NEWS

CoFiA is an active member of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.  The information listed below comes directly from their most recent mailing.  Please take careful note of what is coming up, and spread the word.  Thanks, NJAIJ!   NJAIJ Member– This month we’ve seen how much our work counts towards protecting immigrant communities. From Congress’ failure to pass a Clean Dream Act and Trump terminating TPS for Salvadorans and Haitians to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rapidly increasing its detainment and deportation program in New Jersey (up 42% since 2016), we are on the front lines of defending immigrant rights in our state. We will continue to fight back by pushing to expand access to driver’s licenses and working for fair and welcoming state policies. Let’s Drive NJ: Expanding Access to Driver’s Licenses Across the Garden State Our campaign to expand licenses is a major priority for us in 2018 and we are dedicated to making sure our state establishes a policy that will change the lives of over 500,000 people in our state and make our roads safer for all. In January, the New Jersey Safe and Responsible Driver Act (A1738) was introduced in the Assembly by Assemblywoman Annette Quijano and the Let’s Drive NJ campaign officially launched in Elizabeth, NJ. The momentum continued with a rally in Passaic and an upcoming Rally in Camden NJ on March 8th. If you are interested in supporting our campaign, join us during our campaign calls. We will share updates and ways to get involved. To stay connected text ‘Letsdrive’ to (973) 577-6388. A Fair and Welcoming New Jersey With March 5th right at our heels and no permanent solution in sight in D.C., we must take action to protect Dreamers and their families in New Jersey. We join young immigrants across the state to continue to advocate for access to licenses and to call on Governor Murphy’s administration to take action by using the power of the state to protect New Jersey dreamers and their families from threat of deportation. Join us on March 5th, as we stand with thousands of Dreamers, community leaders, and allies to rise up and say enough is enough. Congress must to pass a Clean Dream Act now without funding for the unnecessary border wall or the toxic provisions to limit family reunification.   Support our Work Our work is only possible because of the tireless work of our members, partners, and donors. Support our efforts to make New Jersey a welcoming state for immigrant communities here. __________________   We Want to Hear From You! There are many issues impacting immigrant communities today, tell us which issue you care about the most so we can keep you up to date with our work. __________________ Upcoming Events Monday, March 5th: No Dreams Deferred Action Dreamers Across New Jersey: ‘No Business as Usual’ on Trump’s DACA Deadline, Organize Rallies, Disruptions from Morning to Night __________________   Thursday, March 8th in Camden, NJ Demostración Licencias de Conducir / Rally for Driver’s Licenses  coordinated by Faith in NJ __________________   March 3rd 8pm in Hackettstown, NJ Todo Sobre Inmigracion: Everything about Immigration hosted by Wind of the Spirit __________________   March 10th at 7pm in Dover, NJ  Todo Sobre Inmigracion: Everything about Immigration hosted by Wind of the Spirit __________________   February 22nd – April 19th, Thursdays at 7pm in New Brunswick, NJ English Conversation Cafe at New Labor hosted by New Labor __________________   NJAIJ in the News  NJAIJ promotes Johanna Calle as Director Let’s Drive NJ Campaign Launch to expand access driver’s licenses to more New Jerseyans NJSpotlight Profile on Johanna Calle  New Jersey Joins Dreamer Lawsuit Against Trump __________________ What’s Happening in D.C? Congress Fails to Pass Clean Dream Act Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Trump Administration’s Challenge to DACA  Supreme Court Ruling Means Immigrants Could Continue To Be Detained Indefinitely       Follow Us on Social Media www.facebook.com/NJImmigrantJustice | Twitter @NJAIJ New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice http://www.njimmigrantjustice.org/

-=-=-New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice · United States This email was sent to jcalle@njimmigrantjustice.org. To stop receiving emails, click here. You can also keep up with New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice on Twitter or Facebook.-=-=-

At a recent intermediates ESL class, we enjoyed a lesson suggested by our in-house mason, Francisco, and teacher Norm Smith, demonstrating the value of the Archimedean concept of pi.π
Norm also showed how Archimedes figured out how to measure volume by the amount of water displaced by an object.

Members and friends of CoFiA continue to participate in the weekly free lunch program offered at First Presbyterian Church in Palisades Park on Tuesdays. Week by week the number of workers who attend grows as the weather gets colder and construction and other jobs become scarce.

For many years we have been aware of a small group of people who try to exist under a bridge in Palisades Park. Our staff person, Angelica, has befriended them, providing coffee and sandwiches especially in the coldest weather. Our efforts to get more services for them from county agencies have resulted only in the suggestion that they can come to the county shelter in Hackensack. However, this has not worked for various reasons, including the fact that they are never welcomed into the regular shelter but only into the “sit-up” section, and they must leave by 7 a.m.  Mostly we are advised that they don’t want to be helped so we might as well not try.
This bitter winter our staff was able to persuade two of the workers to go with them to the shelter on the day the government is trying to count the homeless. They were welcomed, provided with showers and haircuts, clean clothes, and food. They left feeling good about themselves and looking terrific. The last we heard, those particular people were still sober (see photo).

We are hoping that this may be a beginning of a turnaround for some of them. If we can persuade a few to go regularly to the shelter, where they can have showers and meals any time, would some of you (CoFiA members and friends) be willing to give them a ride? Just let us know at info@communityoffriendsinaction.org or call CoFiA at 201-598-2253. Truly a good deed, and easy!

The CoFiA Saturday group–Delegados–continues to meet about once a month at a restaurant in Palisades Park. At a recent meeting on a bitter Saturday night, Community Organizer Sayda Tuanama told the group about a planned upcoming OSHA training. OSHA certificates are especially important to the workers because, in addition to certifying that they have learned aspects of how to be safe on the job, the certificates provide a form of ID.

CoFiA member Norm Smith told the group about Project Homeless Connect, to be held at the homeless shelter in Hackensack on January 24. People who are homeless can go to the shelter on that day and receive haircuts, showers, some medical services, clean clothes, and more. Contact Sayda (201-561-4192) for more information.

One member of the group told of having met a homeless man on the street who was suffering from hypothermia and in bad shape. He called the police who took him to a hospital. We haven’t heard what happened next. Homelessness is a serious problem in Palisades Park. There is a small group of 6-12 people who are chronically homeless and to date have refused offers of help. Suggestions of how to reach out to them are more than welcome. We do provide sandwiches and hot coffee whenever possible, and many attend the lunch programs.

 

CoFiA and the Rotary Club of the Palisades are sponsoring a drive for warm winter clothes at the public library in Leonia. Many thanks to Carolyn Sobering, CoFiA Vice-Chair, for managing this important process, and for the photo. The clothing has been especially appreciated by the workers during this difficult winter.

For many years, CoFiA has offered ESL classes at the Palisades Park Public Library. This year we had Intermediate and Beginners classes. In addition to providing opportunities to practice English reading, speaking and writing, the sessions–which are offered once a week, without fees–offer a chance for students to become better integrated into American society, get to know each other and teachers in a non-judgmental environment, and share information about what is happening in immigration enforcement. Our holiday party was a highlight for students and teachers alike! And so much food–everyone brought something and everyone helped clean up. Thanks to the always friendly and supportive staff of the Palisades Park Library–they always make us feel welcome and appreciated.

The lunch program on December 19 featured Guatemalan specialities from our friends at Esquina Chapina, plus many other holiday offerings. The volunteers and friends from the World Mission Church of First Presbyterian were as always there in full force, providing welcome hot soup and kimchi–much enjoyed by the Guatemalan workers! The Ethical Culture Society of Teaneck contributed 50 packets of warm gloves and socks–so welcome as we head into the cold winter weather. A member of CoFiA donated two bicycles, plus helmets, which were awarded by drawing tickets. And friends of World Mission Church donated large bags of rice–much appreciated! And everyone enjoyed the service led by Pastor Daniel, this week offered in Spanish (he also speaks Korean and English!), and Christmas carols in Spanish as well.

A warm and welcoming opportunity for friends who are too often found standing on street corners hoping for increasingly scarce work and, sadly, those who have no home. Our hearts ache for these men but we have not yet found anyway to help them secure safe housing, even in the midst of the wealthy towns of Bergen County. Please keep them in your thoughts and send along any suggestions you have to keep them safe this winter.

CoFiA offers a Workers’ Link service, facilitating connections between homeowners or small businesses, and workers. At this time of year, many more workers become available as regular jobs in construction and landscaping slow down with the cold weather.

To request a worker, go to our website (www.cofia-nj.com) and read the section, Hire a Worker. You can then either complete the request form online and return to us at info@communityoffriendsinaction, or call us at 201-598-2253. Please provide all the requested information and allow a few days for us to locate the right person for the job. Workers negotiate their fees directly with the employer. We are not an employment agency.

Inge Spungen and Jeff Merrigan, representing the recent Outreach Auction sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist congregations in Bergen County, visited the CoFiA Tuesday night ESL class to present a check from the Auction. Margaret White and Norm Smith, ESL teachers, and the students from the beginners and intermediate classes, were delighted to receive the check in the amount of $8422. The funds will be added to CoFiA’s Spiegel Fund and enable the organization to assist more immigrant families at risk in these highly dangerous time.