 March 2010 |
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Legal Clinic Begins New Year with New Services for Refugees
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Laura Young, Jelena Held,
Anne Crotty |
A refugee or asylee is an individual who flees his or her country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a social group. Legal staff at the International House Ginter Immigration Law Clinic have seen an influx of new clients in this new year who are living as refugees here in the Charlotte area. These are people from all over the world: Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Bhutan, Eritrea, Vietnam, or Moldova, for example. They come to International House for legal assistance in obtaining green cards, becoming naturalized U.S. citizens, or so family members can also join them here in the U.S. It is hard for us to imagine the kinds of conditions that have caused some of these people to flee their homes and seek safety in a foreign land. We have been moved at hearing some of their stories and inspired by their courage.
Last year, International House was approached by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Refugee Office and received a state contract which began January 1st to provide consultation and representation related to adjustment of status to permanent resident, naturalization, replacing Permanent Resident Cards (green cards), and obtaining travel documents to permit international travel to many refugee families in the Charlotte area. Kudos to attorney Anne Crotty and paralegals Jelena Giric-Held and Laura Young for the outstanding legal representation they have offered to so many refugees and immigrants in the last few years! Their work has built the excellent reputation of our law clinic and earned the respect of key partners statewide. |
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Citizenship Workshop
International House, in partnership with the Latin American Coalition, is holding a free, one-day Citizenship Workshop. The workshop will give potential citizenship applicants an overview of the naturalization process, including a presentation from a local USCIS official and a mock interview. Following the presentations, qualified paralegals will review the participants' applications to ensure that they are filled out correctly. Finally, the participants will have short consultations with an immigration attorney to determine if they will need further assistance on their cases.
The workshop will be held on at 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on February 26, 2011. All interested in attending should call International House at (704) 405-0962 or Latin American Coalition at (704) 531-3848 to register. |
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Saudi Delegation Studies US Efforts Against Human Trafficking 
International House was pleased to host a high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia here as they learned about how the United States government and nonprofit organizations combat the global problem of human trafficking. Members of the Saudi group represented that country's Human Rights Commission or held senior positions in the government. They traveled to Charlotte through the International Visitor's Program, sponsored by the U.S. State Department. International House Program Director, Lara Printz, set up a full itinerary of visits with the US Homeland Security Office, FBI, Legal Services, and nonprofits working locally and globally with victims of trafficking.
The International Visitors Program is one facet of International House's citizen diplomacy work. International House is a member of the National Council of International Visitors (NCIV) which will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in Washington, D.C. on February 16th. It has touched the lives of many foreign leaders, as well as countless U.S. hosts who have found that housing an International Visitor for a few days often leads to lifelong friendship. If you are interested in being a home or dinner host for an International Visitor, please contact Lara Printz at lprintz@ihclt.org. |
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Let's Celebrate Brazil and the
Anniversary of Our IVLP Program!
WHEN: Tuesday, February 22nd from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
WHERE: International House
WHAT: Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the partnership between the US Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV)
We will feature a special guest speaker, Brazilian alumni of the IVLP program, Mr. Humberto Adami Santos, Ombudsman for the National Secretariat of Policies for the Promotion of Race Equality (SEPPIR) in Brazil.
Mr. Adami will be discussing his background as a legal defender for minority rights and legal issues concerning affirmative action and his primary role in implementing programs that promote equality. He will also share how his participation in the IVLP program in 2001 was essential to projects he accomplished in Brazil. Mr. Adami has founded such programs as an internet discussion group that allows African-American and African-Brazilian activists to exchange ideas concerning the fight against racism, and the promotion of tolerance.
So get ready to learn, mingle, and put your Brazilian dancing shoes on! |
| Opportunity for 3 High School Students to Participate in Brazilian Exchange!
We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for three high school students - and potentially one adult educator - from Charlotte to participate in an exchange to Brazil in late July 2011. Eligible students must not have travelled internationally in the past, making this a great adventure for three deserving students!
For more information about requirements and to apply, contact Lara Printz, Program Director, at lprintz@ihclt.org.
Applications must be submitted to International House by February 15th.
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 Vietnamese Association
International House Executive Director, Denise Long, enjoyed celebrating the 2011 Lunar New Year at the Vietnamese Association of Charlotte's Tet Festival on January 30, 2011. She joined other Charlotte community leaders in expressing appreciation for the gifts of the many Vietnamese people currently living in the Charlotte area to our wider community.
The Tet celebration inaugurated "The Year of the Cat" and is considered one of the most important cultural events in the Vietnamese community. Wide-eyed children and smiling parents watched three colorful dragons jump and dance on stage to the accompaniment of traditional drums and then placed red envelopes containing money into the dragon's "mouths". Veterans of the Vietnam War were honored. Grey-haired elders in blue silk robes lit incense and bowed before a colorful altar to remind those present to respect the wisdom of past ancestors while looking forward to a new year.
 The Vietnamese Association of Charlotte (Cong Dong) is a nonprofit that is committed to bettering the lives of the 17,000+ Vietnamese-Americans living in the Charlotte-metropolitan area through community service and cultural programs. Established in 1993, Cong Dong actively engages with the greater Charlotte community to promote cultural awareness and appreciation, and provides social and educational services to facilitate Vietnamese immigrants' assimilation into the American culture.
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| Volunteer Open House a Success!
On January 31st, about 60 people came to an International House Volunteer Open House to learn how to become involved as a volunteer or intern. Staff members talked about their programs and their need for volunteers. Current volunteers gave first hand testimonials about how satisfying it can be to become part of Charlotte's diverse international community.
International House offers volunteers a variety of projects and interesting work, allowing them to play a part in promoting international understanding and helping people in our community. If you have a skill you'd like to share, there's a place for you at International House! We invite you to become one of our treasured volunteers. Spanish language skills are especially appreciated.
If you are interested in volunteering, contact Rusty Reynolds at rreynolds@ihclt.org.
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Make a Donation
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From the Executive Director
Safe Space. This is the name of the domestic violence agency in Louisburg, North Carolina
where I served as Executive Director in the late 90's. I remember many of the women who stayed at the old home that we bought and renovated as a shelter. Escaping a former home that was no longer a refuge but a place of terror, they arrived at a safe space, a sanctuary whose walls provided protection from those who pursued and persecuted them. This place of physical and legal refuge gave them the breathing room they needed in order to face a new and unknown future.
So it is with countries - host nations that give refuge to those who must flee their homeland because they are no longer safe. We here in the United States have the privilege and the duty to provide these exiled and uprooted ones a sanctuary-- a safe space where they can be free to live and speak and worship as they choose, where they are granted the same rights as our native citizens, and where they can consider whether to stay on a permanent basis or return to their homeland when conditions get better.
All of us grow up with an emotional tie to the concept of 'home'. In the natural order of things we are born into a family of a particular culture, religion and worldview. We are born in a particular place with its own unique geography and history. A home gives us roots. Without it we don't know where we come from; without it there is no restorative place of return and rest.
For some, however, home becomes a place of danger. Most of us cannot imagine what it's like to leave the country you love, the culture you know, the people who are dear to you, and move to a strange land with unfamiliar customs, with people who do not look like you or speak your language. We cannot imagine the confusion, the loneliness, the sense of isolation, the grief for all that has been lost. All we can do is offer welcome and hope, justice and compassion.
That is what International House provides to so many in Charlotte who arrive here as the result of political persecution, civil war, or religious intimidation in their homelands. They do not want a hand-out, only the opportunity to be productive citizens in their new country. We hope you will join us in welcoming them. |
Be a Home Host!
Make new friends from all over the world by welcoming them into your home! We have the following upcoming visits where you can get involved! March 4-12 Russian Legislators March 31-April 8 OR April 8-18 Serbian Law Enforcement Professionals
May 5-15 Community Leaders from Azerbaijan If you are interested in home hosting or would like more information, contact Lara Printz at lprintz@ihclt.org |
International Book Club 
The International House Book Club meets again on Monday, February 21st at 7 p.m. The book this month is Waiting for Snow in Havana, by Carlos Eire of Cuba. You do not need to register or sign up - just join us! |
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Doorways
Doorways is our International House Women's Group, which meets on the first Wednesday of each month for social and cultural exchanges.
The group's next meeting is Wednesday, March 2nd and the topic is
"Let's Salsa" with Jebi Nivens of Dulce Y Valiente Dance Productions.
To find out more about Doorways, contact Lakana Bikhazi at laklouk12@carolina.rr.com |
Cultural Workshops
You can still join our workshops in Bhangra Dancing, Yoga or Salsa Dancing! Just come and pay per class. Click here for more information. |
THANK YOU!
 Many thanks to Hunton & Williams for their recent donation of much needed computer equipment! |
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Donate to
International House
When you donate to International House, you help us provide important services to our community.
You can donate online here or mail a check to International House at
322 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204 |
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