting the data: https://www.instagram.com/ reel/DLiQzYVRZGv/igsh=MWF3Y2s0NDZxbXh5aA%3D%3D

Keep track of immigration court data from Transactional Records Access Clearing House (TRAC)

Immigration info home: https://tracreports.org/immigration/ New proceedings filed: https://tracreports.org/phptools/immigration/ntanew/

Follow Austin Kocher on Substack to read about current immigration enforcement https://substack.com/@austinkocher/posts

Over the past decade, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras have experienced a resurgence of authoritarian practices. Leaders have expanded executive power, undermined judicial independence, curtailed press freedom, and increased the use of mass incarceration and militarized policing—all under the banner of security and stability. These developments echo past dictatorships but take on new forms in today’s political and technological context, connecting local governance to broader global trends of democratic backsliding. What tactics are modern authoritarian regimes using, and how do they differ from past dictatorships? How can civil society and international actors push back against democratic erosion? What lessons can be learned from countries on a different trajectory, like Guatemala? And what do these trends mean for the future of democracy in the region and globally? 

Join us for a timely discussion with Noah Bullock, Executive Director of Cristosal, and Marc Edelman, Professor of Anthropology at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center where we will delve into these questions and more.

to register click here

Please join us for our 28th Annual Celebration - Banned Book Bingo in partnership with Red Wine and Blue on Thursday, light food and beverages will be provided.

Banned Book Bingo features books by Women Authors, Authors of Color, LGBTQ+ Authors, books about racism, sexuality, gender, and history. Walk away with the knowledge of how you can push back against book banners by standing up and supporting freedom, democracy, equality, and inclusion!

This year's conference theme is abolition. How do we move towards a world without wars, weapons, police, prisons, the death penalty, and borders? How can we work towards our collective liberation, recognizing that oppressions are interconnected? Come to #NoWar2025 to explore how we can join in solidarity across movements and borders to abolish these interwoven systems and build a world based on common security. 

View event on WBW website here: https://worldbeyondwar.org/nowar2025/?link_id=3&can_id=540e92ff874a6b94a0ca720db2a7dff1&source=email-learning-from-alternatives-to-militarism-police-prisons&email_referrer=email_2846323&email_subject=youre-invited-to-our-annual-conference-october-24-26

Register here: https://actionnetwork.org/ticketed_events/nowar2025?clear_id=true 

#NoWar2025 Schedule

All sessions will be broadcast on Zoom. All times are listed in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Day 1: Making the Case for Abolition

3:00pm-3:30pm EDT: Welcome & Opening Remarks from WBW’s Co-Founder and Executive Director David Swanson

World BEYOND War’s Co-Founder and Executive Director David Swanson will provide the opening remarks for the #NoWar2025 Conference, with an introduction to World BEYOND War’s mission and the conference theme.

3:30pm-4:30pm EDT: Reports from WBW Chapters Around the World

4:30pm-4:45pm EDT: Break

4:45pm-5:00pm EDT: Performance

5:00pm-6:30pm EDT: Panel: Making the Case for Abolition

6:30pm-7:00pm EDT: Breakout Rooms: What does abolition mean to you?

Day 2: Learning from Examples of Abolition Movements

1:00pm-1:15pm EDT: Performance
1:15pm-2:30pm EDT: Panel: Case Studies of Abolition

2:30pm-2:45pm EDT: Break

2:45pm-4:00pm EDT: Panel: Learning from Abolitionist Movements and Cultivating Intersectionality

4:00pm-4:15pm EDT: Break

4:15pm-5:15pm EDT: Training: We Keep Us Safe: Preparing for Arrests and Building Communities of Abolition

Day 3: Exploring a World Beyond War / Imagining the Abolitionist Future

12:15pm-12:30pm EDT: Performance by Dana Dajani, award-winning Palestinian-American poet

12:30pm-1:45pm EDT: Active Bystander Intervention and De-escalation Training

1:45pm-2:00pm EDT: Break

2:00pm-3:15pm EDT: Panel: Indigenous Restorative Justice: Pathways towards Abolition

3:15pm-3:30pm EDT: Closing Words by WBW Board President Kathy Kelly

3:30pm-4:15pm EDT: Breakout Rooms: What does a world beyond war look like to you?

source: WorldBeyondWar

#NoWar2025: Exploring Abolition Movements

Friday, October 24 - Sunday, October 26, 2025 on Zoom

How do we move towards a world without wars, weapons, police, prisons, the death penalty, and borders? How can we work towards our collective liberation, recognizing that oppressions are interconnected? Come to #NoWar2025 to explore how we can join in solidarity across movements and borders to abolish these interwoven systems and build a world based on common security — “no one is safe until all are safe.”

There are successful examples of abolition throughout history that we can learn from. Virtually no one in societies that have abolished such things wants to bring back dueling, slavery, serfdom, human sacrifice, cannibalism, child labor, or other evils that are understood as beyond reform. As we envision and struggle to bring forth a world free of war, we need to come together and learn from other abolition movements such as those working to abolish police, prisons, and the surveillance state. When is the moral and strategic approach properly to “end it, not mend it,” and how does such an approach differ from one aimed at reforming or “modernizing”? What can we learn from past and current abolitionist movements? How can we advance the cause of war abolition from being understood as overwhelming, to being recognized as necessary?

#NoWar2025 will make the case for abolition, explore intersections between abolitionist movements, learn from successful case studies of abolition, and strategize about how we can truly move towards a world beyond war.

to register click here

Dear friends,

We are living through a time of unprecedented violence, authoritarianism, and disregard for human rights in both the United States and Israel-Palestine. As we near two years since October 7, and reflect during the High Holy Days, many of us are asking how we can act out our commitments to peace, democracy, and human rights.

Since 2013, Extend has worked to raise the voices of grassroots activists fighting for these shared values by bringing delegations to communities in Israel-Palestine. Today, we’re excited to launch a new virtual initiative that will bring these voices to you in your home.

Extend Voices From the Ground is a new virtual series that will give you the chance to hear from our partners in Israel-Palestine wherever you are around the world. This program is free and open to all. We will host a conversation bimonthly to hear from an activist in Israel-Palestine who will offer the unique perspective from their community.

We will launch Extend Voices From the Ground on October 26––register here to join us. Our first guest is Ejdea3 Hathaleen, an activist from Umm al-Kheir and the brother-in-law of Awdah Hathaleen, a renowned activist and long-time Extend partner who was murdered by an Israeli settler this summer. Ejdea3 will be in conversation with myself and Isaac Johnston, Extend’s former Jerusalem Director. We will speak about Awdah Hathaleen’s legacy of nonviolent civil disobedience and how we can stand in solidarity with in Umm al-Kheir as the community faces ongoing violence.

Please join us to launch Extend Voices From the Ground with this vital conversation.

to register click here

Capping off Human Rights Awards Month, WOLA President Carolina Jiménez Sandoval will join Dr. Steven Levitsky, co-author of the best-selling book How Democracies Die, for an in-depth conversation about the mounting threats to democratic institutions and the urgent need to defend them. Together, they will examine how authoritarianism is taking root around the world, including in the Americas, and what lessons can be drawn for building stronger, more resilient democracies. This event will also shine a spotlight on WOLA’s work and the efforts of our 2025 Human Rights Award honorees, highlighting their leadership in advancing justice, accountability, and human rights. By connecting the work of WOLA and our honorees to the broader global struggle against authoritarianism, the conversation will underscore both the challenges we face and the practical strategies that can help safeguard democracy in an era of rising autocracy.

to register click here

sources: Global Exchange and Honduras Now!

Defend Democracy in Honduras: Join the 2025 Election Observation Mission

On November 30, 2025, Hondurans will head to the polls to elect a new President, Congress, and municipal authorities. These are the first Central American elections of the Trump 2.0 era, and the stakes could not be higher in such a small region where the U.S. has tremendous influence.

The sweeping attack on democratic institutions that we are experiencing in the United States since Donald Trump returned to power is not confined to our borders. Hondurans are acutely aware that the authoritarian winds blowing from Washington are stirring their political climate, and not for the better. In the lead-up to the 2025 elections, Honduras faces a volatile mix of dangers: fragile institutions vulnerable to manipulation, narco-money and corruption shaping campaigns, and the ever-present risk of electoral violence and political intimidation. At the same time, U.S. right-wing politicians are openly meddling in Honduran affairs, comparing the country to Venezuela or Cuba to justify interference. Today, U.S. leaders are not even pretending to defend democracy or human rights—they are openly hostile to them.

The political climate in Honduras is polarized, institutions are fragile, and malign forces—both at home and in Washington—are maneuvering to undermine free choice. For Honduran social movements, this election is not just about politics; it is about survival and the future of democracy itself.

The Democratic Struggle in Honduras

Honduras has endured a long history of U.S. interference and dictatorship. For much of the 20th century, the country was ruled by oligarchic regimes propped up by Washington. In 2009, a U.S.-sanctioned military coup shattered democratic institutions and was shamefully whitewashed by the Obama White House.

Our partner, the Center for the Study of Democracy (CESPAD), was born in the enduring spirit of democratic struggle forged out of that crisis. Since then, CESPAD has been on the frontlines of defending democracy, documenting abuses, and pressing for reforms.

Four years ago, CESPAD invited Global Exchange to help organize the international aspect of their civic observation of a critical “return to democracy” election. In that contest, the ruling party of Juan Orlando Hernández—widely considered the last of the “golpista” presidents—was soundly defeated. Soon afterward, Hernández himself was charged with narco-trafficking and extradited to the United States.

This year, Global Exchange is again joining with CESPAD, the Honduras Solidarity Network (HSN), and partners across Central America, Mexico, and Colombia to organize international election observations.

Why International Observation Matters

Election observation is not about endorsing candidates. It is about protecting the right of Hondurans to choose their own future free from intimidation, fraud, or foreign intervention. Observers help deter abuses, reduce violence, and shine a light on irregularities that might otherwise be hidden. Just as importantly, they stand shoulder to shoulder with Honduran movements risking everything to defend democracy.

Global Exchange’s role is rooted in solidarity, not foreign interests. We do not accept U.S. government funding. Together with CESPAD, HSN, and our regional allies, we are building a multinational observation mission grounded in people-to-people solidarity and a shared determination to protect democratic space.

Be Part of the Mission

Global Exchange, CESPAD and the HSN are organizing an international delegation to join our Honduran partners in observing this historic election.

Dates in country: November 27 – December 2, 2025

• Arrive: November 27
• Trainings: November 28–29
• Election Day: November 30
• Debrief: December 1
• Depart: December 2

Application deadline: Please submit your application by early October.  We recognize that is a short turnaround time, but we want to give accepted applicants plenty of time to buy plane tickets and make other travel arrangements. We will do our best to confirm on-time applications the following week.

Spots are limited, and funding support is available based on applicants’ skills, experience, and contributions to the mission. We are offering three levels of participation:

• Full scholarshipscovering all participation costs, including food, lodging, and local transport (limited availability).
• Partial scholarshipscovering food, lodging, and local transport.
• Self-funded participationfor those able to cover their own costs.

to apply click here

source: Share Foundation

2025 December Delegation - SHARE Foundation

Apply here to join this delegation.

The SHARE Foundation and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) invite you to join us in celebration of the 45th anniversary of Ita, Maura, Dorothy and Jean.

2025 is a year of anniversaries; it is the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si, the Holy Year of Jubilee, the 45th anniversary of the martyrdom of Monseñor Romero, and the ninth  anniversary of the martyrdom of Berta Cáceres… and many more.

We want to remember our sisters alive in the struggle for a better world; we remember them by continuing walking with The People of God of El Salvador, Honduras and of our communities.

We celebrate the lives of our sisters by embracing Laudato Si on its 10th anniversary and continue planting seeds of hope that produce healthy food to nourish our tired bodies, and care for our Madre Tierra.

We invite you to bring our sisters to the presente by planting seeds of solidarity: 

Join the Pilgrimage to El Salvador November 28th to December 6th, 2025. Walk on holy land with the people of Ita, Maura, Dorothy, Jean, Romero, Berta, the people of God.

1. Join the Virtual Pilgrimage to follow the Pilgrimage to El Salvador and Honduras. You will receive daily reflections, pictures and invitations to FaceBook live. Register here: https://forms.gle/HphV6kahuhRwR9cC7
2. Educate your community about Ita, Maura, Dorothy and Jean during 2025; organize an event, show a movie, and or invite friends and family for a house gathering for a toast in celebration of their lives.
3. Support women’s projects in El Salvador and Honduras: help with fundraising for local projects promoting women’s rights, health care, community development and support for refugees deported from the US.
4. Host a woman from El Salvador or Honduras to visit your city for 2 to 3 days to educate your community and plant seeds of solidarity in May – June 2026.

We invite you to join us in celebrating the lives of our sisters; help us invite others by sharing this invitation among your friends and other contacts. Contact us with any suggestions or questions: Jose Artiga: jose@share-elsalvador.org telephone + 1 510 848 8487 and Bridget Bearss: bbearss@lcwr.org Visit www.share-elsalvador.org

MORE BASIC QUESTIONS/ANSWERS ABOUT THE DELEGATION

A Pilgrimage / Peregrinaje is a journey to a holy place. You as a pilgrim / Peregrinus will be walking on Holy Land Walking with the People of God ( el Pueblo de Dios).

 1. Who is inviting you? SHARE and LCWR are extending an invitation from Christian Base Communities in El Salvador to women religious and lay women and men to join them on this special Pilgrimage to walk with the People of God in Holy Land.

2. What are the dates?

Pilgrimage to El Salvador, November 28 to December 6, 2025.

Pilgrimage to Honduras December 6 to 10, 2025

November 28th: travel to El Salvador, arriving any time and returning on December 6th; for those going on to Honduras, will travel by land on December 6th and return home from SAP San Pedro Sula Airport.

3. What are the objectives of the delegation?

a. To remember and celebrate the lives of Ita, Maura, Dorothy and Jean.

b. To be in solidarity with the organized people of El Salvador and Honduras.

c. To return to the U.S. and continue planting the seeds of solidarity. We hope each pilgrim will become a promoter of solidarity, including organizing presentations to share their story, educating their elected officials in Congress, hosting a guest from El Salvador who is visiting the US, and raising funds to support SHARE’s partners in El Salvador.

4. What is the Cost?

The cost for the Pilgrimage to El Salvador is $1,250 plus airfare. The cost for Honduras is $450 which includes housing, food, translation, in-country transportation, partner organization honoraria, and organization of events. The total cost for El Salvador and Honduras is $1700.

5. What airport do I fly to?

Arrive in El Salvador’s Monsenor Oscar Romero Airport SAL, anytime on November 28th. Depart December 6th from El Salvador. For delegates going to Honduras, return on December 10th from San Pedro Sula SAP airport.

6. When do I pay?

First payment is a $100 NON-refundable on or before September 1. Second payment on or before November 1. To pay, please send a check for $1,250 or $1700 to SHARE Foundation, memo line Roses in December, and send to 2425 College Ave. Berkeley, CA 94704; or online at share-elsalvador.org (plus a 3% processing fee)

 7. How do I apply for a partial scholarship?

Please send a letter to jose@share elsalvador.org We have many ideas and suggestions on how to fundraise for this trip, please contact Jose at 510 848 8487.

8. I would like to join the Pilgrimage, but I cannot go on the delegation; are there other ways to be part of this Pilgrimage?

Yes, there are several ways to be part: a. Join the online pilgrimage to receive before, during, and after emails with pictures, reflections, and invitations to Zoom on activities. Register HERE. b. Sponsor a Pilgrim with a donation and frequent flyer miles. c. Join the organizing team to help with the Pilgrimage.

9. Are children and youth welcomed?

Yes, minors are welcomed as long as they are accompanied by a relative or guardian. Pilgrims in their 80s and plus are also welcomed and we will do our best to accommodate any mobility need they may have. Please advise us beforehand of any such needs.

10. Where will we stay? We will stay in humble guest houses or hotels in El Salvador.

Meals are simple and healthy and we will have access to purified water at all times.

11. Who should come to this delegation?

Young and old, women and men, elected officials and their aides, journalists and people working in the media, artists, and religious leaders. Younger folks, women and people of color are encouraged to join. People working with justice issues such as immigration rights, women’s rights, etc., are most welcome.

12. Are there concerns about safety?

Safety is one of our primary concerns and we take all possible measures to insure the safety of our delegates. El Salvador and Honduras have a long history of being one of the most violent countries in the region, yet some of these conditions have improved over the past few years. Our itinerary is developed in close collaboration with partners in El Salvador and Honduras who are aware of the risks and mindful to reduce them in every possible way. We will be lodged in secure locations and will not be traveling at night; being part of a group provides some safety. We will not participate in demonstrations or knowingly enter situations that would put us at risk. This delegation is one of accompaniment and we encourage participants to consider both the risks and the rewards of this form of activism. SHARE and LCWR have sponsored these delegations for several decades following very strict security measures and, thanks be to God and our martyrs, we have had zero negative incidents. If people are still concerned about safety, they should not go on this Pilgrimage. Please check and follow the US Travel Advisories travel.state.gov

13. What are the expectations for preparation and follow-up for this journey?

Some weeks before the program begins, you’ll be asked to engage with study materials that will help you understand the people and places we will visit, as well as the long history of US intervention in the region. On your return home, we hope you will find many ways to share your experience and all that you’ve learned with your community and engage with your local congressmembers. We will support you with ideas and resources for action and advocacy. Those with particular skills will be asked to organize presentations, blog, write and produce media pieces. There will be 3 required Preparatory Calls for Delegates: the first Thursday of September, October and November at 4 pm PST/7 pm EST.

14. Do I need a passport or a visa to travel?

A valid passport with an expiration date no less than 6 months from the date you are returning is necessary for travel. U.S. citizens do not need a visa.

15. Do I need to speak Spanish?

Spanish is not necessary for participation. Interpretation will always be provided.

16. Are there any cultural issues or group norms to be aware of?

YES:

a. Wearing modest clothing is most appropriate. Women in El Salvador do not usually wear shorts. Skirts, capris and long pants work best. Men often wear longer shorts.

b. Alcoholic drinks are not allowed in the retreat houses where we stay, and it is not appropriate to be drinking in the context of so much suffering in the communities we visit.

c. It is possible that particular people may approach you personally for financial help of some kind. Please know that SHARE offers support to organizations not to individuals; this is the best way to be in solidarity. We ask you not to give any person-to-person financial assistance if approached.

17. When is the deadline?

How do I sign up: Deadline is October 15th. Please apply at share-elsalvador.org

Please send us any additional questions to jose@share-elsalvador.org .