We should so live and labor in our times that what came to us as seed may go to the next generation as blossom, and what came to us as blossom may go to them as fruit. This expresses the true spirit in the love of mankind.

-Henry Ward Beecher



 IN THIS ISSUE:

ESL Staff:

Amy White
Group Manager, Education Services
awhite@ccda.net, x235

Cindy Brown
Manager, Education Services
cbrown@ccda.net, x239

Diana Gibson
Manager, Education Services
dgibson@ccda.net, x231

Erin Maradiegue
Manager, Education Services
emaradiegue@ccda.net, x251

Kristen Gasimov
Manager, Education Services
kgasimov@ccda.net, x237

Sheila Sullivan
Manager, Education Services
ssullivan@ccda.net, x238

Phil Spencer
Manager, Education Services
pspencer@ccda.net, x243

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



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Amy's Ramblings
Greetings friends and volunteers of Hogar! This month has already been so exciting. Our very own citizenship teacher, Aashish Bhimani, won a Volunteer Fairfax Service Award!! Diana Gibson and Kristen Gasimov, two Hogar staff members, nominated Aashish because of his outstanding classroom presence and rapport amongst students. His application stood out to reviewers because of the enthusiasm that Hogar staff described. Aashish also made many noteworthy contributions to the citizenship program and is our longest standing citizenship teacher! Congratulations, Aashish!

In this edition of the newsletter Marty Maykrantz, a volunteer at the Western Regional Office in Leesburg, is highlighted in our volunteer spotlight. Read about her long history of volunteerism and how this sense of serving others was passed down from her family. Also, be sure to check out the teaching tip this month! It’s fun, interesting, and will get those students talking. And don't miss more success stories of legal clients getting their green cards in this month’s vignette.

In other immigrant-related news, the Virginia Commission on Immigration will hold its first of five statewide public hearings on Thursday, May 22 on the campus of George Mason University. The Commission is seeking public input on how immigration issues are affecting Virginia. The Virginia Commission on Immigration is charged with studying, reporting and making recommendations to address the costs and benefits of immigration on the Commonwealth related to education, health care, law enforcement, local demands for services, the economy, and the effects of federal immigration and funding policies. Two staff members will be attending and speaking about the benefits of immigrants to our community. I know that all of you value your students and the diversity they bring to our lives. We’re going to make sure our voice is heard and that our position is taken into consideration when the commission reports back to the state senate!

The end of the semester is upon us! At many sites, the end of semester party has already occurred. It has meant food, presentations, songs, certificates and in some cases, dancing. Please send us pictures from your parties so that we may share them in the next newsletter! (Send your pictures to emaradiegue@ccda.net)

Ghandi once said “The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Thank you for continuing to serve others at Hogar!

Abrazos,

Amy White
ESL Program Coordinator


ESL Updates

 Citizenship Teacher Recognized by Volunteer Fairfax
Hogar citizenship teacher Aashish Bhimani was awarded the 2008 Volunteer Service Award in the category of Education, Health, and Advocacy, April 24 at the Hilton McLean Tyson’s Corner. ESL teacher Bob Ashdown was also nominated by Reston Interfaith with support from Hogar in the category of Senior Volunteer. The annual ceremony is hosted by Volunteer Fairfax to honor hundreds of volunteers all over Fairfax County for their work ranging from mentoring children to working with people with disabilities.

Hogar Hispano nominated Aashish for the award due to his dedication and leadership in the program. “Both in the classroom and with his fellow teachers Aashish has proven himself time and time again to be a responsible, enthusiastic, passionate man who enjoys giving back to his community and is an invaluable asset to our organization,” wrote Hogar Hispano Site Coordinator Diana Gibson in Aashish’s volunteer nomination application.

Aashish received a certificate, a plaque, and a signed letter of appreciation from Congressman Tom Davis. “I truly feel grateful to be part of this great organization. Kristen [Gasimov], Diana, and Amy [White] have given me tremendous support and I wouldn't be as sucessful without them. I look forward to continuing to volunteer with Hogar,” he wrote after receiving the award. Aashish has been teaching with Hogar since 2005 and we can’t thank him enough for all of his hard work. Congratulations Aashish and Bob! Thank you for your hard work!

In photo (right to left): Kristen Gasimov, Aashish Bhimani, Amy White

_____________________________________________________


All Saints Fetes The Completion Of The Spring Semester
As the spring semester winds down, sites are holding their end-of-semester parties to celebrate the hard work of the students and teachers.

Top left: Pastor Robert Cilinski of All Saints Parish congratulates the students and teachers for a successful semester.
Top right: Staff member Kristen Gasimov presents gift certificates to Site Coordinators Sixto Collantes and Carlos Gutierrez in recognition of their work at All Saints.
Bottom left: Special guest Arturo Gomez plays the guitar for the All Saints end-of-semester celebration.
Bottom right: All Saint's student Joanna Hernandez sings while Beginner teacher John Corcoran dances along.


Tip of the Month

Using Art Cards in the Classroom
If you frequent our free art museums here in Washington DC, you are more than familiar with the postcard-sized reproductions of famous works of art sold in the gift shops. These are also available in sets or booklets around themes. The next time you are near a museum gift shop, pick up a random assortment of cards with interesting people or situations on them. You will love using them in class with your students!

Spread out the cards face up around the room and allow students to peruse and choose a card at leisure. Ask students to sit down with their card and examine it for a few minutes. Then write a few questions on the board:
  • Why did you choose your card?
  • What is this person thinking? Feeling?
  • What are some things this person might do every day?
  • What happened before this scene?
  • What will happen after this scene?
Students can answer the questions in writing or by conversing with a neighbor. Encourage students to use multiple verb tenses—past, present, and future. To modify this activity for lower levels, you might ask:
  • What color is her shirt?
  • How many rings does she have?
  • Is she happy or sad?
If you’re not into museums, this activity can easily be modified by cutting out pictures from magazines, but there are a few advantages to using art instead. You don’t have to use the same celebrities you always cut out for class. People don’t have to be as creative when they talk about Britney Spears or Brad Pitt since they already know something about their lives. In an art portrait, students have to pick up on clues that are in the painting or the background to determine who the person might be, or what his or her life might be like. Abstract art definitely forces creativity as well! You might even be able to branch off into historical or cultural discussions about international art from the students’ countries.

City Postcards
As an alternative to art cards, postcards provide additional conversation starters. Try the same activity with some brightly colored postcards that have been sent to you recently. Ask students:
  • What would you do for fun if you were visiting this city?
  • What would it be like to live there all the time?
  • Would you ever choose to live there? Why or why not?
  • Can you find this city on a map?
This activity is especially useful in intermediate and advanced classes that are practicing conditional tenses. This activity could combine well with computer instruction—have students Google search the city in the postcard to find out more information about what activities and attractions are available there. Citizenship students and those studying to pass the US Citizenship test could benefit from the additional geography mini-lessons included in the last question.

Try it and have fun!

Image is Pablo Picasso. Girl before a Mirror. Boisgeloup, March 1932
Volunteer Spotlight
Marty Maykrantz grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana in the 1940s, the eldest of eight children. She learned by example the value of charity work and volunteering. Her grandparents always had an open door for anyone who needed a place to stay or food to eat. Marty’s parents continued this example as they worked for St. Vincent de Paul’s delivering food to the needy. Her parents also maintained a food pantry in their basement that was open to all in need. Marty took these early examples and applied them in her everyday life.

Marty has volunteered at local hospitals, Interfaith Relief food bank, Loudoun’s Holiday Coalition, and St. Joseph’s Church. Perhaps her most generous devotion of time came when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. She joined the members of the St. Vincent de Paul group at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Biloxi, Mississippi. Marty applied her Christian faith and all that she had learned from her parents and grandparents in Biloxi by feeding the homeless and befriending those who found themselves suddenly alone. It was in Biloxi, Mississippi, among absolute devastation, that Marty found her purpose.

Once Marty returned to Virginia, she immediately contacted the Catholic Charities Western Regional Office (WRO). She was eager to help those in need of emergency assistance within her community. She single-handedly began the emergency food pantry at the WRO, so that “no one would leave the office hungry and empty handed”. It is Marty’s belief that all humans have dignity and deserve equal respect. It is this simple principle that sets Marty apart from so many others. She is willing to treat every individual with dignity and love.

Marty has been happily married to William, her husband, for 44 years. William served in the United States Marine Corp and currently volunteers for Habitat for Humanity. Together, they have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. Currently, her eldest grandson is serving in the United States Marine Corp just like his grandfather. Marty has been a devoted member of Catholic Charities Western Regional Office and is truly an example of Christ’s love.
May's Vignette
This month, the legal services department would like to share the success stories of three greencard applicants.

Abdul Karzai, a translator for the US Armed Forces in Afghanistan, was granted his green card this month. Abdul originally sought asylum in the United States after Afghan translators became targets for the Taliban. His asylum case was held up for over a year, however, because of the length of time the FBI needed to do a background check. Because of the bureaucratic backlog, Hogar filed for a special immigrant visa for Iraqi and Afghan translators. There are only 500 such visas available, and the staff at Hogar continuously pressed US Citizenship and Immigration Services to adjudicate Abdul’s petition. While his application was pending, Abdul returned to Afghanistan despite the continuing danger to him to help his young son seek medical attention in Pakistan. His son was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and is unable to access adequate medical care in Afghanistan. After his safe return to the United States, Abdul was finally granted his green card, and has since applied for his family to join him in the US. He is particularly anxious for his young son to be granted permission to come to the US so that he might receive proper medical attention.

Glenda Sacapunta has been in the United States since 1994. Her employer started a petition for her back then, but she decided not to go back to work for a few years after the birth of her daughter. When that petition fell through, her husband began the process of petitioning for her in 2001. Because her husband is only a legal permanent residency, it took seven years before she was eligible for her green card. She finally received her green card this month. This summer she will return to Honduras to visit her parents that she has not seen in 14 years.

After waiting for five years, Regina Salinas had her green card interview with USCIS in August of 2006 based on her mom’s petition. Unfortunately, after another year of waiting, her application was erroneously denied in August of 2007. Hogar Hispano appealed the decision, and after almost a year, USCIS’ decision was finally overturned.


A Special Thanks For The Generous Support Of Our Donors!
Hogar sends out a giant GRACIAS! to the following donors for their recent gifts to our program:

  • Kiho & Madelline Kang of Fairfax, VA
    $2,000 for employee training and improved client intake
  • The 2008 Annie E. Casey Family Strengthening Initiative (via Catholic Charities USA)
    $2,000 to explore new, innovative outreach methods and to invest in staff development
  • Andy Johnston and our friends at Loudoun Cares
    $1,500 in emergency utility assistance for needy Loudoun County families
(This is in addition to the $2,500 grant provided by Loudoun Cares earlier this year, bringing to $4,000 the grand total of Loudoun Cares donations in 2008).

While these gifts were particularly noteworthy, we are grateful for all donations to our program, regardless of size. Especially in difficult economic times, your donations supplement Hogar’s program fees to assist the neediest and most vulnerable within the various immigrant populations of our Diocese.

If you would like to make a donation so that Hogar can continue to “welcome the strangers” among us, please contact John Odenwelder at 703 534-9805 x234 or at jodenwelder@ccda.net.


Hogar Continues Its Partnership With Ya Es Hora ¡Ciudadanía!
Hogar has just renewed its partnership with the Ya Es Hora ¡Ciudadanía! campaign as a Naturalization Form Assistance Provider. This campaign, translated as Now is the Time: Citizenship!, is part of a national effort to inform, educate, and motivate Hispanic residents to apply for United States citizenship and exercise their right to vote in the 2008 elections. It is a collaboration of over 150 community organizations and media sponsors nationwide, with participants from Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. Other local organizations include CASA de Maryland, Service Employees International Union, Latin American Youth Center, American Immigration Lawyers Association, and Tenants and Workers United. Through its connection with Ya Es Hora ¡Ciudadanía!, Hogar will have the opportunity to publicize its naturalization workshops in area Latino newspapers such as El Tiempo Latino and El Pregonero, and on television via Univision. Collaboration with this campaign in late 2007 and early 2008 yielded our highest turnout at any single workshop ever – 120 completed applications in January!

Upcoming workshops will take place on the following Saturdays:
  • June 14, Arlington Mill Community Center, Arlington
  • July 12, Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, Sterling
  • August 2, Arlington Mill Community Center, Arlington
For more information on the Ya Es Hora national campaign see www.yaeshora.info
If you’d like to volunteer at a workshop contact Cindy at cbrown@ccda.net or (703) 534-9805 ext. 250.

Image: A May 9, 2008 article in El Tiempo Latino discussed the often lengthy naturalization process, particularly in the Washington, DC region. The picture was taken during Hogar's Naturalization Workshop on January 26, 2008.


Bits and Pieces

We Have Extended Hogar's T-shirt Slogan Contest!

Let your creativity shine! Send us a catchy slogan and see it on next year's Hogar T-shirt! Most of you have seen the ESL Department's stylish shirts emblazoned with the slogan, We change the world one verb at a time. Now we are looking for a new look that highlights the work of the entire Hogar family-Education, Legal Services, Naturalization Services, and Social Services.

We want to hear from you! Submissions will be accepted through the end of June. The winning slogan will receive a $50 gift certificate and a complimentary t-shirt!

To submit your slogan email Erin Maradiegue at emaradiegue@ccda.net.