Immigration Justice
"I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." Matthew 25:35
U-Lead Athens
U-Lead Athens works towards equal access to higher education for students of immigrant families by mentoring local high school students as they study for college entrance exams and apply to colleges and scholarships that will accept un(der)documented students. U-Lead was founded by a member of Oconee Street, which also hosts this program every Thursday evening. Contact us at OconeeStreetUMC@gmail.com (Attn: JoBeth Allen).
Parking for God
Oconee Street members and U-Lead students park cars every UGA home football game; donations are accepted to fund college scholarships for U-Lead students. Contact us at OconeeStreetUMC@gmail.com (Attn: Lew Allen).
Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition
Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition is dedicated to offering hospitality, safety, and opportunities for all immigrants, regardless of status, to participate fully in our shared community. ISC includes representatives from 15 congregations representing many faith traditions who coordinate congregational response to the needs of our immigrant neighbors. The ISC was founded by members of Oconee Street.
Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition
Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC) and Dignidad Inmigrante en Athens (DIA) are community organizations dedicated to supporting immigrant families and promoting fair and compassionate immigration policies, which meet and hold Know Your Rights and other workshops at Oconee Street.
Support for Immigrant Families in Crisis
Church members serve as “buddies” in partnership with immigrant neighbors through times of crisis due to detention, deportation, and/or economic hardship, through SIFIC, an initiative of AIRC.
Undocumented Partnership Task Force
Undocumented Partnership Task Force was appointed by the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church’s Peace for Justice Committee following the adoption of the Resolution in Support of Co-ordinated Action on Behalf of Undocumented Neighbors at the 2015 Annual Conference. Compelled to action after a Sunday School study on civil rights, Oconee Street members crafted the resolution and continue to serve on the task force.