What will it take to fix our broken immigration system?\xa0 It\u2019s a contentious, highly partisan issue U.S. lawmakers have grappled with for decades.\xa0 And it\u2019s one that is deeply personal to this week\u2019s guest on Our Voices Matter podcast.
Stan Marek has spent the last 30 years working with local, state and national leaders to find a sensible solution to immigration reform.
The Human Face of Immigration
Much of that time is spent putting a human face on those at the center of the storm.\xa0 Fathers, mothers and children \u2014 thousands of whom he has employed through the years as President and CEO of Marek Construction.
It is their faces that drive Stan to work across deep political divides.
It is their stories that drive him to seek a fair resolution to immigration reform for Americans and immigrants, including the millions who live and work in the shadows.
The Rational Middle
Beyond his work in the political arena, Marek has put his support behind documentary filmmakers at The Rational Middle.\xa0
The award-winning documentary and podcast series examines controversial topics, including immigration, \u201censuring that the information brought to bear is accurate and surrounded by the proper context, while presenting reasonable arguments and rejecting extremist rhetoric.\u201d
Marek is also the co-author of a new book, \u201cDeconstructed: An Insider\u2019s View of Illegal Immigration and the Building Trades\u201d.
Immigrant Roots
Stan\u2019s passion is rooted in his own immigrant story, which he shares in our conversation. \xa0
He also offers his top three suggestions for reforming our broken system in a manner that recognizes the humanity of those who are seeking a better life.
It\u2019s painfully clear that there are no easy answers. In fact, Stan worries that \u201cpeople have given up on immigration.\xa0 They\u2019re just waiting to see what happens next.\xa0 But I can\u2019t give up.\xa0 I\u2019ve got all these employees who have families\u2026and I can\u2019t give up for the kids\u2026\u201d
We can\u2019t give up either, Stan.\xa0 The voices of those kids and their families matter.\xa0 So let\u2019s keep this conversation going until we find a solution that works for everyone.
www.ourvoicesmatterpodcast.com
www.lorellemedia.com
This podcast is devoted to empowering us all to better understand each other's differences...one story at a time.\xa0 Emmy Award-winning journalist, Linda Lorelle, guides guests through insightful, unexpected conversations that reveal our common humanity.\xa0 This show is not about politics per se; it is about finding a way to reclaim civility in the context of the contentious times in which we live, by sharing our personal and professional stories, in hopes that others might find a glimpse of themselves.