PORT OF ENTRY RECOGNIZED IN U.S. CONGRESS
On December 10, 2024, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez recognized Port of Entry on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Here is the full text of her remarks:
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Albany Park Theater Project, a gem of Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District, and to recognize their production, Port of Entry, which reminds us all of an important lesson.
The story of our nation wouldn’t be complete without the sweat, without the tears, without the dreams and the hopes of so many immigrants and children of immigrants. The same stories that brought so many of us here to Congress.
Located in the heart of Albany Park, one of the most diverse immigrant communities in the nation, the Albany Park Theater Project has long been a beacon of creativity, of resilience, and of hope. Through the power of storytelling and of theater, this organization prepares and propels young people in Illinois 3 to lead civically engaged and choice-filled lives. Together, their teen ensemble members and adult artists make world-class, award-winning, original theater that amplifies and illuminates the voices of immigrants and refugees showcasing their struggles, their triumphs, their pains and enduring humanity.
My husband Boris and I were fortunate to experience a production of Port of Entry together, and it was more than a performance: it was a profound journey in the daily lives of immigrant families from all over the world living in Albany Park. As a proud daughter – orgullosa daughter – of Guatemalan immigrants, I know firsthand how important it is for immigrant stories to be told authentically and celebrated unapologetically.
Port of Entry, a collaboration with Third Rail Projects, takes audiences into a theater production set in a typical Chicago apartment building. As audience members you experience Port of Entry because you are immersed in the intimate lives of neighbors from Mexico, from the Philippines. from Russia and beyond. Audience members share in their lived experiences and the story of immigrant families, celebrating their resilience, amplifying their voices, and showcasing the invaluable contributions they make to our communities.
The cast is made up of talented young people from our community who brilliantly invite us to reflect on what it means to call a place home, what it means to find belonging and to build a future in the face of challenge. It invites us to wonder what makes the United States of America.
The production is a combination of years of work involving over 300 collaborators, including youth performers, storytellers, and creators. It’s a testament to the theater company’s 27-year-old commitment using the arts to empower young people in bringing our community together.
Albany Park and our nation have always been a port of entry for many families seeking new beginnings – whether through the southern border like my mom, or welcomed by the Mother of Exiles, the Statue of Liberty, like many of the ancestors of the members of this very same body.
Today at a time when members of this chamber and the incoming administration are threatening to tear our communities apart and would question who gets to be American and who doesn’t, this play feels so timely and vital. So to the Albany Park Theater Project, to Debbie Reznick, one of the founding directors, thank you for reminding us of the power of storytelling to inspire empathy and connection. Thank you for showing us that theater is not just for entertainment, it is a vehicle for change, and it is a celebration of the human spirit. I am so proud to represent this community. I am even prouder to be the daughter of immigrants. Their work reflects the very best of our district and our nation.