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Cabrini Immigrant Services Hosts Successful Liberty and Justice Awards

Cabrini Immigrant Services held its annual Liberty & Justice Awards Reception on Thursday, November 16th at Estherwood Mansion in Dobbs Ferry, New York. The event was held in honor of the Sisters of Charity of New York and Thomas Dobbins, Coordinator of Justice and Peace and Producer of Sirius XM Radio at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York.

In addition to the honorees, Marianne McGowan, ESL Coordinator for Cabrini Immigrant Services, was also recognized upon the occasion of her retirement for her 15 years of dedicated and outstanding service to the program and presented with an inscribed globe by Cabrini Immigrant Services Volunteer and former honoree, Sr. Damien Ciminera, MSC.

The honorees drew a record crowd of over 100 supporters and raised a record-breaking net of $28,000!  The evening was made even more special with the presence of Provincial, Sr. Pietrina Raccuglia, MSC (see photo below) and who shared a little-known fact about the history of Mother Cabrini.  When Mother Cabrini arrived in New York with the first group of MSCs, they had nowhere to stay.  They were taken in by the Sisters of Charity of New York and told they could stay as long as needed.  As 2017 marks the 200th anniversary of the Sisters of Charity of New York and the 100th anniversary of the passing of Mother Cabrini into eternal life, it was very fitting and moving to witness Sr. Pietrina, MSC, thank the Sisters of Charity of New York for providing Mother Cabrini and the MSCs with refuge and present them with the Cabrini Liberty & Justice Award!

Proceeds from the event will benefit the programs of Cabrini Immigrant Services, which include: English for Speakers of Other Languages (“ESOL”) Programs, after-school homework help program, assistance with preparations for the citizenship test, aid in procuring benefits, provision of health screening and referrals, and various other support and educational services.  We are grateful to the honorees for their many contributions to immigrant services and all who supported this important fundraiser.

Stop Domestic Violence

The statistics are staggering. Every 9 seconds a woman in the US is either beaten or assaulted; more than 3 women a day in the US are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends; domestic violence victims lose nearly 8 million days of paid work per year in the US; the costs of intimate partner violence in the US exceeds $5.8 billion per year: $4.1 billion on direct medical and health care services and $1.8 billion per year for productivity losses. This horrible crime affects everyone. For those who are not US citizens or may be undocumented and living in this country, they face yet another fear. If they report the abuse to the authorities, they are risking deportation, which may also result in separation from their children.

Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, NY, offered Part 1 of a two part series. On September 26th, a ‘Know Your Rights for Domestic Violence’ workshop was held. The workshop was given in English and Spanish. It was presented by Bertha Diaz, MSW, a former intern at CIS.   The participants left CIS with a wealth of information about their rights and also about safe places that they may contact.

We also want to educate our Cabrini Kids about domestic violence. They will be making packets for domestic violence victims. On October 20th, the children will be putting items such as combs, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner into a bag that will be donated to an agency that assists victims. These packets will not only be given to people who are victims but also to those who are in transition to safe houses. It gives them a few items to help them get started in their new surroundings.

In October, CIS will offer the second part of the series, a workshop on Sexual Assault. Ms. Diaz will return to do the presentation.

                                            

Cabrini Immigrant Services in Dobbs Ferry, NY Rallies Against Hate

Charlottesville, Va., North Korea, terrorist attacks, driving cars into crowds of people and so many other examples all indicate that hate has spread throughout our country and our world. Sadly, hate crimes in the U.S. are up 34% since last year. On Sunday, September 24th, hundreds of people met at the Woodlands Community Temple in White Plains, NY to ‘Rally Against Hate.’ The rally was sponsored by different churches and synagogues, local villages and the Anti-Defamation League.

The rally opened with the song ‘This Land is Your Land.’ Many different songs were sung throughout the program, which spoke of love and triumph over trials. There were many speakers from different churches and synagogues as well as elected officials. As we listened to their words the energy and the love became stronger and stronger.

All the speakers were excellent but two stood out to me. Esther Geizhals, a Holocaust survivor, told her story of being taken from Poland as a young child and going to Auschwitz. She recalled still seeing her mother, father, aunt and younger brother walking away on different lines, the last time she would ever see them. She spoke from her heart, which she said is filled with love, but showed how a heart filled with hate can do so much harm. She warned this great country not to allow hate on any level. She is 88 years old and travels around the country telling her story, especially to young children, so they will learn what hate can do.

NY State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a strong supporter of Cabrini of Westchester, also gave a very inspiring talk. She said that it is hard to believe that in 2017 the U.S. is having rallies against hate. She, like Ms. Geizhal, said that although we are at a rally against hate, we need to rally with love. She challenged everyone there to be the love in the world, to not allow any form of hatred to be accepted, to challenge our elected officials when hate crimes do occur and to speak up when confronted with any form of hatred or racist remarks. We need to challenge people who don’t feel there is anything wrong with saying something against a race or religion. In a sense, acceptance is not an option.

Several tutors from Cabrini Immigrant Services in Dobbs Ferry, NY attended the rally. We not only represented the immigrant population but all people regardless of race, creed, color or status. As one tutor said, “CIS represents more than just the immigrant, everyone is welcome!”

The program ended with the song, ‘All You Need Is Love.’ Let us all do our part to make this world a loving place.

Cabrini Immigrant Services, NYC Ramping Up Programs for DACA

The staff at Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC has been working hard to respond quickly and effectively to the Trump Administration’s recent decision to rescind the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) Program. This is a decision that puts the lives and dreams of nearly 800,000 young people at risk — including around 500 people whom CIS-NYC has helped apply for DACA over the last 5 years. In response to this disturbing news we have made our voices heard at local rallies, ramped up our legal and social services for DACA recipients and their families, and prepared a range of resources to address the concerns of our community.

Last week we hosted a packed meeting where affected community members and allies came together to support one another, reflect on the events of the last couple of weeks, and get their questions answered. We provided information about the implications of this decision and laid out the work that is yet to be done in the coming 6 months to ensure that our Dreamers and their loved ones are protected. We will be holding another workshop with an immigration lawyer next Thursday, September 21st at 6pm at our offices (139 Henry St). The meeting will be in both Spanish and English and food and childcare will be provided. All are welcome!

If you or someone you know needs legal, social or emotional support, please contact our office at 212-791-4590 ext. 100. If your DACA expires between September 5th, 2017 and March 5th 2018 you must renew your DACA before October 5th 2017. CIS-NYC will be taking appointments for renewals up until October 3rd. If you need to renew but are unable to pay the fee on such short notice, contact us and we will do our best to assist you in finding the necessary resources.

If you would like to support our efforts to protect and defend our Dreamers, please considering making a donation at: http://bit.ly/donatecis and indicate in the note that you would like to donate to our DACA Fund. Funds will be used to fund our legal and advocacy work, as well as to assist clients in need with paying their DACA renewal fees.

Cabrini Immigrant Services, NYC Responds to the Decision on DACA

Sr. Yolanda Flores, MSC of Cabrini Immigrant Services, NYC writes: Please pray for our young people in this country. Por favour una oracion por la paz para nuestros jovenes en este pais. GRACIAS.

The following is an email that was sent from the staff members of Cabrini Immigrant Services, NYC on Tuesday, September 5th to their many Cabrinian colleagues, friends, benefactors and supporters:

Dear Friends,

This morning Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) Program will end on March 5th, 2018, depriving nearly 800,000 young people of the opportunity to work, study, support their families, and walk down the streets without fear. AG Sessions called this an act of “compassion” and repeatedly referred to our DACAmented brothers and sisters as “illegal aliens,” denying the humanity of our community members and their families. This is not an act of compassion. This act will not only have a devastating impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people and their families, but will also have a negative impact on the United States as a whole, resulting in a significant loss of valuable members of our communities who contribute in a myriad of ways. This cruel, racist and unnecessary decision was made not out of concern for the well-being of our country, but out of a desire to make a political statement and appeal to White Supremacist supporters.

CIS-NYC will respond to this announcement with increased motivation to continue advocating for and serving the immigrant community. In the coming weeks and months we will be offering crisis intervention services, individual and group counseling, legal consultations, case management services and educational Know Your Rights workshops. We call on all of our allies and partners to join us in condemning this decision and continuing to fight against white supremacist attacks on our immigrant communities and communities of color. Read CIS-NYC’s full statement here.

Here’s what you can do right now:

  • Follow CIS-NYC and other immigrant advocacy organizations on social media to stay up to date on upcoming actions, information, and events.
  • Donate to CIS-NYC to support our efforts to defend DACA and support our DACAmented community members.

To our DACAmented community members: We are here to support, protect & defend you. Do not hesitate to contact our office: 212-791-4590 if there is anything you need. Please join us on Thursday, September 7th at 7pm at our office for a meeting where we will provide updates on the status of DACA, answer questions, and come together as a community.

In Solidarity,

The Staff at CIS-NYC

CIS-NYC Participates in a Pop-Up for Immigrant Heritage Month

To kick off Immigrant Heritage Month Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC participated in the #IAmAnImmigrant Pop-Up in New York City on Saturday, June 3rd. The Pop-Up served as an opportunity to celebrate and honor the contributions of immigrants in the United States, to draw attention to immigrant issues, and to expose local organizations (like us!) to the general public.

The event included art, food, performances, service activities, workshops, celebrity panels, and more! Cabrini Immigrant Services staff and volunteers hosted a service activity to benefit our Angel Fund Scholarship Program; a program that provides funding and support for low-income undocumented students who are pursuing higher education. Participants were asked to bring school supplies and gift cards and to write notes of encouragement for our scholarship recipients.

Hundreds of people came through the space throughout the day, including passing tourists, local families, activists, and even a contingent from the “March for Truth,” which was happening nearby! We connected with many new partners and allies and were blown away by the number of donations and kind letters we received! You can see a short video of the event here: bit.ly/CISPopUp

 

Preparing Students for School Success

Cabrini Immigrant Services, Dobbs Ferry, hosted a workshop for immigrant parents, grandparents and caregivers entitled, “Preparing Children for School Success.” Donna-Marie A. Lasco, the owner of Terrific Twos©, along with her mother, Dr. Marie Amoruso, presented the very informative workshop. Many of the participants have children who attend our local schools and come to our Afterschool Homework Program.

The participants learned about the importance of having a routine for their children. Through the use of various materials, they saw how their children can learn and have fun.   One example was teaching a child about measurement by using rice and a pail. The child learns that if the shovel is small, it will take more scoops to fill up the pail as opposed to a larger shovel.

Everyone was able to participate in several small group activities. One of the activities was to discuss the routine you have in the morning when your child wakes up. Each group wrote out their routines and then shared it with the larger group.   Some people shared that they sing a song in the morning with their child as they brush their teeth, brush their hair, put on their pants, etc.   Donna-Marie s hared the importance of consistency for the children as this helps them learn.

All the participants received a gift of the Spanish translation of Grandma Needs a Nap!, La Abuela Necesita un Descanso! written by Dr. Marie Amoruso. Everyone was so excited to receive the book and couldn’t wait to read it to their children.

Thank you to Donna-Marie and Marie. You brought so much joy to our parents.   You empowered them in their important role as parents.

Cabrini Immigrant Services, NYC and Cabrini University rally on May Day for Immigrants

Cabrini Immigrant Services Marches in New York City

On May 1st Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC staff and Justice for Immigrants members joined immigrant rights, labor, faith and allied organizations for a May Day action in support of immigrants and workers. Thousands came together in New York City to stand up against anti-immigrant and anti-worker policies and to demand that President Trump end his attacks on immigrant, refugees and Muslim communities. Activists, community leaders, City Council Members and even the Mayor were present to show their support for our immigrant brothers and sisters. To stay up to date on how CIS-NYC continues to stand up for immigrants every day follow us on Twitter or Facebook or check out our website!

 

Cabrini University Students and Staff Rally in Washington, D.C.

On Monday, May 1, Cabrini students and staff took time away from preparing for finals to make their way to the nation’s capital for a march and rally in solidarity with workers and immigrants. Earlier in the semester students had made protest signs with slogans like, “No Human Is Illegal,” and “Fight Ignorance, Not Immigrants,” and these signs were hung on a barricade constructed on the University Commons for a Border Solidarity Mass celebrated on April 19 to commemorate Pope Francis’s visit to the US-Mexico border the year prior.

Cabrini students took those signs and joined thousands of other protesters in DuPont Circle to protest anti-immigrant sentiments and policies, representing the namesake of the Patron Saint of Immigrants. Chants worked their way through the crowds, alternating between English and Spanish: “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here!” “¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!” We arrived at Lafayette Square, named for an immigrant hero of the Revolution and cheered facing the White House for the hope that we can be better together.

Walking back to the van we passed through the MLK Memorial, with tired legs and hoarse voices, reading his words: “Out of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” And “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

Cabrini Immigrant Services – Following in the Footsteps of Mother Cabrini

An essay by Lorraine Campanelli, Director of Cabrini Immigrant Services, Dobbs Ferry, NY:

Since President Trump signed the Executive Order about Immigration, fear has entered the immigrant community in Dobbs Ferry, NY and the surrounding Rivertowns. Dobbs Ferry went from a town with bustling streets to a town where you see a few individuals walking freely. The Village officials have made a statement that it is a safe place that welcomes all no matter their race, creed, status, etc. But still, there is fear, fear of the unknown, fear of an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Raid.

Immigrant families 3At Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS) in Dobbs Ferry, we work with both adults and children. I remember the Thursday after the election at our afterschool homework program. The children expressed great fear about what may happen to our country and also to their home countries. Some children did not want to go to school for fear that their Mom and Dad may not be at home when they return. The majority of our children are American born but their parents are undocumented. Thus, the parents can be deported but not the children.

We did an impromptu prayer service to help them express some of their concerns. Each child received a picture of a vigil candle and was asked to write what their hopes were for the country. Some wrote that they hope their parents will be allowed to stay in the US; some hoped for an end to wars and bullying; while others hoped for enough food and housing for all people. Some children who are Pakistani had additional fears because of not only where their family is from but also that they are Muslim. One of the children hoped that our country would not bomb Pakistan because a lot of his relatives live there. These children are in Grades 1-6. A lot of stress for such small children. We talked about their hopes and fears. We prayed that God will continue to watch over all of us.

The adults also have tremendous fear. I think their greatest fear is for their children.   If they are arrested with the intent of deportation, they will not be able to see their children. The children will more than likely be put into the foster care system. When you look into their eyes, you see the fear, you see the tears. They are also afraid that they may lose their jobs because employers may be fearful to have someone work for them who is undocumented. Housing has also become an issue for some.

We have many people who are trying to become US citizens. Some, do not have any documentation nor do they qualify in any way to become a citizen. Some may have Immigrant families 2the necessary documentation but do not have enough of a command of the English language to pass the interview part of the exam. In most cases, they must have an interview, read and write in English and learn 100 questions about US civics.   We assist the clients in learning English and preparing for the naturalization exam.

Staff and tutors have attended rallies to voice our support for immigrants. I have been speaking at forums and at colleges.   I am on a team that is going throughout the county informing people of their rights as well as letting them know what services CIS offers.   When I speak about CIS, I always begin with the fact that St. Cabrini was an immigrant and how she was told to return to her homeland. I explain that in the Catholic Church, St. Cabrini is the Patroness of Immigrants and I tell the people to turn to St. Cabrini.

CIS continues to welcome all in the name of St. Cabrini. We are a safe place for our clients to come. Our clients feel comfortable coming to CIS and they know that they will be accepted for who they are.

I ask that you please keep us and all immigrants in your prayers. We ask St. Cabrini to intercede for us.

No Ban! No Wall! Cabrini Immigrant Services, Dobbs Ferry, NY Resistance

“On Saturday, February 4th, Cabrini Immigrant Services of Dobbs Ferry partnered with a diverse coalition of community organizations to host the Westchester Resistance Rally in White Plains.

The protest, at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, was organized by State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins who represents Dobbs Ferry among other Westchester towns and villages, and also included New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The event was organized in opposition to policies issued via executive order by President Donald J. Trump.

Senator Stewart-Cousins convened local leaders, elected officials and Westchester community members who came together in support of human rights and in opposition to policies banning immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries and the construction of a multi-billion dollar wall between the United States and Mexico.

“As President Woodrow Wilson once said, ‘The history of liberty is a history of resistance,’ ” said Stewart-Cousins. “The organic demonstrations of people all over the world underscore the importance of American ideals and values.”

The event followed weeks of protests and rallies since the Presidential Inauguration.

Meanwhile, on February 4th, while other Cabrini staff members were protesting in White Plains, Lorraine Campanelli, Director of CIS, was a panelist on the “Forum on Immigration” at the Yonkers Public Library, presented by The Legal Aid Society of Westchester County, The Westchester Black Bar Association and The Regional Immigration Assistance Center. Lorraine spoke about the many services available at CIS-DF. “It was an honor to hear from attendees that Cabrini is well respected and is highly recommended by so many other agencies,” said Lorraine Campanelli who has been asked to join “the team” as they travel to different regions of Westchester County.

Previously, on January 28th, Concerned Families of Westchester rallied in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY to protest President Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Agenda. The staff from Cabrini Immigrant Services, Dobbs Ferry, along with several tutors and their spouses were in attendance

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