{"id":1383,"date":"2016-12-15T16:00:03","date_gmt":"2016-12-15T21:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newbridgesirc.org\/?p=1383"},"modified":"2016-12-15T16:00:03","modified_gmt":"2016-12-15T21:00:03","slug":"after-the-election-how-to-support-the-local-immigrant-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newbridgesirc.org\/sw\/2016\/12\/15\/after-the-election-how-to-support-the-local-immigrant-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Baada ya Uchaguzi: Jinsi ya Kusaidia Jamii ya Wahamiaji wa Mitaa"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.newbridgesirc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/ON-NOW.jpg\" alt=\"on-now\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.newbridgesirc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/After-the-Election_-How-to-Support-the-Local-Immigrant-Community.jpg\" alt=\"after-the-election_-how-to-support-the-local-immigrant-community\" \/><br \/>\nMany people are concerned for the immigrant community in light of the recent election results. Interacting with and advocating for immigrants are tangible ways to take a stand against the fear and hate that seem to have set the tone of many national conversations about immigrants. Keep reading for a list of ideas of practical ways to get involved.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><b>Speak truth to powe<\/b><strong>r<\/strong>: Call or email your elected officials to support legislation that has the national interest in mind and protects immigrants. It is important to support comprehensive immigration reform that creates pathways to citizenship. Keep an eye on the news, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">congress.gov<\/a> (especially in 2017) to track legislation that will influence immigrants and refugees. If you are unfamiliar with your elected officials, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/?_ga=1.260010124.76548500.1481225416\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">this<\/a> is a good website to find their contact information and see bills they have introduced and supported. If you are local to Harrisonburg, here is the contact information for your elected representatives:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Bob Goodlatte, US Representative for VA\u2019s 6th District<\/b><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<li>Phone: 202-225-5431<\/li>\n<li>Website: http:\/\/goodlatte.house.gov\/<\/li>\n<li>Email: https:\/\/goodlatte.house.gov\/contact\/<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Mark Warner, US Senator for VA<\/b><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<li>Phone: 202-224-2023<\/li>\n<li>Website: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.warner.senate.gov\/public\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.warner.senate.gov\/public\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Email: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.warner.senate.gov\/public\/index.cfm\/contactpage#form_f9db6196-2dc7-4cda-8add-f8435a71318a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.warner.senate.gov\/public\/index.cfm\/contactpage#form_f9db6196-2dc7-4cda-8add-f8435a71318a<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Tim Kaine, US Senator for VA<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Phone: 202-224-4024<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Website: \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.kaine.senate.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.kaine.senate.gov\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Email: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaine.senate.gov\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.kaine.senate.gov\/contact<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><b>Educate yourself<\/b>: Many arguments in public discourse are based on unfounded evidence. Familiarize yourself with some basic demographics, statistics, and information about immigration policy to objectively filter through information and respond accordingly. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.migrationpolicy.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Migration Policy Institute<\/a> is a resource with comprehensive, non-partisan \u00a0information related to immigration. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.migrationpolicy.org\/article\/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigration-united-states\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">This article<\/a> answers frequently asked questions and provides up-to-date statistics about immigrants in the United States. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thecommonwealthinstitute.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Taasisi ya Jumuiya ya Madola<\/a> also produces informational reports about the important role of immigrants in Virginia, like <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thecommonwealthinstitute.org\/2016\/09\/21\/key-facts-about-immigrants-in-virginia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">this one<\/a>. Combat ignorance by educating yourself and sharing accurate information!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><b>Donate your time and\/or money to local organizations that assist immigrants and refugees<\/b>: These agencies have the capacity to work with immigrants and refugees in the Harrisonburg\/Shenandoah Valley area. Each organization has specific needs and ways to get involved.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.skylineliteracy.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Usomaji wa Skyline<\/a> is a local nonprofit that works with English language learners and helps eligible people on the pathway to citizenship. Some ways to get involved include making a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.skylineliteracy.org\/support\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">financial donation<\/a> and\/or signing up to work as a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.skylineliteracy.org\/volunteer-now\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Community Literacy Partner<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/theyoungcenter.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Young Center for Immigrant Children\u2019s Rights<\/a> is a national nonprofit that trains child advocates who intercede for unaccompanied immigrant children. The Young Center periodically holds trainings for people in the area who want to become child advocates for unaccompanied minors being held in the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center in Staunton, VA. <a href=\"https:\/\/donatenow.networkforgood.org\/TheYoungCenter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Changia<\/a> or volunteer.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/cwsharrisonburg.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Huduma ya Ulimwengu ya Kanisa<\/a> helps refugees transition to their new life in Harrisonburg. The CWS office will hold a <a href=\"http:\/\/cwsharrisonburg.org\/get-involved\/linking-communities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kuunganisha Jumuiya<\/a> training on January 7, 2017, from 9:00am-12:30am at Parkview Mennonite Church \u00a0for local families who want to get partner with newly arrived refugee families and be a part of their transition process. The goal of Linking Communities is to \u201cform connections and strengthen the fabric of understanding, acceptance, and integration in the Harrisonburg community.\u201d If you are interested, contact Rebecca Sprague at <a href=\"mailto:linkingharrisonburg@cwsglobal.org\">linkingharrisonburg@cwsglobal.org<\/a>. CWS also collects a variety of household items, nonperishable food items, toiletries, furniture, coats, cell phones etc. throughout the year. <a href=\"http:\/\/cwsharrisonburg.org\/get-involved\/in-kind-donations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bonyeza hapa<\/a> for more information.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/newbridgesirc.org\/sw\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kituo cha Rasilimali cha Wahamiaji cha NewBridges<\/a>, our organization, is in the process of making emergency kits to distribute to the immigrants we serve. The kits will include a zippered coin bag, a whistle, an emergency contact card, and a very small toy, and we anticipate that it will cost approximately $1,000 to create several hundred of them. If you are interested in helping to finance this project, please contact <a href=\"mailto:ahorst@newbridgesirc.org\">Alicia<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><b>Get involved at the Community Level<\/b>: There has been a considerable amount of organizing in the Harrisonburg area already, most of it among the immigrant community. If you are bilingual in Spanish and English, your help as a translator will be integral in the coming months. Many foreign-born persons have been advised to create an emergency document that describes where all family members\u2019 paperwork is kept and contains an action plan in case of an emergency (essentially a living will). Creating this type of plan is not something that is commonly done in immigrant communities, and it will be important in cases of family separation or other emergencies that may arise. Keep an eye out for \u00a0workshop opportunities to create these documents soon&#8211;translation support will be critical! For more information please contact <a href=\"mailto:ahorst@newbridgesirc.org\">Alicia<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><b>Identify yourself as an ally<\/b>: Many people have been wearing safety pins on their clothing or bags as a sign that they are a safe person. \u00a0Another way to mark your self and\/or your family as an ally is to immigrants is to place a \u201cwe\u2019re glad you\u2019re our neighbor\u201d sign in your yard. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/welcomeyourneighbors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bonyeza hapa<\/a> to get more information on currently available signs or to print your own.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li><b>Speak up if you see injustice<\/b>: If you see people being targeted or discriminated against for their perceived or actual immigration status, do not hesitate to file a report with local police by calling (540) 434-4436 (non-emergency) or 911 (emergency). Filming the incident with your smartphone may provide helpful evidence. Additionally, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.splcenter.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Southern Poverty Law Center<\/a> is collecting data about \u201chateful intimidation and harassment.\u201d If you witness one of these incidents, report it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.splcenter.org\/reporthate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">hapa<\/a>, and use #ReportHate on social media.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>It is increasingly important to take action so that everyone, no matter where they are from, feels safe and at home here in the Valley and all across the country. Let\u2019s do our part to help the Friendly City live up to its reputation by building bridges between communities and cultures and speaking up for love, justice, and hope.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n_<br \/>\n<b>Kuhusu mwandishi: <\/b>Lindsay Wright ni mhitimu wa 2016 wa Chuo Kikuu cha James Madison, ambapo alihitimu mara mbili katika Mafunzo ya Mawasiliano na Kihispania. Kwa sasa anamaliza mafunzo ya ndani ya miezi tisa katika NewBridges, ambapo anatayarisha maudhui ya blogu na kupata uzoefu wa kufanya kazi na wateja. Katika wakati wake wa mapumziko, Lindsay hufurahia kusoma, kupika, na kutumia muda nje katika Bonde zuri la Shenandoah. Wasiliana na Lindsay kwa <a href=\"mailto:lwright@newbridgesirc.org\">lwright@newbridgesirc.org<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Watu wengi wana wasiwasi na jamii ya wahamiaji kulingana na matokeo ya uchaguzi wa hivi karibuni. Kuingiliana na kutetea wahamiaji ni njia zinazoonekana za kuchukua msimamo dhidi ya woga na chuki ambazo zinaonekana kuweka sauti ya mazungumzo mengi ya kitaifa juu ya wahamiaji. Endelea kusoma kwa orodha ya maoni ya vitendo [\u2026]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-immigration","category-uncategorized"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newbridgesirc.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newbridgesirc.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newbridgesirc.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newbridgesirc.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newbridgesirc.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1383"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newbridgesirc.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1383\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newbridgesirc.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newbridgesirc.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newbridgesirc.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}