 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
|
| |
The IWP counts with several
programs that directly help and support the immigrant
in their arduous task of adaptation and social insertion
in this country, their new home, and it tries to
give them knowledge of the rights that all person
have at work, concerning their health and, their
education, as citizen, etc. Other programs are oriented
to address the rights that have been denied to these
workers as immigrant people.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
WORKPLACE
RIGHTS:
All
workers deserve justice and equitable conditions.
“ . . . if through necessity or fear of a
worse evil, the workman accepts harder conditions
because an employer or contractor will give
him no better, he is a victim of force and
injustice.” (Pope Leo XIII, The Condition
of Labor Rerum Novarum, 1891:par. 6)
Many
workplaces have strived to create just, non-discriminatory
environments for immigrant workers. IWP has
been able to establish excellent relationships
with many employers working with their staff
to interpret for the new workers and holding
mediation sessions when problems occur.
We assisted many new companies in worker recruitment.
One recurring problem is workplace discrimination.
Many times this occurs through job discrimination,
that is types of jobs that only immigrant
workers are assigned. Currently we are working
on a major violation in South Western Ohio
by gathering affidavits and other documentation.
Another key role of the IWP has been assisting
workers with Bureau of Worker Compensation
claims.
|
|
|
LEADERSHIP TRAINING:
The
IWP has worked from the beginning to be guided
by immigrants we work with. This started with
the writing of the Report on Immigrant Labor
in Ohio, where we sought organic leaders who
the community turned to in times of crisis,
e.g. following an industrial accident or fatality
of a member of the community. It has continued
with the building of local leadership committees
and the Statewide Leadership Council. Currently
over 70% of the board of IWP is immigrant
workers from across the state, of course transportation
and time limit participation.
To
this end, many of the programs of IWP play
a role in leadership training from recruitment
for events to social reality ESL lessons.
Each of our trips to consulates, as well as
mobile consulate visits from Guatemala, Honduras
and Mexico has engaged local leaders in organizing.
All of this provide an opportunity to build
skills–homevisits, organizing lists, mobilization
efforts–that are used in various campaigns.
Instituto
Cultural de Liderazgo del Medioeste (ICLM),
we have completed our two year training with
Jesuits from Detroit and Mexico which has
included the training of over 127 individuals
with 23 leaders taking all the courses. The
effects of this intense pastoral training
can be seen in two very concrete events: the
two day retreat held in July at Camp Luz which
was planned and run by immigrant leadership
and at the MACC training last November.
Learn
More
|
|
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
RIGHTS & HEALTH CARE:
Lack of interpretation in hospitals, social
agencies and the courts is a reoccurring problem
throughout Ohio. Many organizations have taken
up this struggle, including NAPJIT, UHCAN,
Racial Fairness Project, Racial Fairness Project
and International Institute, all of which
IWP has worked in collaboration on this issue.
There has been a slow process of establishing
systematic change in a collaborative process
with service providers.
We are working with various agencies in Wayne
County an Interpretation Training was held
for 93 participants from 11 counties. This
training highlighted the ethics and methodology
needed by interpreters.
We have worked with Community Health Partners
of Lorain County to provide a mobile health
unit for nursery workers in Lorain, Huron
and Erie counties. The mobile testing done
in July revealed 18 patients with serious
ailments needing follow-up treatment, 21 dental
needs and 15 eye care problems of those who
attended.
One of the key needs that IWP assists with
is care for pregnant mothers. During the last
year we have provided over 1500 hours of transportation
and interpretation for immigrant mothers and
children. This has included networking with
health care providers in Texas, Georgia, and
Florida to provide for a continuity of service.
As part of this an other medical assistance
the IWP processed over $400,000 of Alien Emergency
Medical Assistance (AMEA) claims. Many of
the hospitals that we have worked with had
not processed AEMA claims previously and IWP
acted as a liaison between the hospital and
regional Ohio Jobs and Family Services Offices.
Learn
More
|
|
|
ADVOCACY
& NETWORKING:
In
the Fall the Immigrant worker project brought
150 workers to the Immigrant Freedom Ride
held in Cleveland. Both the vice-Chair Lidia
Moreno and board member Melvin Rios were featured
speakers. Working with UFCW and St. Joseph’s
this event proved that rural immigrant workers
and migrants are at the forefront in the struggle
for immigration reform and equity. Unfortunately,
the presidential election has precluded any
meaningful changes–still Agricultural Jobs
and Opportunity Act came very close to passing.
In
the Spring, at the request of the Catholic
Conference of Ohio we brought speakers to
the Rural Advocacy Day with state representatives
and senators. Hopefully, this meeting will
aid future legislative reform, especially
on the issue of Driver’s Licences. Also, last
Spring our computer staff participated in
the OCCCN lobbying day on digital divide,
especially the need to expand internet facilities
and access to rural regions of the state,
as well as disadvantaged populations.
IWP
has played a key role in the statewide OLD
committee (Ohioans for Licensed Drivers) both
in researching international driving conventions,
suggesting law for reform of the current law
and discovering a loophole that for half the
year prescribed no penalty for driving without
a license.
With the Diocese of Youngstown, Sisters of
Charity Hispanic/Latino Interest Group and
others the IWP played a key role in a symposium
held at Walsh University. We were part of
the planning committee, provided art from
our community art projects and several of
the speakers were members of the IWP staff
and board. In addition, our previous work
with Health and Human Services Regional Department
of Civil Rights assisted with the participation
of Lisa Simone. Key contacts for IWP and other
agencies in Ohio for the future.
Finally,
we were part of two key events in Washington
DC. Building on testimony provided in previous
years at Catholic Charities USA, this year
at the annual Social Action Conference IWP
was featured as a national model project of
Catholic Campaign for Human Development. During
this conference we were able to advocate for
immigration reform with several federal Senators
and Congressfolk. The key element of the project,
that excited those who attended the session,
was the ability of the IWP to create an organic
framework where education (ESL/computers)
and service (hospital/interpretation) permutated
into action, such as unionization, racial
profiling or legislative reform.
Learn
More
|
|
CULTURAL & PASTORAL CELEBRATIONS:
In regards to
Pastoral Care, it should be noted that since
the formation the IWP has initiated the celebration
of Spanish Mass in seven communities, all
of which continue to today. The IWP has continued
with the formation and training of choirs
in the Tri-Diocesan region, which has included
ongoing guitar classes and the participation
in La Asociación Nacional de Músicos
Pastorales training in Chicago.
One
of the key cultural projects during the past
years was the community arts projects. This
project allowed us to draw on communities
historical vision to create images of belonging,
community and dignity. One of the key cultural
projects during the past years was the community
arts projects.
No
year would be complete without two now annual
celebrations. First the multiple county fútbol
tournament held in Vermillion every July 4th,
this event combines a round robin play with
various regional teams requiring Yugoslavian
referees (no English, no Spanish), and endless
food for 300 fútbolistas. The other
is the end of the summer ESL outing from the
ABLE Civics Grant sites–Tuscarawas, Wayne,
Ashland and Holmes counties. This year 150
participants floated down the Cuyahoga River
and than celebrated with a massive picnic/swim
at Edgewater park. Both these events and many
other smaller celebrations (from sledding
to pizza) with individual ESL sites draw people
out of an encapsulated existence. Most rural
immigrants never see the lake, never meet
people outside their region, never rest. These
cultural celebrations have an immense impact
on community building and imagining of a new
future.
Learn
More
|
|
EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS: ENGLISH AS SECOND LANGUAGE &
COMPUTERS
The IWP educational
programs, as well as the underlying philosophy
of IWP, is based on the work of Paulo Freire.
He taught that a learning environment must
reflect the social environment of students.
For the IWP this translates into classes on
Used Cars, Crossing the Border, and Some Things
to Say (Not Say) to the Police. The
ESL program empowers
students to order pizza and withstand immigration
raids.
Learn
More
The
Computer
Class Program,
however, consists of Classes that are totally
free and taught in Spanish. The primary target
is to bring people closer to the digital world
in which we live today, beginning by tearing
down those fears associated with the use of
this powerful tool (the Computer), providing
the incentive for students to take advantage
of all its applications, like the Internet
to name one, and opening the door to more
job opportunities. For more details on class
description, Location, schedules, Click
Here
|
|
MICRO- ENTERPRISE TRAINIG
The
Immigrant Worker Project has tried to pay
particular attention to workers who have left
their Country and families in search of new
opportunities in the United States. Of the
multiple problems they face in their new life,
how to administer their money and the use
of credit in the United States are among the
most important ones. IWP wants to address
these needs through the MICRO- ENTERPRISE
Project. This Project helps with the formative
program on money administration, the use of
credit, the purchase of houses and the creation
of small companies in the United States and
in the countries of origin. The people in
charge of the project go wherever immigrants
interested in these concepts are to be found
and the schedules are planned according to
the needs of those who request the service.
Money is one of the main reasons why many
immigrants are in the United States, but if
they fail to administer themselves well it
can easily become a nightmare for those who
came here with a dream. Immigrant Worker Project
"IWP" invites them to use this new
resource...
Learn
More
|
|
FUTURE PROGRAMS
The continued building of a Detention Project
will require a truly collaborative effort.
Even now this project draws on Pastoral, Legal
and Community Organizing staff from four different
projects. Just finding someone lost in the
maze of immigration detention is difficult
enough but finding a way to provide them with
sound legal advice and pastoral care is at
times nearly impossible. Two staff members
Naomi Hokky of Centro San Jose Immigration
Services and Teresa Brooks of the IWP will
be attending a national detention training
in Washington DC. This project also has the
ability to draw on the recent CRS Global Solidarity
trip to Guatemala. One problem deported detainees
face is arriving in their home country hundreds
of miles from home without money, nor clothes.
We have attempted to assist families in sending
clothes and money into holding facilities
with limited success. Hopefully CRS can provide
a reception point of funds and other materials
needs sent by the family for deportees.
Learn
More |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
©
2005 Web Master Leo
Giavino | Copyright © 2005 IWP . All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
