NEWS

CoFiA will co-sponsor this march organized by the AFSC Immigrants Rights program, to be held on Monday, December 18, 2017, from 3 – 5 p.m., from the Newark Cathedral Basilica of Sacred Heart to the Federal Building. For more information contact them at 973-643-1924.

What is “Sanctuary Everywhere?”

Sanctuary Everywhere is an initiative from the American Friends Service Committee that the Community of Friends in Action strongly supports. Our friends in the immigrant community are at constant risk of being picked up by ICE and deported. We think this idea–that all of us can provide some kind of sanctuary for those under threat by the authorities–is one that will give hope and practical help to some of these individuals and families.

AFSC describes the initiative in this way:
“Sanctuary Everywhere is the simple idea that everyday people can work together to keep each other safe. Sanctuary can mean taking someone into a congregation to protect them from deportation, but more broadly, it’s about the community coming together to protect targeted communities from state violence—including immigrants, people of color, targeted religious groups, or LGBTQ folks.

Here, you’ll find resources for individuals, schools, colleges, congregations, and communities to create safe, welcoming spaces for all people.

We hope to equip thousands of people with tools and training to stop hateful acts and to encourage policies and practices that promote safety and inclusion.

Watch our “Sanctuary Everywhere” video, and learn more.”

CoFiA is grateful to Pastor David Peng, First Presbyterian Church, Palisades Park, and Pastor Daniel Lee, New Jersey World Mission Church, for inviting us to offer our lunch program in their building every Tuesday.  We are also grateful to the volunteers who have been providing meals for hungry people there year-round, for welcoming us into their group and sharing this ministry with us.  As the cold weather approaches the group of workers coming for the meal grows week by week, as opportunities for employment decline.

This is an unusual opportunity for us as we are invited to work within a very multicultural group.  Pastor Peng and his church offer a Chinese ministry, while Pastor Daniel serves a hispanic congregation–although he speaks Korean as well as English and Spanish.  The other volunteers are Korean and provide delicious Korean meals.  And our volunteers are a mixed group of Anglos and Hispanics.  We can’t all talk freely with one another!  But the friendly atmosphere and ready acceptance of one another’s contributions make the Tuesday lunch a really fun experience.

And of course the workers are delighted to have the food, whatever the cuisine.  They like kimchi as much as chuchitas!

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CoFiA’s Saturday Group “Delegados” meets frequently on Saturday nights at a hospitable local Guatemalan restaurant.  Members are leaders and participants in many CoFiA activities.  Saydy Tuanama, our community organizer, facilitates the meeting and reaches out to new members.

Many CoFiA members and volunteers are doing many things.  Feel free to join us at any time:

TUESDAYS, 12 noon, the lunch program for workers and friends, in our new setting–First Presbyterian Church,  and the NJ World Mission Church, 50 W. Palisades Blvd, Palisades Park between Broad and Grand.   Many thanks to the  Pastor David Peng and Pastor Daniel Lee,  and members who have opened the doors to the workers and to us.

TUESDAYS, 7 – 9 P.M., ESL classes for beginners and intermediates, Palisades Park Public Library, 257 Second St., Palisades Park.  Lively and fun sessions.  All welcome. Free.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017, 6 – 9 p.m. STATEWIDE IMMIGRATION CONVENING, College of New Jersey, Ewing Township, NJ.  Organized by the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.

Contact info@communityoffriendsinactyion.org for suggestions for carpooling

RSVP: DMansour@NJIMMIGRANTJUSTICE.ORG.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 7:15.  COFIA ANNUAL MEETING The Presbyterian Church in Leonia, 181 Fort Lee Road, Leonia.  Election of officers, presentation of budget for 2018, introductions of new members, reports on activities to date, and plans for the future.

SATURDAYS, once a month, meetings of the Saturday group (delegados) at Olivo restaurant on Columbia Avenue in Palisades Park, 7:30 p.m.  Join us for dinner, fellowship, leadership training on various issues, and updates on what is happening in the community and in Guatemala.  Contact community organizer Sayda Tuanama (201-561-4192) for more information and upcoming dates.

CoFiA is very very grateful for the generous support of all our members and friends in response to our fall snail mail appeal, and the UU Outreach Auction in Paramus. Just as we were beginning to look anxiously towards the many needs of the immigrant community whom we try to help, many people demonstrated their concern through contributions. These funds will help us with day-to-day expenses as well as our growing “Spiegel Fund,” established to meet a few of the emergency needs of families faced with the prospect of sudden deportation.

It’s not too late of course! Tax-deductible contributions can still be made by check (payable to the Community of Friends in Action, Box 313, Leonia, NJ 07605) or by PayPal.

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CoFiA está muy agradecida por el generoso apoyo de todos nuestros miembros y amigos en respuesta a nuestro llamamiento por correspondencia y la subasta UU Outreach Auction en Paramus. Justo cuando estábamos empezando a mirar ansiosamente hacia las muchas necesidades de la comunidad de inmigrantes a quienes tratamos de ayudar, muchas personas demostraron su preocupación a través de contribuciones. Estos fondos nos ayudarán con los gastos diarios, así como con nuestro creciente “Fondo Spiegel”, establecido para satisfacer algunas de las necesidades de emergencia de las familias que enfrentan la perspectiva de una deportación repentina.

¡No es demasiado tarde, por supuesto! Las contribuciones deducibles de impuestos todavía se pueden hacer con cheque (a nombre de Community of Friends in Action, Box 313, Leonia, NJ 07605) o mediante PayPal.

(Thanks to CoFiA member Icelsa Mejia for the Spanish translation!)

Our colleagues, the New Jersey Alliance for Immigration Justice, are sponsoring a statewide gathering on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, from 6 pm to 9 pm at the College of New Jersey in Ewing Township. If you would like to attend and carpool with others from our area, let us know at info@communityoffriendsinaction.org. Be sure to RSVP to DMANSOUR@NJIMMIGRANTJUSTICE.ORG.

CoFiA is happy to announce that we have been invited to resume our cold-weather lunch program at First Presbyterian Church, at 50 West Palisades Ave at Hillside, in Palisades Park,  on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. Pastor Daniel Lee has reached out to us warmly, and we are pleased to join a faithful crew of volunteers who have provided lunch weekly, all year long.

On recent visits to the program we were happy to see a few faces we recognized from previous years. We know that as the weather gets colder and work slows down there will be many more hungry people eager for a good meal, a chance to sit down, and the opportunity to socialize with other guests and volunteers.

Thank you, Pastor Daniel!
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CoFiA se complace en anunciar que el martes 7 de noviembre de 2017, se nos invitó a reanudar nuestro programa de almuerzos fríos en First Presbyterian Church, en West Palisades Ave at Hillside, en Palisades Park. El pastor Daniel Lee se comunicó con nosotros calurosamente, y nos complace unirnos a un equipo fiel de voluntarios que han proporcionado almuerzos semanalmente durante todo el año.

En visitas recientes al programa, nos alegramos de ver algunas caras que reconocimos de años anteriores. Sabemos que a medida que el clima se enfríe y el trabajo se ralentice habrá muchas más personas hambrientas ansiosas por una buena comida, la oportunidad de sentarse y la oportunidad de socializar con otros huéspedes y voluntarios.

Gracias, Pastor Daniel!

One last reminder–the Outreach Auction sponsored by the three Unitarian Universalist congregations in Bergen County–will be held this coming Saturday, November 4, 2017, at 6:30, at Central Unitarian Church on Forest Avenue in Paramus. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased at the door.

We are pleased that many members of CoFiA plan to attend and have put together baskets to be included in the silent auction. If you would like to carpool, send us a note at info@communityoffriendsinaction.org and we will put you in touch with one of the attendees.

It is a great honor for us to have been chosen as one of the five charities to receive the funds raised by the auction. Last year it raised more than $50,000, all of which was divided among the various groups.

Please mark your calendars now and plan to join us. It is not only a very worthy cause–the other four groups as well as ours are all making important contributions to the life of our county–it’s a fun evening. And you might even win something you will be happy to take home!

For more information go to uuoutreachauction.org.

Our good friend and former staff member Elias Garcia joined the Saturday Delegados group at their regular Saturday meeting this past weekend. Elias brought the group up to date on the latest requirements of the Guatemalan consulate for obtaining Guatemalan passports and other documents. He emphasized in particular the need to make appointments for everything, including birth certificates as well as passports, and to note well the time and date of the appointment. New member Icelsa, who is a notary public, confirmed his advice.

Delegada Ester proudly received her CoFiA membership card from CoFiA community organizer Saydy. The delegado member group of CoFiA is growing rapidly. Presently we are meeting at a local Guatemalan restaurant, which welcomes us warmly and serves a delicious meal. However, we would like to find an additional meeting place. If anyone has suggestions, please contact Saydy at saymarytuanama@yahoo.com

At our request, Elias wore the sash he was awarded as Community Leader of the Year by the Hispanic Day Parade team. Elias has been instrumental in organizing the parade for many years. We are so proud to claim him as a CoFiA member as well!

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Nuestro buen amigo y antiguo miembro del personal, Elías García, se unió al grupo Saturday Delegados en su reunión regular de los sábados del pasado fin de semana. Elias puso al grupo al día sobre los últimos requisitos del consulado guatemalteco para obtener pasaportes y otros documentos guatemaltecos. Enfatizó en particular la necesidad de hacer citas para todo, incluidos certificados de nacimiento y pasaportes, y para anotar bien la hora y la fecha de la cita. El nuevo miembro Icelsa, que es un notario público, confirmó su consejo.
Delegada Ester orgullosamente recibió su tarjeta de miembro de CoFiA del organizador comunitario de CoFiA, Saydy. El grupo de miembros delegado de CoFiA está creciendo rápidamente. Actualmente nos estamos reuniendo en un restaurante guatemalteco local, que nos da una cálida bienvenida y sirve una deliciosa comida. Sin embargo, nos gustaría encontrar un lugar de reunión adicional. Si alguien tiene sugerencias, contáctese con Saydy en saymarytuanama@yahoo.com
A petición nuestra, Elias usó la faja que le otorgó como Líder de la Comunidad del Año por el equipo Hispano del Desfile del Día. Elias ha sido fundamental en la organización del desfile durante muchos años. ¡Estamos muy orgullosos de reclamarlo como miembro de CoFiA también!

Translation by CoFiA member Icalse Mejia. Thanks!