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Left to right: Advanced class has a new member. Maestra Carmita prepares materials.Intermediate class paying close attention. Maestro Norm and Estudiante Norma.

The CoFiA ESL class meets on Tuesday nights from 7 – 9 at the Palisades Park Public Library.  The class is open to anyone.  Visitors welcome!

Many New Jersey groups working for immigration reform are holding a March for Immigrant Dignity and Respect this Saturday, October 5, in Freehold, New Jersey. Groups participating include our friends in MIGUA, the American Friends Service Committee, New Labor, Casa Freehold, La Fuente, and several others.

The event begins at 11:30 p.m. with a press conference at 191 Throckmorton St., Freehold, NJ, 07728.

For more information contact Christian Zamarron, 815-218-0567 or christian@unitednj.org.

For a moving account of the issues one of the families in New Jersey has recently faced google “Juan Reyes, Not One More Deportation.” His story also demonstrates the power of public pressure. After just a few hours in immigration detention he was released, due to the outcry from Casa Freehold and other groups, his friends, and his family.

Photo: CoFiA co-chairs Carolyn Sobering (second from left) and Suzanne Broffman (on the right) with CoFiA member Pete Shanno (far left) and Mayor Otto Vielman, on their recent trip to Guatemala.

The monthly general meeting of CoFiA will be held this Thursday, October 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Leonia. The group will review ongoing work on Wage Theft, ESL, the Lunch Program and the Workers Link program, and discuss new projects including various marches and rallies for Immigration Policy Reform.

All are welcome at these busy but informal meetings. For more information contact Carolyn (cwsobering@verizon.net) or Suzanne (stbroffman@hotmail.com). Come help us make a difference!

Elias Garcia, organizer for CoFiA and a member of MIGUA and other organizations, has been named Executive Secretary of the Hispanic State Parade of New Jersey. This annual event will be held this year on Sunday, October 6, 2013, beginning at 12 noon. The parade will begin at 80th St. and continue on Bergenline Avenue to 32nd St. in North Bergen.

The CoFiA banner will be carried in the parade. It is a festive event, with lively music and beatiful floats and marchers. Congratulations, Elias!

Maria Andreu, CoFiA member and former co-chair, recently added having the authority to perform weddings to her considerable portfolio. Here she is at her debut (and probably only) appearance in this role. A lovely event!

A CoFiA member has four very, very cute Shih Tzu puppies for sale. Pure bred, no puppy mill involved. For more information call Angelica at 201-598-2253.

On Tuesday, September 10, 2013, the CoFiA-sponsored English as a Second Language classes began at the Palisades Park public library. A group of both old and new students participated, and we welcomed three teachers from last year and one new teacher. We will miss Suzanne Broffman who had to give up teaching this year. Classes are from 7 – 9 p.m. and are free and open to everyone. In the photographs students and teachers work on an initial assessment of language ability. A lot of hard work is done–but the group also has a lot of fun!

Angelica Martinez, organizer of the CoFiA Workers Link program, reported that she was able to help connect a number of workers with local employers over the summer. One householder, who only needed a small job done, was so appreciative of the help that he paid each person $50—instead of the $15/person he had originally proposed. Six people are currently working on a farm in central Jersey, where they have been employed all summer. Others have helped out with gardening, painting, construction of various kinds, and other work.

Requests for assistance are beginning to come in, in greater numbers, as we all prepare our homes for the fall and winter. Call early to request help—201-598-2253. Or just complete the form found on the web site.

Thanks to the organizing work of Elias Garcia and the training provided by Stuart Sydenstricker, 17 workers were able to complete training and earn certificates this summer. Both the training and the certificates are very important. Because of what they learn in training, the workers are able to protect themselves from injury on the job, and know that they can refuse to do work that is dangerous and for which the employer does not provide adequate safeguards. Workers can also present the certificates to future employers, letting the employers know they are aware of the law on Occupational Safety and Health and dangerous working conditions.

In the summer of 2013, five members and friends of CoFiA, including Chairs Carolyn Sobering and Suzanne Broffman, traveled to Guatemala to help build “bottle schools.” Suzanne organized the trip through an organization called “Hug it Forward.” The program helps Guatemalan communities build classrooms out of “eco-bricks,” plastic bottles stuffed with inorganic trash which are then covered with cement to make walls. Hug it Forward has completed 28 schools at an average cost of $6,500 per classroom.

Most of the work is done by the men, women, and children of the community under the direction of local hired workers. The people from the U.S. add short-term energy and assistance.

In addition to work on the schools the Hug it Forward volunteers learned about the local history and culture, including visiting Mayan ruins, visiting in local homes, and hearing personal stories about the 36-year civil war. One young man spoke of his time working in the U.S. as a painter in order to send money back to his family.

Debra Given, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Leonia and a member of CoFiA, also participated in the trip. This post is adapted from her write-up for the Church newsletter. Photos thanks to Suzanne.