A Very Busy December at CIS-NYC
On Friday, December 1st, we had a busy day at CIS-NYC. In the morning, we collaborated with volunteers at Kearney, (a global management consulting firm) to host a career development workshop for some of our Angel Fund Scholarship recipients and other young clients. The group learned about career planning, how to build a resume, and how to prepare for an interview. They were able to engage with and learn from and inspiring group of professionals from Kearney. Our students left motivated to pursue their dream careers!
On Friday, we also hosted a legal clinic in collaboration with Saint Michael’s Church in Brooklyn. At the clinic we were able to assist 17 individuals with applying for Temporary Protected Status, a program which allows migrants whose home countries are unsafe the right to live and work in the United States for a temporary, but extendable, period of time. In recent months, our legal team has been working hard to ensure all of our clients who are eligible for this status are able to apply.
On December 5th, members of Justice for Immigrants at CIS-NYC marched in solidarity to City Hall alongside various organizations advocating for New York’s Right to Shelter law. Our members shared their experiences and perspectives with a PBS reporter. It was a powerful display of unity and advocacy, and a collective voice demanding justice and shelter for all in our community. If you would like to join us in defending New York’s Right to Shelter policy, you can sign this petition: https://p2a.co/axh2luo CIS-NYC
On Saturday, December 9th we held the first session of our leadership development training, where Justice for Immigrants members did a deep dive into community organizing and storytelling. Participants delved into the art of crafting and sharing personal narratives, equipping themselves with powerful tools for advocacy. Together, we learned how to foster a community-driven approach to amplify voices and create meaningful change. The following week, participants put their learning into action as they mobilized for a moving action to advocate for the Unemployment Bridge Program. This legislation would create an unemployment benefit program for excluded workers, such as undocumented immigrants.
Lastly, on December 10th we had the opportunity to celebrate our wonderful Food Pantry volunteers with a festive volunteer appreciation lunch! Our Food Pantry would not be able to serve hundreds of families each week without the support of our volunteers.