Chicago, IL -- This Saturday, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) will host their 2nd annual "One Nation, One Dream" Immigration Integration Summit. Over 1,200 people have registered for the Summit, along with 30 of Illinois's most powerful elected officials, including Governor Pat Quinn, Congressmen Luis Gutierrez and Jan Schakowsky, Senator Dick Durbin, County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate Republican Caucus Chair Senator Matt Murphy. The summit will announce the "One Nation One Dream" issue platform that ICIRR will work on in the coming year, as well as offer workshops on issues that will empower, as well as, provide vital information for immigrants.

Additionally, the LGBT community will be represented by Representative Greg Harris, Representative Kelly Cassidy, Alderman James Cappleman who will join David Munar, the President/CEO of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Jim Bennett, Regional Director of Lambda Legal, among others for a press availability at 11:20 am at the LGBT corner of "Uniting America" booth to discuss how to bridge the LGBT community and the immigrant community.

The "One Nation One Dream" election year issue platform includes a continued commitment to immigration reform; a powerful commitment to work for healthcare and education for new Americans; and a jobs and worker support agenda. ICIRR will also be launching their "Uniting America" Initiative, to encourage volunteerism and community dialogue between Illinois immigrants and their native born neighbors. Uniting America is a partnership with the AmeriCorps program and the State of Illinois. ICIRR will announce their naturalization and voter mobilization goals for 2012, which include assisting 10,000 legal immigrants to become citizens in Illinois, and mobilizing 159,885 Latino, Asian, Polish, and Middle Eastern voters to the polls.

The Summit begins with an opening plenary at 9 am, with confirmed speaker Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. At noon, the Summit will close with a spirited rally. Confirmed speakers include Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Il. Senator Dick Durbin, and House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Some of the workshops offered this year include; get-out-the-vote, citizenship, information about the Illinois DREAM act, health care, stopping deportations and early childhood education through parent engagement, among others.

"The Immigration Integration Summit provides an excellent opportunity for people to learn about the services that are available to them as well as learn how they can become engaged civically in this important election year," said Lawrence Benito, incoming CEO at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

All workshops are free to the public, and take place between 9:30 am to noon at Malcolm X College at 1900 West Van Buren Street. Doors open at 8:00 am.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is a statewide coalition of more than 130 organizations dedicated to promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees to full and equal participation in the civic, cultural, social, and political life of our diverse society. For more information, visit www.icirr.org .