A WIN:WIN - SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL HOUSE AND ENJOY A FANTASTIC EVENING!

On behalf of the International House Board of Directors and our 2012 Gala Committee, we cordially invite you to International House’s signature fundraising event, ¡Perú Magnífico! Celebrate its Wonders, our 24th Annual Benefit Gala to be held on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at The Westin Charlotte. The Gala is an elegant and much anticipated evening which raises funds for the unique programs and services we offer to the immigrant and international community here in Charlotte.

Each year, we highlight a different country or world region. This year we will celebrate all things Peruvian! Please join us for an evening of glitz and glamour which draws high profile members of the Charlotte philanthropic and corporate community. Best of all, you will be helping us support the good work we do every day in building international understanding and assisting the local immigrant community.

For bookings and information, call 704.333.8099 or click here to make an online reservation ($150 per person; a portion is tax-deductible). Corporate sponsorships are still available. Exciting live and silent auctions will feature many great items such as a Holland America Line Cruise, a themed seated dinner for eight, theater and opera tickets, art and jewelry, a signed Panthers football and tickets, restaurant and local store gift certificates, a private wine tasting for 20 people, and much more!

Location: The Westin Charlotte
Date: Saturday, October 6, 2012
Time: Six-Thirty in the Evening - Black Tie Optional

English Tutor Training - Sept 8th & 9th

International House is seeking volunteer tutors for our English Tutoring Program. The English Tutoring Program (ETP) is designed to help immigrants learn English at a convenient time and place by pairing them with caring, trained volunteer tutors. It began in 1993 and currently serves over 100 students annually.

ETP assists internationals who are unable to attend traditional English-as-a-second-language classes due to various circumstances, including cost, transportation issues, location, and time constraints. The program is free for participants.

We have an immediate need for volunteer tutors, so sign up now for Tutor Training Orientation:
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:30 PM at International House, 322 Hawthorne Lane.

Try one of our two options for volunteers:

1) Short-term Tutor Opportunity
6 weeks: Sundays from 1:00-2:00pm
September 23- October 28, 2012
More info >>

2) Long-term Tutor Opportunity
12 Weeks: Once a week at a mutually convenient time for 60-90 minutes at a public library
September 23- December 3, 2012
More info >>

All interested prospective volunteers should email Gail Johnson at gjohnson@ihclt.org.

Click here to view pictures of the program

ESL Classes - Fall 2012 Schedule

Our English as a Second Language (ESL) program serves many local immigrants with a low-cost opportunity to learn English. Students pay only for a workbook. Enrollment is currently open, so please contact us soon to register or for more information.

Latest Schedule:
Dates: September 10, 2012- November 20, 2012
Times: Monday -Thursday 11:00am -12:00pm OR
Tuesday and Thursday 6:00-8:00pm
Click here for more information >>

Above: ESL participants in the Beginner Class. Son EM (front left in the picture), came from Cambodia 4 years ago and never had English lessons before coming to International House.

Home Hosts Needed! If you are interested in hosting an international visitor between Oct. 20 and Nov 17, please contact International House at 704-333-8099 or email lprintz@ihclt.org.
Click here for more details >>

IH LAW CLINIC GEARED UP TO ASSIST “DREAMERS” IN  DEFFERED ACTION CASES

In keeping with the Obama administration’s effort to focus immigration enforcement on public safety and border protection, the Department of Homeland Security announced the procedure for requesting deferred action for childhood arrivals.

DHS will review these requests on a case-by-case basis. The Deferred Action program does not confer legal status nor does it give a pathway to citizenship but it does allow employment authorization. In North Carolina, an Employment Authorization Document (work permit) is an acceptable form of Identification for the DMV. Eligible immigrants will be able to work and drive legally!

The Law Clinic at IH is working hard to meet the demands of immigrants seeking assistance with their Deferred Action cases, along with the Latin American Coalition and Legal Services of the Southern Piedmont . We will also assist the Latin American Coalition with a Deferred Action Workshop on October 6th where applicants can receive assistance free of charge.

Immigrants may be eligible for Deferred Action if they can prove that they:

1. were under 31 on June 15, 2012;
2. came to the U.S. under the age of 16;
3. continuously resided in the U.S. for at least 5 years before 6/15/12 and were physically present in the US on 6/15/12;
4. are currently attending school, have graduated from high school, obtained a GED certificate, or are an honorably discharged Veteran of the US Armed Forces or Coast Guard;
5. have not been convicted of a felony offense, significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanor offenses nor otherwise pose a threat to the community or national security.

Immigrants who think they may be eligible for deferred action are encouraged to call the law clinic at IH or another qualified immigration attorney. Passage of the Dream Act or other comprehensive Immigration Reform will be necessary for these young people to apply for Legal Permanent Residence (green card), which would put them on a path to U.S. citizenship.

TOP TEN REASONS TO COME TO THE GALA!

The time is fast approaching for the social extravaganza of the season, International House’s 24th Annual Benefit Gala!  We are dusting off our dancing shoes as we get ready for our signature fundraising event that raises almost $100,000 each year for International House programs and services. 

This year’s gala highlights the beautiful country of Peru, and we will also honor the 50th anniversary of Charlotte’s “Sister City” relationship with the city of Arequipa, Peru. A delegation of visitors from Arequipa will be joining us, as will Sr. José Eduardo Gonzáles Mantilla, the Consul General of Peru based in Atlanta.

It takes a village to plan an event of this magnitude, and we couldn’t possibly have done it without the following key people: Gala Committee Chair, Josane Calvert and the hard-working members of the Gala Committee, IH Business Manager, Rusty Reynolds, and our board members and volunteers. We also want to thank our corporate partners and the individual donors whose generous support sustains the important work that we do in the community every day.

Haven’t bought a ticket, yet? Let me offer 10 reasons why you won’t want to miss this year’s festivities!

1. An elegant meal, excellent wine, and great company at the beautiful Westin Hotel

2. Peruvian entertainment with music and dance by Iraida Valdivia  and Gabriela Sevillano & Dmitriy Solomakha

3. After-dinner band music provided by Déjà Vu

4. Dancing with the Stars (of International House that is!)

5. Many great live and silent auction items, including a 7-day Holland America Line Cruise for Two in Alaska, Caribbean, Mexico or Canada/New England, and 

6. A golden tourmaline necklace from Donald Haack Diamonds, and

7. Tickets to theater, dance performances, opera and museums, and

8. A dazzling piece of jewelry from Perry's at SouthPark, plus

9. Artwork, gift certificates, fabulous baskets and much more!

10. AND THE BEST REASON OF ALL: Your ticket purchase supports the programs and services that International House provides to Charlotte’s international and immigrant community. So, come and join us for a fun evening for a great cause. You’ll be glad you did!

By Denise Cumbee Long

Due to the DNC traffic, the September Doorways meeting has been rescheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 12th (the second Wednesday of the month). The meeting will take place at International House at 10 a.m., and everyone is welcome to attend. Afterwards, members will be taken on a private tour of the Midwood International and Cultural Center -- the prospective new home of International House and Doorways.

Doorways is a group of international women meeting on the first Wednesday of each month for social and cultural exchanges. These meetings typically take place at International House and feature different presentations from guest speakers.

If you are interested in Doorways, please contact Lakana at laklouk12@carolina.rr.com or Lara Printz at lprintz@ihclt.org

The next meeting of the International House Book Club will be on Monday, September 17, 2012 at 7 p.m. Everyone welcome!

The book to be discussed will be City of Falling Angels by John Berendt (414 pages) VENICE, ITALY.

“Berendt has now taken us to Venice and he digs beneath its surface…to find fascinating tales of intrigue, human folly and human decency. He goes beneath the obvious fascination of the city's history and art to introduce us to Counts and Marchesas, electricians and fruit-and vegetable sellers, artists and poets, criminals and politicians. In ‘Falling Angels’ the core event is the destruction by fire (arson?) of Venice's famed historic opera house, the Fenice--and the byzantine aftermath of this great loss to the city. But, as in ‘Midnight [in the Garden of Good and Evil],’ Berendt is not content to merely tell a gripping story. He once again introduces us to a series of memorable characters, some petty and venal, some filled with charm and wisdom, all fascinating.” (Amazon review)

“The story opens on the evening…when a sensational fire destroys the historic Fenice Opera House. Arriving three days after the fire, Berendt becomes a kind of detective – inquiring into the nature of life in this remarkable city while gradually revealing the truth about the fire.

"In the course of his investigations, Berendt encounters a rich cast of characters: a hard-as-nails prosecutor who blushes when he’s angered; a prominent Venetian poet whose shocking ‘suicide’ prompts his friends to pursue a murder suspect on their own; the First Family of American expatriates facing the loss of their palace on the Grand Canal after four generations of ownership; an organization of party-going, high society Americans busily raising money to preserve the art and architecture of Venice, while quarreling among themselves.

Berendt tells a tale full of atmosphere and surprise as the stories build…revealing the city of Venice in all its magic, mystery, and decadence.

Click here to learn more about our featured books.

For more information about our people, programs, or organization please email info@ihclt.org or call 704-333-8099.

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