About Us

The Chicago Metropolitan Sanctuary Alliance, formed out of compassion for and commitment to refugees fleeing the violence of Latin America, works to make Latin America a sanctuary for its own people.

CMSA is organized around four main principles: awareness, advocacy, assistance, and accompaniment.

AWARENESS: distributing information

 

• We send out monthly updates and present frequent “Beans ‘N Rice” informational meetings.
• We co-sponsor conferences and educational events and maintain a speakers’ bureau that is available to local groups.
• We provide resources and opportunities for theological reflection on the call for a faith-based response to injustice.

ADVOCACY: monitoring and responding to government action

 

• Our Emergency Response Network protests human rights abuse in Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, and Mexico.
• We frequently organize delegations as well as phone call and letter writing campaigns to our elected officials.

ASSISTANCE: providing material support
• Our annual Bike-A-Thon and other projects raise funds each year for grassroots projects in Latin America.

ACCOMPANIMENT: walking with those who work with justice

 

• We provide opportunities for people to travel to Latin America, on a delegation or as international observers.
• We work in partnership with other groups and individuals who share our commitment to peace with justice.