tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8980485005566033532024-03-13T13:59:06.523-06:00C-U Immigration ForumImmigrant Advocacy in Champaign County, IL, to coordinate activities highlighting the contributions and needs of the foreign born.CU Immigration Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05059473532373397419noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-30717467705414053382022-09-14T20:10:00.002-06:002022-09-14T21:29:00.353-06:002022 Recipients of the 9th Immigrant Welcome Awards!<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6704343d-7fff-211a-303b-f80512d9389f"></span></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="12"></col><col width="641"></col><col width="0"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="'Helvetica Neue',sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p></td><td style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">PRESS RELEASE</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For Immediate Release</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">September 14, 2022</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For media inquiries, contact:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ricardo Diaz, CU Immigration Forum</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">217-979-0255 | </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">xpenn.diaz@gmail.com</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Congratulations to the 2022 Recipients</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">of the Immigrant Welcome Awards!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The 9th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 11 AM</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Urbana Free Library, Lewis Auditorium</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">210 W Green Street, Urbana 61801</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">(Urbana/Champaign, Illinois) The CU Immigration Forum as sponsor of the 9th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s awards. The 2022 Immigrant Welcome Award recipients are:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">• </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Business Leadership Award – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Flex-N-Gate</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">• </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Community Impact Award </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Champaign County Board and the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> –New American Welcome Center</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">• </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Immigrant Leadership Award – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mateo Sebastián</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">• </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Student Leadership Award –</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ishita Dharap</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">• </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Claire Szoke Distinguished Service Award – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Gloria Yen</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">All award recipients will be honored during the Immigrant Welcome Awards Ceremony and Celebration on Saturday, September 17, 2022. The celebration starts at 11AM and will be held at the ground floor of the Urbana Free Library (210 W. Green St. Urbana). The public is invited to attend this free event and to celebrate the diversity of cultures that make up Champaign-Urbana. The event includes food, music, children’s library is adjacent, special guests, and features Middle Eastern Music by the Mirage Ensemble (Hadi Meidani, Parisa Karimi, Shafagh Hadinezhad, and Roya Attarian).</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A free reception sponsored by the cities and Immigration Services of Champaign Urbana will immediately follow on the first floor of the Library.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The CU Immigration Forum’s Steering and the Planning Committee recognize that each nominee and recipient serve beyond a requirement and as a sign of their love to fellow human beings. Please join us to celebrate their accomplishments and the amazing diversity of cultures in our wonderful and welcoming community.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Immigrant Welcome Awards Ceremony and Celebration is sponsored by C-U Immigration Forum, generously supported by the Cities of Champaign and Urbana and The Urbana Free Library, and co-sponsored by ISCU, University YMCA New American Welcome Center, and the Urbana Arts and Culture Program. The 9th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards Ceremony and Celebration is part of </span><a href="https://universityymca.org/welcome/ww22" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2022 Welcoming Week</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">, a </span><a href="https://welcomingamerica.org/initiatives/welcoming-week" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">national week of events </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">that brings together immigrants and U.S. born residents in a spirit of better understanding and unity.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum is a group of immigrants, students, clergy, service providers, labor union representatives, residents and community organizations concerned about the progress and plight of immigrants in the Champaign County community (Central Illinois).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">About the 2022 Award Recipients:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Business Leadership Award</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> - A business that contributes to the local immigrant community through advocacy, donations or in-kind services and/or a locally owned immigrant owned business that has contributed to the local economic development of CU</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2022 Winner: Flex-N-Gate | Anastacia Floyd, Human Resources Manager</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Flex-N-Gate, founded in 1956, has been owned and led by Shahid Khan, himself an immigrant from Pakistan, since 1980. Flex-N-Gate is a manufacturer of bumpers and other automotive parts. The company not only hires immigrants, it makes English classes available via Parkland College at the plant. It also makes accommodations for Muslim employees to do their prayers during their work shifts. This past year Champaign-Urbana has received many Afghans after the U.S. exit from Afghanistan. Flex-N-Gate has hired many of them to work in such jobs as welding and assembly line work. They receive training for their jobs, in their language, and are able to earn an income. Many local Congolese immigrants also work for the company. Anastasia Lloyd, human resources manager at Flex-N-Gate Guardian West, has been instrumental in hiring and working with the immigrant employees. When transportation to and from Flex-N-Gate has been an issue, she has coordinated some of the Congolese employees, in the country longer, to provide rides for the new Afghan employees. Lloyd has worked with the Refugee Center to enable the Afghans to be able to apply for jobs and adjust to American work culture and expectations. Flex-N-Gate’s willingness to work with non-English speaking immigrants and enable them to navigate a completely new world, is commendable.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Community Impact Award - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A community-based organization, non-profit, public sector institution, or local government which demonstrates exceptional commitment to serving and advocating for local immigrants in our community. The nominee may also be considered for adopting specific policies or initiatives in response to the growing immigrant population.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2022 Winners: New American Welcome Center & Champaign County</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Board (two winners)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">New American Welcome Center</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The New American Welcome Center (NAWC) is part of the University YMCA. It began in 2017 to welcome immigrants and to serve as an umbrella organization for the other organizations working with immigrants. A report showing the economic contributions of immigrants in Champaign County, was published, bridging the larger community to its immigrant communities. Gloria Yen was hired as Director of the NAWC, developing a talented staff that created the NAWC into what it is today, an organization which enhances the way our community welcomes and integrates our immigrant communities into the larger C-U community, engaging students in the process. Practically, NAWC created a legal clinic staffed by Department of Justice trained staff. Also offered are citizenship classes; an online resources center; COVID-19 information in multiple languages; the NAWC Immigrant Relief Fund; and the helpline La Línea. NAWC's Jes DesVries organizes the annual Immigrant Welcome Week and a monthly Community Coalition meeting, which has resulted in greater cooperation, collaboration and communication between local immigrant-service organizations. 2021 was the launch of the Champaign County Welcoming Plan which involved many community players coming together to create a plan of both visionary and practical welcome in our community. The leadership of the NAWC and the trust that they have won from community players deserve a strong commendation.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In the work of serving immigrants, it’s not often that a county board is involved. The Champaign County Board deserves a commendation for listening to the needs of immigrants and working with the immigrant support organizations to eventually grant them $250,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds (with potentially more to come in 2023) to serve Champaign County immigrants in the areas of language access and mental health. It was a multi-organization effort that started on July 19, 2021 when the Champaign County Board’s Finance Committee of the Whole, led by Stephanie Fortado agreed to a study session so that board members could learn about the needs of immigrants in Champaign County. They listened to representatives of the New American Welcome Center, the Pixan Konob’ Q’anjob’al Interpreters Collective, The Refugee Center, The Urbana School District’s Parent Liaison for Spanish-speaking families, Immigration Services of Champaign-Urbana and the first hand testimony from representatives of the Afghan, Congolese, Guatemalan communities and a Ugandan speaking for English-speaking African immigrants. A joint grant proposal was written resulting in an ARPA grant from the county board to address language access and mental health needs of immigrants. Those needs are now being actively addressed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Immigrant Leadership Award: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">An immigrant individual who has been a strong leader of the immigrant community. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2022 Winner: Mateo Sebastián</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mateo Sebastián is the Q’anjob’al-Spanish Parent Liaison for the Champaign School District, but he is so much more. As one of the few tri-lingual speakers of the Mayan Q’anjob’al language in Champaign County, he is much in demand as a translator. He is a leader in the Guatemalan community in C-U. He is instrumental in the Pixan Konob’ community-based language justice and interpreters collective. He puts together a Q'anjob'al-language radio show that airs every Monday at 6-7 pm on radio station WRFU FM. He helps with translation in the courts. He helps kids know how to catch the right bus to and from school. He helps transport adult learners of English and their kids to the Parent & Family Language Lab at Stratton School. He is on staff at Immigration Services of Champaign-Urbana. He's testified before the Champaign County Board on the needs of Guatemalan immigrants in Champaign County. "He is a wonderful, caring, smart guy very much tuned to the needs of his community. I have seen him grow and push himself to advance to new stages in his professional life knowing that it will benefit his community,” said UIUC assistant clinical professor Korinta Maldonado who has worked with Mateo in Pixan Konob.'</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Student Leadership Award</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> - A student who has shown promise as a leader or demonstrated commitment to serving or working with immigrants or refugees, locally or abroad</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2022 Winner: Ishita Dharap, Education Coordinator at Krannert Museum | Doctoral Student, School of Art + Design</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ishita Dharap is a doctoral student in art education in the School of Art + Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and works full-time as the Education Coordinator at Krannert Art Museum. From India, she is an artist, designer and art educator and an immigrant. In 2020 she received a Master’s in Art Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 2021 she designed a virtual tour “This is My America” to explore themes of immigration and migration in America, her contribution to Welcoming Week through Krannert Art Museum. The interactive exhibit featured immigrant artists exploring what it means to be at home. This year “Long-Distance Love” is her choice for a virtual tour for Welcoming Week 2022, reflecting immigrants with loved ones in other countries. She works with a variety of ages and has had both solo and collaborative exhibits in India, Chicago and Champaign-Urbana. Philosophically, she likes to use a variety of programs to engage students, including art, imagination, play, research, reflection, literacy, bicycles, etc. to communicate about migration, discrimination, racism, to educate, tell stories and to bring about social transformation and create connections throughout the world.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">(194 words)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Claire Szoke Distinguished Service Award:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> An individual who has contributed to immigrants over the years in Champaign County. This award is named after Claire Szoke who is resting in peace since 2020. For over 40 years, Claire Szoke was on the front lines of nearly every social justice fight in our community. She was been an important part of the movement for immigrant and refugee rights - from her work in the 1980s with the Sanctuary Movement to her key role as director of the Channing Murray Foundation and host of the first meetings of what would become the CU Immigration Forum. This award acknowledges her lifetime of contributions to help create a more just world. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2022 Winner: Gloria Yen, Executive Director, New American Welcome Center</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Gloria Yen, the daughter of immigrants, has been the director of the New American Welcome Center since May 2017. With her extraordinary people skills, she has developed an extremely capable and talented staff that has shaped the NAWC into what it is today. She maintains a clear vision of how NAWC might enhance and increase the way our community truly welcomes and integrates our immigrant communities into the larger Champaign-Urbana community. She made key community connections and led the NAWC through the creation and development of the Champaign County Welcoming Plan, realized in September 2021, setting a roadmap for long-term goals and strategies. She established new programs such as immigration legal services (for which she, herself trained to be a DOJ legal services provider,) citizenship initiatives, and an Immigrant Emergency Fund, and inspired her staff to create or expand others (Welcoming Week, Community Coalition, an online information resource center, COVID information in a variety of languages and the helpline La Línea.)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">She is not one to seek the limelight, but her vision, intelligence, leadership and skills of bringing people together, including the various immigrant service organizations, as well as her kindness and compassion in doing so, deserve the spotlight. (199 words) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Additional Media Contacts:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ricardo Diaz – CU Immigration Forum – 217-979-0255</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lauren Chambers – Urbana Free Library – 217-367-4405</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Follow the event on Facebook:</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/574689060932467" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">https://www.facebook.com/events/574689060932467</span></a></p><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div>CU Immigration Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05059473532373397419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-29091570604403853822021-09-06T21:12:00.002-06:002022-09-14T21:32:46.392-06:002021 Welcome Awards announce winners<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #38761d; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></div><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #38761d; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br clear="all" /></div><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature" dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #38761d; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Press Release</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color: #274e13; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span id="m_-3552324259812677886gmail-docs-internal-guid-061e54a8-7fff-1efe-60f0-d12273c50587"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Immediate Release</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">September 6, 2021 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For media inquiries, contact:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ricardo Diaz, (217-979-0255 </span><a href="mailto:xpenn.diaz@gmail.com" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">xpenn.diaz@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">), </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CU Immigration Forum board member</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rachel Joy (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">217-403-8830 </span><a href="mailto:rachel.joy@champaignil.gov" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rachel.joy@champaignil.gov</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">), </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Welcome Awards Committee </span></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="630"></col><col width="23"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2021 IMMIGRANT WELCOME AWARDS RECOGNIZE EXCELLING INDIVIDUALS</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The winners recognized at a virtual ceremony September 18th</span></p></td><td style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue",sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 3.75pt;"><td colspan="2" style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue",sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 2.25pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div align="left" dir="ltr"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="653"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="overflow: hidden; padding: 7.5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #888888; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue",sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 2.25pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="7"></col><col width="646"></col><col width="0"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td colspan="3" style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Urbana/Champaign, Illinois) While the year has been hard for everyone because</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of COVID-19, immigrants have been especially hard hit. Many are essential workers on the front</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lines; others faced job loss or loss of family members to COVID. The following individuals and</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">organizations are being recognized as excelling in taking care of their neighbors and are this</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">year's Immigration Award winners:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Student Leadership Award – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Daniella DiStefano</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Business Leadership Award –</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maize Mexican Grill</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Community Impact Award – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Task Force</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Distinguished Service to Immigrants Award – Greg Springer</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Immigrant Leadership Award </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Korinta Maldonado</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Claire Szoke Lifetime of Service Award – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John Muirhead</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I am humbled and surprised anyone noticed," said the winner of one of the prestigious awards, reflecting</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that the hard work of many is often not in the public's eye. Over 25,000 residents of Champaign County were born in another country, according to the 2020 US Census, and the recognized individuals are part of various groups that aim to make their integration experience better. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum is a group of immigrants, students, clergy, service providers, labor union representatives, residents and community organizations concerned since 2009 about the progress and plight of immigrants in the Champaign County community (Central Illinois)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All award recipients will be honored during the 8th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards. A ceremony and celebration on Saturday, September 18, 2021. The public is invited to attend via zoom to celebrate the diversity of cultures that make up Champaign-Urbana. The celebration starts at 3:30 PM and attendees must register at </span><a href="https://bit.ly/3n70PZX" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://bit.ly/3n70PZX</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Event details at </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><a href="https://urbanafreelibrary.libnet.info/event/5386568" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://urbanafreelibrary.libnet.info/event/5386568</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">###</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: middle;"></td></tr></tbody></table></div></span></div></div></div></div> </div></div> CU Immigration Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05059473532373397419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-18492918101843458742020-09-14T20:41:00.004-06:002022-09-14T21:33:25.982-06:002020 Immigrant Welcome Awards <div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #38761d; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br clear="all" /></div><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature" dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color: #274e13; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span id="m_5345903225813597263gmail-docs-internal-guid-0b0acf7c-7fff-2a8b-96d3-282ca30127f7"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Press Release</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Immediate Release</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">September 14, 2020 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For media inquiries, contact:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ricardo Diaz, (217-979-0255 </span><a href="mailto:diazr@cuimmigrationforum.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">diazr@cuimmigrationforum.org</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rachel Joy (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">217-403-8830 </span><a href="mailto:rachel.joy@champaignil.gov" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rachel.joy@champaignil.gov</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) </span></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="630"></col><col width="23"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Announcing the 2020 Recipients</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of the Immigrant Welcome Awards!</span></p></td><td style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue",sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 3.75pt;"><td colspan="2" style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue",sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 4pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div align="left" dir="ltr"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="653"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="overflow: hidden; padding: 7.5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #888888; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue",sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 2.25pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="12"></col><col width="641"></col><col width="0"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td colspan="3" style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Urbana/Champaign, Illinois) The highlight of a very hard year in immigration is to announce the 7</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Annual Immigrant Welcome! Awards. The 2020 Immigrant Welcome Award recipients are:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Business Leadership Award –</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Community Impact Award – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chinese American Association at Central Illinois (CAACI)</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Distinguished Leadership Service Awards – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nils Jacobsen</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leadership Awards – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ibrahim Bourema Ouedraogo</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Student Leadership Award – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jacopo DeMarinis</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The CU Immigration Forum's Steering and the Planning Committee recognize that each nominee and recipient serve beyond a requirement and as a sign of their love to fellow human beings. As Mr. Nils Jacobsen states, "I am humbled by the award, especially because I know how many people here in the community have been working with tremendous dedication for the immigrants for many years."</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All award recipients will be honored during the Immigrant Welcome Awards Ceremony and Celebration on Saturday, September 19, 2020. The public is invited to attend this free event and to celebrate the diversity of cultures that make up Champaign-Urbana. The celebration starts at 4:00 PM via zoom, register at </span><a href="https://bit.ly/31PdCW7" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://bit.ly/31PdCW7</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This event is part of </span><a href="https://www.welcomingamerica.org/programs/welcoming-week" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Welcoming Week</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a national week to bring both together immigrants and U.S.-born residents in a spirit of unity and whose theme is "Creating Home Together." Since the Fall of 2015, the cities of Champaign and Urbana have signed a joint proclamation </span><a href="https://universityymca.org/welcome/ww20/?v=7516fd43adaa" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">locally recognizing Welcoming Week</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and it is presented at the same ceremony. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Immigrant Welcome Awards Ceremony and Celebration is sponsored by C-U Immigration Forum, generously supported by the Cities of Champaign and Urbana and The Urbana Free Library, and co-sponsored by ISCU, University YMCA New American Welcome Center, and the Channing Murray Foundation.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Media Contacts:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ricardo Diaz – CU Immigration Forum – 217-979-0255</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rachel Joy | Community Relations Manager/Compliance Officer, City of Champaign – 217-403-8830</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Event details at </span><a href="https://bit.ly/31PdCW7" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://bit.ly/31PdCW7</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">###</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue",sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue",sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></td><td style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td style="overflow: hidden; vertical-align: middle;"></td></tr></tbody></table></div></span></div><div style="color: #274e13; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="color: #274e13; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div><div data-smartmail="gmail_signature" dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#93c47d"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><div><span face="Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span face="verdana,sans-serif" style="color: #990000;"><span></span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 20px;">Immigration Foru</span><span face="verdana,sans-serif" style="color: #990000;"></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 20px;">m</span><font color="#000000" size="4"><span face="verdana,sans-serif"> General Meetings </span>: <span face="verdana,sans-serif">Every Second Tuesday at 5 at the Y</span></font></span></div><div><span face="Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><font color="#000000" size="4"><span face="verdana,sans-serif"><br /></span></font></span></div><div></div></div></div></div><div><font color="#b01600" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="3">Together, we shall resist, survive, and change the world to benefit all immigrants.</font></div><div><font color="#b01600" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><br /></font></div><div><span face="arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">------------------</span><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><font color="#073763"><span face="Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">The CU Immigration Forum is composed of immigrants, students, local clergy, service providers, labor unions representatives and ordinary citizens concerned about the plight and contributions of immigrants in the Champaign County community.</span></font></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif" style="background-color: #882222; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">CUimmigrationforum.org</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CUImmigrationForum" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/CUImmigrationForum</a><span face="Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif" style="background-color: #882222; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 13.33px; text-align: start;">Champaign County </b><b style="font-size: 13.33px;">Immigrants</b><b style="font-size: 13.33px; text-align: start;"> </b><span style="font-size: 13.33px; text-align: start;">Report</span><b style="font-size: 13.33px; text-align: start;"> (</b><a href="https://universityymca.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/G4G_Champaign_V999999999999_cover-1.pdf" style="font-size: 13.33px; text-align: start;" target="_blank">Eng</a><span style="font-size: 13.33px; text-align: start;"> </span><a href="https://universityymca.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Finalized-NAE-Report-Spanish-.pdf" style="font-size: 13.33px; text-align: start;" target="_blank">Span</a><span style="font-size: 13.33px; text-align: start;">)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: start; width: 1070.4px;"><div><div style="margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div></div></div></div><div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> </div></div> CU Immigration Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05059473532373397419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-54716826117833795322019-09-11T21:13:00.002-06:002022-09-14T21:28:22.244-06:002019 Immigrant Welcome Award Recipients Announced<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #38761d; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span></b></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Press Release</span></b><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">For Immediate Release</span></i><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">September 11, 2019 <span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">For media inquiries, contact:</span></b><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Ricardo Diaz, <span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">(217-979-0255 <a href="mailto:diazr@cuimmigrationforum.org" target="_blank">diazr@cuimmigrationforum.org</a>)<span></span></span></p> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 653px;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="padding: 0in; width: 420pt;" valign="top" width="560"> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.75pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.75pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 18pt;">Congratulations to the 2019 Recipients</span></b><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.75pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 18pt;">of the Immigrant Welcome Awards!</span></b><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0in; width: 15pt;" valign="top" width="20"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Helvetica,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"> <span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 3.75pt;"> <td colspan="2" style="height: 3.75pt; padding: 0in;" valign="top"> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Helvetica,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 4pt;"> <span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="display: none; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 653px;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="padding: 7.5pt;" valign="top"> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(136, 136, 136); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Helvetica,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 1pt;"> <span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="display: none; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 653px;"> <tbody><tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td colspan="3" style="height: 15pt; padding: 0in;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;">(Urbana/Champaign, Illinois) The sponsors of the 6</span><sup><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt; padding: 0in;">th</span></sup><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards are proud to announce the recipients of this year's awards. The 2019 Immigrant Welcome Award recipients are:<span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><a name="m_-8616573952629785034_m_1581994986960548279_m_604697385502650948__Hlk19106349"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt; padding: 0in;">Business Leadership Award –</span></b></a><span style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Ruth Wyman Law Office<span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt; padding: 0in;">Community Impact Award – </span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;">Bend the Arc: Champaign-Urbana, Dr. Annie Abbott<span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt; padding: 0in;">Distinguished Leadership Service Awards – </span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;">Claire Szoke<span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt; padding: 0in;">Leadership Awards – </span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;">Guadalupe Abreu<span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt; padding: 0in;">Student Leadership Award – </span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;">Susan Ogwal<span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;">All award recipients will be honored during the Immigrant Welcome Awards Ceremony and Celebration on Saturday, September 21, 2019. The celebration starts at 3:00 p.m. and will be held at the ground floor of the Urbana Free Library (210 W. Green St. Urbana). The public is invited to attend this free event and to celebrate the diversity of cultures that make up Champaign-Urbana. <span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;">The event includes food, music, art projects for children, special guests, and features Oud, Guitar, Violin and Flute, by local musicans. A free reception will immediately follow on the first floor of the Library.<span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;">Guests can also enjoy the exhibit BELONGING(S), a collection of photography and short stories from local immigrants exploring identity and curated by the Urbana Arts and Culture Program.<span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;">The CU Immigration Forum's Steering and the Planning Committee recognize that each nominee and recipient serve beyond a requirement and as a sign of their love to fellow human beings. Please join us to celebrate their accomplishments and the amazing diversity of cultures in our wonderful and welcoming community.<span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;">The Immigrant Welcome Awards Ceremony and Celebration is sponsored by C-U Immigration Forum, generously supported by the Cities of Champaign and Urbana and The Urbana Free Library, and co-sponsored by CU FAIR, University YMCA New American Welcome Center, Urbana Arts and Culture Program and the Channing Murray Foundation.<span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Media Contacts:<span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;">Ricardo Diaz – CU Immigration Forum – 217-979-0255<span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rachel Joy | Community Relations Manager/Compliance Officer, City of Champaign – 217-403-8830</span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 10.5pt;">Carol Inskeep – Urbana Free Library – 217-367-4405<span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt;">Follow the event on Facebook: </span></i><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/501857677312437/" target="_blank"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">https://www.facebook.com/events/501857677312437/</span></a></span><span></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;">###</span><span></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Helvetica,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 15pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Helvetica,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 15pt;"> <span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 0in; width: 15pt;" valign="top" width="20"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Helvetica,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"> <span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0in; width: 420pt;" valign="top" width="560"> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt;">The 6th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards</span></b><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt;">Saturday, September 21, 2017 from 3pm-5pm </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt;">Urbana Free Library, Lewis Auditorium</span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt;">210 W Green Street, Urbana 61801</span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt;">The 6th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards Ceremony and Celebration is part of 2019 Welcoming Week, a national week of events that brings together immigrants and U.S. born residents in a spirit of better understanding and unity.</span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><u><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt;">The 2019 Recipients of the 6th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards:</span></u><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 107%; margin: 7.9pt 54.5pt 0.0001pt 0in;"><b> </b></p> <p style="line-height: 107%; margin: 7.9pt 54.5pt 0.0001pt 0in;"><b>Business Leadership Award </b>- A business that contributes to the local immigrant community through advocacy, donations or in-kind services and/or a locally owned immigrant owned business that has contributed to the local economic development of CU<b><span></span></b></p> <p style="line-height: 107%; margin: 7.9pt 54.5pt 0.0001pt 0in;"><b>2019 Winner: Ruth Wyman Law Office , Ruth Wyman, owner<span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Ruth Wyman Law Office has worked diligently on several fronts to increase legal access for immigrants – providing affordable and timely legal consultations, DACA renewal application assistance, and Know Your Rights trainings for families. In addition, Ruth Wyman has worked with the University YMCA to launch regular Free Legal Clinics at The Urbana Free Library. Her leadership has helped to create an easy entry point for other local attorneys to volunteer.<span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p> <p style="line-height: 107%; margin: 9.15pt 49.1pt 0.0001pt 0in;"><b>Community Impact Award </b>- A community-based organization, non-profit, public sector institution, or local government which demonstrates exceptional commitment to serving and advocating for local immigrants in our community. The nominee may also be considered for adopting specific policies or initiatives in response to the growing immigrant<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span>population.<span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 107%; margin: 9.15pt 49.1pt 0.0001pt 0in;"><b>2019</b> <b>Winners: Bend the Arc: Champaign-Urbana & Ann Abbott (two winners)</b><b><span face="Arial,sans-serif"><span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5pt;">Bend the Arc is part of the national movement of progressive Jews who are organizing acts of public protest and organizing for social, racial and religious equality. Here in Central Illinois they have played an important role in bringing the community together to understand the threat of white supremacy and the need to organize together to fight hate and defend the rights of immigrants and refugees. <span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5pt;">Professor Ann Abbott is the Director of Undergraduate Studies and Associate Professor in the Spanish / Portuguese Department at the University of Illinois. She is a leader in the teaching and promotion of civic engagement and community service learning. Countless students from her classes have served at <em><b><span face="Calibri,sans-serif" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #6a6a6a; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">ECIRMAC</span></b></em><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #545454; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> (also known as the Refugee Center) and the New American Welcome Center – University YMCA, providing enthusiastic and committed students who can go on to serve as leaders in their own communities. Her work on the Refugee Center Board, as well as her promotion of community service learning have also made significant contributions.<span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 8.05pt 0in 0.0001pt 35.95pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.5pt;"><span> <span class="gmail_default" face="verdana,sans-serif" style="color: #990000; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14.5pt;"><span class="gmail_default" face="verdana,sans-serif" style="color: #990000; font-size: small;"></span> </span></b></p> <p><b>Leadership Award </b>- An individual who has been a strong leader of the immigrant community<span></span></p> <h2 style="margin-top: 8pt;"><b><span color="windowtext" face="Calibri,sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">2019 Winner: Guadalupe Abreu<span></span></span></b></h2> <p class="MsoNormal">For nearly 20 years, Guadalupe Abreu has worked for the Refugee Center (ECIRMAC) as a bilingual Spanish translator, earning numerous certificates in bilingual certification, immigrant public benefits training and outreach in the immigrant community. More than that, she has been a tireless friend and advocate to the Latinx community. <span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0.45pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.5pt;"><span> </span></span></b></p> <p style="line-height: 107%; margin-right: 89.65pt;"><b>Student Leadership Award </b>- A student who has shown promise as a leader or demonstrated commitment to serving or working with immigrants or refugees, locally or abroad.<span></span></p> <h2 style="margin-top: 8pt;"><b><span color="windowtext" face="Calibri,sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">2019 Winner: Susan Ogwal<span></span></span></b></h2> <p class="MsoNormal">Susan Ogwal is the model of an engaged scholar. She is a champion of cultural programming with a strong social justice ethic, exemplified by the soon-to-take-place Champaign-Urbana Black and African Arts Festival, a showcase of art, music, food and family activities. She has done countless art workshops and educational programs, and has contributed through service on boards and organizations. Her academic research seeks to fill a gap in understanding Black immigrants in Central Illinois. <span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0.3pt;"><b><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span> </span></span></b></p> <p style="line-height: 107%; margin-right: 40.7pt;"><b>Distinguished Leadership Service Award </b>– An individual who made a significant contribution to making our community more welcoming to immigrants and refugees.<span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 8.05pt;"><b>2019 Winner:</b> <b>Claire Szoke<span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For over 40 years, Claire Szoke has been on the front lines of nearly every social justice fight in our community. She has been an important part of the movement for immigrant and refugee rights - from her work in the 1980s with the Sanctuary Movement to her key role as director of the Channing Murray Foundation and host of the first meetings of what would become the CU Immigration Forum. This award acknowledges her lifetime of contributions to help create a more just world. <span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span> </span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt;">Follow the event on Facebook: </span></i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/501857677312437/" target="_blank"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">https://www.facebook.com/events/501857677312437/</span></a><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0in;"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <div style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">###</span></div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></div><br clear="all" /><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><font color="#073763"><br /></font></div><div><font color="#660000">Ricardo Diaz</font><br /></div></div><div><font color="#660000"><a href="mailto:diazr@cuimmigrationforum.org" target="_blank">diazr@cuimmigrationforum.org</a></font></div><div><font color="#660000"><br /></font></div><div><font color="#073763">cell: 217-979-0255</font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#93c47d"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#93c47d" size="6">September 21 </font></div><div><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><font color="#93c47d" size="6">Welcome! Awards</font></span></div><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><font color="#93c47d" size="6">3-5 PM at the Urbana Public LIbrary </font></span></div><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><font color="#990000"><br /></font></span></div><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">FB Event to share: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/501857677312437/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/events/501857677312437/</a><br /></div><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></div></div><div><font color="#b01600" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="3">Together, we shall resist, survive, and change the world to benefit all immigrants.</font></div><div><font color="#b01600" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><br /></font></div><div><span face="arial,sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">------------------</span><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><font color="#073763"><span face="Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">The CU Immigration Forum is composed of immigrants, students, local clergy, service providers, labor unions representatives and ordinary citizens concerned about the plight and contributions of immigrants in the Champaign County community.</span></font></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif" style="background-color: #882222; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">CUimmigrationforum.org</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CUImmigrationForum" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/CUImmigrationForum</a><span face="Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif" style="background-color: #882222; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> <p></p> --<br /> </div></div> </div></div> </div></div> CU Immigration Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05059473532373397419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-64480399653573547242018-09-14T19:18:00.003-06:002022-09-14T21:24:55.831-06:002018 Immigrant Welcome Awards <br />
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2018 Welcome Awards Judges Summary</h2>
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The judge panel has convened and made its decisions. We appreciate their service and best effort in identifying others that serve. The Welcome Awards organizing committee is pleased to propagate the good news and invite everyone on <span style="background-color: #6aa84f;">Saturday September 22 3:30 to 5:30 at the Urbana Public Library</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cc0000;"></span><span style="background-color: #6aa84f;"></span><br />
RSVP at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/246730279380949/" target="_blank">FB event</a> <br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/246730279380949/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/events/246730279380949/</a><br />
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<span style="color: red;">Business Leadership Award </span>- A business that contributes to the local immigrant community through advocacy, donations or in-kind services and/or a locally owned immigrant owned business that has contributed to the local economic development of CU <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2018 Winner: Diva Nails. Annie and Kevin Nguyen, owners </span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">Community Impact Award</span> - A community-based organization, non-profit, public sector institution, or local government which demonstrates exceptional commitment to serving and advocating for local immigrants in our community. The nominee may also be considered for adopting specific policies or initiatives in response to the growing immigrant population. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2018 Winner: Carle Community Care and Neighborhood Health programs. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Accepting: </span>Julianna S. Sellett, Vice President - Community Health Initiatives <br />
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<span style="color: red;">Distinguished Leadership Service Award </span>– An individual who made a significant contribution to making our community more welcoming to immigrants and refugees. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span>2018 Winners: Roaa Al-Heeti and Mike Doyle </span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">Leadership Award </span>- An individual who has been a strong leader of the immigrant community <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2018 Winners: Luis Cuza and Luzolo Jean Cesar Ntedika </span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">Student Leadership Award </span>- A student who has shown promise as a leader or demonstrated commitment to serving or working with immigrants or refugees, locally or abroad. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2018 Winner: Carmen Hernandez </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">See <a href="http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-09-21/ui-grad-student-be-honored-efforts-support-fellow-immigrants.html" target="_blank">News-Gazette coverage</a></span>CU Immigration Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05059473532373397419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-40968642224699155802018-08-05T18:09:00.002-06:002018-08-05T18:09:21.796-06:00Now Accepting Your Nominations for the 5th Annual Welcome Awards!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" rbl-attribute="text" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><b>Now Accepting Your Nominations </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><b>for the 5th Annual Welcome Awards!</b></span></span></div>
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The Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum is hosting the 5th Annual Welcome Awards! </div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The CU Immigration Forum is now accepting your nominations in consideration of the individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions, taken risks, and have provided leadership for the well-being and success of immigrants in Champaign County. </span><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">To view the award categories and to nominate, please fill this short form using the following link: </strong></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://goo.gl/forms/rRMxtuUpIgCZSj3f2" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">https://goo.gl/forms/rRMxtuUpIgCZSj3f2</a></b></span><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">. </strong></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The CU Immigration Forum will accept your nominations through August 24, 2018.</b></span><br /><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
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The award recipients will be officially recognized at the 5th Annual Welcome Awards Ceremony and Celebration from 3:30pm-5pm on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at the Urbana Free Library. Event goers can expect fun for the whole family as we recognize and celebrate the individuals and organizations that have created a welcoming atmosphere for immigrants in Champaign County, Illinois. </div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This event is part of Welcoming Week 2018 (September 14-23), a national week of events that works to bring communities bring together, immigrants and U.S.-born residents in a spirit of unity and to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information about Welcoming Week, visit Welcoming America's website at: <a href="http://welcomingamerica.org/programs/welcoming-week/" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">welcomingamerica.org/programs/welcoming-week/</a></span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-34996123438146228522018-01-18T15:49:00.002-06:002018-01-18T15:49:54.429-06:00Let your Voice be Heard in Unison for the DREAMers<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">January 18, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Let your Voice be Heard
in Unison<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum (the IF) calls concerned
citizens in Champaign Country and across Illinois to join their elected
representatives and magnify their voice by supporting the Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals (DACA) young people. Let your voices be heard in unison by
calling the leader of the Senate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who is agreeing?</span></b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> All federal representatives for our county, Senator
Durbin, Senator Duckworth, and Representative Davis agree that the young people
affected should be helped ASAP. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who is affected?</span></b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The Trump administration decision to rescind
the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on March 6, 2018 sets
into motion the deportation of hundreds of thousands of young adults or
Dreamers who were brought to this country as children and know of no other
country than the United States to call their home. Illinois has an estimated
42,000 DACA recipients. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here in <b>Champaign County,</b>
there is no official count of how many DACA recipients will be affected but
there is no disagreement that hundreds of young adults will lose everything
they have worked so hard for in their lives. DACA recipients are students in
our high schools, at Parkland College, and the University of Illinois. Many
contribute to our local economy in their professional careers having earned a
college degree. Almost without exception, the Dreamers make our communities a
better place to live. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to almost all national polls, citizens of the U.S. are
not in favor in expelling the Dreamers from our country. Last September, when
President Trump rescinded the Executive Order created by President Obama in
2009, he stated it was up to Congress to pass legislation to support the
Dreamers. The congressional leadership in Washington has not found a way to
avoid gridlock and pass a law to support the Dreamers. Some progress <b>was</b> made; Senators Graham and Durbin
are the leaders of a <b>bipartisan</b>
‘Gang of Six” who have presented President Trump an immigration compromise to
provide a path to citizenship for DACA recipients as well as $1.6 billion for
border security. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why now?</span></b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Congress must agree every so often to fund government
operations in a Continuing Resolution (CR). After passing a CR to avoid a
government shutdown in December, a budget must be passed by noon this Friday. Senator
McConnell and Representative Ryan, Republican leaders of the Senate and the House
support “kicking the can down the road” by suggesting that a CR be passed in
the next few days without including a solution that provides a pathway to
citizenship for the Dreamers. Democrats are saying no. They will not support a
Continuing Resolution to avoid a government shutdown without legislation for
the Dreamers. More importantly, Senator Lindsey Graham and other Republican
senators told reporters today that they plans to vote against the GOP
leadership’s short-term funding bill to avoid a government shutdown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We <b>cannot</b> place the
lives of our young Dreamers hostage any longer. We also <b>cannot</b> shut down our government when so many lives will be at stake
with loss of funding for other vulnerable populations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Call</span></b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> the office of Senator McConnell and demand
that he allows the Graham-Durbin proposal to come to the floor of the Senate
for a vote. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Please</span></b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>call</b>
the office of Representative Rodney Davis and ask him to support legislation
for the Dreamers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the time and now is the moment to make good on our promise
to more than 800,000 young Americans who are the Dreamers that they are welcome
in our country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How to do it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">To get <b>connected</b>,
Click here <a href="http://bit.ly/2BJRmNh" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #365899; text-decoration-line: none;">http://bit.ly/2BJRmNh</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can reach US representatives by calling 202-225-3121, and US
senators by calling 202-224-3121<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Or</span></b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> you can get specific numbers at <a href="https://www.callmycongress.com/">https://www.callmycongress.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum (CUIF), founded in 2009,
is a community organization concerned about the progress and plight of
immigrants focusing on these families in Champaign County.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
CU Immigration Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05059473532373397419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-38362010801696322922017-09-18T21:15:00.004-06:002022-09-14T21:17:10.385-06:00 Congratulations to the 2017 Recipients of the Immigrant Welcome Awards<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #38761d; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><b>Press Release/PSA</b><div><i>For Immediate Release</i></div><div>September 18, 2017 </div><div><br /></div><div><b>For media inquiries, contact:</b> Megan Flowers</div><div>[251-209-2615; <a href="mailto:megan@universityymca.org" target="_blank">megan@universityymca.org</a>]</div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-image: none; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Times; width: 653px;"><tbody><tr><td style="background-image: none; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; width: 560px; word-wrap: break-word;" valign="top"><div style="line-height: 33px; text-align: center; width: 560px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong><font style="font-size: 24px;">Congratulations to the 2017 Recipients</font></strong></p></div><div style="line-height: 33px; text-align: center; width: 560px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong><font style="font-size: 24px;">of the Immigrant Welcome Awards!</font></strong></p></div><div style="line-height: 33px; text-align: center; width: 560px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 18px;">Join us for the ceremony an celebration this Saturday</font></p></div></td><td style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 20px;" valign="top" width="20px"><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p></td></tr><tr><td align="center" colspan="3" height="5px" style="border-collapse: collapse; height: 5px;" valign="top"><div style="font-size: 5px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Times; width: 653px;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 10px; text-align: center;" valign="top"><div style="background-color: #888888; font-size: 1px; height: 1px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-image: none; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Times; width: 653px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" colspan="3" height="20px" style="border-collapse: collapse; height: 20px;" valign="top"><div style="font-size: 20px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 20px;" valign="top" width="20px"><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p></td><td style="background-image: none; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; width: 560px; word-wrap: break-word;" valign="top"><div style="line-height: 28px; text-align: center;"><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;">As co-sponsors of the 4th Annual Immigrant Welcome Award Ceremony, the Cities of Champaign and Urbana, the CU Immigration Forum, the Muslim American Society of Urbana-Champaign, and the Urbana Free Library are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 Immigrant Welcome Awards. This year's award recipients are Nancy M. Ramirez Blancas, Charles Larenas, Samuel Smith, Karyl Wackerlin, The Education Justice Project (EJP), and the Immigration Project.</font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;">The Immigrant Welcome Awards Selection Committee congratulates this year's award recipients and thanks them for their dedicated work enriching the lives of those not only living in Champaign-Urbana, but around the world. The public is encouraged to celebrate their achievements during the Immigrant Welcome Award Ceremony and Celebration on Saturday, September 23. This event includes free activities for children and refreshments. </font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>The 4th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards</strong></font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;">Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 2pm-4pm </font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;">Muslim American Society Center</font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;">2011 Brownfield Rd, Urbana</font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;">The 4th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards Ceremony and Celebration is part of 2017 Welcoming Week, a national week of events that brings together immigrants and U.S. born residents in a spirit of better understanding and unity.</font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><u><font style="font-size: 14px;">Program of Activities:</font></u></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Reception</p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">We Are More Than One Story </p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Performance</p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Capoeira Angola Center of Mestre João Grande-Illinois</p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Welcoming Remarks </p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Reading of the Welcoming Week Joint Proclamation</p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Deborah Feinen, Mayor of Champaign</p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Recognition of Partners </p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Recognition of Welcome Award Recipients </p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Student leadership</p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Community impact</p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Acknowledgement of the </p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Champaign International Connection City</p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Human Rights award</p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Community Impact</p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Humanitarian Relief</p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">Distinguished Leadership Service</p></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><u><font style="font-size: 14px;">The 2017 Recipients of the 4th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards:</font></u></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Student Leadership Award</strong></font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Nancy M. Ramirez Blancas</strong></font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;">Nancy Ramirez Blancas has been in the forefront of student testimony and activism around issues such as the Access act and support for DACA students like herself. She effectively recruited people into La Casa Cultural Latina's trainings on how to be an ally for undocumented students at the University of Illinois and continues to be a firm and fearless voice for this cause, for herself and others. She has been consistently active not ONLY in behalf of undocumented students but also in her own disciplinary organizations. Nancy has a deep commitment to using her knowledge to help others who find themselves in situations like her own. Her activism and testimony is fearless, even while she remains uncertain of the educational she has striven so hard to secure.</font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Humanitarian Relief Award</strong></font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Samuel Smith</strong></font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;">Sam Smith is recoginzed for leading the projects efforts to build a clean water well in the Koyagbema community of Kenama, Sierra Leone near a school operated by the Sierra Leone YMCA. A simple investment in these wells can unlock the potential of every student by helping them stay healthy and freeing them to remain in classes other than leaving classes to fetch water. </font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;">Sam helped coordinate the securing of funding by building a partnership between the University Y,MCA, Urbana Rotary, Sierra Leone YMCA, Akelos, and the Freetown Rotary in Sierra Leone. Sam's hard work in coordinating all of this the past two years resulted in the construction of the clean water well this past summer. He was fortunate to travel to Sierra Leone this summer for the ribbon cutting ceremony.</font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Distinguished Leadership Service Award</strong></font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Charles Larenas</strong></font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;">For the last 11 years Charles Larenas has been directing the Summer Migrant Education Program in Champaign County. Parkland College has been hosting the program for the last 9 years. This summer of 2017 Charles just finished his 22nd year with the Illinois State Migrant Education Program which provides high-quality and comprehensive educational programs for migrant children.</font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-size: 14px;">Charles began his first Migrant Education Program with six employees who served about 60 students in 5 different cities. This year, the program had 86 employees and served over 250 students/families, while recruiting close to 350. Through this program he has been providing unique experiences to local youth. Every year he hires local Latino college students to work at the program and provides the encouragement, and the empowerment these students need to participate. He is truly developing leaders.</font></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Community Impact Award</strong></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>The Education Justice Project (EJP) </strong></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">EJP is a college-in-prison program. In recent years, EJP has reached out to family members of incarcerated people, providing a monthly forum for them to support one another while writing letters to loved ones in prison. Recognizing the similarities between incarceration and deportation, they extended letter writing sessions, known as the Ripple Effect, to include those facing immigration threats including undocumented U of I students, undocumented local families, and newly resettled refugees. An additonal service that EJP provides is to assist students who get deported to Mexico through developing a deportee reentry guide. The guide is to assist people who are sent back to Mexico in orienting themselves and learning about services available to them in that country. EJP is recognized for addressing the increasing threats facing immigrants today under the new administration of the United States.</p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Community Impact Award</strong></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Immigration Project </strong></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;">The Immigration Project (IP) is a nonprofit organization providing immigration legal assistance to the 100,000 immigrants residing in Central and Southern Illinois. It provides access to quality legal services in Central and Southern Illinois. Due to the complexity of immigration law, quality legal services is essential to keeping families united, building strong communities, and protecting victims of crime. Immigration attorneys and immigration specialists travel to meet with clients in seven regional locations. Without these programs, low-income immigrants in the region would struggle to obtain access to professional immigration assistance. Staff is committed to helping immigrants, knowing that immigrants are members of our community, and that helping all members of a community strengthens the entire community.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div><strong>Human Rights Award</strong></div><div><strong>Karyl Wackerlin</strong></div><div><br /></div><div>Karyl a professional photographer now uses her camera to find and spread joy across the globe during mission trips. As part of That's What She Said Project, Karyl created and organized She Said: Soul Journey mission trips to God's Littlest Angels (GLA) orphanage in Haiti. Through this program, she has inspired women in the Champaign-Urbana community to experience this life-changing trip. Karyl has also worked on documenting the caregivers' stories both through written word and film and has hired translators while in Haiti to work with her on this project. Karyl's dedicated efforts have resulted in millions of dollars being donated to GLA over the past four years. The project has also introduced women from our community to Haiti and to foster in them the same love for the people and country that Karyl has, creating a connection and bond between CU and Kenscoff, Haiti.</div></div></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><em><font style="font-size: 14px;">Follow the event on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/277601329389639/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/events/277601329389639/</a></font></em></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><em><br /></em></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">###</div><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> </div></div> <p></p> --<br /> </div></div> CU Immigration Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05059473532373397419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-41210566335126534362017-09-18T15:03:00.000-06:002017-09-18T15:46:19.428-06:00The 2017 Immigrant Welcome Award Recipients Announced <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" rbl-attribute="text" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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<strong><span style="font-size: 24px;">Congratulations to the 2017 Recipients</span></strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 33px; text-align: center; width: 560px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 24px;">of the Immigrant Welcome Awards!</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">Join us for the ceremony an celebration this Saturday</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">As co-sponsors of the 4th Annual Immigrant Welcome Award Ceremony, the Cities of Champaign and Urbana, the CU Immigration Forum, the Muslim American Society of Urbana-Champaign, and the Urbana Free Library are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 Immigrant Welcome Awards. This year's award recipients are Nancy M. Ramirez Blancas, Charles Larenas, Samuel Smith, Karyl Wackerlin, The Education Justice Project (EJP), and the Immigration Project.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">The Immigrant Welcome Awards Selection Committee congratulates this year’s award recipients and thanks them for their dedicated work enriching the lives of those not only living in Champaign-Urbana, but around the world. The public is encouraged to celebrate their achievements during the Immigrant Welcome Award Ceremony and Celebration on Saturday, September 23. This event includes free activities for children and refreshments. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>The 4th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards</strong></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;">Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 2pm-4pm </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;">Muslim American Society Center</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">2011 Brownfield Rd, Urbana</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;">The 4th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards Ceremony and Celebration is part of 2017 Welcoming Week, a national week of events that brings together immigrants and U.S. born residents in a spirit of better understanding and unity.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 14px;">Program of Activities:</span></u></div>
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<br /></div>
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Reception</div>
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<br /></div>
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We Are More Than One Story </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Performance</div>
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Capoeira Angola Center of Mestre João Grande-Illinois</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Welcoming Remarks </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Reading of the Welcoming Week Joint Proclamation</div>
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Deborah Feinen, Mayor of Champaign</div>
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<div>
Recognition of Partners </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Recognition of Welcome Award Recipients </div>
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Student leadership</div>
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Community impact</div>
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<br /></div>
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Acknowledgement of the </div>
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Champaign International Connection City</div>
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<br /></div>
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Human Rights award</div>
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Community Impact</div>
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Humanitarian Relief</div>
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Distinguished Leadership Service</div>
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<div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-size: 14px;">The 2017 Recipients of the 4th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards:</span></u></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Student Leadership Award</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Nancy M. Ramirez Blancas</strong></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;">Nancy Ramirez Blancas has been in the forefront of student testimony and activism around issues such as the Access act and support for DACA students like herself. She effectively recruited people into La Casa Cultural Latina’s trainings on how to be an ally for undocumented students at the University of Illinois and continues to be a firm and fearless voice for this cause, for herself and others. She has been consistently active not ONLY in behalf of undocumented students but also in her own disciplinary organizations. Nancy has a deep commitment to using her knowledge to help others who find themselves in situations like her own. Her activism and testimony is fearless, even while she remains uncertain of the educational she has striven so hard to secure.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Humanitarian Relief Award</strong></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Samuel Smith</strong></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;">Sam Smith is recoginzed for leading the projects efforts to build a clean water well in the Koyagbema community of Kenama, Sierra Leone near a school operated by the Sierra Leone YMCA. A simple investment in these wells can unlock the potential of every student by helping them stay healthy and freeing them to remain in classes other than leaving classes to fetch water. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;">Sam helped coordinate the securing of funding by building a partnership between the University Y,MCA, Urbana Rotary, Sierra Leone YMCA, Akelos, and the Freetown Rotary in Sierra Leone. Sam’s hard work in coordinating all of this the past two years resulted in the construction of the clean water well this past summer. He was fortunate to travel to Sierra Leone this summer for the ribbon cutting ceremony.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Distinguished Leadership Service Award</strong></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Charles Larenas</strong></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;">For the last 11 years Charles Larenas has been directing the Summer Migrant Education Program in Champaign County. Parkland College has been hosting the program for the last 9 years. This summer of 2017 Charles just finished his 22nd year with the Illinois State Migrant Education Program which provides high-quality and comprehensive educational programs for migrant children.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;">Charles began his first Migrant Education Program with six employees who served about 60 students in 5 different cities. This year, the program had 86 employees and served over 250 students/families, while recruiting close to 350. Through this program he has been providing unique experiences to local youth. Every year he hires local Latino college students to work at the program and provides the encouragement, and the empowerment these students need to participate. He is truly developing leaders.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
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<strong>Community Impact Award</strong></div>
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<strong>The Education Justice Project (EJP) </strong></div>
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EJP is a college-in-prison program. In recent years, EJP has reached out to family members of incarcerated people, providing a monthly forum for them to support one another while writing letters to loved ones in prison. Recognizing the similarities between incarceration and deportation, they extended letter writing sessions, known as the Ripple Effect, to include those facing immigration threats including undocumented U of I students, undocumented local families, and newly resettled refugees. An additonal service that EJP provides is to assist students who get deported to Mexico through developing a deportee reentry guide. The guide is to assist people who are sent back to Mexico in orienting themselves and learning about services available to them in that country. EJP is recognized for addressing the increasing threats facing immigrants today under the new administration of the United States.</div>
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<strong>Community Impact Award</strong></div>
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<strong>Immigration Project </strong></div>
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The Immigration Project (IP) is a nonprofit organization providing immigration legal assistance to the 100,000 immigrants residing in Central and Southern Illinois. It provides access to quality legal services in Central and Southern Illinois. Due to the complexity of immigration law, quality legal services is essential to keeping families united, building strong communities, and protecting victims of crime. Immigration attorneys and immigration specialists travel to meet with clients in seven regional locations. Without these programs, low-income immigrants in the region would struggle to obtain access to professional immigration assistance. Staff is committed to helping immigrants, knowing that immigrants are members of our community, and that helping all members of a community strengthens the entire community.<br />
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<strong>Human Rights Award</strong></div>
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<strong>Karyl Wackerlin</strong></div>
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Karyl a professional photographer now uses her camera to find and spread joy across the globe during mission trips. As part of That’s What She Said Project, Karyl created and organized She Said: Soul Journey mission trips to God’s Littlest Angels (GLA) orphanage in Haiti. Through this program, she has inspired women in the Champaign-Urbana community to experience this life-changing trip. Karyl has also worked on documenting the caregivers’ stories both through written word and film and has hired translators while in Haiti to work with her on this project. Karyl’s dedicated efforts have resulted in millions of dollars being donated to GLA over the past four years. The project has also introduced women from our community to Haiti and to foster in them the same love for the people and country that Karyl has, creating a connection and bond between CU and Kenscoff, Haiti.</div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 14px;">Follow the event on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/277601329389639/">https://www.facebook.com/events/277601329389639/</a></span></em></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-37915288124809477052017-09-05T20:43:00.004-06:002017-09-07T10:40:38.921-06:00Eliminating DACA program is the wrong way to go<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="116" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/8HCN4IKpXMDaHjfdedlC5jRMGLETp6ozhsO2GayuYxcUKDR2hWBxktf0i4TEYBA7ON8GWeyy49ojGIu0op8t72u_qvsJyBbpEZFVmRHsYd5eLnkD5TypSpl8BXwyPoZ-dhYw9XR6" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="293" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.cuimmigrationforum.org</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">September 5, 2017. Earlier today, the Trump Administration announced that it was ending the DACA (Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals) program. The C-U Immigration Forum is strongly opposed to this action and stands with the 800,000 young adults across our nation, and in our community, who were protected from deportation under this program. Although this action by the President was not a surprise, we believe it is both cruel to those affected and unproductive for our country. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-20cbd94f-5505-4537-61e6-ab98acc0adcb" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In June of 2012, President Obama created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals act, or DACA, in order to allow undocumented persons who had been brought to the US as children — and who were in school, had no serious criminal record, and who posed no threat to national security — to qualify for a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation, and be eligible for a work permit. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Under the guise of a ‘respect for the rule of law’, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump administration would be rescinding this vital program. Those already enrolled in DACA will be able to continue working until their permits expire, and those whose permits expire by March 5 will be permitted to apply for two-year renewals so long as they do so by Oct. 5. But only one in 10 DACA recipients will be eligible under these strict guidelines. This announcement affects several hundred families in Champaign County and tens of thousands in Illinois. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DACA was merely an administrative directive for a policy change to be implemented by the Department of Homeland Security as an exercise of its well established and preexisting authority; it made no one a citizen or a permanent resident. DACA did not pretend to be a law nor was it a usurpation of Congressional authority as it has often been mischaracterized by its critics. DACA did collect the biographical information, money, and biometrics of almost a million people that had previously not been on the records.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unlike the DREAM Act, which was its inspiration, DACA offered no path to citizenship and was intended merely as an intermediate step for young people. By definition, they were primarily raised in the United States and the US is their home; they signed up to pursue their educational and career potential while they waited for Congress to craft a more permanent legislative fix which specifically addressed their situation. To date there are nearly 800,000 people who participate in this program. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Without immediate Congressional action, the limited security that DACA has provided its beneficiaries will disappear, and with it their ability to provide for themselves and their loved ones. This casts entire futures into doubt. Along with those crippling economic hardships, these vulnerable persons will now also face the very real possibility of forced repatriation to countries that are for the most part only distant memories to them. For DACA recipients, the US is their home. They share our hopes and dreams — which is why they have long been known as ‘Dreamers’ — and their futures are inextricably bound with ours. In truth we stand or fall together.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The current administration’s attitude towards immigrants disguises bigotry as policy, and with this step the Trump administrations advances violence against immigrants, attacking persons who are fellow citizens in every possible way but name only.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CU Immigration Forum joins its many regional and national partners — and the overwhelming majority of the American people — in demanding that Congress create permanent protections for these vulnerable members of our society and their families. The DREAM Act is only a partial solution and it is time for comprehensive immigration reform to be fully considered transparently by all political and economic parties. Only then can immigrants be assured of their own personal security and be given a renewed hope in the country we collectively call home.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Other supporters</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The <a href="https://www.uillinois.edu/president/daca" target="_blank">University of Illinois System</a> and its <a href="https://www.aau.edu/newsroom/press-releases/aau-president-condemns-administrations-decision-end-daca" target="_blank">national </a><a href="http://www.aplu.org/news-and-media/News/aplu-urges-swift-congressional-action-to-at-a-minimum-codify-daca-provisions-into-law" target="_blank">counterparts </a>vow to <a href="http://open.illinois.edu/student-profiles/" target="_blank">protect students</a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The <a href="http://mailchi.mp/illinoisbic/3h4uze2vs9-811229?e=dc3d16e808" target="_blank">Illinois Business Immigration Coalition </a>says Illinois will lose $2.3 billion</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/daca-rescinded-jeff-sessions-donald-152405072.html" target="_blank">Barack Obama calls it cruel and wrong</a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/york-vows-sue-trump-over-immigrant-children-protections-175409772.html" target="_blank">NY and Washington states suing the president over rescinding DACA</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Participate here:</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/723836034479481/" target="_blank">I-CAUSE Rally on Sept 6</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/499761217058157/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%223%22%2C%22ref_newsfeed_story_type%22%3A%22regular%22%2C%22feed_story_type%22%3A%2217%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D" target="_blank">Visit to congressional Rep. Davis on Sept 20. </a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Local coverage</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/dreamers-in-central-illinois-waiting-for-decision-on-daca/803951265" target="_blank">WCIA </a>Sept 2 2017</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://will.illinois.edu/index.php/21stshow" target="_blank">The 21st</a> </span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sept 6, 2017</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-09-07/immigrant-advocates-say-daca-decision-will-affect-hundreds-here.html" target="_blank">News-Gazette</a> Sept 7, 2017</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://foxillinois.com/news/local/u-of-i-daca-students-uncertain-and-worried-about-the-future" target="_blank">Fox Illinois Sept </a>5 2017 and <a href="http://foxillinois.com/news/local/u-of-illinois-ending-daca-creates-uncertainty-for-students" target="_blank">UofI related</a> and <a href="http://foxillinois.com/news/local/illinois-lawmakers-sound-off-on-daca-announcement" target="_blank">politician soundoff</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://foxillinois.com/news/local/u-of-i-daca-students-uncertain-and-worried-about-the-future" target="_blank">Fox Illinois Sept </a>5 2017</span><br />
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CU Immigration Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05059473532373397419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-45917359648540318632017-08-14T17:21:00.002-06:002017-08-14T17:21:29.257-06:00Submit your nominations today for the 4th Annual Welcome Awards!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" rbl-attribute="text" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><b>Now Accepting Your Nominations </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><b>for the 4th Annual Welcome Awards!</b></span></span></div>
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The Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum is hosting the 4th Annual Welcome Awards! This year we are excited to announce a new collaboration with the cities of Champaign and Urbana. As part of this new partnership, the Champaign-Urbana International Humanitarian Awards (CUIHA) will now be included in the Immigrant Welcome Award Ceremony. </div>
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The CU Immigration Forum is now accepting your nominations in consideration of the individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions, taken risks, and have provided leadership for the well-being and success of immigrants in Champaign County. <strong>To view the award categories and to nominate, please fill this short form using the following link: <a href="https://goo.gl/forms/j5elJmKSXFiVsN4z2">https://goo.gl/forms/j5elJmKSXFiVsN4z2</a>. </strong>The CU Immigration Forum will accept your nominations through September 1, 2017.<strong></strong></div>
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The award recipients will be officially recognized at the 4th Annual Welcome Awards Ceremony and Celebration from 2pm-4pm on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at the Muslim American Society Center. Event goers can expect food and fun for the whole family as we recognize and celebrate the individuals and organizations that have created a welcoming atmosphere for immigrants in Champaign County, Illinois. For more information about the event including past award recipients, visit: <a href="http://www.cuimmigrationforum.org/">www.cuimmigrationforum.org</a>.</div>
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This event is part of Welcoming Week (September 15-24), a national week of events that works to bring communities bring together, immigrants and U.S.-born residents in a spirit of unity and to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone. <span style="font-size: 14px;">For more information about Welcoming Week, visit Welcoming America's website at: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://welcomingamerica.org/programs/welcoming-week/&source=gmail&ust=1501033191798000&usg=AFQjCNHEqpSdH6pbYu_PoCBx_eBDrHaQQA" href="http://welcomingamerica.org/programs/welcoming-week/" target="_blank">welcomingamerica.org/programs/welcoming-week/</a></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"></span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-44787628124100320432017-06-19T16:16:00.000-06:002017-06-19T16:16:00.986-06:00Join us in support of immigrants at the July 4 parade<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Times; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">In an effort to demonstrate local support for </span><span class="il" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">immigrants</span><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> in our community, the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">C-U </span><span class="il" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Immigration</span><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="il" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Forum</span><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> is organizing a huge participation in the July 4th Freedom Parade. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Our goal is to have 500 people march with us in the parade. <strong> If you are free to join us, please do so but also help spread the word </strong>among family, friends, co-workers and other organizations or faith communities you are active with. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><img class="m_4684002710737125173gmail-placeholder_small CToWUd a6T" height="162.25" hspace="10" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/OK0gOOKGEODF2lKldlitxNCBDZAb_a3-y9O7Ty8E_F_xVIkocJWT0PuBg2zskw1N8Kj0ip20VFIiQ5BrL6H1Un62Nz3OhDImfNUFmGjC8CPsF35ZFT77PHcplNiDmHF6DfKRm7ja__rEbw164ecBO5FoPZgbMWYrwAYKRh-11OxN1f-mvjEMs_lHaGpqS5tj0g=s0-d-e1-ft#https://d2zhgehghqjuwb.cloudfront.net/accounts/7994/original/1497123166688-4a5eduaw68h-6327d44d658f5c1ad2568cb5a8688f92.JPG" style="background-image: none; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 162.25px; outline: 0px; width: 275px;" tabindex="0" vspace="10" width="275" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">We are encouraging people to sign up so we can track how many folks are participating and also to send out updates about details of the event. </span></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><strong>Sign up here: </strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><strong><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://docs.google.com/a/universityymca.org/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0bLXy-_4_6KHQUa_TnFAFHAD3yCMaunNCuFry4u-wyOvpkA/formResponse&source=gmail&ust=1497996836783000&usg=AFQjCNFbTIjjCtNV3rvBBp4CUFinh0F4ag" href="https://docs.google.com/a/universityymca.org/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0bLXy-_4_6KHQUa_TnFAFHAD3yCMaunNCuFry4u-wyOvpkA/formResponse" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/<wbr></wbr>JoinUsOnJuly4</a></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Show up, speak out in your own unique way for the support of local <span class="il">immigrants</span> and the progress of human rights. You can also join us in raising your voice and showing support in other ways: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Join us for a sign-making party on Saturday, July 1st from 2pm-4pm at the University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright Street. This is a kid-friendly event with food and plenty of crafty supplies. <span class="il">Immigration</span> <span class="il">Forum</span> t-shirts are also available for purchase to be visible with us at the parade and support our work. <strong>You may order your t-shirt here: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://c-u-immigration-forum7.mybigcommerce.com/?ctk%3D112H1T881X849F89V6565&source=gmail&ust=1497996836783000&usg=AFQjCNHYNmtndWlomCBA214pmp4sgI2cgA" href="http://c-u-immigration-forum7.mybigcommerce.com/?ctk=112H1T881X849F89V6565" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/IFt-<wbr></wbr>shirts</a>. </strong>(Please order your shirt by June 20th to pick up before or at the parade.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Attached <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzNZGcWYUaaCcFlla3V5dHV6RnF3U0pJa1p2TzNCczRTeC04/view?usp%3Dsharing&source=gmail&ust=1497996836783000&usg=AFQjCNHQy49KTePzvM9-p1Exx7ammgLnYg" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzNZGcWYUaaCcFlla3V5dHV6RnF3U0pJa1p2TzNCczRTeC04/view?usp=sharing" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a> is the flyer for more details. </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Thanks for your help and support.</span></span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-41617648343364704032016-12-31T15:35:00.001-06:002016-12-31T15:35:42.263-06:002017 Begins<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">It's the end of a hard year for immigrants but an even worse year is starting soon. Several people have asked me how they can help </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">to make it better; the truth is, I am not sure if there is any one answer. I do know that the greatest growth is when we all stand together, one person with another, in solidarity.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">This means that we each put in gifts and talents in a different way and volunteering in direct help is never to be underestimated. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Still, the situation is such that we will require more translators, more lawyers, more organizing, more answering phones, more legislative actions. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">If you are able to make a monetary contribution, today is a good day to bolster the organizations that will lead those efforts in the Urbana-Rantoul-Champaign area:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">+The <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://immigration-forum.blogspot.com/p/learn-more_2121.html&source=gmail&ust=1483305761500000&usg=AFQjCNGa100Cqprs5zIuE1uskxKv8KL0QQ" href="http://immigration-forum.blogspot.com/p/learn-more_2121.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">CU Immigration Forum </a>fills the niche for advocacy, coalescing, and <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2016-11-29/groups-post-election-letter-immigrants-we-will-stand-you.html&source=gmail&ust=1483305761500000&usg=AFQjCNFI5Uuq_XLUEIcRunRCBZ07CIWNDQ" href="http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2016-11-29/groups-post-election-letter-immigrants-we-will-stand-you.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">stands with immigrants</a> of all sorts. </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Make the check to Attn: CU Immigration Forum, The University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright St. , Champaign, IL 61820</span></div>
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<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" target="_blank">
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<input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" border="0" name="submit" src="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/49a9zRM0T_LmREC70WXv-b1H0N4oa2Ti82Cu1yeISZaB-9XSIL910XHJXhjhtk8bAu5MhOxSDAtbXbw6ayVSjO17huBYHyePXYujYdw4cdxWQg0=s0-d-e1-ft#https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; margin: 0px;" type="image" /> </div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">+The <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.universityymca.org/support_us/&source=gmail&ust=1483305761500000&usg=AFQjCNH5p6JaIo7iH4IGpSNE3fsVR0cvfQ" href="http://www.universityymca.org/support_us/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">University Y</a> is a meeting point, and they answer the lines for those in distress through the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://lalinea.weebly.com/&source=gmail&ust=1483305761500000&usg=AFQjCNFU5huSZTDlYpChXOPyUtUzuhCI1A" href="http://lalinea.weebly.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">La Linea</a> in various languages and they serve as the 211 in Spanish for the county</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">+<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://ecirmac.weebly.com/make-a-donation.html&source=gmail&ust=1483305761500000&usg=AFQjCNHHg-nRJeWXcIpOdplyzzCVslVf4A" href="http://ecirmac.weebly.com/make-a-donation.html" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Refugee Center</a><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">, </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">ECIRMAC, </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> is the oldest direct assistance agency; great staff, small place, great asset. Send checks to </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">302 S. Birch, </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Urbana, IL 61801</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">+<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd%3D_flow%26SESSION%3D8Ld5mzI_4CRua6Sj1IX87i1Qdn0hIfVZoxElvxhtjW2295T--TzfrP8V8V4%26dispatch%3D5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d333dc9aadeed3fe0b5b299d55fd35542&source=gmail&ust=1483305761500000&usg=AFQjCNHEpQUkE-Edh3FrPWDxgCba81zStA" href="https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=8Ld5mzI_4CRua6Sj1IX87i1Qdn0hIfVZoxElvxhtjW2295T--TzfrP8V8V4&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d333dc9aadeed3fe0b5b299d55fd35542" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">The Immigration Project</a> is our go-to for non private immigration lawyers; the recent opening of an office in Champaign makes it easier for minors and those in physical danger.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><div class="gmail_default">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcf9; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 16px;"> You can send a check to P.O. Box 1503, Bloomington, Illinois 61702-1503.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><div class="gmail_default">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcf9; font-family: lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">+Some graduate students have recently formed <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.threespinners.org/donate/&source=gmail&ust=1483305761500000&usg=AFQjCNEaR7-Tj2TYNq7lxB9kitWgzTmbWQ" href="https://www.threespinners.org/donate/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">The Three Spinners </a>to help settle refugees in the area.</span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" class="CToWUd" height="1" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/BX_UYOdEXDuaIHV5NXtBjScTfR4xwoq3Gg9DEYItwE4JngiDPBLiotfH5iN9FPjAfTA4BBEhdFkb_ic_WCtV1XkxK8eUJrW5qw=s0-d-e1-ft#https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" /></div>
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Sincerely, Ricardo Diaz</div>
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CU Immigration Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05059473532373397419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-62440565236713416882016-11-28T12:19:00.003-06:002016-12-31T16:53:57.859-06:00A letter to Immigrants of Champaign County/Una carta a los inmigrantes en el condado de Champaign<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Estimados inmigrantes que residen en el área de Champaign, Urbana, y Rantoul:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Los Estados Unidos de América ha sido visto como una tierra de oportunidades y esperanza, y a lo largo de su historia millones de inmigrantes han venido aquí porque han creído en ese ideal y soñaron que aquí encontrarían un lugar donde pudieran formar una mejor vida.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Las recientes elecciones han sacudido en muchos de nosotros la fe en esa imagen y algunos están ahora viviendo con miedo, sin saber qué esperar del futuro y cómo prepararse para el.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">El Foro de Inmigración de Champaign Urbana quiere aprovechar esta oportunidad para declarar inequívocamente que si usted es un inmigrante que teme que su familia va a ser separada a través de la deportación - nosotros estamos con ustedes en esto. Si usted es un refugiado que teme que se le enviará de regreso a un lugar peligroso - estamos con usted en esto.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Queremos asegurarle sin lugar a dudas de que vamos a estar junto a ustedes y lucharemos contra cualquier y cada intento de la nueva administración que quiera usar sus promesas extremistas e intente convertirlas en política nacional. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">En los próximos meses llegaremos a entender las ramificaciones de esta elección, y le instamos a que se unan a nosotros. Necesitamos más que nunca estar unidos y de pie contra la retórica deshumanizante y las políticas inhumanas. El Foro de Inmigración CU, como una organización que sirve a las familias inmigrantes, busca fomentar el diálogo inclusivo, y defiende los derechos de los inmigrantes, se enorgullece de trabajar con aquellos que comparten nuestros valores. Es gracias a ustedes que las ciudades de Champaign y Urbana han expresado su deseo de ser más acogedor para los inmigrantes y los recién llegados, y tenemos la intención de presionar para que actúen ahora y tomen medidas adicionales para garantizar que la promesa de bienvenida se convierta en política oficial.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">El cambio comienza con la toma de acción en nuestras propias comunidades. El movimiento en el condado de Champaign ha comenzado, y continuará creciendo y fortaleciéndose, pero no podemos hacerlo sin ustedes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Este miércoles, 30 de de noviembre, le invitamos a unirse a nosotros para una reunión comunitaria sobre cómo el Condado de Champaign puede apoyar mejor a las comunidades de inmigrantes que viven aquí. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">¡</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Asegúrese que su voz sea escuchada! También pedimos que por favor revise su email esta semana para firmar el formulario de acción y hacernos saber cómo desea unirse al movimiento para seguir avanzando.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Muchos en Rantoul, Urbana y Champaign están dispuestos a ser sus aliados, ya que quieren hacer este país más acogedor para todos; gracias por superar sus miedos y convertirse en un residente activo y un defensor de sus derechos y valores.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">El Foro de Inmigración CU</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">_____________________________________________________________</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: 14px;">Dear immigrants residing in the Champaign, Urbana, and Rantoul area:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">The United States of America has long been seen as a land of opportunity and hope, and throughout its history millions of immigrants have come here because they believed in that ideal and dreamed that here they would find a place where they could make a better life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">The recent elections have, for many of us, shaken our faith in that image, and some are now living in fear, wondering what to expect from the future and how to prepare for it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">Therefore the CU Immigration Forum wants to take this opportunity to state unequivocally that if you are an immigrant who fears that your family will be torn apart through deportation-we are with you in this. If you are a refugee who fears that you will be sent back to a dangerous and deadly situation-we are with you in this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">We want to assure you in no uncertain terms that we will stand by you and fight any and every attempt by the incoming administration to take their extreme campaign promises and turn them into actual national policy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">In the coming months, as we come to understand the full ramifications of this election, we urge you to join with us. We need more than ever to unite and stand up against dehumanizing rhetoric and inhumane policies. The CU Immigration Forum, as an organization that serves immigrant families, seeks to foster inclusive dialogue, and advocates for immigrant rights, is proud to be united with those who share our values. It is all because of you that the Cities of Champaign and Urbana have expressed a desire to be more welcoming to immigrants and newcomers, and we intend to press them to act now and to take further steps to ensure that promise of welcome becomes a part of official policy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">Change starts with taking action in our own communities. The movement in Champaign County is just getting started, and it will continue to grow and strengthen, but we cannot do it without you.</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 14px;">We need each other’s support, so please add your voice and join us in taking action.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">This Wednesday, November 30th, we invite you to join us for a community meeting on how Champaign County may best support the immigrant communities that live here (more details below). Make your voice heard! We also ask that you please check your inbox this week to sign our action form and let us know how you may want to join the movement going forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">Many in Rantoul, Urbana, and Champaign are willing to be your allies because they want to make this country more welcoming for all; thank you for overcoming your fears and becoming an involved resident and a defender of your rights and values.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">Sincerely,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">The CU Immigration Forum</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Attn: Champaign County, IL</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><u>How To Be A Supporter For The Immigrant Community</u><br />Wednesday, November 30th, 2016 | 6:30pm-8:00pm<br />Champaign Public Library | 200 W Green St., Champaign, IL 61820<br />(in Robeson Rooms A & B)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1755650731365077/">Follow the event on Facebook.</a><br /><br />Join the CU Immigration Forum for an "Ask An Immigrant" panel discussion on how to be a supporter for Immigrant Communities in Champaign County. The panel discussion will feature community advocates who work closely with local immigrant communities. People attending the meeting are encouraged to ask questions and participate in the discussion.<br /><br />The meeting will then follow with a "Dos and Donts" overview in providing support to families and close with an overview of available resources, immigration updates, and ways to take action.<br /><br /><strong>Questions?</strong> Contact the CU Immigration Forum at <a href="mailto:info@cuimmigrationforum.org">info@cuimmigrationforum.org</a>.</span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-6826681150362328892016-10-01T09:35:00.000-06:002016-10-01T09:39:53.649-06:00<div style="background-color: #fffed8; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 20px; line-height: normal;">Interested in Joining a Group </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: 20px; line-height: normal;">Dedicated </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 20px; line-height: normal;">to Addressing Local Wage Theft Incidents</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: 20px; line-height: normal;">Affecting </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 20px; line-height: normal;">Immigrants?</span></strong><br />
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<strong>Did you know that some employees in the Champaign-Urbana area hire immigrants and refuse to pay them for much of their labor?</strong> Imagine immigrating to a new country, working for a long period, and, then, not being paid for months of your work. Frightened by the fear of being deported in response to reporting the incidents, many immigrant workers do not know where to turn to for help.</div>
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This is the plight of many. <strong>This is wage theft.</strong></div>
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<span style="line-height: normal;">In response to calls that CU Immigration Forum has received about local wage theft, the organization held a forum on September 12th at the University YMCA. During the event, Chicago labor and civil rights lawyer Sean Morales-Doyle and a member of the Department of Labor discussed wage theft issues affecting immigrants and undocumented populations and what can be done to confront these issues. An audio file recording of the discussion is included in this email.</span></div>
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Missed the forum? Check out the recording on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DfuxNcF-Ik&feature=youtu.be">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DfuxNcF-Ik&feature=youtu.be</a></div>
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<strong>Currently, CU Immigration Forum is forming a working group </strong>consisting of community members, undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and clergy leaders to address these local wage theft incidents. </div>
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<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><br /><strong><span style="color: #333333;">If you are interested in joining this group, please email us at</span><a href="mailto:info@cuimmigrationforum.org"> <span style="color: blue;">info@cuimmmigrationforum.org</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">. </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: normal;"><strong>No prior experience working on immigrant rights issues is necessary.</strong> All are invited to join this group of the CU Immigration Forum community. </span></div>
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Questions? Please email <a href="mailto:info@cuimmigrationforum.org">info@cuimmigrationforum.org.</a></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-70153641188132045082016-09-12T14:38:00.004-06:002016-12-20T00:10:09.896-06:00 CU Immigration Forum Announces the 2016 recipients of the 3rd Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards<h2>
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<b>CU Immigration Forum Finalizes the 2016 recipients of the</b></div>
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<b>3rd Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards</b></div>
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Coverage: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT_XoAAHMc4&feature=autoshare">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT_XoAAHMc4&feature=autoshare</a><br />
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The CU Immigration Forum is pleased to announce the 2016 recipients of the 3rd Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards. This year's award ceremony and celebration will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2016 from 1pm-4pm at the Urbana Free Library (in Lewis Auditorium), 210 W. Green Street in Urbana, Illinois. <br />
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Come celebrate the diversity of cultures that make up our community with an afternoon of music, food and art projects for children and special guests. This is a Welcoming Week event, part of a national week that brings together immigrants and U.S. born residents in a spirit of unity. We will also recognize the winners of the Immigrant Friendly Awards which are given to individuals and organizations that have created a welcoming atmosphere for immigrants in Champaign County. This year's winners include Cristina Lucio, Namsoo Hyong, Ahh Ha Ho, World Harvest International Food, Avicenna Community Health Center, and Urbana School District 116's Bilingual and Multicultural Program. Below you will find more information about this year's award recipients. <br />
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“We believe Champaign-Urbana is strongest when everyone feels welcome and neighbors work together to make our community an even better place to live,” said Megan Flowers, Secretary Officer of the CU Immigration Forum. “We participate in Welcoming Week to honor the many contributions immigrants have made to Champaign-Urbana and to celebrate the values that unite us for a more vibrant, cohesive community.”<br />
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“These celebrations are part of a powerful and growing movement in our country and around the world,” said David Lubell, founder and executive director of Welcoming America. “Communities recognize that they are more vibrant and prosperous when everyone feels welcomed and can fully participate. In events across the world this week, new and long-time residents are building bridges and make their communities stronger.” <br />
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This event is free and open to all. There will be activities for children throughout the afternoon. This event is cosponsored by CU Immigration Forum, University YMCA, City of Urbana, City of Champaign, Welcoming America, Champaign Public Library, and Urbana Free Library.<br />
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Program Schedule:<br />
1pm-2pm: Get the Facts on Immigrants in Champaign County (a workshop for anyone interested in learning more) with Susan Ogwal<br />
2pm-2:30pm: Socializing and refreshments<br />
2:30pm-4pm: Awards Ceremony and musical performances by La Voz Universal (Mayan) and by a Congolese group.<br />
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The 2016 Immigrant Welcome Award Recipients:<br />
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Student Leadership Award: A student who has shown promise as an important leader in immigration issues, locally or beyond.<br />
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Cristina Lucio: For the past two summers Cristina Lucio has interned full time in Tucson, Arizona at the Colibrí Center for Human Rights, a family advocacy organization working to end migrant death and related suffering on the US-Mexico border. She documented missing persons reports through phone interviews and helped organize Colibrí's DNA program initiative. Along with immigrant rights activists, she actively participated in community organization meetings, political demonstrations, dropping off gallons of water in the Tucson desert in hopes that migrants would find them, and other volunteer opportunities all related to immigrant rights and racial justice. Locally, as the undergraduate intern of the Anthropology Department for the past two years, Cristina made it a priority to organize events meant to center and discuss sociopolitical issues that are often undermined on the UIUC campus, including Central American and Mexican migration and US immigration policies. Her senior research work also contributes to critical anthropological analysis of US-Mexico border issues. During spring 2016 she was part of a group of undergrads conducting ethnographical research on immigrant detention in the Midwest, in which we presented at the Ethnography of the University Initiative Student Conference.<br />
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Distinguished Service Award: An individual who has demonstrated long-term commitment to the local immigrant community.<br />
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Namsoo Hyong - Master Namsoo Hyong has been an active member in the community since 1980. He migrated to Champaign from Korea with very little knowledge of the culture and language to continue his brother's Taekwondo academy. Together, they created a system of non-competitive martial arts that is inclusive of all regardless of race, gender or age. He was also an active member of the Savoy Rotary Club and helped with community projects in the surrounding area. He plays a key role in the Korean Student Association by introducing them to the American culture through socialization with the diverse group of students in his academy. He is also the president of American Intangible Cultural Heritage, which seeks to document culturally significant activities and educate others.<br />
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Leadership Award: An individual who has been a strong leader in the immigrant community.<br />
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Anh Ha Ho - Ha Ho is the co-director of East Central Illinois Refugee Mutual Assistance Center. Ha Ho has been a vital support to refugees and immigrants in Central Illinois for decades. Though she has served in many roles in our community, her most important contribution hasbeen as the co-director of the East Central Illinois Refugee Mutual Assistance Center. Her co-director Deb Hlavna has said, “It’s incredible how much she plugs herself into the community, both in her work and in her volunteer work. She has such incredible passion for people." * Ha Ho’s work at ECIRMAC is very demanding. Because it is a financially-challenged multi-service organization, Ha Ho has often had to serve above and beyond in many different roles – as social worker, translator, transportation provider, medical advocate, parenting advisor and even as consultant on how to obtain housing, education or basic necessities. <br />
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In addition to leadership at ECIRMAC, Ha Ho has also been a French teacher at Martin Luther King Elementary School, a translator at Carle Foundation Hospital, and a volunteer translator at Presence Covenant Medical Center and Christie Clinic. She also served as a Board member for the Urbana Free Library. It would be impossible to count the many lives that she has touched, and the many families she has helped through her work. Ha Ho’s own life prepared her for the challenge of serving others. She herself is a former refugee, born in Vietnam, and forced to face war and to flee her own country.<br />
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She understands first-hand the experience of living as an outsider and struggling to adjust to an unfamiliar culture. In addition to this profound affinity for others, Ha Ho brings an amazing facility with languages – fluency in English, Vietnamese, French and conversational ability in Spanish and German. “I know what it’s like to feel out of place and to just want to feel acceptance,” she has said. “I want to give people the help that I wish I had when I first moved here.” She brings her experience in a very personal way to all she serves tirelessly with enthusiasm and a smile.<br />
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Business Leadership Award: An immigrant owned business that contributes to the local economic development of CU or to the immigrant community through advocacy, donations or in-kind services.<br />
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World Harvest International Food (Mohammad Al-Heeti) - Mohammad Al-Heeti is a businessman who incorporates community as part of his business mission as stated on the website of one of his stores: "Our commitment to excellence extends beyond our store’s shelves. We understand the importance of a strong community, and we are dedicated to helping. We have worked to raise money for local schools, and given to causes promoting cultural understanding; disaster relief; as well as other causes important to our customers and staff." I know from personal experience, he generously donates both money and in-kind support to a wide variety of non-profits in our community. His personal engagement as a citizen is a model for all businesses. World Harvest was recognized for its role in the community in 2008, when it received the Champaign-Urbana International Humanitarian Award in Trade and Business!<br />
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Community Organization Award: A non-profit or community based organization, which demonstrates exceptional commitment to serving and advocating for local immigrants.<br />
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Avicenna Community Health Center - As an interfaith and multicultural not for profit organization, Avicenna Community Health Center helps the uninsured and under-insured, which include those of immigrant status, with medical and social service needs. It's mission is to provide health care for the uninsured and under insured, engage in preventative health care through community health screenings, and promote health awareness through education and information dissemination. Since it's opening in 2009, Avicenna not only helps the community as a whole but also educates through their volunteer program. They have helped many from other countries of origin to receive medical services and connect them with other service providers and cultural communities in the CU area. These volunteers dedicate their Sunday, every week, to assist in keeping those in the community happy and healthy. Those served at the clinic include people from the Congolese, Hispanic, Iranian, Arabian, Indian, and other cultural communities. Avicenna takes great care in making sure no one is left behind that need health services.<br />
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Institutional Award: Local government or other large community institution, which has made significant changes to better serve the growing immigrant population.<br />
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Urbana School District 116, Bilingual & Multicultural Programs - This award recognizes Urbana School District # 116 (USD 116) for its work with immigrant students and their parents.<br />
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We particularly lift up the work of the Bilingual and Bicultural Programs under the leadership of Joseph Wiemelt, Director, and Guadalupe Ricconi, assistant director of Equity and Student Learning; Bilingual and Multicultural Programs, and Lucia Maldonado, Latino Parent Liaison. Our commendation extends to all the teachers and staff working with immigrant families. We commend the leadership of Superintendent Donald Owen and the commitment of USD 116 Board of Education.<br />
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Support for new English learners extends from early childhood education, ages 3-5 through high school. On average there are about 750 students who speak a language other than English and 10% of all students in USD 116 are English Language Learners (ELLs). There are 46 different languages represented in the student population. Recognizing that the world truly comes to Urbana School District 116, the School Board voted unanimously to adopt a dual language immersion program. The program includes two groups in each classroom of approximately equal numbers of native speakers and Spanish speakers. Students spend part of the day learning in their native language and the other part of the day learning in their new language. Dual language students outperform their peers and because dual language students interact across cultures, both students and their families develop friendships overcoming barriers not only of language, but also barriers of race and class.<br />
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###Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-86371563668511510562016-08-08T14:21:00.000-06:002016-08-08T14:21:02.933-06:00Now Seeking Nominations For The 3rd Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards <div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="il">Press</span> <span class="il">Release</span>/PSA</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Immediate <span class="il">Release</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">August 3, 2016</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For media inquiries, contact:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Megan Flowers, <i>Secretary Officer for the CU Immigration Forum </i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="tel:%5B251-209-2615" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+12512092615">[251-209-2615</a>; </span><a href="mailto:info@cuimmigrationforum.org" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">info@cuimmigrationforum.org</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">] </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>CU Immigration Forum Now Seeking <span class="il">Nominations</span> For</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The 3rd Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards </b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MElehSyskqk/V6jpqfuxEQI/AAAAAAAABuQ/u0cVYuHPSN8vLgSMO5PZCgMkYF_cb9rLwCLcB/s1600/12038028_1203361913026747_7635160523830377510_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MElehSyskqk/V6jpqfuxEQI/AAAAAAAABuQ/u0cVYuHPSN8vLgSMO5PZCgMkYF_cb9rLwCLcB/s320/12038028_1203361913026747_7635160523830377510_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The CU Immigration Forum is currently accepting <span class="il">nominations</span> from the general public in consideration of the individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions, taken risks, and have provided leadership for the wellbeing and success of immigrants in Champaign County. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">The CU Immigration Forum will accept <span class="il">nominations</span> for the following award categories through August 22, 2016. After the <span class="il">nominations</span> have closed, a specially formed committee will select the award winners. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">The award recipients will be officially recognized at the 3rd Annual Immigrant Friendly Awards Ceremony & Celebration on the afternoon of Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the Urbana Free Library, 210 E. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois. A finalized program is to be announced. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To <span class="il">nominate</span>, please fill out the short <span class="il">nominations</span> forum using the following link: </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/a/universityymca.org/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelZ4DCPF0NRlzJ9Jxe1HXGr8uCBOYTvQmGJidJXzsCLnCV1A/viewform" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://docs.google.com/a/<wbr></wbr>universityymca.org/forms/d/e/<wbr></wbr>1FAIpQLSelZ4DCPF0NRlzJ9Jxe1HXG<wbr></wbr>r8uCBOYTvQmGJidJXzsCLnCV1A/<wbr></wbr>viewform</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The following categories of distinguished recognition include:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Distinguished Service Award</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – An individual who has demonstrated long-term commitment to the local immigrant community</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Leadership Award </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– An individual who has been a strong leader in the immigrant community</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Student Leadership Award</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - A student who has shown promise as an important leader in immigration issues, locally or beyond</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Community Organization Award</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – A Nonprofit or community-based organization, which demonstrates exceptional commitment to serving and advocating for local immigrants</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Institutional Award</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Local government or other large community institution, which has made significant changes in response to the growing immigrant population</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Business Leadership Award (Any business)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - A business that contributes to the local immigrant community through advocacy, donations or in-kind services</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Business Leadership Award (An Immigrant Owned Business)-</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A business that contributes to the local immigrant community through advocacy, donations or in-kind services and/or a locally owned immigrant owned business that has contributed to the local economic development of CU</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This event is part of <a href="https://www.welcomingamerica.org/programs/welcoming-week" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Welcoming Week </a>(September 16-25), a national week of events that works to bring communities bring together, immigrants and U.S.-born residents, in a spirit of unity and to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone – including new Americans. In the Fall of 2015, the cities of Champaign and Urbana have signed a joint proclamation last year declaring September 24 officially Immigrant Welcome Awards Day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">The CU Immigration Forum is proud to recognize and celebrate the contributions of individuals and organizations that have created a welcoming atmosphere for immigrants in Champaign County. For more information about the event including past award recipients, visit: </span><a href="http://www.cuimmigrationforum.org/" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 17.94px; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.cuimmigrationforum.org</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">. </span></span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-12130089205733261452016-06-23T14:55:00.003-06:002016-06-23T15:52:26.704-06:00CU Immigration Forum Statement: SCOTUS Ruling Defers the Dream for Millions of Immigrants<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Press Release</b><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">For Immediate Release</i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">June 23, 2016</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">For media inquiries, contact: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Ricardo Diaz, CU Immigration Forum</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Phone: </span><a href="tel:217-979-0255" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank" value="+12179790255">217-979-0255</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Email: </span><a href="mailto:info@cuimmigrationforum.org" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">info@cuimmigrationforum.org</a><br />
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SCOTUS Ruling Defers the Dream</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">for Millions of Immigrants</span></h2>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The CU Immigration Forum expresses its regret over today’s Supreme Court’s decision in U.S. v. Texas. The court has, in a 4-4 ruling, deferred the implementation of President Obama’s initiatives of expanded DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans). In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, the CU Immigration Forum still encourages all immigrants looking for an immigration remedy to schedule a legal consultation with The Immigration Project, a non-profit immigration law firm based in Normal, Illinois with an office in Champaign, Illinois. The Immigration Project’s four licensed immigration attorneys screen immigrants for other forms of immigration relief.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The Immigration Project and the CU Immigration Forum are hosting an informational meeting on Thursday, June 30, 2016 starting at 5:30pm at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in the fellowship hall (downstairs) at 2200 Philo Road in Urbana, Illinois. Immigrants that are interested in learning about the next steps after the Supreme Court’s decision are encouraged to attend. Free additional parking is available behind the church. For more information about the meeting, contact the CU Immigration Forum at </span><a href="tel:217-417-5897" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank" value="+12174175897">217-417-5897</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Additionally, the CU Immigration Forum and The Immigration Project want to remind the public that the original DACA program from 2012 is still in effect. It provides the legal permission to work to residents who were brought to the U.S. while under the age of 16, have resided in the U.S. since 2007, were not over the age of 31 on June 15, 2012, and have pursued a form of higher education. We encourage all those who meet the requirements to come to the meeting to set up appointments to begin the application process while the 2012 DACA program is still in effect.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"The fight is not over. The Immigration Forum intends to press our elected officials for definitive legislation that will deal once and for all with this country’s longstanding immigration problems," says Tom Garza, President of the CU Immigration Forum. "Until that comes to pass, we will continue to stand with these hard working Immigrant Americans as they struggle with living their lives in the shadows, and join them in their hope for a brighter day when they will be recognized as the full partners in our communities that they have long been."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">“These programs had the ability to positively impact the lives of roughly 4.3 million U.S. citizen children,” explains the Executive Director of the Immigration Project, Jasmine McGee. “Now immigrant families remain in limbo – unauthorized to work legally but unable to leave their children alone in the U.S. Studies show that a U.S. citizen child growing up in a household with an undocumented parent faces increased stress from the fear of having a parent deported. In addition these children live in families with lower incomes, inferior housing, and are less likely to take advantage of community services.”</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">In November 2014, President Obama proposed programs that would provide the legal permission to work and protection from deportation for the parents of U.S. Citizen and lawful permanent resident children. These executive actions expanded the existing DACA from 2012 and created DAPA. Shortly after its introduction, some state governors came forward with a lawsuit and delayed the implementation of these programs. Since then, an estimated 5 million immigrants have been hoping for the start of these programs, but today their dreams for financial and emotional security for their families have been again deferred.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">President Obama’s deferred action had the potential to drastically impact the well being of thousands of families in central and southern Illinois. Reports have show that families with an undocumented parent could see a 10% increase in annual income. Furthermore, according to the Center of American Progress, these two immigration programs could have lead to the creation of almost 2,000 new jobs in Illinois and an almost $8 billion increase in cumulative income of all state residents over the next decade. Additionally, the American Immigration Council has estimated that with these programs, Illinois stood to receive an additional $347 million in tax revenue over the next five years.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">In Illinois, there are an estimated 519,000 residents who are undocumented, with a portion living in Champaign County, Illinois. The majority of the undocumented population eligible for DAPA in Central and Southern Illinois have strong roots, strong family ties, and have been residing for more than ten years in the U.S.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The programs considered today by the Supreme Court were meant to alleviate immigrant families from deportation temporarily. The Supreme Court decision should impel Congress to stop putting politics over people and to enact Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Local residents who want to take action should call Congressman Rodney Davis at </span><a href="tel:202.225.2371" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank" value="+12022252371">202.225.2371</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> and tell him to support a just and humane immigration bill.</span><br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-26031025011868327712016-05-11T09:17:00.002-06:002016-05-11T09:36:43.565-06:00April 2016 Working Group Summaries<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">APRIL 2016 Working Group Summaries</span></div>
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<span style="color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Secure Communities 2.0 Working Group </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On April 26, 2016, S.Comms 2.0 had a meeting with ICE representatives to officially record straight from the source what ICE procedures look like, to learn some of the organizational workings of ICE and on sharing grievances of community members. Where do you go to pick people up? Do you pick up unaccompanied minors? How do we report abuses? These are some of the questions we asked. At the May 2016 Forum, a member of the working group will talk with the public about the local ICE meeting and present about facts about ICE, nationally and locally. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Immigrant Friendly Communities Working Group</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Several members of the Friendlies working group attended the Welcoming America’s Welcoming Interactive Conference from April 19 through the 21st. We made some great connections and are looking forward to convening soon to talk about what we took away from the conference and start thinking about a timeline for planning Welcoming Week. We will also receive an invitation to attend an interagency retreat slated for June 11, 2016, which is organized by Latino Partnership of Champaign County in partnership with CU Immigration Forum. We plan to meet at the beginning of the summer to continue the work that we would like to be funded next year by the Gateways for Growth grant. We will plan to meet at the beginning of the summer to move forward with building and implementing welcoming strategies locally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unaccompanied Minors Working Group</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Challenges continue with difficulty in gathering information and coordinating social services for unaccompanied minors to get health care, receive food during school breaks and concern expressed with summer approaching. We have recently decided to start setting aside a time that works for the students to meet during school lunch and study hall once a month to assist students with ongoing casework. We still need volunteers to assist with driving students to Chicago. We also need to find reliable and honest Q'anjob'al translators. We have verified that immigration court does not provide translators for Asylum court/interviews so all of the students applying for asylum will need to hire a translator for their interview.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IF Student & Volunteer Group</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The IF Student & Volunteer group is planning another KYR workshop to take place in Champaign at the end of June 2016. The Children's Orpheum is willing to provide private space at that time. Once we have the date set we will start outreach activities. We will be building upon the workshop by following up with the families at the two workshops to provide an opportunity to survey and outline patterns of issues that families discuss. We will also identify and reach out to gatekeepers to build relationships and identify issues. This will lay the groundwork to organize communities in fighting ICE raids and mapping out concerns that will greatly inform establishing and implementing welcoming strategies locally.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px;">If you are interested in joining a working group of the CU Immigration Forum, please contact us at </span><a href="http://info@cuimmigrationforum.org./" style="color: #771100; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; text-decoration: none;">info@cuimmigrationforum.org</a> or send us a message on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CUImmigrationForum/">Facebook.</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px;"> The CU Immigration Forum also hosts monthly forums on the second Tuesday of every month at 5:00pm at the University YMCA. ALL are welcome to attend. </span></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-18517602532418565752016-05-11T09:15:00.002-06:002016-05-11T09:37:16.060-06:00March 2016 Working Group Summaries <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Secure Communities 2.0 Working Group</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The S-Comm 2.0 group this past week had a visit from Virginia Raymond, an attorney in Austin, TX working in detention centers. This was part of a project with U of I students organized by Gilberto Rosas and Kora Maldonado. Alli and a few volunteers spoke with workers at the hog plant in Rantoul, several of them described incidents of ICE forcing themselves into homes early in the morning, sometimes at the wrong address, and searching through rooms, including children's rooms. We're trying to set up a meeting with ICE that will probably be in late April.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Immigrant Friendly Communities Working Group</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The group has been incorporating the more than one story card game at the beginning of each monthly forum and encouraging structures that support discussion and dialogue at these forums. Several members of the Friendlies working group will be attending Welcoming America’s Welcoming Interactive Conference from April 19 through the 21st. We look forward to bringing back new connections, strategies and tactics to move the work forward. We will also receive an invitation to attend an interagency retreat slated for June 11, 2016, which is organized by Latino Partnership of Champaign County in partnership with CU Immigration Forum. We plan to meet at the beginning of the summer to continue the work that we would like to be funded next year by the Gateways for Growth grant. We will plan to meet at the beginning of the summer to move forward with building and implementing welcoming strategies locally. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unaccompanied Minors Working Group</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Unaccompanied Minors Working Group has been working hard to assist unaccompanied students with legal representation, transportation to court hearings in Chicago, to connect students to community services. This past month, Alli and Lucia have taken students to Chicago several times. Challenges continue with difficulty in gathering information and coordinating social services for unaccompanied minors to get health care, receive food during school breaks and concern expressed with summer approaching. We have made a connection with a pro bono attorney to assist in establishing guardianship, so that students receive better coordination of services. The issue is largely handing over the responsibilities of sponsors who neglect student needs. We’ve also coordinated volunteers from La Linea to resource map legal firms who specialize in asylum and deportation defense. The group continues to work with Immigration Project for students to receive initial consultations for possible representation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IF Student & Volunteer Group</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This working group has been collaborating with the Secure Communities 2.0 working group to help promote and organize the Know Your Rights workshop held in Rantoul this past month. The student/volunteer group met to organize the KYR workshop, coordinate volunteers, and reach out to families about the workshop. We will be building upon the workshop by following up with the families at the two workshops to provide an opportunity to survey and outline patterns of issues that families discuss. We will also identify and reach out to gatekeepers to build relationships and identify issues. This will lay the groundwork to organize communities in fighting ICE raids and mapping out concerns that will greatly inform establishing and implementing welcoming strategies locally. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are interested in joining a working group of the CU Immigration Forum, please contact us at <a href="http://info@cuimmigrationforum.org./">info@cuimmigrationforum.org</a> or send us a message on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CUImmigrationForum/">Facebook.</a> The CU Immigration Forum also hosts monthly forums on the second Tuesday of every month at 5:00pm at the University YMCA. ALL are welcome to attend. </span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-89749964122299679512016-04-21T11:53:00.002-06:002016-04-21T11:53:40.601-06:00Statement Against Racist Backlash on the UIUC campus <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As
an organization dedicated to creating a community that is more
inclusive and immigrant friendly, the CU Immigration Forum would like
to take this opportunity to condemn the provocative chalk writings
that have been appearing around the campus recently, and their
blatantly anti-feminist, Muslim, Black, and Latin@ sentiments, as
well as the racist Facebook group which also surfaced around the same
time.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As
its name suggests, the CU Immigration Forum was created with a belief
that dialogue is key to fostering communication and building ties
within the community. Only through sharing our stories and creating a
positive atmosphere for interaction do we create the potential for
understanding one another, and so a belief in the power of speech and
an open exchange of thoughts and ideas is a foundational aspect of
our organization.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These
writings however, pervert this process and use speech as a weapon.
Their intent is to assault, and violence does not build, it only
destroys, so it is the violent intent of the words that were chosen
and the placement of those messages that we wish to condemn in the
strongest possible terms. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We
at the CU Immigration Forum believe that our community is at its best
when we stand, work, and dream together, and we therefore join with
the many other campus and community organizations who categorically
reject these crude attempts at exclusion and intimidation.</span></span></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-55691219529862670082016-02-14T17:07:00.003-06:002016-02-14T17:07:58.850-06:00Move For The Movement! Fundraiser To Support IF<h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 20pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 26.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MOVE FOR THE MOVEMENT</span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dine & Dance to Support the CU Immigration Forum </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uiwv54v6pMQ/VsEIKgYCfdI/AAAAAAAABcY/sx6LwEwTBvg/s1600/12716320_1288863354476602_6520013541617171053_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uiwv54v6pMQ/VsEIKgYCfdI/AAAAAAAABcY/sx6LwEwTBvg/s320/12716320_1288863354476602_6520013541617171053_o.jpg" width="249" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[ February 27, 2016] </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CU Immigration Forum (IF) invites you to come out and dance or learn how in support of their work in the community on Saturday, February 27</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7.999999999999999px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at the University YMCA. Attendees will enjoy an afternoon of Salsa, Bachata, and Cumbia dance instruction led by local professional Latin dance instructors, Shawn Mendez and Uli Ayala. Catered lunch will be served. 100% of the proceeds support IF’s initiative of promoting permanent and positive changes that will improve the quality of life for immigrants in our community.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The CU Immigration Forum </b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is a community non-profit organization of immigrants, clergy, service providers, labor and business representatives, students, residents and community groups concerned about the progress of immigrants in Champaign County. Your generous contributions will directly support our grassroots organization that serves local immigrant communities and advocates for just and humane treatment of all immigrants. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Tickets are on sale now</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for $45 or $30 for students by online reservation or in person at the University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright Street in Champaign, IL. Please make checks payable to “CU Immigration Forum.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To purchase a ticket online, please click this link to view the reservation form: </span><a href="https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/YMCAoftheUniversityofIlli/IF-FUNDRAISER.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/YMCAoftheUniversityofIlli/IF-FUNDRAISER.html</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Can’t make it to the event, but would like to support?</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You may donate to the CU Immigration Forum, by following this link to IF’s secure online donation form: </span><a href="http://immigration-forum.blogspot.com/p/support.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://immigration-forum.blogspot.com/p/support.html</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The CU Immigration Forum is a registered 501(c)3 organization. Your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by the law.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The event will take place at the University YMCA in the K Rooms (downstairs), located at 1001 S. Wright Street, Champaign, Illinois on the University of Illinois campus.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Program:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The Move for the Movement fundraiser for the CU Immigration Forum will begin with catered lunch at 1:00pm followed by Salsa dance instruction from 2:00pm to 3:00pm, and closing with Bachata and Cumbia dance instruction from 3:30pm to 5:00pm. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook Event: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/428435224017386" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.facebook.com/events/428435224017386</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flyer (PDF): </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzNZGcWYUaaCUzNOTmZBbmxpeUhzakh3OHZWOHJMM0tBTHFR/view?usp=sharing" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzNZGcWYUaaCUzNOTmZBbmxpeUhzakh3OHZWOHJMM0tBTHFR/view?usp=sharing</span></a></div>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-88506302613771528062015-12-02T21:06:00.001-06:002015-12-02T21:06:12.800-06:00Apoyando Sabino, Supporting Sabino <br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7i7a7QokZRM/Vl-wUjBbIVI/AAAAAAAAAC0/LK2-RANEoG4/s1600/sabino%2By%2Bfamilia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7i7a7QokZRM/Vl-wUjBbIVI/AAAAAAAAAC0/LK2-RANEoG4/s400/sabino%2By%2Bfamilia.JPG" width="223" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">Please consider helping, Sabino Vazquez, a wonderful </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">wonderful member of our CU community during his battle with cancer. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">Por favor considere ayudar, Sabino Vazquez, un miembro mavavilloso de nuestra comunidad durante su batalla con c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">áncer. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;"><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/SaveSabino">https://www.gofundme.com/SaveSabino</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">Sabino Vazquez, 40 years old, the husband of Maura and father of 5 children was diagnosed with colon cancer 3 years ago. Sabino was born in Atoyac Guerrero, Mexico and came to the United States over 16 years ago. He travelled alongside his wife Maura and their 3 children. The couple had 2 more children in Champaign and their youngest is 8 years old. </span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">Sabino has been receiving medical treatment, but unfortunately the cancer has spread to his lungs. The health services at Carle are covered under the Community Care Program, but his medicine is not. The Vazquez family spends over $1,000 a month on his medicine and other needs that are not covered by Carle. The family holds onto hope as they search for cancer treatments that can cure Sabino's health. </span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">If you personally know Sabino, you understand and love his cheerful energy, optimism, and friendliness toward everyone. He strives to provide the best for his family. The cancer has certainly been a great test for Sabino and his family, but they continue to fight every day. </span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">We are asking our community, friends, and family to help and provide support to Sabino's family during this hardship. All of the proceeds will immediately pay for Sabino's medicine and cancer treatments. His treatments require daily expenses that are not covered. Your support for Sabino will relieve pain and help maintain the faith of his family while they still search for treatments that can save him. We are so grateful for your support and love for Sabino and his family. Thank you. </span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">Sabino Vázquez, hombre Mexicano de 40 años de edad, casado con Maura y padre de cinco hijos fue diagnosticado con cáncer de colon hace 3 años. Sabino es originario de Atoyac Guerrero y emigro a los Estados Unidos hace 16 años con su esposa y tres de sus hijos. Ya en Estados Unidos ellos tuvieron dos hijos mas, el mas pequeño tiene 8 años de edad. </span><br />
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">Desde que recibió el primer diagnostico de cáncer hace 3 años, Sabino ha estado recibiendo tratamiento medico pero desafortunadamente el cáncer se ha expandido a sus pulmones. Los servicios médicos que Sabino esta recibiendo ahora en Carle están cubiertos por el plan comunitario del hospital pero la familia de Sabino debe pagar todos los medicamentos. La familia esta gastando cerca de $1,000 mensuales entre gastos de medicamento y buscando otros métodos alternativos que les ayuden a mantener la esperanza de una curación.</span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">Quienes lo conocen saben que Sabino es un hombre muy alegre, optimista y muy amigable aparte de ser un hombre muy trabajador quien siempre esta luchando por darle lo mejor a su familia. Esta enfermedad sin duda ha sido una gran prueba para Sabino y su familia pero el sigue luchando cada día contra ella. </span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">La familia de Sabino esta pidiendo ayuda y apoyo a nuestra comunidad, amigos y familiares. Todas las donaciones irán directamente para ayudar a Sabino con su tratamiento. Sabino esta sufriendo de dolores muy fuertes y la medicina para controlarle el dolor es muy necesaria. Su apoyo aliviara el dolor de Sabino y ayudara a mantener la fe de su familia mientras siguen buscando algún método o tratamiento que pueda salvarlo. Les agradecemos infinitamente su apoyo y amor hacia Sabino y su familia.</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-60947450477253602902015-12-01T11:40:00.001-06:002015-12-01T11:41:27.727-06:00#GivingTuesday #ILGIVE National Day of Giving <span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Join the celebration of generosity by participating in </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/givingtuesday?source=feed_text&story_id=1243493599013578" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl" style="color: #627aad;">#</span><span class="_58cm">GivingTuesday</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"></span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/ilgive?source=feed_text&story_id=1243493599013578" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl" style="color: #627aad;">#</span><span class="_58cm">ILGIVE</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> and donate to CU Immigration Forum! Today community leaders, nonprofits, businesses, donors, families, and foundations around the world give back on the national day of giving Tuesday, December 1st. Thank you all for your continued support. We are so excited to announce our 501c3 community nonprofit status last month and grow with our community! Please click on our "support" page if you wish to donate: </span><a href="http://immigration-forum.blogspot.com/p/support.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://immigration-forum.blogspot.com/p/support.html</a><br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-898048500556603353.post-87203226177338972882015-11-08T11:41:00.000-06:002015-11-08T11:41:24.304-06:00Clothing / $ Drive for Students in CU -- from Guatemala<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The CU Immigration Forum is hosting a clothing drive for students from Guatemala who are in Champaign-Urbana alone. In 2014, over 68,000 children from Central America crossed the US Mexico border alone. Several of these children are here in our community. The students in Urbana left Guatemala to escape poverty, violence, and crime. They live independently and support themselves and have to pay for expensive legal representation to support their asylum cases. We hope to provide warm clothes for the upcoming winter months. </span></div>
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We are collecting winter coats, winter boots, hats, gloves, scarves, and sweaters. Sizes ranging from small and medium adult shirts, medium jackets, 28-30 pants, and 7-8 shoes. Also one younger child who is size 12 pants, medium children's jacket & shirts, and size 5 shoes. </div>
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You can drop off clothes at 1001 S. Wright St. in Champaign, IL from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_11105336" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">9am-8pm</span></span> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_11105337" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Nov. 7th - Nov. 14th</span></span>. If you wish to donate money please click on our "support" tab on our website. Thank you so much for your support! </div>
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Facebook event: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/846762368764592/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.<wbr></wbr>com/events/846762368764592/</a></div>
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Donation page: <a href="http://immigration-forum.blogspot.com/p/support.html" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.76px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://<span style="display: inline-block;"></span>immigration-<wbr></wbr>forum.blogspot.<span style="display: inline-block;"></span>com/p/support.<wbr></wbr>html</a></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com