Welcome back to our weekly message! Here’s what’s new:
Sister Janice and Julian appeared on the front page of past Sunday's edition of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette! It was chapter 3 of the paper's feature on Pittsburgh's Latino community, "Unsettled in America" by journalist Peter Smith and photographer Nate Guidry. This part focused on Casa San José and its staff: read the whole series here.
Our Grupo de Mujeres Latinas has been meeting over breakfast in Brookline every Saturday morning, with speakers and lively discussion about nutrition, politics, fiber arts, relationships, depression and women's health. Childcare is provided. Even in crisis, life goes on.
Your help is much needed:
- Carwash for a Cause, 2 more this week: please help our Latino youth attend the next Harrisburg convening and training workshop of the PA Immigration and Citizenship Coalition AND get your car clean and shiny again. This
- Thursday, July 20, noon to 6, 2957 Banksville Rd., Banksville
- Saturday, July 22, 10 to 4, Busy Beaver, 2940 Library Rd., Castle Shannon
- We would appreciate any donations of these items for our Back to School party on August 18 for our kids ages 7-18: plates, cups, silverware, napkins, paper towels, party favors, snacks, drinks, round tablecloths, raffle baskets and toys. Just drop them off at our office at 933 Brookline Blvd., M-F, 9-5. Questions? Email Jeimy at jeimy@casasanjose.org.
- Show your welcome to immigrants and refugees by displaying a beautiful free sign or poster, designed by local artist Bob Ziller and produced by local organization The Sprout Fund in its "Belonging" project. Please come and pick one up at our office, 933 Brookline Blvd. or at the Sprout Fund, 5423 Penn Ave. - weekdays 9-5.
- Save the dates: upcoming workshops on Supporting Immigrant Rights in Your Community. Learn how Pittsburgh supports immigrant rights and where your state legislator stands - what the issues are and how to work for productive solutions. Events are hosted by Casa San José, the Thomas Merton Center, and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. (Library locations are here.)
- Tuesday, August 1st, Homewood Library, 6-8 pm
- Thursday, August 3rd, Beechview Library, 6-8 pm
- Thursday, August 10th, Mt. Washington Library, 6-8 pm
You may remember that last week we told the story of Pedro and Pierre - who became friends at the Erie Detention Center and were released a few weeks ago. Pierre - after a desperate journey, much of it on foot, from Haiti to Brazil, other countries in South America, California, and Pennsylvania, was ultimately granted asylum status. He is now staying with Pedro in Pittsburgh until he finds a job and a new home. He is no longer under threat of deportation and is getting help from local organizations.
Last week at Casa, Pierre came to the office to get help making a phone call to Haiti. Tracy Medrano, former Casa staff member who was there, tells it this way: "After many months without communication with his family he called his sister and mother. He sat in the crowded office of Casa San Jose quietly communicating between Spanish, Haitian Creole, French, Portuguese and English His mother, he says, is blind and thought him dead when she heard he was in the detention center. After gathering information from his sister about her location, he finally connected with his mother. "It's me, Mom. It's me." he said in French. I could not help but wonder if those words were also for himself: It is me, I have survived! Then with his eyes tearing up from emotion and the cry of his mother audible from the phone, he lowered his gaze and spoke quietly; finally, a moment of intimacy with his mother. And now, he awaits quietly for the next step, for the continuous struggle of the immigrant spirit, humble, strong and indestructible."
Suggested if you’d like to read or see more:
- "Immigration Q&A: Why can't undocumented immigrants just 'get in line?" - This is the question that many anti-immigrant groups pose - here the Cleveland Plain Dealer explains why it's so hard. This helps respond to legislators who insist on it.
- The latest eloquent stories from the "Faces of Immigration" series produced by Justice for Immigrants.
