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A Hope and A Future
United Methodist Cooperative Ministries/Suncoast, Inc. |
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Dedication Pays Off for New Citizen
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"I am very happy," said Bak Horng Minh, after being sworn in as a US Citizen at a ceremony in May at the Department of Homeland Security Office in Tampa. "Here the law is good and this is freedom," he added, grinning from ear to ear.
Horng immigrated to the US in 2006 from Cambodia and immediately began his preparations to become a citizen. In addition to finding a job as a machine operator in St. Petersburg, Horng started learning English at Cooperative Ministries' tutoring site at Wesley United Methodist Church, attending at least twice a week and often coming to practice his new skills in the computer lab. Eventually he moved on to learning about the US and its government in order to pass the citizenship interview.
"I have never had a student work as hard as Horng," said Michelle Kiewit, one of Horng's tutors. Suzanne Conti, another of his tutors, echoed that sentiment and added that, though Horng worked the night shift and often had little or no sleep before his class, he was always the first one there and ready to learn.
Horng's tutors had not met before they showed up along with Literacy Director Jan Setzekorn to support Horng at the ceremony. All three beamed as he took the oath of citizenship along with 43 other adults from 24 different countries and every continent.
Read Jan Setzekorn's personal account of Horng's special day.
The ICE agent jumped up on top of the retaining wall and directed the line of immigrants to proceed into the trailer ahead. "Have your permanent residence cards out and surrender them to the person at the door!"
Click here for more of Jan's story and find out what it takes to become a naturalized citizen!
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Coming Events
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July 31, 1-5 pm - The Suncoast Blues Jam Society Fundraiser for Pack-A-Sack 4 Kids at Postcard Inn, St. Pete Beach (see details below)
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| Want to Help? |
Would you like to be a part of one of the programs or projects of Cooperative Ministries? Click on one of the links below to get involved in the way that's best for you!
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Backpacks Available for Outreach Events
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Our Backpacks 4 Successful Students project is in full swing again this year. Donors are providing backpacks and the school supplies to stuff them, while others are holding outreach events for low-income students in their area to distribute them where they are most needed.
We'd like to offer our special thanks to Anona UMC for donated funding to purchase backpacks and for providing school supplies and volunteers to stuff them. We also thank Heritage UMC for providing additional filled backpacks for the project. As donations continue to come in, we are predicting we will have distributed about 600 backpacks when this back-to-school season ends.
If you'd like to donate backpacks or supplies, please click here to see the list of items needed.
If you are planning a Back to School outreach event for low-income children in your area and would like some backpacks to distribute, please contact Karen Edwards,(727) 442-6881 x3 or kedwards@umcm.info. |
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Honoring Rev. James Smith
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Family and friends of The Reverend James Marshall Smith, who died on June 10 at the age of 85 in his hometown of St. Petersburg, have honored his life and ministry with memorial blessings for United Methodist Cooperative Ministries. He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary, St. Petersburg, and children Dana Smith, Ormond Beach, Sara Smith, St. Petersburg, Rebecca Tseng Smith, Redwood City, CA, Robert Smith, Atlanta, GA and Ruth Hughes, Easley, SC, and eleven grandchildren. We are very grateful to the family and those who sent memorial donations.
Born January 27th, 1927 in St. Petersburg, Rev. Smith was on the cradle (infant) roll at First United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg. He was a member of the St. Petersburg High School graduating class of 1944 and a graduate of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, and Boston University School of Theology, Boston, MA.
To read more and see the list of those remembering Rev. Smith through their donations, click here.
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Join Us For Blues at the Beach
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What could be better on a lazy summer Sunday afternoon than enjoying good friends, the beach and great blues music? Helping hungry kids while you're doing it!
The Suncoast Blues Society is hosting a Blues Jam Spotlight featuring the Tom Kats in the outside Postcard Inn bar on St. Pete Beach. For one day, we are bringing back the popular blues jam, so if you are a musician, bring your axe!
What: The Suncoast Blues Society Blues Jam Spotlight featuring the Tom Kats
When: Sunday, July 31, 2011, 1:00 to 5:00 pm
Where: Postcard Inn On The Beach
6300 Gulf Boulevard
St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
RAIN OR SHINE, CASUAL BEACH ATTIRE, CASH BAR, SNACK SHACK OPEN, RAFFLE, DONATION AREA, 50/50, SILENT AUCTION
Proceeds from the event will be donated to Cooperative Ministries' Pack-A-Sack 4 Kids program to feed hungry children on the weekends when free meal programs are not available. This past year, over 400 children received nutritionally balanced foods every weekend of the school year. Next year, we hope to double the number of children served. You can help make that happen! Thank you to Gina Wilkins, Amanda Gerttula, and The Kind Mouse Productions for making this event possible. To see the E-vite and RSVP, please click here . |
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Recognitions
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 The Children of the World Preschool has been recognized for the excellence of their Food Service Program with an Outstanding Performance Award from Cornerstone Family Ministries of Tampa. The preschool provides a healthy breakfast, lunch, and snack each day for the children. Cornerstone Family Ministries administers the Federal Child Care Food Program which provides the funding for the meals.
Jan Setzekorn, Director of Literacy Services, was nominated for a Hero Award by the InterCultural Advocacy Institute at their 10th Anniversary Luncheon held June 24, 2011. The nomination honored her dedication to providing high-quality educational opportunities for immigrant and refugee adults and their families in Clearwater and throughout Pinellas County.
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Threshers Baseball Provides Fun and Funds
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Friends of Cooperative Ministries came from all over the local community - Trinity, Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, New Port Richey, and St. Petersburg - to have a great time with other Threshers fans on May 13th and 20th at Bright House Field. Both nights were perfect for baseball, fun with friends, and "all you can eat" snacks from the Hot Corner Cafe.
You may remember that we had one night of fundraising at the ballpark planned with the Threshers on May 20th. When it was discovered that the Palm Harbor United Methodist Church's Quartet "Redeemed" was scheduled to sing the National Anthem on May 13th, a week before the scheduled fundraiser, the Threshers agreed to let both nights' ticket sales benefit Cooperative Ministries' projects and programs.
As a result, the most represented group at the games was Palm Harbor United Methodist Church with 85 attendees from the Mid-High Youth Group, Worship and Arts Ministry, and the Shining Lights Class. Some of these supporters came to games both nights!
Thanks to Bobby Mitchell, Threshers Community Relations, and the Threshers Fundraising program for providing a great night of fun and fundraising!
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No More Wasted Talent
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Approximately eighteen years ago, Sophia* and her husband entered the United States from Mexico to follow their dream of a better life for their unborn son. They were sponsored by Sophia's brother in Florida, and began to make travel arrangements to join him. Sophia, a very young woman in the late stages of pregnancy, felt some discomfort and wanted to be with her mother for a short while longer before moving on. She travelled back home, where her discomfort turned out to be early labor. Her son, Marco*, was born prematurely in Mexico.
When the baby was able to travel, Sophia joined her husband and they began their new life. They never thought about what that quick trip to Mexico meant for Marco's citizenship as they worked to support their growing family. Marco grew up speaking English as his parents learned to speak the language in Cooperative Ministries' Literacy Program. His brothers and sisters were born here and are US citizens. His parents worked to attain citizenship.
Marco is now 18 years old and has just graduated with honors from high school. His parents are nearing the end of their citizenship process. Because US bureaucracy moved so slowly for this family, Marco will not automatically attain citizenship with his parents as he would have if he were still a minor. Even though he came as an infant to this country, his parents' original sponsorship does not transfer to him. He is in limbo - undocumented and with no way to remedy the problem. He cannot get a job and cannot go to college.
On June 28, 2011, the US Senate held a critical hearing on the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. Several dozen students in their caps and gowns attended the hearing, despite their status as undocumented immigrants. Senator Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, introduced several who had demonstrated excellence in many facets of life but were unable to gain employment in their chosen field.
The hearing also featured a cadre of Obama administration officials who testified that passing the legislation would allow law enforcement to focus on undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes, while infusing the ailing economy with well-educated talent.
While immigration reform as a whole is a difficult issue to address, the DREAM Act is easier to consider. The young people who would benefit are not responsible for their immigration status, and are eager and willing to give back to the land they consider home. The United Methodist Church and Cooperative Ministries support the DREAM Act, and invite you to join us.
You can contact Florida's senators to let them know that you support the DREAM Act by using the following contact forms.
Marco Rubio Bill Nelson
United Methodist Bishop Minerva Carcaņo was among a coalition of interfaith leaders announcing a DREAM Act Sabbath from September 16 to October 9, 2011. For more information, click here.
*Names have been changed.
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| Info | United Methodist Cooperative Ministries/Suncoast, Inc.
1625 Union Street
Clearwater, FL 33755-1363
(727) 442-6881
www.umcm.info
contact@umcm.info |
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