Thanks, Fran. I could be a student! Kate Sent from my iPad On Feb 23, 2013, at 11:09 PM, akillelea@xxxxxxx wrote: > Thought everyone would be interested in this -- Fran > > > -----Original Message----- > From: LI Council of Churches <LI_Council_of_Churches@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: akillelea <akillelea@xxxxxxx> > Sent: Fri, Feb 22, 2013 2:42 pm > Subject: immigration > > > As we wait, hope, pray, and advocate for immigration reform, here are some > resources for welcoming immigrants. > Tom Goodhue > Long Island Council of Churches > > VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO TEACH COMPUTER SKILLS TO ESL STUDENTS > > > > Previously posted: > > > FEB. 26 WORKSHOP ON “EASING YOUR WAY TO A GREEN CARD > > > > > Catholic Charities Immigration Office > Catholic Charities has an immigration assistance office at 143 Schleigel > Blvd. in Amiyville (off Albany Ave.). Their legal clinics are Tuesdays from > 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. and Fridays from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. The charge for these is > $30. Please call 631-789-5210 for further information. > > SPANISH MINISTRY FOR ENGLISH CONGREGATIONS > The Parish Resource Center is offering a Webinar led by the Rev. Dr. Enrique > Lebron, pastor of Riverhead United Methodist Church (and a member of the > LICC’s Eastern Area Steering Committee) on Tuesday, Feb. 19, from 7 to 8 p.m. > Pastor Lebron will share his experiences on how a congregation can use the > resources they have to reach the fastest-growing segment of the population in > ministry that can benefit both the Hispanic community and your congregation > or parish. The cost of this webinar is $15 for PRC subscribers and $20 for > non-subscribers. > Click for more information and to register > If you would like your concerns to be addressed please send an e-mail with > your thoughts or questions. > > Evangelical Leaders Launch “I was a Stranger,” > An Immigration Prayer Challenge and Video > The Evangelical Immigration Table has launched an effort to encourage > Christians to think about immigration from a distinctly biblical perspective. > The diverse coalition of influential evangelicals will reach out to political > leaders and more than 100,000 churches for their “I Was a Stranger” > immigration prayer challenge. Leaders announced the launch of a promotional > video featuring high-profile evangelical leaders reading from the 25th > chapter of Matthew, from which the challenge gets its name. This coordinated > effort of churches and Christian ministries summons legislators to allow > biblical teachings to inform their views on immigration. The challenge > invites individual evangelical Christians, church congregations, and > legislators to read 40 verses of Scripture that relate to immigration and to > pray that these passages will evoke the political will to create a just > immigration system that better reflects Christian values. Stephan Bauman, > President and CEO, World Relief: > “For years, many people have asked whether evangelicals care about > immigration. The “I Was A Stranger” Challenge mobilizes thousands of > Christians to take action on immigration reform. Evangelicals are serious > about Scripture and its command to take special care of immigrants living > among us. As people all across our country put immigrants first, we believe > our elected officials will understand reform is urgent, moral, and biblical, > and that they must tackle it early this year.” > Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent, The Wesleyan Church: > “The church was birthed in diversity 2,000 years ago and for 2,000 years > God's people have been speaking and acting on behalf of the vulnerable. God's > call compels us to action today on behalf of immigrants in our congregations > and communities.” > Taylor Bell, Student, Samford University (Alabama): > “This prayer challenge brings us evangelicals back to the scripture, > reminding us that we are called as members of the community of God to welcome > the stranger among us. I know from my own experience as a student in Alabama > that we have a long way to go as evangelicals on the issue of immigration, > and this prayer challenge will provide the biblical foundation we need to get > there.” > Noel Castellanos, CEO, Christian Community Development Association: > “Today, we are launching a campaign to explore the teaching of God's Word > regarding our call to love the stranger in our land. Join thousands of > Christians over the next 40 days to discover God's heart for our immigrant > brothers and sisters.” > Dave Gibbons, Pastor and Founder of Newsong Church and XEALOTS.org > (California): > “Loving God and Loving Neighbors is the same as Loving Immigrants. They are > all symbiotically related.” > Dr. Bill Hamel, President, Evangelical Free Church of America: > “As an evangelical, I am committed to not missing this moment in history > where we can lead a movement for Biblical justice and compassion. > Evangelicals sat on the sidelines in the civil rights discussions but we must > not this time!” > Dr. Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor, Northland Church (Florida): > “As a pastor, I want my congregation to have a Biblical framework for > addressing challenges, not a primarily political one. The most powerful > motivation for us to find a good way to include people who are marginalized > is to read scripture and try to follow its guidance.” > For more information about the challenge, please visit: > http://evangelicalimmigrationtable.com/iwasastranger/ > You can follow the conversation on Twitter at #IWasAStranger or text > Immigration to 877877 to connect to the Evangelical Immigration Table and > sign up for the I Was a Stranger challenge. > additional info on FEMA’s help for immigrants in the wake of Superstorm Sandy > Qualified Aliens who may be eligible for FEMA monetary disaster assistance > include Green Card holders – individuals with U.S. government permission to > live and work in the country permanently. > Others in the Qualified Alien category include those who have legal U.S. > resident status because of: > · Asylum; > · Refugee status; > · Parole (admission into the United States for humanitarian purposes) > for at least one year; > · Withholding of deportation; > · Immigration from Cuba or Haiti; and > · Severe forms of human trafficking, including persons with “T” and “U” > visas. > Applicants should consult an immigration expert concerning whether or not > their immigration status falls within the Qualified Alien category. > FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program is available to disaster-stricken > U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals and Qualified Aliens in counties with a > federal disaster declaration. Federal disaster assistance for individuals and > families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs for > owners, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not > covered by insurance. > Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for FEMA cash assistance or Disaster > Unemployment Assistance. > However, in households with varying citizenship status, only one member needs > to be eligible to qualify that home for FEMA aid. > An undocumented parent or guardian may apply for monetary aid on behalf of a > minor child who is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or Qualified Alien. > Although the adult will be expected to sign a Declaration and Release (FEMA > Form 009-0-3) in the child’s name, no information will be gathered on the > person signing for the child. > All individuals, regardless of citizenship status, affected by a major > disaster may be eligible for other non-monetary, in-kind emergency disaster > relief programs. These include search and rescue, medical care, shelter, food > and water as well as Disaster Legal Services and Crisis Counseling. > People who don’t qualify for monetary assistance may still call the FEMA > registration line for referrals to voluntary agencies. > Individuals can register for help online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via > smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. They may also call 800-621-3362. The TTY > number is 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can > call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, > seven days a week until further notice. > For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit > www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy > and www.fema.gov/blog. > > Many immigrants assume that they cannot receive help from FEMA in the wake of > Superstorm Sandy—or that applying for assistance may jeopardize their > immigration status. FEMA explains in United Way’s “Disaster Assistance > Resource Guide”: > > FEMA Assistance > FEMA provides funding and assistance to local residents (renters and > homeowners) and businesses who have sustained loss of or damage to property > that is not covered by insurance. Contact your insurance company first: If > you are NOT covered for the storm damage by your insurance company, you may > be eligible for federal aid. You will need to obtain a letter from your > insurance company saying you are not covered for damage from the storm. > Applicants can feel confident that the information they provide is used only > to access disaster recovery assistance, according to the head of disaster > recovery operations in New York for the Federal Emergency Management Agency > (FEMA). > The aid is available to citizens, non-citizen nationals, and qualified > aliens. Qualified aliens include those with legal permanent residence (shown > by green cards). Their status will not be jeopardized by requesting disaster > assistance. > A minor child who is a citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien can > have a parent or guardian who is not eligible apply for assistance on the > child’s behalf. No information will be gathered on the adult’s status. > The status of qualified alien includes: > legal permanent residents (those with green cards), > those with refugee or asylum status, > those whose deportation has been withheld, > those on parole into the U.S. for at least one year for humanitarian purposes, > those with conditional entry, > those who are Cuban-Haitian entrants, > and those with petitions for relief based on battery or extreme cruelty by a > family member. > The application for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency > (FEMA) requires applicants to certify that they are either citizens, > non-citizen nationals or qualified aliens. FEMA conducts random audits of > applications to verify U.S. citizenship and qualified alien documentation > issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. However, assistance can > be given as long as someone in the household is entitled to it, and no > information will be gathered regarding the status of others in the household. > FEMA helps the household, therefore if anyone in the household qualifies (a > child born on the US, or a parent with a green card), then the family would > qualify for help. > For further information about FEMA assistance, visit www.fema.gov > For other services, and the updated version of United Way’s “Disaster > Assistance Resource Guide,” visit www.211longisland.org > > DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILD ARRIVALS > The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which will allow > qualifying undocumented youth to temporarily live and work in the US, has > officially begun. Patrick Young from CARACEN, explained in a Long Island Wins > posting: > The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which will allow > qualifying undocumented youth to temporarily live and work in the US, > officially begins today. > Over the last seven weeks, I’ve been telling you what you have to do to get > ready for this program. Now you can begin to apply (find the application > forms here). > Do not be deceived—this is a complicated process. If you are at all unsure of > what you are doing, seek assistance from a lawyer or call CARECEN > (516-489-8330) or Catholic Charities (631-789-5210). Do not under any > circumstances use a so-called “notario” for assistance. If you do not meet > the criteria put forth by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, you may > put yourself at risk for removal by applying, so you want to be certain that > you qualify. > Each paragraph below has a link to a more in-depth article about deferred > action. > The first thing you will need to apply is an identity document. The best one > to have is a current passport. You may also use a birth certificate coupled > with a government issued ID. > Next, you need to gather documentation that you are currently in school, have > a GED, or have graduated from high school. Fortunately, we just found out > that being enrolled in most GED courses will now count as being currently in > school. > You also need to gather evidence to prove you entered the United States > before you turned 16. This evidence could include a passport stamp showing > when you arrived in the US, school records showing you in a US school before > you were 16, medical records, etc. > In addition to this, you need proof that you have been here since June 15, > 2007. These could include medical and financial records, school records, > church records, and more. > If you have ever been arrested, you will need to get a certificate of > disposition. > In what will be the hardest part for some applicants, you will need to pay a > fee of $465. > > CARACEN, and Jobs with Justice are offering workshops on Deferred Action. > Hosting such a workshop is a great service to those who may be eligible for > this program and a great way to invite immigrant youth and young adults to > your congregation. We’d be glad to pass the word about such workshops. Here’s > info on workshops Jobs with Justice is doing: > > > INTERRELIGIOUS VISITS > A recent Pew Report noted that more immigrants came to the U.S. in 2010 from > Asia than from Latin America, which suggests that we may all need to get to > know some new neighbors. > The LICC’s Dialogue Committee wants to encourage inter-denominational and > inter-religious visits to houses of worship, which is one way to create > communities that welcome immigrants. When Christians meet local Sikhs, > Bahais, and Jains, they are reminded that not all recent immigrants are from > Latin America. And Latinos often find they need a little help in > understanding Long Island’s astonishing religious diversity. > If a picture is worth a thousand words, someone remarked once at a meeting of > the Long Island Multi-Faith Forum, a visit is worth a thousand pictures. > Would your church, synagogue, mosque, gurudwara, temple or fellowship > welcome interfaith visitors? If so, what are good times to come and whom > should we list as a contact for visits? Is there anything you would like > visitors to know about where they should sit, what they should wear, and what > you would prefer that they do or not do? The Forum has done more than 275 > educational programs, mostly in English but also some in Spanish to help > Latinas get to know people they are likely to encounter on Long Island. > You might also consider hosting the Forum’s “Building Bridges” program or its > “What’s My Faith?” game show. Both are great ways to help your congregation > or community group to understand your immigrant neighbors. For more > information, please visit www.liccny.org. To request a presentation, contact > Bernice Suplee at jbsuplee@xxxxxxx or (631) 665-7033. Michael Fairchild, who > produced the half-hour “Faiths of Long Island” video for the Long Island > Multi-Faith Forum has loaded it onto YouTube. You can see the video at > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncnn5pd6Gu4 and > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOsL0LaClgU > > HELP FOR IMMIGRANT WORKERS > The State Department of Labor has a host of free programs designed to help > immigrants break into the workforce. The New York State Department of Labor > is addressing the language/employment barrier with a new program designed to > help immigrants navigate the working world and learn English as well. > Immigrant workforce counselors are set up at the State Labor Department's > one-stop centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Flushing, Patchogue, Yonkers, > Buffalo, Syracuse and Utica and they can provide assistance in a wide variety > of languages. They also refer clients to English as a Second Language (ESL) > classes. All of the Immigrant Workforce Project programs are free. For more > information, visit http://www.labor.ny.gov > > The Rev. Thomas W. Goodhue > Executive Director > Long Island Council of Churches > 1644 Denton Green > Hempstead, NY 11550 > 516-565-0290 ext. 206 (voice) > 516-565-0291 (fax) > tomgoodhue@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > http://www.liccny.org > > > Click to view this email in a browser > > If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to this message > with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the following link: > Unsubscribe > LI Council of Churches > 1644 Denton Green > Hempstead, New York 11550 > US > Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy. >