The Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy Hosts Parental Rights in Education Workshop

The Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy Hosts Parental Rights in Education Workshop
On Thursday, February 25th the Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy will be hosting a Parental Rights in Education Workshop at the United Way of Rhode Island located at 50 Valley Street, in Providence from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

From recent test scores we know that Latino students in Rhode Island are among the lowest achieving Latino students in the United States. While this is shocking, many parents sit at home and think: What can I do about this? How can I help?

The public education system in this state is complicated; many parents do not have the information they need to learn how to work with the public education system. The forum is designed to allow parents to understand their rights and those of their children. Discussions will center on requesting new teachers, obtaining free tutoring, applying to a charter school, obtaining funds to attend private school, and organizing meetings within schools to create change. CHisPA wants to help parents find this information by bringing together some of the most knowledgeable people in the state.

Guest speakers include:
Janet Pichardo: Providence Public School’s Parent Engagement Office
Xiomara Paulino: Rhode Island Parent Information Network
Maria Duque: Learning Community Charter School
Kate Nagle: Rhode Island Scholarship Alliance

CHisPA is very interested in hearing how Latino parents feel about the state of public education in Rhode Island; what they feel is working, what they feel could be improved, and what needs to be eliminated altogether. The forum is not meant to go one-way. CHisPA is seeking input, comments, and suggestions from parents about what they want to see changed. The forum will be conducted entirely in Spanish; refreshments as well as childcare will be available. CHisPA will also be hosting a forum on College Access and Higher Education on March 25th, a forum on bilingual education on April 29th, and a forum on dropout prevention and alternative education on May 13th.

About CHisPA:
The Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy (CHisPA) is a bilingual, community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of Latino families and individuals by advocating for them and by providing a variety of programs and services that will empower them to achieve their full potential as productive members of the Rhode Island community. More information on CHisPA can be found at: http://chispari.org/

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Gillette Stadium Workers Arrest

Photo: Press Conference on February 11th, 2010 at St. Charles Church on Dexter St. in Providence

Gillette Stadium Workers Arrest

January 6th 2010

     Federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents detained dozens of Guatemalan immigrants who were on their way to Gillette Stadium to shovel snow before the weekend’s New England Patriots playoff game, and then reportedly drove many of them back to the stadium to work, during a federal search for fugitives from deportation.

     The workers’ situation sent shock waves through a Providence Latino community well acquainted with immigration raids. The Foxborough operation still stunned diplomats and advocates because officials had hoped the federal government would focus only on criminals, which is the agency’s stated priority, and not on ordinary workers with no previous convictions.

     Stacey James, spokesman for Gillette Stadium and the Patriots, said the stadium hired a contractor to clear the snow from the stands, walkways, and field in preparation for Sunday’s big game, and he asserted that company is responsible for making sure that all its workers are here legally.

     “We go through a vendor and pay for a workforce to provide a service,’’ he said. “We expect them to vet all employees.” James identified Legal Pro-Temps Inc., of Dorchester, as the company that provided the workers last week, and whose contract has now been canceled. Just how the workers were recruited from Providence remains unknown. Some workers have said they were contacted by friends, or friends-of-friends, whenever work was available at the stadium, but they did not know the names of the people who paid them in cash every week for their work. Nor did they know what company — or individual — had hired them. The Patriots insisted on a signed contract that called for qualified workers “dressed appropriately for the job”. They paid Legal Pro-Temps “an hourly rate, well in excess of minimum wage for each day-hire worker for the entire time they are on the site”, James said. The single room that Legal Pro-Temps maintained within a second-floor accountant’s office was cleared a week or so after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained the workers on January 6th.

     On a day that never got above freezing, some were ill equipped for the cold — and the rigors of the job. They shivered in sweatshirts and hoodies and frozen sneakers as they hurled the snow into giant chutes. One woman was pregnant. Seven workers were minors. The youngest was a 14-year-old boy. The federal operation raises questions about the legal status of temporary workers at one of the state’s premier sports complexes, and about the responsibility of companies that hire subcontractors to verify the legal status of their employees. Some of the victims testified that they had time for “only a few sips” of water, because their ‘American’ supervisor “would yell” if they took too long, or talked too much. Workers snuck toward the back of the stadium to drink water “when he [the supervisor] wasn’t looking”, Roberto Castro said. Guillermo Ramos, another of the workers, said on Friday, “The gringo said, ‘Hurry up, you are here to work, not to drink.’” He said the supervisor wore a Gillette jacket.

     Nine men from Guatemala living in Rhode Island were detained and are facing deportation. Seven of them are still being held at Bristol County jail. Five who illegally reentered the country after having been deported are being referred to the US attorney’s office for criminal prosecution. Carlos Escobedo, Guatemala’s consul general in the region, said immigrants caught up in Wednesday’s road stop, who are now flooding the consulate with calls for help, appear to be ordinary workers, not criminals. He said he is helping them find legal assistance to determine whether they have the right to stay in the United States.

     Community groups are working with the consulate, including Immigrants in Action, the Olneyville Neighborhood Association, Fuerza Laboral (Power of Workers), the International Institute of Rhode Island, and Immigrants United, all in Providence, and the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition in Boston and the Maya K’iche Organization of New Bedford. A press conference was organized on February 11th in Providence to mobilize support for the worker’s cause.

A fundraiser will be held for the workers and their families on Saturday February 20th from 12noon until 5pm at St. Teresa's Church located at 275 Manton Avenue in Providence.

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Home Across Lands - a documentary film

HOME ACROSS LANDS is a documentary that explores the journey of resettlement-- it tells the story of a small group of Kunama refugees and how they reestablish their sense of community in their new home in America. Considered to be some of the original inhabitants of Eritrea, the Kunama people are a marginalized minority populating the remote and fertile regions near the border of Ethiopia. In 1998, war between Eritrea and Ethiopia broke out in a conflict over these border lands forcing over 4,000 Kunama to flee across the border into Northern Ethiopia. In 2000, the war ended with the Eritrean government regaining control of the disputed area, separating thousands of Kunama from their homeland and way of life. Today the Kunama wait in desolation, 45 km from the disputed Eritrean/Ethiopian border, warehoused in the Shimelba Refugee Camp in Northern Ethiopia. Life in the camp is difficult and opportunities for a better life are nonexistent, but the Kunama remain committed to their strong sense of community and family in spite of their displacement.

Unwanted in Ethiopia and unable to return to their homes safely, a small number of Kunama are given the opportunity for resettlement in the United States. HOME ACROSS LANDS chronicles the journey of these newly arrived Kunama as they strive to become self-reliant, invested participants in their new home. Guiding their transition is the resettlement agency, International Institute Rhode Island, that connects them to the resources they need as they work to establish a new community and better life for their families.

HOME ACROSS LANDS won the Grand Prize in The Providence Film Festival Category at the 2009 Rhode Island International Film Festival on Sunday August 9, 2009.

The DVD is available to purchase for $20.00 here.  You may also download a free resource guide. 

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Save the Date for the Carnival Ball!

Save the date and get ready to dance!  The 24th Annual Spring Carnival Ball is Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 8 p.m. to midnight at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet in Cranston, Rhode Island. 

With the mission to raise funds to benefit the Institute's programs and services for immigrants and refugees in Rhode Island, the Spring Carnival Ball has the reputation of being one of the Ocean State's longest running and most diverse parties of the year, renowned for its quality international entertainment, high energy, and a crowd of more than 1,000 attendees.

This year's performers include Grupo Fantasia, the 2009 winner for Best Latin Band at the New England Urban Music Awards, Big NAZO, who recently peformed at the 2010 Winter Olympics, the What Cheer? Brigade, voted Best of Rhode Island by Rhode Island Monthly, and many more!

All proceeds will benefit the International Institute Rhode  Island's programs and services for immigrants and refugees in Rhode Island.  We encourage Festive attire, costumes, and national dress because we are bringing back the costume contest!

Tickets are $75 each or $20 for students.  Tickets may be purchased by contacting Sarah at 401.784.8634, sparrott@iiri.org, or at the door the night of the event. 

Over 30 volunteers are needed the day of the Ball for set-up & decoration, ticket tables & reception, and clean-up. All volunteers receive one free Ball ticket. More Information on volunteering may be found here.

For more information about the event or for sponsorship opprotunities, please contact Sarah at 401.784.8634 or sparrott@iiri.org. 

We hope to see you there with your dancing shoes on!

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International Institute of Rhode Island Urges the Immigrant Community to Seek Services from Accredited Agencies

There are only 2 types of entities recognized by the federal government for assisting individuals in immigration proceedings: attorneys and accredited representatives at accredited agencies.

In the state of Rhode Island there are 3 accredited agencies approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA): the International Institute of Rhode Island, the Diocese of Providence’s Office of Immigrants & Refugees, and Progreso Latino.

An accredited agency is a non-profit agency approved by the BIA to provide immigration services to the community at nominal fees. The agency will then apply for an individual’s accreditation, the right to represent clients in immigration proceedings. Accredited representatives normally are licensed for a period of three years. For renewal of accreditation they must provide proof of continual professional development such as maintenance of immigration law knowledge by attending trainings, and access to a large legal reference library.

Notarios, notary publics and immigration consultants may NOT represent you before USCIS. While in many other countries the word “Notario” means that the individual is an attorney, this is not true in the United States and they may not provide the same services that and attorney or accredited representative does.

A notario may NOT:
• Give you legal advice on what immigration benefit you may apply for or what to say in an immigration interview
• Hold him or herself out as qualified in legal matters or in immigration and naturalization procedure

If you are seeking help with immigration questions, you should be very careful before paying money to a non-attorney. Please use the following guidelines to protect yourself from becoming a victim:

How to Protect Yourself from Becoming a Victim:
• DO NOT sign blank applications, petitions or other papers.
• DO NOT sign documents that you do not understand.
• DO NOT sign documents that contain false statements or inaccurate information.
• DO NOT let anyone keep your original documents.
• DO NOT make payments to a representative without getting a receipt.
• DO NOT pay more than a nominal fee to non-attorneys or make payments on the internet.
• DO obtain copies of all documents prepared or submitted for you.
• DO verify an attorney’s or accredited representative’s eligibility to represent you.
• DO report any representative’s unlawful activity to USCIS, State Bar Associations and/or State Offices of Attorneys General.

For questions, or to schedule an appointment, please call the International Institute at (401) 461-5940.

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