courtesy of http://www.brentwindsor.co.uk/

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.

-Scott Adams



IN THIS ISSUE:

• Amy's Ramblings
• ESL Update
• Tip of the Month
• Volunteer Spotlight
• March's Vignette
• Bits and Pieces

ESL Staff:

Amy White, ESL Program Coordinator
awhite@ccda.net, x235

Cindy Brown, Associate ESL Coordinator
cbrown@ccda.net, x239

Diana Gibson, Associate ESL Coordinator
dgibson@ccda.net, x231

Erin Maradiegue, Associate ESL Coordinator
emaradiegue@ccda.net, x251

Kristen Gasimov, Associate ESL Coordinator
kgasimov@ccda.net, x237

Sheila Sullivan, Associate ESL Coordinator
ssullivan@ccda.net, x238

Phil Spencer, Associate ESL Coordinator
pspencer@ccda.net, x243

Hogar Hispano
6201 Leesburg Pike
Suite 307
Falls Church, VA 22044
(T) 703-534-9805
(F) 703-534-9809
http://www.ccda.net/

If you would like to have this newsletter sent to a different e-mail address or if you would like to unsubscribe from the mailing list, please e-mail emaradiegue@ccda.net.

Amy's Ramblings

Greetings! It’s March! And we’ve sprung forward. (Some of us more quickly than others.) The following is just one of the reasons why I love the United States so much: according to Wikipedia, “The St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, Ireland is part of a five-day festival; over 500,000 people attended the 2006 parade. The largest St. Patrick's Day parade is held in New York City and it is watched by over 2 million spectators.” Thus, even though it’s not even technically our holiday, à la Cinco de Mayo, we still welcome the observance of other cultures’ holidays.

Hogar is very proud to introduce some very special volunteers in this issue of e-news. Instead of laying on a beach in some exotic country over spring break, 12 college students from the University of Florida decided to donate a week of their time to helping two non-profits in the DC area. I commend them for their sense of volunteerism and selflessness. If they represent the future of our country, I have newfound hope. A big thank you to all of them!

For those of you who have attended a training so far this year – it was GREAT to see you! It definitely shows dedication to your students in that you’re continually honing those teaching skills. For those of you who can’t wait to learn more about ESL, check out the remaining trainings below. Trainings are open to the public (for a non-Hogar Hispano volunteer, the cost is $15 per training).

We are so grateful for the time you give and would like to invite you to spend even more time with us! Ever thought about helping immigrants apply for their citizenship? Chances are, you’re thinking about it right now! It’s an extremely rewarding experience and our next Naturalization Workshop is being held on April 12th, 2008 at the Arlington Mill Community Center. Please email Cindy Brown at cbrown@ccda.net if you or someone you know is interested in volunteering.

Thank you, volunteers, supporters and friends of Hogar Hispano. You are the brightly colored eggs in my proverbial Easter basket.

Abrazos,

Amy White
ESL Program Coordinator

ESL Updates

Looking For A Summer Internship?
Hogar Hispano’s ESL program goal is to increase the community’s awareness of services provided and reach a more diverse group of immigrants. With that in mind, Hogar is seeking a currently enrolled college student for a two-month paid summer internship. The intern will be responsible for designing, implementing and managing an outreach strategy to recruit students and increase the ESL department’s visibility in the media, local businesses and parishes.

Qualifications include:

• Upcoming full time sophomore, junior, or senior student in Fall 2008 in Marketing, Communications, or related field
• Proficient in English and Spanish (speaking, reading and writing)
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Valid driver’s license
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Excellent interpersonal skills

To Apply: Send résumé and cover letter to Amy White, ESL Coordinator at awhite@ccda.net.

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Hogar's Spring 2008 Training Series
Don't wait! There are only two trainings remaining in Hogar's Spring Training Series. Sign up today! If you plan to attend, please RSVP with your name, teaching site, and contact information to Erin Maradiegue at emaradiegue@ccda.net.


Low-Prep Activities: Easy for you and enjoyable for students!
Trainers: Kristen Gasimov and Erin Maradiegue
Wednesday, April 9, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
All Saints Catholic Church, Manassas, Room 1
Have you ever forgotten about lesson planning until the last minute? Have you ever run out of things to do before class is over? Do you ever wonder if your students enjoy being in class and will return week after week? This training is full of ideas that require little-to-no preparation, but are still big hits in the classroom, including simple tried and true games that will keep your students coming back for more. You’ll leave equipped to teach interesting classes without slaving away on prep work.

Teaching A Multilevel Class
Trainers: Sheila Sullivan and Erin Maradiegue
Saturday, April 19, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Hogar Hispano Office, Falls Church
Whether you teach a beginner, intermediate or advanced class, there are always students of varying levels and abilities within a classroom. How do you meet the needs of all learners and keep everyone’s attention? In this training, discover how to identify your students’ goals as adult English learners and create an environment where everyone is engaged.

Tip of the Month

Taboo: The Hogar Edition
Everyone loves to use their power of reason to find the answer to a clue. This game works just like the familiar boxed game “Taboo”.

To begin, have students get into pairs. On a small piece of paper give a list of 7 words to each student. Each student must have a different list than his or her partner. Student A must describe the first word in the list without saying the word itself. For example, for the word “flood” one could say, “this happens when it rains a lot very quickly.” Student B may ask questions of their partner, but all conversation must be in English! Partners may take turns describing a word at a time until they have completed both lists. Make sure that students don’t show their lists to their partners! If you are using only two different lists of words in one lesson, you may want to create lists in random order so that one pair’s number 1 words are not the same as their neighbors’ number 1 words. This ensures that students are concentrating on their partner’s explanations instead of merely repeating the answers they hear being given by other students.

This game is versatile and can be used often just by changing the word lists. You could use familiar vocabulary that has been covered in a lesson, or you could choose a mix of old and new words that are all level appropriate. Including a few more difficult words gives students an opportunity to pick up new vocabulary or test the limits of what they already know. Tell students to look up unfamiliar words in their dictionary, or to ask you for an explanation of their meaning.

For an intermediate/high intermediate class a random sample of word lists might be:

A beginner class might be able to explain a list such as this:

Have fun!

Volunteer Spotlight

Marsden Harmon, or Mars as he is known to students and friends, is a cornerstone of the ESL program at St. Leo the Great. He teaches the intermediate class on Saturday mornings. You can’t miss his upbeat demeanor and his equally happy Hawaiian shirts. Mars sees teaching ESL as an opportunity to help people who are dedicated to learning and to help them improve their lives in this country.

Originally from Louisiana and a graduate of Louisiana State University, Mars brings three separate careers’ worth of experience to teaching. Mars taught at the Willston school (just across route 50 from Hogar’s main office) for 16 years. He was even nominated for a Teacher of the Year award there! Mars began teaching at St. Leo’s 4 years ago as an assistant, and then “graduated” to having his own class. Before that, he spent 27 years on active duty in the Army, retiring in 1983. He then went on to a second career working in home design centers such as Hechingers as a kitchen design specialist, retiring from that in 1999.

Mars ended up visiting many foreign countries through his tours of duty with the Army, getting to know cultures from all around the world. While overseas, he had the support of the US Government and its bases, but he was most impressed by the love, generosity and kindness that the locals always extended to him while he was a guest in their land. In contrast, Mars often thinks about immigrants who come here and do not have the support of an agency from their home country, and can be met with unfriendliness from some Americans. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to leave everything behind—family, friends, culture…these students have real courage,” he remarked, expressing his desire to show immigrants in this country the love he was given while traveling abroad.

Mars has lots of ideas and activities to keep his students coming back, or in his words, he likes to “put on a good show.” He tells us, “It’s so important for students to have lots of fun in class. That keeps them interested and keeps them coming back.” He uses back issues of National Geographic to help students pick out topics and vocabulary that are interesting to them. He even created a “New Word Club.” Students can participate by looking up new words in articles they’ve read in the past week, then presenting the word to the class and using it in a sentence. Mars also has a few tricks up his sleeve to keep students on their toes. His favorite “trick question” for students is “How many months have 28 days?” The correct answer is “all of them!” When practicing grocery shopping vocabulary in class, he passes around a rock shaped like a potato, and everyone laughs when they realize they can’t really eat it.

His site coordinator at St. Leo, Dana Richardson, has only good things to say as well. “Mars is such a creative teacher and loves teaching ESL. The students respond positively to him, especially when he brings out his harmonicas to "jazz" up the lessons! At our annual Christmas ESL party, Mars can be found leading the group in Christmas carols. He doesn't mind spending time after class with anyone who has questions and gives his time and expertise generously. We're very lucky to have him on board!”

Mars considers student retention one of his greatest classroom accomplishments. He still has students coming back semesters-and even years-later, both repeating his class and moving into higher levels. He sees current and former students around Fairfax working their jobs and they come over to tell him “thank you!” One of his friends jokes that Mars teaches ESL “for God and Country,” referencing the fact that he is active in his parish, as well as a wonderful “ambassador” who constantly welcomes his students to the USA.

While teaching ESL is certainly one of his passions, it is closely rivaled by Mars’s love for fishing. He enjoys many local spots like Hemlock Overlook, Burke Lake, but the best spot for him by far is Bull Run Regional Park.

Thanks, Mars, for all you do!

If you know of an outstanding volunteer who you would like to see in the spotlight, please contact Erin Maradiegue at emaradiegue@ccda.net or 703-534-9805 ext. 251.

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Spring Break With Hogar Hispano
A group of students from the University of Florida volunteered with Hogar Hispano for a week as a part of an Alternative Spring Break program. They attended information sessions on local immigration policy, Hogar's Naturalization workshops, Citizenship classes; assisted teachers in ESL classes; and helped the legal staff in converting hard copy client files to electronic files. The staff really valued their enthusiasm and energy, as well as their hard work. Thanks for spending your Spring Break with Hogar!

Top photo (from left to right): Nallely Castillo, Janelle Lyons, Lauren Passard, Ashley Lagaron, Tessa Benjamin,(kneeling) Stephen Holt.
Bottom photo: Staff attorney Dan Macguire explains Hogar's response to recent local immigration legislation to the volunteers.

March's Vignette

Martha arrived in Hogar Hispano’s Social Services office at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church a year ago desperately looking for affordable healthcare assistance for her health problem. Ten years ago, in her native country of El Salvador, she was diagnosed with severe arthritis and began receiving medical treatment. But in the aftermath of the Salvadorian Civil War, in which her two brothers were killed, she immigrated to the United States and was granted Temporary Protective Status. Martha obtained a job in the kitchen of a small restaurant, where health insurance is not an option. She came to the Social Services office hoping that Hogar would be able to help her find a place where she could receive affordable healthcare treatment.

The first referral option, as a Loudoun County resident, was the Free Clinic in Leesburg. After her appointment she called Cecilia Diaz-Yap, Social Services Associate, crying. The clinic told her that they did not have the resources to give patients treatment for this type of case. Martha was in a great deal of pain and the over-the-counter medicine was not enough to control it. She was getting to the point that she needed help to get out of bed or stand up from a chair.

The second affordable option available for clients that don’t have health insurance is the Arlandria Health Center in Alexandria. Martha was referred to Arlandria, but she did not have transportation from Leesburg to Alexandria. Despite this, she remained optimistic, and with some help from family members and friends she was able to make her first appointment. Martha’s hopeful attitude proved to be well-founded. The Health Center told her she would be able to get treatment and medicine from the center for a low cost. Since then she has been taking medicine and attending regular monthly appointments.

Now, a year later, she feels like a new whole person. She is able to take care of herself and her entire family. Martha returned to the Social Services office a month ago to thank Cecilia for all the help that she provided. Martha looks like a whole new person. You can see the happiness in her face and the positive effects of the treatment on her arthritis. Now, she can walk without difficulties, open and close her hands, and do things that she would not be able to do anymore without her treatment. Martha’s facial expressions and words tell you that she thanks God for giving her another opportunity to live a full life.

*The client’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.

Did You Know?

Do you think you know all there is to know about immigration law? Test your immigration knowledge with the following questions and see if you are up to the challenge.

Questions
True or False

1. If someone is granted legal permanent residency status (a “green card”), that privilege cannot be taken away from them.
2. If a permanent resident applies to be a citizen today, they will be able to vote in the next presidential election.
3. Local police may arrest someone based on their immigration status alone.
4. Undocumented immigrants cannot be barred from attending public primary and secondary schools.
5. An undocumented person living in the United States can get a petition today from a documented family member and eventually apply for their “green card”, all without leaving the United States.
6. Persons in removal or deportation proceedings have a right to an attorney.
7. A citizen can petition more easily for a family member than a permanent resident.

Answers

1. False. The question gives the answer away. Legal permanent residency status is a privilege granted by the federal government, and may be taken away under multiple circumstances including prolonged absence from the United States and the commission of certain crimes.
2. False. Naturalization applications are taking an estimated 12-15 months to be approved nationwide. This does not mean, however, that permanent residents should wait to apply for citizenship (see the answer to questions 1)!
3. Depends on where you live. Traditionally, immigration policy and control has been treated as a power granted only to the federal government, and across the majority of the United States only specially trained employees of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) are permitted to detain individuals based solely on their immigration status. However, the federal government is permitted to delegate their immigration enforcement authority to local law enforcement officers. In Prince William and Loudon counties for example, local police officers are now permitted to detain persons solely for their immigration status.
4. True. In the case Plyler v. Doe, the Supreme Court ruled that all children, including those without documentation of legal status, have a right to public primary and secondary education. Many states, including Virginia, are attempting or have already barred undocumented immigrants from attending public universities.
5. False. Persons present or working in the United States without legal documentation accrue “illegal presence”. Any amount of “illegal presence” greater than six months will make it impossible for immigrants to apply for legal status from within the United States through the family or employment petitioning processes, and very difficult to do so from outside of the United States.
6. False. Deportation or removal from the United States is considered a civil penalty, and therefore protections typically afforded to persons during a criminal trial, such as a right to an attorney, do not exist.
7. True. When filing a petition for an unmarried adult child for example, a citizen’s petition will need 6 years whereas it would take a permanent resident’s petition 9 years too mature. Some petitions may only be filed by citizens, such as petitions for siblings.

Bits and Pieces

Family Services, CCDA is offering a free workshop for you and your family!

How to Cope with Bullying
Michele Cole, LCSW, will offer a presentation about bullying, including the phenomenon of internet bullying, which may aid parents, teachers, and administrators helping children in K – 12 grades. She earned her Masters degree in Clinical Social Work from the Catholic University of America. Michele has extensive experience working with children and adolescents, providing individual and family therapy, as well as social skills groups.

Where: St. Ann Catholic Church, 5300 N. 10th St., Arlington, VA
When: 7:30 – 9:00 pm on April 17, 2008
Please RSVP to Carol at 703-841-2531.

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Join Us At Our Next Citizenship Workshop!
Hogar Hispano offers its next Citizenship workshop on Saturday, April 12 beginning at 10:00 am at the Arlington Mill Community Center (4975 Columbia Pike, Arlington VA.) Immigrants eligible to apply for citizenship will receive assistance from a volunteer filling out N-400 Immigration forms followed by an application review by an immigration attorney. Workshop fee is $60, fee for immigration (UCIS) is $675.

Volunteers are needed from 9:30 am until we finish! Training is provided. For more information call Cindy at (703) 534-9805 ext. 250.

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Share Your Extra Cell Phones
The Saint Martin de Porres Senior Center in Alexandria is currently collecting old, unused cell phones to be shared with Seniors. A cell phone company will strip out all the old memory and then re-activate the phones.

Please donate your unused and unwanted cell phones to the Saint Martin de Porres Senior Center today!

For more information contact Maryanne Mundy at (703) 751-2766.