2019 Immigrant Welcome Award Recipients Announced

 

Press Release

 

For Immediate Release

September 11, 2019 

 

For media inquiries, contact: Ricardo Diaz,

(217-979-0255  diazr@cuimmigrationforum.org)

Congratulations to the 2019 Recipients of the Immigrant Welcome Awards!

 

 

(Urbana/Champaign, Illinois) The sponsors of the 6th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards are proud to announce the recipients of this year's awards. The 2019 Immigrant Welcome Award recipients are: ·          ·        Business Leadership Award – Ruth Wyman Law Office ·        Community Impact Award – Bend the Arc: Champaign-Urbana, Dr. Annie Abbott ·        Distinguished Leadership Service Awards – Claire Szoke ·        Leadership Awards – Guadalupe Abreu ·        Student Leadership Award – Susan Ogwal         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.   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.   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.   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.   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.   Media Contacts: Ricardo Diaz – CU Immigration Forum – 217-979-0255 Rachel Joy | Community Relations Manager/Compliance Officer, City of Champaign – 217-403-8830 Carol Inskeep – Urbana Free Library – 217-367-4405 Follow the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/501857677312437/ ###
	The 6th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards Saturday, September 21, 2017 from 3pm-5pm  Urbana Free Library, Lewis Auditorium 210 W Green Street, Urbana 61801   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.   The 2019 Recipients of the 6th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards:   Business Leadership Award - 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 2019 Winner: Ruth Wyman Law Office , Ruth Wyman, owner 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.   Community Impact Award - 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. 2019 Winners:  Bend the Arc: Champaign-Urbana & Ann Abbott (two winners) 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.  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 ECIRMAC (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.    Leadership Award - An individual who has been a strong leader of the immigrant community 2019 Winner: Guadalupe Abreu 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.    Student Leadership Award - A student who has shown promise as a leader or demonstrated commitment to serving or working with immigrants or refugees, locally or abroad. 2019 Winner: Susan Ogwal 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.    Distinguished Leadership Service Award – An individual who made a significant contribution to making our community more welcoming to immigrants and refugees. 2019 Winner:  Claire Szoke 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.    Follow the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/501857677312437/

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Ricardo Diaz

diazr@cuimmigrationforum.org

cell: 217-979-0255

September 21 

Welcome! Awards

3-5 PM at the Urbana Public LIbrary 

FB Event to share: https://www.facebook.com/events/501857677312437/

Together, we shall resist, survive, and change the world to benefit all immigrants.

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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.

CUimmigrationforum.org

https://www.facebook.com/CUImmigrationForum

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2018 Immigrant Welcome Awards

2018 Welcome Awards Judges Summary

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 Saturday September 22 3:30 to 5:30 at the Urbana Public Library

RSVP at the FB event  

https://www.facebook.com/events/246730279380949/

Business Leadership Award - 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
2018 Winner: Diva Nails. Annie and Kevin Nguyen, owners

Community Impact Award - 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.
2018 Winner: Carle Community Care and Neighborhood Health programs. Accepting: Julianna S. Sellett, Vice President - Community Health Initiatives


Distinguished Leadership Service Award – An individual who made a significant contribution to making our community more welcoming to immigrants and refugees.
2018 Winners: Roaa Al-Heeti  and Mike Doyle

Leadership Award - An individual who has been a strong leader of the immigrant community
2018 Winners: Luis Cuza and Luzolo Jean Cesar Ntedika

Student Leadership Award - A student who has shown promise as a leader or demonstrated commitment to serving or working with immigrants or refugees, locally or abroad.
2018 Winner: Carmen Hernandez 

See News-Gazette coverage

Now Accepting Your Nominations for the 5th Annual Welcome Awards!

Now Accepting Your Nominations  for the 5th Annual Welcome Awards!

The Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum is hosting the 5th Annual Welcome Awards!  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. To view the award categories and to nominate, please fill this short form using the following link:   https://goo.gl/forms/rRMxtuUpIgCZSj3f2.  The CU Immigration Forum will accept your nominations through August 24, 2018. 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.  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. For more information about Welcoming Week, visit Welcoming America's website at: welcomingamerica.org/programs/welcoming-week/

Let your Voice be Heard in Unison for the DREAMers

For Immediate Release

January 18, 2018

Let your Voice be Heard in Unison

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.

Who is agreeing? All federal representatives for our county, Senator Durbin, Senator Duckworth, and Representative Davis agree that the young people affected should be helped ASAP.  

Who is affected? 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.

Here in Champaign County, 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.

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 was made; Senators Graham and Durbin are the leaders of a bipartisan ‘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.

Why now? 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.

We cannot place the lives of our young Dreamers hostage any longer. We also cannot shut down our government when so many lives will be at stake with loss of funding for other vulnerable populations.

Call 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.

Please call the office of Representative Rodney Davis and ask him to support legislation for the Dreamers.

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.    

How to do it?

To get connected, Click here http://bit.ly/2BJRmNh

You can reach US representatives by calling 202-225-3121, and US senators by calling 202-224-3121

Or you can get specific numbers at https://www.callmycongress.com/

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.

Champaign County Data Rep

 

Congratulations to the 2017 Recipients of the Immigrant Welcome Awards

Press Release/PSA

For Immediate Release

September 18, 2017 

For media inquiries, contact: Megan Flowers

[251-209-2615; megan@universityymca.org]

Congratulations to the 2017 Recipients of the Immigrant Welcome Awards! Join us for the ceremony an celebration this Saturday

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. 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.  The 4th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 2pm-4pm  Muslim American Society Center 2011 Brownfield Rd, Urbana 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. Program of Activities: Reception We Are More Than One Story  Performance Capoeira Angola Center of Mestre João Grande-Illinois Welcoming Remarks  Reading of the Welcoming Week Joint Proclamation Deborah Feinen, Mayor of Champaign Recognition of Partners  Recognition of Welcome Award Recipients  Student leadership Community impact Acknowledgement of the  Champaign International Connection City Human Rights award Community Impact Humanitarian Relief Distinguished Leadership Service The 2017 Recipients of the 4th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards: Student Leadership Award Nancy M. Ramirez Blancas 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. Humanitarian Relief Award Samuel Smith 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.  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. Distinguished Leadership Service Award Charles Larenas 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. 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. Community Impact Award The Education Justice Project (EJP)  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. Community Impact Award Immigration Project  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. Human Rights Award Karyl Wackerlin 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. Follow the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/277601329389639/

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The 2017 Immigrant Welcome Award Recipients Announced

Congratulations to the 2017 Recipients of the Immigrant Welcome Awards! Join us for the ceremony an celebration this Saturday

	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. 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.  The 4th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 2pm-4pm  Muslim American Society Center 2011 Brownfield Rd, Urbana 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. Program of Activities: Reception We Are More Than One Story  Performance Capoeira Angola Center of Mestre João Grande-Illinois Welcoming Remarks  Reading of the Welcoming Week Joint Proclamation Deborah Feinen, Mayor of Champaign Recognition of Partners  Recognition of Welcome Award Recipients  Student leadership Community impact Acknowledgement of the  Champaign International Connection City Human Rights award Community Impact Humanitarian Relief Distinguished Leadership Service The 2017 Recipients of the 4th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards: Student Leadership Award Nancy M. Ramirez Blancas 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. Humanitarian Relief Award Samuel Smith 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.  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. Distinguished Leadership Service Award Charles Larenas 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. 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. Community Impact Award The Education Justice Project (EJP)  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. Community Impact Award Immigration Project  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. Human Rights Award Karyl Wackerlin 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. Follow the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/277601329389639/