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CoFiA inaugurates the “Spiegel Fund”

HansEllieSpiegel_110813_LL_tif_ At its meeting on Thursday, May 4, the Board of the Community of Friends in Action, Inc., voted to set aside a small amount of money to respond to requests we occasionally receive from workers and others for financial assistance in an emergency. The Board unanimously agreed to name the fund the “Spiegel Fund,” in honor of two of our founding members and long-time supporters, Hans and Ellie Spiegel. Both are inspirations not only to CoFiA but to many other groups and individuals in the Leonia and metropolitan area and around the world. Thank you, dear friends, for all you have done and all you mean to so many of us!

CoFiA does not receive many requests for financial assistance, but we have been able to help a number of people over the years with small grants. Typically a request might be to help purchase medicine, pay for transportation to various appointments including ICE check-ins, help with a security deposit or a rent payment, illness of a family member here or in Guatemala, and–most sadly–help with funeral expenses or sending a body home. Recently a school nurse called to see if we could help a student who had a bad tooth. We agreed, and the Center for Food Action also offered to contribute. As it worked out, however, the nurse was able to find a compassionate dentist who pulled the tooth and filled a cavity, and the young man was able to cover the expense himself. (He works 4 p.m. – 4 a.m., and then gets up and goes to school!) Another request was from a CoFiA delegado who was asked by a new landlord to pay another security deposit. We were able to research the law and assure her that it was the responsibility of the previous landlord to turn over the funds in the security deposit account. So again our financial help was not needed.

But in spite of all efforts to remain self-sufficient under very difficult circumstances, finances are an ever-present concern among the community. We feel that the new “Spiegel Fund” will help us help out on a limited basis, and we are glad to have the resources to do that.

We are not asking for additional support for this fund, but if you wish to contribute, checks may be made payable to CoFiA, with Spiegel Fund on the memo line, and mailed to us at P.O. Box 313, Leonia, NJ 07605.

CoFiA Saturday Group (delegados) presents seminar Saturday, May 20

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Angelica and Sayda

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Delegados, June 2016

Saturday, May 20, 2017, Staff members Angelica Martinez and Sayda Tuanamara will present an educational workshop for CoFiA members and the community. Angelica will discuss our “Wage Theft Recovery” program and advise participants how to work with our Wage Theft committee to try to recover lost wages. Sayda will present a “Know Your Rights” interactive workshop, helping people who may fear deportation know what to do if an ICE officer comes to their home, speaks to them on the street, or comes to a workplace or other public site.

Light refreshments will be served. The seminar will be in Spanish but translators will be available to assist if necessary. The program will be held at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 941 Slocum Avenue, Ridgefield, at 6:15 p.m. All are welcome.

CoFiA te invita a iglesia Luterana de Zion, 941 Slocum Ave., Ridgefield, NJ, 07657, para hablar acerca de ROBO DE SALARIOS Y CONOZCA SUS DERECHOS, Sabado, 20 de Mayo, 2017, a las 6:15 p.m. Para mas information llama 973-930-2798 or CoFiA at 201-598-2253.

CoFiA member to do projects in Central America

Dr. Sung to spoke about wage theft in our area at the library, in June
Dr. Hung-en Sung
Dr. Hung-en Sung, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a long-time member of CoFiA, has sent the following information on his uncoming activities:

I am now involved in three different projects related to Central America funded by USAID and will be traveling to El Salvador later in May. When I heard that we will be assigned 3 armed guards I realized how tough life must be down there. We are helping the government to ease the problem of overcrowded prisons, which are the hub of MS-13. I will also visit Honduras and Guatemala to offer training to their correctional managers in the next two years.

Professor Sung directed a research project in Palisades Park several years ago which was published in OUTSIDE JUSTICE: THE CRIMINALIZATION OF IMMIGRANTS IN POLICY AND PRACTICE, published in 2013 by Springer. Go to our Resources section for more information about this project.

Good luck, Hung-en! We hope to have a report on your experiences when you return.

Another Grant!

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Easter at the Presbyterian Church in Leonia

CoFiA is honored to announce that the Presbyterian Church in Leonia, which has been a long-time and very generous supporter of our organization, has come forward once again with a grant of $1500. The Church has provided meeting space for our board throughout the years, as well as providing a venue for concerts, dinners and other get-togethers for the organization. Many members have been and continue to be directly involved in our work, as well.

Many, many thanks!

CoFiA intern accepted by ACLU Summer Advocacy Institute

Andreanna, CoFiA intern

CoFiA’s student intern, Andreanna Zarya Papatheodoru, has been accepted into the ACLU Summer Advocacy Institute which will be held July 29 – August 5, 2017, at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The Institute brings together a diverse group of students entering their junior and senior years of high school from across the United States to participate in an advanced, firsthand learning experience for the next generation of social justice advocates. Through an intensive 8-day program, students will learn directly from lawyers, lobbyists, community activists, and other experts working to defend the civil rights and liberties critical to a free and open society.

Andreanna brings to the experience an unusual depth of knowledge of such issues. Her mother, author of the Young Adult novel “The Secret Side of Empty,” grew up as an undocumented immigrant herself and has shared those experiences with her children. Andreanna has helped CoFiA in many ways over the past couple of years, using her impressive bilingual skills to relate to the range of people who make up the CoFiA population.

We are looking forward to having Andreanna share all she learns with us when she returns.

New Members with Sayda and intern Andreanna
New Members with Sayda and intern Andreanna

CONGRATULATIONS!

CoFiA receives grant

CoFiA bumper stickers

CoFiA recently was awarded a grant of $2000 from the Endowment Fund of the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood (USR). USR has been a long-time and generous donor to our organization, providing us with one of our very first grants that enabled us to become incorporated and receive 501(c)3 standing. This grant in 2017 was targetted specifically to helping us find a new site in Palisades Park where we can meet, offer our lunch programs, and continue to assist the immigrant community as we have been doing for many years.

Many thanks!

CoFiA at the Palisades Park Health Fair

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POSTERS 2017[1] (1)For several years CoFiA has been invited to participate in the annual Health Fair sponsored by the Health Department. This year it was held on Saturday, April 29, at the Lindbergh Elementary School.

 

Many people stopped by our table and Angelica and Saydy answered many questions about our organization. We provided

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“pulseras” provided by the Maya Mam weavers, which were very popular; lovely small bracelets for children that Angelica made; and belts for men and women that were donated by a friend of Saydy’s.

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Mayor Rotundo and CoFiA Chair Margaret

We also donated a lovely Maya Mam apron, contributed by Grupo Cajola’s weavers group, and a box of assorted teas, for the raffle.

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Angelica was a winner!
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Winner of Tea Box with Paul Kim of Bd. of Education

Health Fair Palisades Park, April 29, 2017

POSTERS 2017[1] (1)

The Community of Friends in Action has once again been invited to participate in the annual Health Fair on Saturday, April 29, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Lindbergh School, 401 Glen Avenue, Palisades Park, NJ. Many services are provided free, including screening for hypertension, vision checks, hearing checks, chiropractic, acupuncture, dermatological analysis, and much more.

Blood tests are also conducted to test for cholesterol, triglicerides, diabetes, and more. Participants wishing these tests must fast for 12 hours before the blood is drawn, and there is a $25 charge. Additional examinations for prostate issues (PSA) are also available for $25; checks should be made payable to TOTAL LAB.

VOLUNTEERS WELCOME to staff the CoFIA table. This is an important opportunity for the Hispanic community. Spread the word!