PRESS
A student's continuing effort to support Phoenix's unsheltered community
At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, Austin Davis and Eddie Chavez Calderon, both members of Arizona Jews for Justice, visited people in Phoenix's unsheltered community to give them water bottles and face masks.
After Davis, a senior studying creative writing, and Chavez Calderon formed relationships with people in what is referred to as the "the zone," an industrial area southwest of downtown Phoenix where hundreds of unsheltered individuals live in tents, both quickly realized they could provide more than those two items.
At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, Austin Davis and Eddie Chavez Calderon, both members of Arizona Jews for Justice, visited people in Phoenix's unsheltered community to give them water bottles and face masks.
After Davis, a senior studying creative writing, and Chavez Calderon formed relationships with people in what is referred to as the "the zone," an industrial area southwest of downtown Phoenix where hundreds of unsheltered individuals live in tents, both quickly realized they could provide more than those two items.
"AJJ has focused on immigration efforts since its founding in 2013. Chavez Calderon was hired in 2018, just before a surge in asylum seekers brought renewed interest in the border. The group advocates for the humane treatment of migrants and has led protests outside of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s headquarters in Phoenix to demand humanitarian medical care."
The rally was organized by Arizona Jews for Justice, which looks to mobilize the Jewish community toward progressive action in the Valley and Arizona as a whole.
"We are here to support our undocumented communities," Chavez said. "We are here to make sure that folks understand that we are tired of the same narrative that pushes migration as some sort of illegal, horrific thing.
"We want to change the narrative of migration being a crisis. The crisis isn’t in migration, our response is a crisis of how we dehumanize people, how we look at people as less than."
"We are here to support our undocumented communities," Chavez said. "We are here to make sure that folks understand that we are tired of the same narrative that pushes migration as some sort of illegal, horrific thing.
"We want to change the narrative of migration being a crisis. The crisis isn’t in migration, our response is a crisis of how we dehumanize people, how we look at people as less than."
Valley groups offer help to the homeless as temperatures rise over Easter weekend
"It’s going to be a very scary time for the unsheltered community so if we can provide those items that are necessary as well as something that will make people smile, I think that’s super valuable," said Davis, Homeless Outreach Organizer for Arizona Jews for Justice, a pluralistic and progressive Jewish group that focuses on community outreach and social justice.
"It’s going to be a very scary time for the unsheltered community so if we can provide those items that are necessary as well as something that will make people smile, I think that’s super valuable," said Davis, Homeless Outreach Organizer for Arizona Jews for Justice, a pluralistic and progressive Jewish group that focuses on community outreach and social justice.
"We think the big mitzvah opportunity this year is with matanot l'evyonim ... because people are struggling so much with unemployment and poverty," said Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, president and dean of Valley Beit Midrash, an organization that provides learning, leadership and social justice opportunities to the community.”
Arizona Jews for Justice’s young organizers take on old issues - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - February 2021
Phoenix-area Jewish leaders anticipate changes in Biden administration - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - January 2021
Foundation delivers personal requests to Valley homeless population - ABC 15 News - January 2021
Biden’s first day brings immigration reforms, but AZ leaders will push for more - AZ Mirror - January 2021
Donations from Phoenix Jewish community head to Mexican border - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - December 2020
Arizona Jews for Justice leads pandemic relief effort - Arizona Republic- November 2020
Advocating for voters as a DACA recipient - Cronkite News - November 2020
Jewish Arizonans partner with national org in environmental campaign - Phoenix Jewish News - October 2020
Greater Phoenix remembers Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg - Phoenix Jewish News - September 2020
Eddie Chavez Calderon on Brad Show Live | September 22, 2020
Vigil held at Arizona State Capitol to honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg - 12News NBC - September 2020
Jewish groups work to fight homelessness in Phoenix - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - September 2020
Junior ties together poetry, activism to spark community impact - Downtown Devil - September 2020
Homeless Life: In And Out Of 'The Zone' - KJZZ - September 2020
Join Jewish teens in standing up for Jews of color - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - August 2020
"This is about revolution both morally and communal..." - ABC News - August 2020
The tradition I carry on is… PBS - August 2020
Trump put migrant kids in hotels before vanishing them. That should terrify everyone - Arizona Republic - July 2020
Advocates want action from Sen. Kyrsten Sinema on detained migrant children - Arizona Republic - July 2020
In wake of protests, local Jewish orgs show support for black community.
Campaign stop in Phoenix for President Trump draws large crowds of supporters - Northeast Valley News - February 2020
Pro-refugee resolution passes Arizona Senate after push from local activists - Cronkite News - February 2020
Protests planned for Trump rally in Phoenix at coliseum - February 2020
Arizona Jews for Justice, a Jewish social justice organization, will be joining Puente for the "Reject Hate" protest and march... "Our faith drives us to be people who stand up for the morality of what’s right," Eddie Chavez Calderon said. "The Jewish people know what it feels like to be marginalized and oppressed."
Arizona Jews for Justice, a Jewish social justice organization, will be joining Puente for the "Reject Hate" protest and march... "Our faith drives us to be people who stand up for the morality of what’s right," Eddie Chavez Calderon said. "The Jewish people know what it feels like to be marginalized and oppressed."
Arizona Jews for Justice honors pastor, state rep as allies - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix -
January 2020
January 2020
Arizona Jews for Justice and AZ Resist host vigil outside of ICE field office - Downtown Devil - December 2019
"We now see that in this upcoming holiday season, ICE has ripped away families and has not allowed them to spend their holiday season with family members,” said Eddie Chavez, who is the campaign organizer for Arizona Jews for Justice.
"We now see that in this upcoming holiday season, ICE has ripped away families and has not allowed them to spend their holiday season with family members,” said Eddie Chavez, who is the campaign organizer for Arizona Jews for Justice.
Interfaith vigil held after mass shooting - Phoenix Jewish News - August 2019
'We must demand change': Phoenix leaders call for action at vigil honoring shooting victims - Arizona Republic - August 2019
Watch HERE
Watch HERE
Lights For Liberty Candlelight Vigil - North East Valley News - July 2019
Progressive Churches Challenge the Hard-Line Conservative Evangelical Narrative on Immigration - REAL News Network
- July 2019
- July 2019
Immigration Detention Center Conditions Cause Massive Outcry - REAL News Network - July 2019
More Details Emerge About Horrible Conditions at Immigration Detention Centers - REAL News Network - July 2019
Trump Is Dumping Asylum Seekers on American Streets—but Solidarity Activists Are Fighting Back - The Nation - July 2019
Phoenix groups denounce border and immigration detention conditions - AZ Daily Mirror - July 2019
Arizona se suma al llamado para cerrar centros de detención - Telemundo - July 2019
Fred Barlam, a member of Arizona Jews For Justice's Steering Committee & the Co-Chair of Arizona Jews for Justice's Voter Registration Committee, speaks against police brutality! - June 2019 - 12 News Phoenix
New generation of dreamers gears up for fights, hopes for wins - June 2019 - Arizona Mirror
Jewish social justice groups hold rally at ICE field office, protest deaths of six children - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix -
June 2019
June 2019
"Welcoming the stranger with hot food, scissors and applause" - LA Times - June 2019
Migrants Stranded By ICE Get Help From Underground Network - AJ+ - May 2019
Jewish volunteers assist asylum seekers - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - May 2019
B’nai David-Judea Brings Aid to Arizona Asylum-Seekers - Jewish Journal - Jan. 2019
Arizona Jews for Justice Helps Asylum Seekers Released from Detention Centers - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - Jan. 2019
Despite the recent hate crime attacks, the Phoenix community stays unified - State Press - Oct. 2018
Rallying Against Trump, These Are Not Your Parents’ Orthodox Rabbis - Ha'aretz - Aug. 2018
Welcoming The Stranger Is A Core Principle Of Judaism - New York Jewish Week - June 2018
Valley Jewish groups stand in solidarity with Dreamers - Cronkite News - March 2018
Arizona Jewish Groups Rally Today to Support Dreamers - Public News Service - Feb. 2018
Passover guides serve up a side of social justice for the seder table - Times of Israel - March 2017
Jewish Groups’ Efforts to Help Refugees Continue - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - Feb. 2017
A Call to Welcome Refugees - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - Nov. 2016