Speak Up! Act Up!
Forum for a New America

Speak Up! Act Up! sought to create a greater level of political awareness and participation among immigrant youth through a dynamic event combining art and activism.  By bringing the next generation into the political process using the tools and language of youth culture our goal is to help them impact that process. 

Sept. 16, 2004: Performance event

The performance event, hosted at the HotHouse, featured performances from singers, spoken word artists, comedians, and other artists from Chicago’s immigrant communities.  Performances were interspersed with very short political presentations (3-5 minutes each). These served to orient the audience to a range of issues affecting immigrants. 

Performers included Sharmili Majmudar, Lailah Farrah, Farheen Hakeem, Sarwat Rumi, Lani Montreal, and participants from the Multi-Cultural Youth Project. 

Sept. 18, 2004: Organizing sessions

These sessions allowed participants to become part of specific campaigns going on in the Chicago area to impact some of the issues addressed in Thursday evening’s performance event. 

• Civil liberties (Civil Liberties Restoration Act)

• Access to higher education (Dream Act)

• Treatment of immigrants in Chicago Public Schools

• Hate Crimes

• Voting and political participation

• Women's rights

Event Sponsors

SAPAC & Breakthrough

in collaboration with

Apna Ghar, CAAELI (Coalition of African, Asian, European and Latino Immigrants), The Center for New Community, Chinese Mutual Aid Society/ Multicultural Youth Project,  DePaul University, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, The Independent Press Association, The Muslim Civil Rights Center