IN THIS ISSUE: Amy's Ramblings Call to Action Education Updates Legal Updates Social Services Updates Tip of the Month September's Vignette Bits and Pieces HOGAR STAFF: John Odenwelder Program Director jodenwelder@ccda.net Education Services: Amy White Group Manager awhite@ccda.net, x235 Kristen Gasimov Manager/Office Manager kgasimov@ccda.net, x249 Katie Mathews Manager kmathews@ccda.net, x243 Erin Maradiegue Manager emaradiegue@ccda.net, x251 Sheila Sullivan Manager ssullivan@ccda.net, x238 Danielle Tillilie Manager dtillilie@ccda.net, x239 Legal Services: Michelle Sardone Group Manager msardone@ccda.net Cindy Brown Paralegal cbrown@ccda.net Nancy Carbajal Receptionist ncarbajal@ccda.net Maria Cutipa Intake Coordinator mcutipa@ccda.net Dan Macguire Staff Attorney dmacguire@ccda.net Patty Mueller Staff Attorney pmueller@ccda.net Enrique Vargas Paralegal evargas@ccda.net Social Services Dawn Dumas Manager ddumas@ccda.net (703) 443-2481 Angie Marchetto Intake Coordinator amarchetto@ccda.net (703) 443-2481 Hogar Immigrant Services 6201 Leesburg Pike Suite 307 Falls Church, Va 22044 T: (703) 534-9805 F: (703) 534-9809 www.ccda.net If you would like to have this newsletter sent to a different email address or if you would like to unsubscribe from the mailing list, please email emaradiegue@ccda.net.

Amy's Ramblings Greetings from Hogar! There are many updates in this issue of e-news so hold onto your belt buckle. We first want to welcome new staff member, Danielle Tillilie, to the Education Department. She’s from Philadelphia but we’ll try not to hold that against her. Hogar staff would like to thank all of the volunteers and partner organizations for continually supporting the mission to help immigrants become fully participating members of our community. We see your dedication at Naturalization Workshops, during ESL classes, giving food to needy families, in the Citizenship preparation lab and through your advocacy on behalf of immigrants. Hogar would now like to ask you to write to your representatives about comprehensive immigration reform. Bishop Paul Loverde wrote the following in a 2007 pastoral reflection: When a prosperous nation's immigration system fails to provide opportunities for those trapped in poverty in other countries to extricate themselves and their families from unlivable situations, we must ask whether such a system is truly putting human dignity first. Immigration policies should be fairer, more humane and aimed toward the family. We must go beyond an enforcement-only approach by examining and addressing the root causes of migration. In this issue you’ll find a sample letter and the way to contact both your Congressional Representatives and Senators. It has been on the backburner long enough – let’s bring it into the light! The Western Regional Office in Leesburg has moved! Please feel free to stop by and visit them at their new location. (And please also feel free to bring any non-perishable food items or winter jackets with you!) Attention Teachers: Make sure to mark your calendars for Hogar's Fall Teacher Training Series. Thank you for all that you do for Hogar and for the immigrant community – we certainly couldn’t do it without you! Abrazos, Amy White Group Manager, Education Services Call to Action Hogar network to mobilize for Comprehensive Immigration Reform on Thursday October 1 and Friday October 2 Every non-profit organization has a running wish list. Items on that list, were they to be acquired, would make fulfilling that agency’s mission easier. At Hogar, our long-standing wish list item is comprehensive immigration reform legislation. We hold hope that the new presidential administration will grant Congress the opportunity to finally propose and pass a bill that will help many of our clients and students legalize their status, putting them on a pathway to citizenship and granting them the ability to bring their closest family members to be reunited with them. At present, political factors are coming together to make the prospect of legislation look more realistic. On September 21, 2009 at a townhall meeting a few blocks down the street from Hogar’s office, VA Congressman Jim Moran announced his intention to co-sponsor legislation for comprehensive immigration reform as early as October. President Obama has recently convened meetings of key players to discuss the urgency of an immigration bill. Now is the time for those of us who want action to make our voice heard. Past reform initiatives have generated floods of calls from anti-immigrant groups to Congress, creating a hostile atmosphere for representatives who may be on the fence and whose desire to vote for reform is overcome by pushback from such a vocal minority. Moran’s speech in Falls Church included this exhortation: "If we do not hear from those who want progress from this country, we will hear from those who want the status quo. And if does not happen, we will not get this legislation.” Please take Moran’s words seriously and join other Hogar supporters in contacting your Senators and Congressional representative on Thursday, October 1 and Friday, October 2. We need our voice to be heard. For facts regarding comprehensive immigration reform check out http://justiceforimmigrants.org Find out how to contact your Congressional Representative at www.house.gov/writerep Find contact information for your Senator at www.senate.gov Please feel free to use this sample letter and add your own thoughts to it. Dear [United States Senator/Representative]: I am writing to express my support for comprehensive immigration reform. I believe that our government has the right to secure its borders and manage its economy, and, like many Americans, I am frustrated with federal inaction on immigration. However, unilateral, punitive measures will not repair our country’s mismanaged system, nor will a single-minded approach adequately address the challenges at hand. As you consider potential solutions for this unresolved issue, I encourage you to look beyond merely the status – documented or undocumented, “legal” or “illegal” – of immigrants within our country. Our immigration policies must always respect the rule of law, but, ideally, they should also acknowledge and account for immigrant contributions to the economy, government inaction over previous years, and, most importantly, fundamental human rights and dignity. Although some have suggested that proposals for comprehensive, federal reform made in recent years amount to “amnesty,” this is simply not the case, as those proposals have clearly and appropriately accounted for the violation of federal law through penalties and requirements. However, they also recognized the contributions of immigrants and protected their inherent dignity by providing: an earned path toward legal status; a temporary-worker program with labor protections; a reduction in delays associated with family reunification; due-process protections against extended and indefinite detention; and a deliberate effort to address root causes of global migration. As your constituent, I urge you to incorporate these principles into any future legislation that is crafted, and I look forward to learning your opinion on this matter. Sincerely, [Your Name] Join us in telling our representatives in Congress that we want Comprehensive Immigration Reform now! Education Updates Welcome Hogar's Newest Staff Member! Danielle Tillilie is the newest addition to the Education Services Department. She is originally from the Philadelphia area but escaped as soon as she could to live abroad in Europe and Central and South America. She studied languages at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, where she received a B.A. in Spanish in 2004. Since then she has worked with various non-profits, mainly with the immigrant population, and has begun working on a M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language at West Chester University. She likes soccer and peanut butter ice cream, and is looking forward to exploring the Smithsonian museums. We are very excited to have Danielle at Hogar! ______________________________________ Save The Date For Hogar’s Teacher Trainings! Hogar’s Fall 2009 Teacher Training Series is coming soon. Take a look at your schedule and find the training that is right for you! Immersion Works! in French October 17, 1 – 3 pm “I don’t speak Spanish. Are my students really going to understand me if I just speak English?” ESL teachers often have this dilemma. Many who don’t know Spanish are skeptical that they can be successful ESL teachers. This training will show participants that it is possible to teach students (even beginners) using only English in the classroom. A lesson will be given completely in French, demonstrating how using body language, realia, and repetition eliminate the need to speak the native language in class. Learn good techniques to use in the classroom and get a small taste of what your students feel! Let’s Dialogue! October 24, 10 am – 12 pm Are you tired of using the same format to introduce a new dialogue? Your students might be too! Come to this two hour training that will give you new ideas about how to teach those pesky dialogues and interesting ways to keep students engaged. You will also have a chance to brainstorm with fellow teachers and find out what works for them. Bring your questions and issues that have come up in class and let’s get ready to dialogue! Cultural Perspectives November 7, 1 – 3 pm What is culture and how does it shape your outlook on the world? Most likely, your background is different than that of your students, and you will have distinct perspectives. In this presentation, we will try to gain a better understanding of their perspective, as well as your own, to improve your ability to teach and relate to them. You will participate in fun and reflective activities offering insight into your own culture and a look through the eyes of your students. Low prep activities and games November 21, 10 am – 12 pm 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. Attend as many as you want! All trainings will be held in Hogar's Falls Church office (6201 Leesburg Pike, Suite 310, Falls Church, VA 22044). Please RSVP to Erin Maradiegue at 703-534-9805 x 251 or email emaradiegue@ccda.net with the following information filled out: Training Title: Name (first and last): Teaching site: Phone number: We look forward to seeing you there! Legal Updates Naturalization Workshops Are Coming To Springfield! Hogar Immigrant Services had a Naturalization Workshop on September 12, 2009. Over 45 applications for citizenship were completed with the help of volunteers. The next Naturalization Workshop will be hosted on November 7 at 10 AM at St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Springfield (7600 Old Keene Mill Rd. Springfield, VA 22152). ______________________________________ Hold A Know Your Rights Seminar For Your Parishioners Or Clients Our Legal Staff has been hard at work presenting Know Your Rights and Immigration 101 workshops throughout the Diocese. Know Your Rights presentations are intended to teach the immigrant community about immigrant rights and how and when they should be asserted. Immigration 101 sessions are a general introduction to immigration law. In September Know Your Rights presentations were given to congregants at both St. James in Falls Church and Our Lady Queen of Peace in Arlington. Please contact Katie Mathews at kmathews@ccda.net if you are interested in scheduling a talk. Social Services Updates Social Services Has Moved! Catholic Charities, Social Services in Leesburg has been blessed with a new office location. We are now located at 12 Cardinal Park Drive, Suite 105 Leesburg, VA 20176. We continue to service deserving individuals with rent, water, electric and gas assistance. We also offer every client an emergency supply of food and a referral to their local food bank. ______________________________________ Help Feed Your Community: Donate To Social Services In Leesburg The Social Services office in Leesburg is seeing an increase in demand for emergency food supplies. Please take a minute and look through your pantry for canned, non-perishable food to help those who need extra assistance to feed their families. Items that we are in most need of are canned meat (tuna or chicken), cereal for the children, and macaroni and cheese. We accept donations daily, 9am – 3pm. Your help is greatly appreciated! ______________________________________ Keep Local Children Warm By Donating A Winter Coat! Looking ahead to Winter, the Leesburg Social Services office would like to offer winter coats to children in need. Every winter there are dozens of children in Loudoun County who go to school without a coat to keep them warm. If you would like to donate a gently used or new winter coat, please call our office at (703) 443-2481. Thank you for your generosity! Tip of the Month Why Are Your Students In Class? The beginning of a new semester is the time to figure out why your students have enrolled in ESL classes. Most students come to Hogar with specific reasons for studying English, or certain skills that they want to improve. Trying to tailor your lesson plans to your students’ needs can help ensure that they keep coming back! You may be thinking: “But my students don’t speak any English yet! How on Earth am I going to ask them what they want to learn?” For the lowest levels of class, try the following simple assessment: Using the four walls (or four corners) of the classroom, designate one wall “speaking”, one “listening”, another “reading” and the last wall “writing”. Remember that a picture is worth a thousand words! Make sure that each skill is represented pictorially and in written form. Have the students get up out of their seats and stand under the sign for the skill they want to concentrate on learning the most. How do you communicate that you want them to choose the skill that is most important for them to learn? Before sending them off to stand under the signs, write the four different skills on the board. Place a star next to one of them and use body language to show that you aren’t as interested in the other three skills. Give a thumbs up next to the one you put a star next to. This method can also work to assess which topics your students are most interested in learning. Good options would be: jobs, health and the body, money and numbers, people and family, community resources, and meeting and greeting people. Don’t forget the pictures! Using this needs assessment will also help manage your students’ expectations for class. If they know that 14 of 18 students want to focus on speaking skills, and 12 of 18 want to learn English to use at their jobs, they know more time will be devoted to those subjects, and will understand why. Charting the results on the board after the activity is a great summary. August's Vignette Sandra* and Enrique* met in 1990 at university in Bolivia, and spent the next decade dating. When a family petition inviting Enrique to come to the United States was approved in 2000, Enrique and Sandra decided to have an engagement ceremony before his departure date. Enrique was seeking to assuage the fears of Sandra’s family about his commitment to the relationship, though both he and Sandra understood that this was not an actual marriage ceremony. That Christmas, Sandra came as a tourist to visit Enrique and his family in the United States. As Sandra prepared to return to Bolivia, she and Enrique received bad legal advice indicating that if they were married Sandra could stay and apply for status as a permanent resident. Following the legal advice, they got married and applied for Sandra’s residency status. Five years later, on the eve of giving birth to their first child, Sandra and Oscar were shocked to find that her application had been denied. The grounds for the denial were twofold. First, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) believed their engagement ceremony was a marriage ceremony, nullifying Enrique’s family petition. Second, USCIS thought Sandra misrepresented her intentions when she came to visit Enrique for Christmas in 2000. Over the next three years, at the recommendation of Hogar Immigrant Services, Sandra and Enrique sought to get a judicial declaration from Bolivia saying that the engagement ceremony was not a proper marriage, as well as letters from Sandra’s employers in Bolivia showing that she had intended to return to Bolivia after her initial visit to the United States. The process was complicated by the fact that both Sandra and Enrique, who by that time was a US Citizen, could not return to Bolivia for fear that they would not be able to return to the United States afterwards. After the documents proving their innocence were finally obtained, Sandra once again paid USCIS over $1,000 to resubmit her application for permanent residency. Hogar Immigrant Services prepared the couple for their interview with a legal brief explaining their position and a waiver for any potential ineligibility. Finally, two months after the interview, Sandra received her approval for permanent residency in the mail. Sandra, Enrique and their daughter Emily* are now planning their first family vacation to Bolivia to catch up with relatives. *Names were changed in order to protect the privacy of our clients. Bits and Pieces Donate Your Car To Hogar! If you are looking to buy a new car, consider donating your old vehicle to Hogar Immigrant Services, Catholic Charities. Your donation would be tax-deductible. The car will allow Hogar staff to further assist the immigrant population living throughout Northern Virginia. Contact John Odenwelder at jodenwelder@ccda.net for more information.