Dear Casa San José Amigos,
Welcome back to our weekly message! Here’s what’s new:
HELP:
HELP:
- Volunteers needed on Saturday, Oct. 14 to help with an event sponsored by the Mexican Consulate to get passports and other vital documents to local residents who are Mexican citizens. Location is the gym behind Central Catholic High School which is at 4720 Fifth Ave. in Oakland, with parking on site. We need:
- people to help set up starting at 8 am and/or take down around 4:30 pm
- people to help sell food during the day
- people to help watch and play with children while their parents get documents
- interpreters who can assist the lawyers who don't speak Spanish
- If you can do this, please email Sister Valerie at srvalerie@casasanjose.org. (Only the interpreters need to speak Spanish.)
ACTION:
- Come to the Old World New World Heritage Festival hosted by Brookline Teen Outreach this Saturday, Sept. 23 from 1-4 pm at 520 Brookline Blvd., Pittsburgh 15226. "Whether you immigrated recently or your family has been in America for generations, we want to celebrate the contributions of all cultures through a free event for all ages. Art, music, food, games, and so much more!":
- Or, another option that day: Saturday, Sept. 23 at 2 pm for the screening of documentary film Al Otro Lado, about Mexicans traveling north to escape crisis situations and the music that accompanies them, introduced by Sister Janice, at the Beechview Branch of Carnegie Library, 1910 Broadway Ave.
- AND - please keep calling: here's another fast and easy way (from the ACLU) to call your Senator to protect Dreamers and pass a Clean Dream Act now.
NEWS:
- Last Friday, Casa San José joined the Steelworkers and LCLAA and other allies in a march from Market Square to Sen. Toomey's office to support the Dreamers, but also all immigrants. Monica spoke and reminded us that "today we stand here with workers for DACA, but in reality it's also about the parents of the DACA youth and all the 11 million people who desperately need compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform." We need to keep our eyes on the larger goal too.
- There are still a few more tickets left (click here to get them and more info.) for the super celebration "¡Que Viva Clemente!" Saturday, Oct. 7 from 7-10 pm at Alphabet City on the North Side. Proceeds go to support our work at Casa San José. It's an annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and the legacy of the great humanitarian and Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente, organized by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA). Enjoy wonderful Flamenco dance and music from Alba Flamenca and deliciously authentic Latin American cuisine along with fine craft beer and homemade sangria.
- Last Sunday, Sr. Janice spoke to the worshippers at Sunnyhill Unitarian Universalist church in Mt. Lebanon, and this weekend she will be traveling to St. John's Lutheran Church in North Versailles. Faith based organizations are reaching out to us for informational talks and to ask what they can do to help and support our work.
- Welcoming Pittsburgh is sponsoring a Citizenship Day this Friday, Sept. 22, at the City County Building, 414 Grant St. downtown, for people who are interested in becoming US citizens. They are also looking for volunteers.
- Come visit us and other great nonprofit partners at the Help or High Water Volunteer Fair this Thursday evening at the Union Project.
SUGGESTED if you'd like to read or see more:
- Relatives of Undocumented Children Caught Up in ICE Dragnet: in a shift from how it operated during the Obama administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is cracking down on relatives who let undocumented kids stay with them after entering the U.S. ProPublica, Sept. 11.
Thank you for joining us!
(Earlier messages can be found here.)
