Muslim kids in the U.S. are trying to fit into teenage life and also keep their faith and keep their parents happy. A hard task. - - Donna Poisl
By Shahla Khan, IFN Staff Reporter
The clock on the wall of Kaplan Test-Prep Center in Austin, Texas points to 6:30; ten minutes left until the time for Asr (afternoon prayer) ends. Sixteen-year-old Amir glances at his wrist watch, worried that his SAT preparation class won’t end in time. He knows he should probably leave the session early so he doesn’t miss prayer, but the thought of getting up in front of everyone and leaving the room makes him nervous. "What will they think of me," he wonders anxiously. He decides to stay and misses the prayer.
Meanwhile, at a movie theatre in downtown Los Angeles, 17-year-old Khadeeja waits at a parking lot to meet up with some friends for pizza. Her cell phone rings; it’s her mother. Khadeeja’s boyfriend’s car approaches from around the corner; she looks frantically at her ringing phone again and presses ignore. She takes the front seat next to Brad and recites a short prayer to herself, hoping her mother doesn’t call again while she is with him.
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Sunday, November 08, 2009
Language school to open in downtown Staunton
Several languages will be taught at this school. Native speakers are teaching French and Spanish and other languages and English will also be taught to immigrants. - - Donna Poisl
By Cindy Corell/staff
STAUNTON — Whether you have a trip planned to another country and want to speak the language or just wish you had paid more attention in your high school language class, Michele Edwards has the solution for you.
Staunton Language and Cultural Center will open in downtown Staunton on Nov. 16. Promising small classes in a comfortable, casual setting, Edwards aims to take the intimidation out of learning another language. She also will teach English to area immigrants of any nationality.
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By Cindy Corell/staff
STAUNTON — Whether you have a trip planned to another country and want to speak the language or just wish you had paid more attention in your high school language class, Michele Edwards has the solution for you.
Staunton Language and Cultural Center will open in downtown Staunton on Nov. 16. Promising small classes in a comfortable, casual setting, Edwards aims to take the intimidation out of learning another language. She also will teach English to area immigrants of any nationality.
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Thursday, November 05, 2009
Immigrants in the American heartland
This story shows how diverse this whole country is becoming, including small town Iowa and other rural areas. - - Donna Poisl
By Paul Adams
Look around America's rural heartland in the 21st Century and you see some remarkable things.
A Buddhist temple, with monks dressed in vivid saffron robes, set amid rain-drenched cornfields.
Newly arrived Somali workers, tucking into burritos in a Mexican restaurant in the middle of nowhere.
Ultra-orthodox Jews hurrying through the chilly autumn gloom to Sabbath prayers in a small town set amid rolling hills.
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By Paul Adams
Look around America's rural heartland in the 21st Century and you see some remarkable things.
A Buddhist temple, with monks dressed in vivid saffron robes, set amid rain-drenched cornfields.
Newly arrived Somali workers, tucking into burritos in a Mexican restaurant in the middle of nowhere.
Ultra-orthodox Jews hurrying through the chilly autumn gloom to Sabbath prayers in a small town set amid rolling hills.
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High Commissioner's Remarks at Nansen Refugee Award Ceremony
The Nansen Refugee Award is awarded in recognition of extraordinary service to refugees. Senator Ted Kennedy received it posthumously. - - Donna Poisl
HC Statements
Mrs. Kennedy, ladies and gentlemen,
During my time as Prime Minister of Portugal and in my current position as High Commissioner, I had the great honor and pleasure of meeting with Senator Kennedy on a number of occasions. I could not help but be immensely impressed by him -- impressed by his compassion and his unwaivering commitment to human rights and refugee protection. What he famously said of his brother is so true of him as well: he saw wrong and tried to right it. He saw suffering and tried to heal it.
When he traveled to East Bengal in 1971, he recalled a sight that seared his memory. I quote – " …a 10-year-old girl out foraging for something to cover the body of her baby brother." Thirty five years later, he wrote of those who fled the war in Iraq, "refugees are witnesses to the cruelty that stains our age." His powers of observation and compassion never waned. His conviction led to action that rescued scores of uprooted lives.
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HC Statements
Mrs. Kennedy, ladies and gentlemen,
During my time as Prime Minister of Portugal and in my current position as High Commissioner, I had the great honor and pleasure of meeting with Senator Kennedy on a number of occasions. I could not help but be immensely impressed by him -- impressed by his compassion and his unwaivering commitment to human rights and refugee protection. What he famously said of his brother is so true of him as well: he saw wrong and tried to right it. He saw suffering and tried to heal it.
When he traveled to East Bengal in 1971, he recalled a sight that seared his memory. I quote – " …a 10-year-old girl out foraging for something to cover the body of her baby brother." Thirty five years later, he wrote of those who fled the war in Iraq, "refugees are witnesses to the cruelty that stains our age." His powers of observation and compassion never waned. His conviction led to action that rescued scores of uprooted lives.
Click on the headline to read the rest of this presentation speech. This is only a small part of it.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Va. Hispanic chamber founder believes in building bridges
This story, about a son of immigrants who grew up with the thought to help his community, just like his family was helped. He has started a Chamber of Commerce office helping businesses owned by immigrants. - - Donna Poisl
by JOHN REID BLACKWELL TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Helping others is a common thread in Michel Zajur's life.
It began at an early age for the soft-spoken son of immigrants who moved to the Richmond area from Mexico in 1960.
"When my parents came here, they did not speak any English," he said. "So my siblings and I grew up as translators and we helped them, because we learned English a lot quicker than they did," Zajur said. "There were people who helped my family. There was an uncle who helped my father get started in a business."
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by JOHN REID BLACKWELL TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Helping others is a common thread in Michel Zajur's life.
It began at an early age for the soft-spoken son of immigrants who moved to the Richmond area from Mexico in 1960.
"When my parents came here, they did not speak any English," he said. "So my siblings and I grew up as translators and we helped them, because we learned English a lot quicker than they did," Zajur said. "There were people who helped my family. There was an uncle who helped my father get started in a business."
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State to launch new grants on English classes
There are about 17,000 immigrants on waiting lists to learn English in state funded classes, this grant should help tremendously. - - Donna Poisl
Posted on boston.com
WORCESTER, Mass.—State officials are slated to announce $1.3 million in grants aimed at helping the state's immigrants learn English.
The state secretaries of labor and education are scheduled Wednesday to give details on the grants for new adult English classes.
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Posted on boston.com
WORCESTER, Mass.—State officials are slated to announce $1.3 million in grants aimed at helping the state's immigrants learn English.
The state secretaries of labor and education are scheduled Wednesday to give details on the grants for new adult English classes.
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Hispanic ministries finds a home at FUMC
This church has added programs to help the immigrants in their area. They are teaching them English and how to function in this culture. - - Donna Poisl
By David Snow | Demopolis Times
DEMOPOLIS — One of the greatest issues facing the United States is immigration. Many thousands of people are coming into the U.S., predominantly from Mexico and Central America, seeking a better life for themselves and their families.
The two greatest needs that these future Americans have is to learn English and to become a part of their new communities. There is a ministry at the First United Methodist Church that seeks to meet both needs.
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By David Snow | Demopolis Times
DEMOPOLIS — One of the greatest issues facing the United States is immigration. Many thousands of people are coming into the U.S., predominantly from Mexico and Central America, seeking a better life for themselves and their families.
The two greatest needs that these future Americans have is to learn English and to become a part of their new communities. There is a ministry at the First United Methodist Church that seeks to meet both needs.
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Sunday, November 01, 2009
Immigrants urged to back Deeds
If immigrants will vote in all the elections and not just for president, they can help the presidential programs go through. Many immigrants think the president is the one who does everything, not realizing he is only one small part of the whole process. - - Donna Poisl
By Anita Kumar
Immigrants, who traditionally are not well represented at the polls, are being encouraged to get out and vote Tuesday for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds.
Organizers of the effort say they want to get the same immigrants who turned out in record numbers for Barack Obama to turn out for Deeds because of his stances on the economy, education, healthcare and, yes, illegal immigration.
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By Anita Kumar
Immigrants, who traditionally are not well represented at the polls, are being encouraged to get out and vote Tuesday for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds.
Organizers of the effort say they want to get the same immigrants who turned out in record numbers for Barack Obama to turn out for Deeds because of his stances on the economy, education, healthcare and, yes, illegal immigration.
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Many L.A. students not moving out of English language classes
Students do much better if they get into the mainstreams classes and out of the English learner programs as soon as they are able. But many are staying in the classes and many of them drop out of school entirely. - - Donna Poisl
Almost 30% of those placed early on in such programs in L.A. Unified were still in them when they started high school, study says. The sooner students moved on, the more they excelled.
By Anna Gorman
Nearly 30% of Los Angeles Unified School District students placed in English language learning classes in early primary grades were still in the program when they started high school, increasing their chances of dropping out, according to a new study released Wednesday.
The findings raise questions about the teaching in the district's English language classes, whether students are staying in the program too long and what more educators should do for students who start school unable to speak English fluently.
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Almost 30% of those placed early on in such programs in L.A. Unified were still in them when they started high school, study says. The sooner students moved on, the more they excelled.
By Anna Gorman
Nearly 30% of Los Angeles Unified School District students placed in English language learning classes in early primary grades were still in the program when they started high school, increasing their chances of dropping out, according to a new study released Wednesday.
The findings raise questions about the teaching in the district's English language classes, whether students are staying in the program too long and what more educators should do for students who start school unable to speak English fluently.
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Census sees rise of foreign-born population on LI
These communities are all trying to make sure the population is correctly counted in the new Census. It is very important to get an accurate count. - - Donna Poisl
By OLIVIA WINSLOW
Thirteen of Long Island's hamlets and villages have a foreign-born population of at least 20 percent, with most increasing since 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's latest estimates for 2006-2008 out Tuesday.
In 10 of those localities, 10 percent or more of the population are not U.S. citizens, a Newsday analysis showed.
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By OLIVIA WINSLOW
Thirteen of Long Island's hamlets and villages have a foreign-born population of at least 20 percent, with most increasing since 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's latest estimates for 2006-2008 out Tuesday.
In 10 of those localities, 10 percent or more of the population are not U.S. citizens, a Newsday analysis showed.
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Google's Brin give $1M to aid immigrants
This is one of the ultimate immigrant success stories in this country. And everyone knows what he has accomplished, since it is happening now. - - Donna Poisl
Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal
Google Inc. co-founder Sergey Brin is giving $1 million to the group which helped his family escape anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union 30 years ago.
Brin told The New York Times he is donating the money to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.
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Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal
Google Inc. co-founder Sergey Brin is giving $1 million to the group which helped his family escape anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union 30 years ago.
Brin told The New York Times he is donating the money to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.
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Making New York 'Immigrant Friendly'
New York City is home to people with more than 170 languages, Mayor Bloomberg knows how important immigrants are to the city and he is encouraging more to come. - - Donna Poisl
by Larry Tung
Elick Bloomberg, a native of Balvan, Russia, moved to the United States before the turn of the 20th century. According to his World War I draft registration card, he settled in Chelsea, Mass., and was employed by Metropolitan Life as an insurance agent.
His experience was shared by tens of thousands of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe at the time. However, it was one of his grandsons, Michael, who gave the family name a household recognition. Mayor Bloomberg is proud of his immigrant heritage in a city where 40 percent of its residents are foreign-born.
"Immigrants are why New York City became America's economic engine," said Bloomberg in a recent press conference where he announced his campaign platform for immigrant communities.
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by Larry Tung
Elick Bloomberg, a native of Balvan, Russia, moved to the United States before the turn of the 20th century. According to his World War I draft registration card, he settled in Chelsea, Mass., and was employed by Metropolitan Life as an insurance agent.
His experience was shared by tens of thousands of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe at the time. However, it was one of his grandsons, Michael, who gave the family name a household recognition. Mayor Bloomberg is proud of his immigrant heritage in a city where 40 percent of its residents are foreign-born.
"Immigrants are why New York City became America's economic engine," said Bloomberg in a recent press conference where he announced his campaign platform for immigrant communities.
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Sunday, October 25, 2009
Church's ‘Talk Time’ helps immigrants improve English skills
Immigrants in this neighborhood meet weekly just to talk. They are all new English speakers, from many countries; learning, sharing stories and practicing their English. - - Donna Poisl
By Leonel Sanchez, Union-Tribune Staff Writer
LINDA VISTA — Linda Vista Presbyterian Church wanted to reach out to the immigrants and refugees who live in the poorer sections of the neighborhood.
The congregation needed only to look at the limited-English-speaking students at the adult school next door.
The church launched a conversation program this year to help the students who settled here from around the world improve their English skills. They call it “Talk Time.”
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By Leonel Sanchez, Union-Tribune Staff Writer
LINDA VISTA — Linda Vista Presbyterian Church wanted to reach out to the immigrants and refugees who live in the poorer sections of the neighborhood.
The congregation needed only to look at the limited-English-speaking students at the adult school next door.
The church launched a conversation program this year to help the students who settled here from around the world improve their English skills. They call it “Talk Time.”
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Immigrant children most at risk
This study followed 5,200 children for almost 20 years. An interesting and somewhat upsetting story emerged. Most are doing well, but one group needs help. - - Donna Poisl
By EDWARD SCHUMACHER-MATOS - For the North County Times
NEW LONDON, Conn. ---- In the early 1990s, sociologist Alejandro Portes and a group of colleagues began an ambitious project of following the progress of 5,200 children of foreign-born immigrants.
Immigration studies were rare then, and focused on arriving adults. Portes hit on the observation that the real national impact of the burgeoning number of immigrants turned not on inflammatory issues such as their health care, but on the success or failure of their children. In turn, there was a historical American bargain for the immigrants themselves: They might suffer, but their offspring would advance.
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By EDWARD SCHUMACHER-MATOS - For the North County Times
NEW LONDON, Conn. ---- In the early 1990s, sociologist Alejandro Portes and a group of colleagues began an ambitious project of following the progress of 5,200 children of foreign-born immigrants.
Immigration studies were rare then, and focused on arriving adults. Portes hit on the observation that the real national impact of the burgeoning number of immigrants turned not on inflammatory issues such as their health care, but on the success or failure of their children. In turn, there was a historical American bargain for the immigrants themselves: They might suffer, but their offspring would advance.
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Parent Academies Help Mom and Dad Face School
Miami-Dade County, Philadelphia and Boston all have Parent Academies and other programs to help immigrant parents and other parents in low performing schools learn more to help their kids succeed in school. At the same time, these parents are learning too.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Guest editorial: Adult ed often starts with basics: reading
Another great story about teaching adults and immigrants to read, write and speak English. - - Donna Poisl
By Meg Nugent
Imagine how limited your life would be if you were an adult who could not read. Think about the basic things you could not do. Imagine how limited you would be if you could not speak English. And yet you must work, take care of kids, grocery shop, fix the car and pay bills.
The Nashville Adult Literacy Council sees this every day. We teach U.S.-born adults to read and English skills to adult immigrants, thanks to many volunteer tutors who sign up to help us.
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By Meg Nugent
Imagine how limited your life would be if you were an adult who could not read. Think about the basic things you could not do. Imagine how limited you would be if you could not speak English. And yet you must work, take care of kids, grocery shop, fix the car and pay bills.
The Nashville Adult Literacy Council sees this every day. We teach U.S.-born adults to read and English skills to adult immigrants, thanks to many volunteer tutors who sign up to help us.
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Hispanic Immigrants’ Children Fall Behind Peers Early, Study Finds
More help should be given to immigrant parents to begin reading to their babies. They are healthy but are behind their peers when they start school and many never catch up. Language is part of the problem and so is poverty. - - Donna Poisl
By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr.
HOUSTON — The children of Hispanic immigrants tend to be born healthy and start life on an intellectual par with other American children, but by the age of 2 they begin to lag in linguistic and cognitive skills, a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, shows.
The study highlights a paradox that has bedeviled educators and Hispanic families for some time. By and large, mothers from Latin American countries take care of their health during their pregnancies and give birth to robust children, but those children fall behind their peers in mental development by the time they reach grade school, and the gap tends to widen as they get older.
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By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr.
HOUSTON — The children of Hispanic immigrants tend to be born healthy and start life on an intellectual par with other American children, but by the age of 2 they begin to lag in linguistic and cognitive skills, a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, shows.
The study highlights a paradox that has bedeviled educators and Hispanic families for some time. By and large, mothers from Latin American countries take care of their health during their pregnancies and give birth to robust children, but those children fall behind their peers in mental development by the time they reach grade school, and the gap tends to widen as they get older.
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Literacy brings immigrants closer to full participation in life
This Literacy Center is teaching English to immigrant adults and also teaching them how to read. Both are necessary for success. - - Donna Poisl
by HECTOR TOBAR
In her one-bedroom apartment in the Pico-Union district, garment worker Julia Rodriguez lives surrounded by young readers.
Her oldest child, 10-year-old Santos, is giving Harry Potter a try. Nine-year-old Wendy devours girl-detective stories. Even her youngest, 6-year-old Marlyn, zips through early-reader books.
"Tim spins," Marlyn reads from her book. "Tim spins his hat." Julia listens to her daughter and beams. Until recently, the 34-year-old mother of three couldn't read the simplest sentence in any language. Having been illiterate most of her life, she feels deep, bittersweet emotions watching her children master reading.
Earlier this year, in the classrooms of the nonprofit Centro Latino for Literacy, Julia finally started learning to read and write herself.
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by HECTOR TOBAR
In her one-bedroom apartment in the Pico-Union district, garment worker Julia Rodriguez lives surrounded by young readers.
Her oldest child, 10-year-old Santos, is giving Harry Potter a try. Nine-year-old Wendy devours girl-detective stories. Even her youngest, 6-year-old Marlyn, zips through early-reader books.
"Tim spins," Marlyn reads from her book. "Tim spins his hat." Julia listens to her daughter and beams. Until recently, the 34-year-old mother of three couldn't read the simplest sentence in any language. Having been illiterate most of her life, she feels deep, bittersweet emotions watching her children master reading.
Earlier this year, in the classrooms of the nonprofit Centro Latino for Literacy, Julia finally started learning to read and write herself.
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Cardinal Egan memorializes forgotten Irish immigrants on Staten Island in New York
Many unnamed Irish immigrants died in quarantine on Staten Island in the mid 1800s. Some of the bones from the mass grave were found during a construction project and are being reburied with a funeral ceremony. - - Donna Poisl
By MEGAN FINNEGAN AND ELEANOR MILLER, IrishCentral.com
Mourners gathered at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church on Staten Island Saturday to bury the dead, but this was no ordinary funeral.
Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians escorted two caskets - one a small, white children's casket with golden angels; the other larger and pearl-colored - into the church as bagpipes played "Amazing Grace."
The two coffins contained the final remains of immigrants who died over 150 years ago.
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By MEGAN FINNEGAN AND ELEANOR MILLER, IrishCentral.com
Mourners gathered at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church on Staten Island Saturday to bury the dead, but this was no ordinary funeral.
Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians escorted two caskets - one a small, white children's casket with golden angels; the other larger and pearl-colored - into the church as bagpipes played "Amazing Grace."
The two coffins contained the final remains of immigrants who died over 150 years ago.
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Commentary: Latinos Are Assimilating In The USA
This well-known writer talks about the CNN special about Latinos and how it proved that assimilation is happening. - - Donna Poisl
Reporter: Ruben Navarrette Jr., Special to CNN
SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- Have you ever seen 47 million people hold their breath and hope for the best?
Take it from this Latino in America, when many of my compadres heard that CNN was putting together a documentary on being "Latino in America," that's pretty much what happened.
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Reporter: Ruben Navarrette Jr., Special to CNN
SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- Have you ever seen 47 million people hold their breath and hope for the best?
Take it from this Latino in America, when many of my compadres heard that CNN was putting together a documentary on being "Latino in America," that's pretty much what happened.
Click on the headline to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.
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