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18:17:47

Wilder, Forrest
TEXAS OBSERVER
54 CHICON ST
AUSTIN, TX 78702-5451
Terms: (Fernando Arroyo and Estela Fajardo represent the American dream as
envisioned by millions of modern-day immigrants.)
Source: News
Project ID: None

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Forum organizers hope to spark local conversation on immigration Waco Tribune-Herald (Texas) April 18,
2007 Wednesday

1 of 1 DOCUMENT
Waco Tribune-Herald (Texas)
April 18, 2007 Wednesday
Editorial Web Edition

Forum organizers hope to spark local conversation on immigration
SECTION: NEWS
LENGTH: 531 words
By Mónica Ortiz Uribe
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Fernando Arroyo and Estela Fajardo represent the American dream as envisioned by millions of
modern-day immigrants.
Both came to the United States from Mexico at a young age and now are successful professionals able to
provide for their families and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
Fajardo owns a hair salon she built up from an abandoned building in South Waco. She's an expert at
country-western dancing and loves traveling with her husband and three kids.
Arroyo is the director of family services at Habitat for Humanity. He holds a master's degree in educational
administration from Concordia University in Austin.
Tonight, the pair will share their stories at a community forum on immigration with the goal of reminding
others that behind the massively complex immigration debate are people just like them.
The forum is titled "Lighting a Candle in the Dark" and is hosted by the Community Race Relations
Coalition, a local organization created to address racial and cultural issues through community outreach.
The keynote speaker at the event will be Juan Hernandez, a former Cabinet member in Mexican President
Vicente Fox's administration and an avid immigration-rights advocate.
Hernandez recently has appeared on CNN, Fox News and the Spanish-language media channel Univision.
Jo Welter, public relations chairwoman of the coalition, said the main objective of tonight's forum is to
promote discussion on a topic that provokes strong emotions among many Americans.
"The CRRC is hosting this forum to promote thoughtful consideration of the subject of immigration," she
said. "The coalition is very aware that because we are so separated in Waco and the vast majority of
Wacoans don't have any friends of other races and cultures, people are keenly hungry to hear others'
stories."
Arroyo and Fajardo, the two immigrants, have lived most of their lives in Waco.
Arroyo, 30, became a U.S. citizen two years ago, while Fajardo, 35, is a permanent resident.
"I've read about U.S. history, and I know this country is made up of immigrants," Fajardo said. "I'm one of
them. I think the immigrants coming into the country now should have as much opportunities as the first
immigrants that came here."
Expected to attend tonight's forum are Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce CEO Jim Vaughan, Waco
Independent School District Superintendent Roland Hernandez and state Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco. Other
business, political and religious leaders also are expected to attend.

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Forum organizers hope to spark local conversation on immigration Waco Tribune-Herald (Texas) April 18,
2007 Wednesday
Arroyo, who often works with immigrant families, said he hopes to bring out the humanitarian element in
tonight's discussion.
"One of the things we're trying to do is to create a dialogue," he said. "I really encourage people (with
varying opinions) to come and look at the immigration issue through research and human rights and not
through impulses, biases or prejudices."
mortiz@wacotrib.com
757-5751
Event details
5:30 p.m. today
Where: Texas Life Annex Building, 1000 Washington Ave. Mexican dinner will be provided by the CRRC.
Cost: The event is free and open to the public. Donations are accepted.
For more information: www.crrcwaco.org.
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper
SUBJECT: IMMIGRATION (93%); RACE & ETHNICITY (90%); FAMILY (89%); WRITERS (78%);
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION EMPLOYEES (78%); CITIZENSHIP (78%); EDUCATION SYSTEMS &
INSTITUTIONS (77%); BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS (77%); TALKS & MEETINGS
(76%); EXECUTIVES (75%); ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS (75%); EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION
(74%); US STATE GOVERNMENT (74%); SCHOOL DISTRICTS (74%); ETHNICITY (72%); CUSTOMS &
CULTURAL HERITAGE (72%); HAIR STYLING SERVICES (71%); CERTIFICATES DEGREES &
DIPLOMAS (70%); CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE (69%); SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS (69%); HISTORY
(67%); GOVERNMENT ADVISORS & MINISTERS (66%); CLERGY & RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS (50%);
RELIGION (50%)
COMPANY: FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INC (82%)
INDUSTRY: NAICS515120 TELEVISION BROADCASTING (82%); SIC4833 TELEVISION
BROADCASTING STATIONS (82%)
PERSON: VICENTE FOX QUESADA (57%)
CITY: AUSTIN, TX, USA (79%)
STATE: TEXAS, USA (79%)
COUNTRY: UNITED STATES (94%); MEXICO (93%)
LOAD-DATE: August 23, 2014
Copyright 2007 Waco Tribune-Herald
Distributed by Newsbank, Inc. All Rights Reserved