Concerned members of the communi ty gathered at St . Mary’s Episcopal Church on St. Andrews Rd. to discuss issues surrounding immigrat ion reform in our country Friday night, January 15, 2010. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church offers the only Episcopal outreach ministry to Hispanics in Columbia. Sponsors of Friday’s event, entitled “Breaking Bread and Barriers: A Potluck for Immigration Reform,” included The League of Women Voters, South Carol ina Christian Action Council, SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center, The Columbia Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, South Carolina Hispanic/Latino Health Coalition, Interfaith Immigration Coalit ion, Carol ina Peace Resource Center, among others. Over 150 were in attendance.

Ann Pilat, one of the organizers of the event, leads a worship service for over 100 Hispanics at St . Mary’s Episcopal Church every week. On Friday night, she said she was hopeful that “the numbers here tonight will bring about change. We want to show immigrants they are part of our community.”

The evening began with a video produced by the Center for Lat ino Spirituality and Culture. “Dying to Live: A Migrant’s Journey” shows the horrific conditions that migrants will endure to cross the desert on foot to enter the United States in hope of a better life for themselves and for future generat ions. The video shows that many do not survive the journey due to exhaust ion and lack of food and water.

Roberto Belen, partnership special ist wi th the United States Census Bureau, spoke to the gathering about the need for all people within the borders of the Uni ted States to “count themselves” and participate in the U.S. Census 2010. He noted that immigrants are often hesitant to participate in the census because of the fear of being deported. However, he stressed that “immigration and the census are two separate things.” Belen encouraged everyone to complete the U.S. Census 2010 form and emphasized three points: it is easy, it is important, and it is safe (or confidential).

Belen stated that there were 48,000 individuals missing from South Carolina’s official count in the U.S. Census 2000. He pointed out that the South Carolina Budget and Control Board has reported that for every uncounted person in the Census 2010, their city will lose $30, their county will lose $50, and the state of South Carolina will lose $1,200. This is money that will not be received from the federal government and programs and funding will be cut.

Tracy Semenza, program coordinator for the 2010 Census at the State Budget and Cont rol Board’s Commission for Minor i ty Af fai rs confirmed that br inging in the par t icipat ion of al l Hispanics in the U.S. Census 2010 is “the best thing we can do for the Hispanic community in the next 10 years.”