Over 500 attend American Dream banquet

Over 500 people attended last night's "American Dream Banquet" hosted by the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition ("TIRRC") at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. Sean Braisted noted here the movers and shakers in attendance. Here are some of the salient announcements about TIRRC's recent achievements:

• TIRRC has won one of the 2008 National Council of La Raza/Ford Motor Company Affiliate of the Year Awards.
• Due in large part to the efforts of TIRRC and its allies on Capitol Hill, Tennessee was the only southern state that didn't pass anti-immigrant legislation this year (more here).
• TIRRC's Welcoming Tennessee Initiative is the model for similar initiatives in 13 other states, including Welcoming Massachusetts and Welcoming Idaho, and also a newly formed Welcoming America initiative.

Congratulations to David Lubell, the outgoing executive director of TIRRC, and Stephen Fotopulos, the incoming executive director. Congratulations also to honorees Bill Purcell and Johnny Hayes. All were recognized for their significant contributions to TIRRC and for helping ensure that Tennessee is a place where newcomers are welcome.

Tim Chávez also posts about the event here. Chávez repeats Charles Bone's comment from the podium that among the 500+ present, around 200 were hearing about TIRRC for the first time, having come specifically to support honoree Johnny Hayes.