MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2018
Media Contact:
Bethany Khan ▪ BKhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
UNITE HERE & Culinary Union honor the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc., and Bishop Pepe’s advocacy for immigrants
WHAT: UNITE HERE & the Culinary Union honor the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc., (CLINIC) and the Las Vegas Bishop Joseph A. Pepe at the Immigration Champions Reception.
WHO: The Immigration Champions Reception is hosted by President of UNITE HERE D. Taylor, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union, Geoconda Argüello-Kline, and President for the Culinary Union, Ted Pappageorge.
WHEN & WHERE: Thursday, March 15, 2018 at 5pm at the Las Vegas Catholic Center (336 Cathedral Way Las Vegas, Nevada 89114). Media availability is from 5:00-5:30pm on location.
WHY: The Immigration Champion award will be presented to Bishop Pepe for his support of the work of CLINIC, and for his own advocacy and pastoral efforts on behalf of immigrants. Particularly in Nevada, this work often involves collaboration with and on behalf of the members of the UNITE HERE and Culinary Union. The presentation will take place at a reception following media availability.
Grounded in Catholic social teaching, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., is the largest network of community-based nonprofit immigration legal programs, with nearly 330 affiliates in 47 states and the District of Columbia.
Much of Bishop Pepe’s everyday work involves caring for and working to protect the many immigrants in the Diocese of Las Vegas (20 percent of Nevadans are immigrants). As head of the diocese since 2001, Bishop Pepe has testified in support of immigrants, joined in public celebrations of their contributions and urged Catholics in a plea at Masses to pray, write and phone elected representatives, urging support for a then-pending immigration reform bill.
Last fall, Bishop Pepe celebrated a special Mass for immigrants, refugees and workers, attended by hundreds of Las Vegas workers and union members of all faiths. D. Taylor, president of UNITE HERE serves on CLINIC’s Board of Directors, and UNITE HERE has partnered with CLINIC on a number of projects. CLINIC has helped thousands of workers to apply for citizenship and has worked with dozens of UNITE HERE local affiliates across the country to prepare. CLINIC, UNITE HERE, and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Las Vegas have partnered to conduct workshops that helped thousands of union members, their families and neighbors become citizens.
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ABOUT THE CULINARY UNION:
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 57,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.
The Culinary Union, through the Culinary Health Fund, is one of the largest healthcare consumers in the state. The Culinary Health Fund is sponsored by the Culinary Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 143,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members and their dependents.
The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest immigrant organization with over 57,000 members - a diverse membership that is approximately 55% women and 54% Latino. Members - who work as guest room attendants, bartenders, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, and kitchen workers - come from 173 countries and speak over 40 different languages. The Culinary Union has been fighting for fair wages, job security, and good health benefits for working men and women in Nevada for 83 years.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226