<span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:15px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal">PSA/PRESS RELEASE: T-shirt campaign challenges views on who is an American </span><br>
<span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:15px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"></span><br><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:15px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal">Contact: Kasey Umland, Program Director, University YMCA</span><br>
<span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:15px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"> <a href="tel:217-337-1514" value="+12173371514" target="_blank">217-337-1514</a>, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Calibri;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><a href="mailto:kasey@universityymca.org" target="_blank">kasey@universityymca.org</a></span><br>
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Calibri;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:15px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal">Website:</span><a href="http://www.doilooklikeanamericantoyou.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Calibri;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline"> http://www.doilooklikeanamericantoyou.org</span></a><br>
<span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"></span><br><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal">Student
leaders at the University YMCA have launched a t-shirt campaign to show
that there is no race, religion or philosophy that impacts our status
as an American. The photo and t-shirt campaign, led by Interfaith in
Action, La Colectiva and Amnesty International, encourages people from
all backgrounds to share the photos and stories they receive when
donning the black t-shirt with the message “Do I Look Like an American
to You?” in white block letters.</span><br><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"></span><br>
<span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal">The question "Do I look like an American to you?" can and does result in some interesting answers. Francisco
Baires, a member of the C-U Immigration Forum, of mixed Anglo and
Latino descent says he gets mixed reactions. “Some people tell me ‘yeah,
of course, you do’ but others want to talk more about the question
itself. It has led to some really interesting conversations,” he said.
“I take it as an opportunity to talk about how as a U.S. Citizen, born
in Central America, America means more to me than just the United
States.” </span><br><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"> </span><br>
<span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal">The
campaign is being run in conjunction with Immigrant Justice Month,
sponsored by the C-U Immigration Forum’s Allies of Faith subgroup.
Participants are encouraged to wear their 'Do I look like an American to
you?' t-shirts to the upcoming
lecture by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and
undocumented American, </span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal">Jose Antonio Vargas, on October 25th at 7pm. </span></span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"> After the lecture, </span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal">participants are also encouraged to pose in a group photo as a way to express solidarity with Mr. Vargas. </span></span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"></span></span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal">The event will take place in Lincoln Hall, room 1092 (702 S. Wright Street, Urbana)</span>. </span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"> </span></span><br>
<span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"> </span><br><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal">Photos from the campaign can be found at</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/doilookamerican" target="_blank"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"> </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:Calibri;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">http://www.facebook.com/doilookamerican</span></a><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"> and</span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/universityymca/sets/72157627977149491/" target="_blank"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"> </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:Calibri;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">http://www.flickr.com/photos/universityymca/sets/72157627977149491/</span></a><br>
<span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"> </span><br><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal">T-shirts are currently on sale at the University YMCA (1001 S. Wright St., Champaign) for $15 ($10 for students) or online at</span><a href="http://doilooklikeanamericantoyou.org" target="_blank"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal"> </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:Calibri;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">doilooklikeanamericantoyou.org</span></a><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;font-family:Calibri;font-weight:normal">. All proceeds benefit UIUC Interfaith in Action and local immigrant outreach and services. <br>
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