Sunday, June 7, 2009

ICIRR AmeriCorps Position

f you know of any people who'd be interested in an AmeriCorps spot with ICIRR, please pass this along.

As early as June 1 we will have an opening here at ICIRR for an AmeriCorp Member. I’d really like to reach out to young adults who are familiar with immigrant communities, outgoing, and bi-lingual in any language representing a sizeable immigrant community here in Chicago (Arabic, Hindi. Urdu, Russian, Polish, etc). I’m attaching the job description. The person has to be a Legal Permanent Resident or US Citizen. Let me know if you have youth who might be interested. I’d love to get someone who is already familiar with the work of ICIRR’s members.

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Title: Immigrant Family Resource Program AmeriCorps Member: Outreach Specialist
Make a difference by providing stepping stones to self-sufficiency for diverse immigrant
communities. Work with organizations across the state providing community outreach.
Organization and Program Description: ICIRR is a 23-year-old membership
organization composed of over 100 dues paying organizations whose mission is to
promote the full and equal participation of immigrants and refugees in the political, civic
and economic life of our diverse society.
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) Immigrant Family
Resource Program is a unique-in-the nation partnership between the Illinois Department
of Human Services (IDHS), ICIRR, and ethnic community-based organizations across
Illinois. Over the past nine years the Immigrant Family Resource Program (IFRP) has
excelled in educating and providing access to immigrant families needing safety-net
services like Food Stamps and Medicaid through case management, professional
interpretation and translation, and referral services.
IFRP partners with 40 ethnic organizations across Illinois; operates in 52 languages,
mainly Spanish, Korean, Arabic, Polish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hindi, Vietnamese, and
Urdu; and reaches people from 80 countries of origin. IFRP reaches Metro Chicago’s
diverse immigrant communities including Latino, Polish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean,
Arab, South Asian, Eastern European, African, and Refugee groups; Suburban Cook and
Collar County growing immigrant communities; and rural Latinos in Central and
Downstate Illinois. This access has proved vital in integrating immigrant families into
the fabric of our state.
Position Description:
The primary goal of the IFRP AmeriCorps Partner is to increase access to and
participation in specific safety-net programs through improved community outreach. The
specific programs and outreach topics include Health Programs, Food Stamps,
Employment Assistance, and Work Rehabilitation depending on eligibility of individual
community members. The Outreach Specialist will be supervised by the IFRP Program
Associate and Program Director.
The full time Outreach Specialist will be primarily responsible for ensuring Partner
outreach is successful and will do so by:
• providing ICIRR created materials for outreach and education;
• monitoring and evaluating current outreach events conducted by IFRP Partners;
• maintaining bi-weekly record keeping and reporting of partner outreach and
effectiveness (based on new cases, information and referrals);
• assisting with day-to-day project operations including data collection and reporting;
• inter-program planning and coordination, information dissemination to grantees and
between agency partners (including limited work on IFRP page of website);
assisting with in-service training opportunities for project grantees;
participating in bi-weekly ICIRR staff meetings.
The Outreach Specialist will be based out of the ICIRR offices in downtown Chicago but
will travel to outreach events in the Metro Chicago area and sometimes in other parts of
Qualifications:
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with diverse constituencies with
differing interests and needs;
• Access to car (mileage will be reimbursed);
• Outgoing personality with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills;
• Ability to balance time between field work (outreach) and administrative work;
• Experience with Excel and Microsoft word;
• Detail oriented with the ability to juggle many different tasks simultaneously and
complete them in a timely manner;
• Some knowledge and awareness of immigration law and policies, and experience
working with immigrants and/or refugees preferred;
• Desire to work in social service or community organizing;
• High school degree or equivalent required; some college preferred;
• Ability to write clearly in English;
• Preferably bi-lingual in English and language of one of the target communities:
Spanish, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Polish, Korean, French, Hindi, or Urdu.
Additional Details:
As an AmeriCorps Partner, the Outreach Specialist will receive a modest living
allowance, health insurance, and an education award of $4,725. The one-year position
begins June 1, 2009 with 5 days of training and will be completed on May 31, 2010. This
AmeriCorps position at ICIRR is arranged with the Logan Square Neighborhood
Association (LSNA). The AmeriCorps Partner will receive some training with the other
LSNA AmeriCorps Partners.
Send Questions and Resumes with Cover Letter to:
Jennifer M Kons
55 E Jackson Blvd, #2075
For Information on AmeriCorps visit
Chicago IL 60604
www.AmeriCorps.gov
jkons@icirr.org
ICIRR is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

SAVE THE DATE: Asians with Disabilities Community Forum June 12th

*** SAVE THE DATE *** SAVE THE DATE *** SAVE THE DATE ***

Asian Americans with Disabilities
Community Forum and Dialogue
Friday, June 12, 2009
1pm - 3pm

Access Living
115 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60654

*** SAVE THE DATE *** SAVE THE DATE *** SAVE THE DATE ***

Last year, DHS launched an effort to understand the gaps in services
and needs of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with disabilities who
require state services. As part of this effort to identify these needs,
DHS is working with Professor Rooshey Hasnain of the University of
Illinois at Chicago to co-host a community forum and dialogue around
issues of disability, access, and cultural awareness in Asian American
and Pacific Islander communities.

Short presentations will be given by UIC Honor's Program students.
Please see the attached flyer and agenda. Some topics that will be
covered include:

* Mental Health in the Asian American community
* Deafness and cultural understanding in the Asian American community
* Family support in the development of adolescents with disabilities

Please mark your calendars!

We look forward to seeing you at this exciting event!

Kriti Festival of S. Asian Arts and Literature -- registration / schedule now available

The third Kriti Festival of S. Asian Arts and Literature will take
place this June 11 - 14, at UIC and Roosevelt University. The
festival features Guests of Honor Amitava Kumar, Bapsi Sidhwa, and
Romesh Gunesekera, along with more than fifty other authors, dancers,
actors, and musicians. There'll be two theatre performances
(including a performance of _Yoni Ki Baat_, the S. Asian version of
the vagina monologues), two nights of dance and music performances,
and more! A full schedule is available here:
http://www.desilit.org/kriti.php#schedule

Registration is free for UIC students, faculty, and staff, but we do
strongly recommend that you register in advance, in order to ensure
your space is reserved. Details are available here:

http://www.desilit.org/kriti.php

And please do help us spread the word, to your family, friends, and colleagues!

- Mary Anne Mohanraj

--
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago
Executive Director, DesiLit, www.desilit.org
Executive Director, SLF, www.speclit.org
www.maryannemohanraj.com

6/14/09: A Special Qawwali Concert with Faiz Ali Faiz at Old Town School of Folk Music

What:
Inner-city Muslim Action Network (IMAN) Presents: A Special Qawwali Concert with Faiz Ali Faiz

When:
Sunday, June 14, 2009 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Where:
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL

Contact Info:
arts@imancentral.org | 7734344626

On Sunday, June 14th, 2009, IMAN will embark on an exciting endeavor with the Old Town School of Folk Music to host a special concert with the renowned Qawwal, Faiz Ali Faiz and Party from Pakistan!!

Qawwali is a Sufi devotional vocal music with a dynamic musical tradition that stretches back over seven centuries, and Faiz Ali Faiz is one of its current leading voices. Faiz Ali Faiz comes from a family of qawwals from seven generations. Born in 1962 in Sharaqpur, Pakistan, Faiz Ali started his professional singing career in 1978. Faiz Ali learned classical music with Ustad Ghulam Shabbir Khan and Ustad Jafar Khan and received qawwali training with Masters Muhammad Ali Faridi and Abdur Rahim Faridi Qawwal. He practices the doaba style from eastern Pakistan.

Faiz's voice is characterised by its large range and a specially rich tone which reminds us of the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who has been his revered inspiration and whose compositions he enjoys singing. Faiz Ali Faiz is considered by many to be the great new voice of Qawwali, winning the BBC's World Music Award in 2006. He has also been highlighted in the media for his collaborations with flamenco musicians and more recently, gospel singers.

Produced in partnership with the Old Town School of Folk Music, a Chicago landmark in outstanding world music, we hope this event will further promote our belief that the arts are a critical tool for cross cultural communication and mutual understanding.

Do not miss this!! Tickets are only $20!! You can either purchase tickets online: http://www.tinyurl.com/faizalifaiztix or by calling Old Town's box office at: 773.728.6000

Thank you to our sponsors:
East-West University

Find Us On Facebook:
IMAN Presents: A Special Qawwali Concert with Faiz Ali Faiz - http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=201356090203

UCLA: Professor Valerie Matsumoto Promoted to Full Professor

The UCLA Asian American Studies Center and Department are very pleased to announce that our invaluable colleague, Professor Valerie Jean Matsumoto, has been promoted to Full Professor, effective July 2009. Professor Matsumoto holds a split appointment in UCLA's History Department and the Asian American Studies Department, and is actively involved as a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee of the Asian American Studies Center.

A graduate of Arizona State University (B.A.) and Stanford University (Ph.D. History). Professor Matsumoto has had a distinguished career that has already spanned over 20 years at UCLA and hundreds of undergraduate and graduate mentees. Her book, Farming the Home Place, is widely regarded as a classic in Japanese and Asian American community studies. She also co-edited (with Blake Allmendinger) Over the Edge: Remapping The American West. Her newest book manuscript, which focuses on (second-generation Japanese American) Nisei women's social networks before, during, and after World War II, is a timely, innovative study which promises to be as influential as its predecessor. Dr. Matsumoto also continues her on-going research projects on Asian American History; U.S. 20th Century, Women's History, and Oral History..

Professor Matsumoto is also one of UCLA's stellar instructors. She was the inaugural recipient of the C. Doris and Toshio Hoshide Distinguished Teaching Prize in 2006, as well as the recipient of the university-wide Distinguished Teaching Award in 2007. She has chaired or been a member of hundreds of senior theses, MA theses and doctoral dissertations, and the students she has mentored are faculty members across the nation, award-winning writers, and leaders in the community and society.

During her UCLA career, Professor Matsumoto has also contributed to the Asian American Studies Center by serving as guest editor of several special issues of Amerasia Journal, Associate Director of the Center, organizing conferences and events, and chairing selection committees. She also has been an active leader in the Asian American Studies Department, and was Vice Chair of the department and a member of a number of committees. She is also an active volunteer with many local and national museums, historical societies, and other organizations and institutions.

Take the Kids to the Philippines for a Day - at Navy Pier's Chicago Children's Museum

Take the Kids to the Philippines for a Day - at Navy Pier's Chicago Children's Museum

Thursday, June 11
Saturday, June 13
Sunday, June 14

Chicago Children's Museum
Navy Pier
Chicago, IL


Bring the family and experience the wonders of the Philippines, as the Chicago Children's Museum (CCM) features the Philippines during its "Passport to the World" series.

The Museum will host displays of Philippine crafts and exhibits, as well as interactive productions by native performers and artists, during the weekend of June 11-14, 2009.

Thursday, June 11, 2009 5:30pm - 8:00pm
Saturday, June 13, 2009 12:00pm - 4:30pm
Sunday, June 14, 2009 12:00pm - 4:30pm

The CCM's "Passport to the World" series showcases the arts and traditions of Chicago's many ethnic groups to provide opportunities for museum visitors to better understand Chicago's unique multicultural community. Previous "Passport to the World" exhibits showcased Chicago's Korean, Persian and American Indian communities.

This will be the second time that the series celebrates the Philippines. The weekend celebration begins on Thursday evening, June 11, 2009. The exhibits and performances will then continue Saturday and Sunday (June 13-14).

On Thursday evening, both the Children's Museum and the opening reception are free to the public. Although there is no extra charge for the Passport to the World: Philippines event on Saturday and Sunday, attendees must pay the regular CCM entrance fee.
The event will include a variety of fun "hand's on" programs for kids.

"We're very proud and excited to have this opportunity to share our culture with our greater Chicago community," said Ruben Salazar, chairman of the planning committee for the program. "Our local Filipino-American community is the second largest Asian American group in the metropolitan area. It's a great opportunity for uniting the many Filipino-American organizations and individual Pinoys throughout the Chicago area."

Volunteers and sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact the steering committee for more information on how you can help make this celebration a success.

This event is a collaborative program by FAN, Samahang Kapatid and other Filipino American organizations.

For more information, go to http://www.fan-chicago.org.

LGBTQ Immigration

Hello CAPACD members,

Congratulation on the 10th year anniversary and growing stronger!

Since immigration is one of the issues that NCAPACD is supporting/taking, I'm writing in hopes to gain NCAPACD support in one of presssing issue the Filipino Community is being faced with: Immigration rights of LGBTIQ

On Friday, April 3, 2009, Shirley Tan was threatened with deportation and separation from family which included her life partner, Jaylynn “Jay” Mercado, her 12 year old twin sons, and Jay’s 76 year old mother, of whom she was the primary care giver. Tan was unable to be petitioned for U.S. citizenship by her life partner of 23 years, Mercado, because the U.S. federal law does not recognize their union as a family based on their identification as women and their partnership as lesbians. Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-D) was able to postpone her deportation until April 22, 2009.



Senator Feinstein introduced a very rare private bill on behalf of Shirley Tan; Shirley will not have to leave the USA for now and hopefully never. The essence of its introduction is that Tan does not have to leave the USA on May 10th, in terms of the voluntary order issued by DHS. This enables her to stay in the USA, legally, until the private bill passes ( a rare occurrence)- and if it does not come up for a vote then she can stay for the duration of this Congress’s session, which has approximately a year and nine months left. However Shirleys ultimate saviour will be UAFA and nothing else!



This is unbelievably miraculous and indeed an extraordinary measure on behalf of the family. This also gives all our wonderful activists, LGBTIQ organizations, and community supporters an opportunity to hit the streets, the phones, the faxes, the e-mails, the blogs etc. and to fight like crazy for the Uniting American families ACT (UAFA) – in truth the only real long term option for Shirley and the 40,000 other couples/families in this dire situation.

A few articles are link below to give you Shirley Tan background/story and what's happening at the White House:



http://oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/breaking-shirley-tan-invited-to-uafa-hearing/



http://www.gmanews.tv/story/160082/Pinay-Lesbian-couple-now-at-the-forefront-of-LGBT-movement-in-US



http://oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/senator-arlen-specter-d-pacomes-on-board/


http://oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/senator-dianne-feinstein-et-al-save-shirley-tan/



So, when we talk about Immigration, please don't forget the LGBTIQ community and include them in the advocacy efforts. All the help and support NCAPACD can provide is greatly appreciated.



In solidarity,



Angelica Cabande

SoMa Community Action Network (SOMCAN)

Director of Organizing

415.202.5689 direct office



www.somcan.org