 Welcome to our inaugural edition of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs (MIMA) newsletter. It is our hope that this newsletter will be a valuable resource for you and your community as we work together to serve and elevate Baltimore’s growing immigrant and refugee communities.
With each newsletter, we will introduce you to non-profit organizations serving immigrant and refugee communities in Baltimore City. We will also feature unique stories about our immigrant and refugee communities in “Snapshot of our Community” and highlight events taking place throughout the city. Finally, we will provide you with updates on the efforts of MIMA and the Baltimore City Hispanic Commission. I hope you will enjoy reading the newsletter and please know that I invite your questions, comments and suggestions for future topics.
Catalina Rodriguez Lima, Director
Mayor's Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs
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 OneBaltimore
During the last month, our city experienced some of its darkest days. Following the unrest, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake visited neighborhoods and business corridors impacted by the unrest. Along with community and faith leaders, she met with business owners, many of them immigrant- owned, and shared in their concerns and listened to their questions as we worked to move forward.
To effectively and quickly address the needs and concerns of these business owners, MIMA partnered with Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) to anticipate and overcome barriers related to language, culture, outreach, and communications. Soon after the civil unrest, MIMA hosted a business forum in partnership with BDC to share information on the city’s business recovery plan, which has since been translated in multiple languages.
For more information regarding Baltimore Business Recovery, visit baltimorebusinessrecovery.org
The recent unrest brought to the forefront of all of our minds that there is more work to be done in our great city and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is leading this change with her OneBaltimore initiative.
OneBaltimore will focus on the immediate, short-term needs of those communities affected by our recent unrest and violence, and seeks to promote collaboration to focus on the systemic problems our city has faced for decades. For more information regarding OneBaltimore, visit ServingOneBaltimore.org
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 Happy Immigrant Heritage Month to all of our supporters and constituents! We are thrilled that Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has proclaimed June as Immigrant Heritage Month in Baltimore City. During this month we seek to highlight the stories of individuals, families, and communities who have contributed to the fabric of our City.
MIMA will be elevating the dignity and resilience of immigrant communities by publishing the stories of immigrant community members and immigrant entrepreneurs contributing to the vitality of our city.
Join with us in this celebration by sharing your own American story-we all have one, what is yours? http://welcome.us
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 BaltimoreMORE Diverse: Stories of a Welcoming Baltimore
Mrs. Donnet Lawrence, Assistant Secretary, Jamaican Association of Maryland
Can you tell us more about your personal journey to Baltimore?
I emigrated to the city of Baltimore in 1979, but to be honest, not by any choice of my own. My mother was the first member of our family to emigrate to the United States and then sponsored my father, grandmother, extended family, siblings and me to move to Baltimore.
When I first came, it was a very big transition. I began high school at Northwestern. Academics were the best part about my new school, but the completely new environment and new behaviors were so different and difficult to adjust to. Eventually, I became friends with many of the other Caribbean students, we shared our similar cultures and accents and they showed me the way. I adjusted and adapted and began to feel like Baltimore could be my home.
I can now say that all of my six siblings, three brothers and three sisters, we are all successful. We have all gone to college. My parents and family instilled in us the value that success is first and foremost and this happens through hard work. Even at the age of 65, my grandmother learned to drive, took classes at the Enoch Pratt Library to learn to read better and got her GED. My mother was the same way.
It was and is a struggle to keep the family unit together here, while also supporting family back home. My family and parents were very good at this. They also taught us the importance of family and remembering our heritage, service and civic involvement.
What is one thing we should know about the Jamaican community in Baltimore?
The Jamaican community is very vigilant about sharing our culture heritage and our values. We really work hard to instill the values of the “good life” into our children. The good life means that you are always trying to add to what you have, become a whole person through good education and good health and believe that the sky is the limit.
One last question. What do you love most about Baltimore?
Baltimore City is now my home away from home. I call myself a Baltimorean-Jamaican. Baltimore is a place for families and this is why it is my home. The Inner Harbor is my favorite spot because I don’t need any money to just greet and meet people and have a great time.
Watch BaltiMORE Diverse: Stories of a Welcoming Baltimore and stay tuned for more!
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Immigrant Heritage Month Events
Screening
of “Rain in a Dry Land-A Humanist Tale of Resettlement”
Saturday, June 6, 9:15 AM, The Senator Theatre, 5904 York Road. Includes
breakfast. Presented as part of The Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center
Alliance (ERICA) Week of Connection. Contact: Betty Symington at
410-467-3751. More information
National Caribbean-American Heritage Month:
Cooking Demonstration
Monday, June 8, 6 pm-7:30 pm, Northwood Branch Enoch Pratt Library. Cooking
demonstration of popular Caribbean recipes. Contact 410-396-6076 to register. More information
Free Census Bureau Data Access Training:
Accessing Immigrant and Ethnic Data
Thursday, June 11, 9:30-12 noon, Orleans St. Branch, Enoch Pratt Free Library.
Contact: Nesreen Khashan at 202-510-6403 or nesreen.khashan@census.gov to
RSVP.
Refugee Evensong: Liturgy, Song &
Reflection in a House of Hospitality
Thursday, June 11, 6 PM, Peace Chapel-Cathedral of the Incarnation. Presented
as part of The Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance (ERICA) Week of
Connection. More information
Paintings of Home: Refugee Stories in Art,
Music & World
Friday, June 12, 7 PM, The Village Learning Place. Presented as part of The
Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance (ERICA) Week of Connection. More information
Onngi Project: Korean Storytelling and
Pottery
Exhibition opens June 18 in the North Gallery of City Hall, 100 N. Holliday St.
Exploring the past and present journey of Baltimore’s Korean community through
storytelling and pottery. Artist: Aletheia Hyun-Jin Shin. Contact:
Lindsey Bishop at 410-396-8056.
World Refugee Day Street Festival
Saturday, June 20, 12-3pm, 400 block of Conkling Street. Creative Alliance’s
international family showcase with dance, music and art for all. Contact:
Creative Alliance at 410-276-1651. More information
35th Annual Latino Fest
June 27th-28th, Patterson Park. Baltimore’s premiere celebration of Hispanic
Culture, Music and Art. Contact: Education Based Latino Outreach at
410-563-3160. More information
Snapshot of Our Community
Did you know that the United States will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month this June? The national campaign for this recognition was initiated by Dr. Claire Nelson, the President of the Institute of Caribbean Studies and both a Jamaican and Marylander, in 2004.
Since the official designation by the White House, Baltimore and its many Caribbean community associations, business leaders and constituents have been celebrating this month and gracing the Rotunda in City Hall with inspirational speakers, sweet, spicy and savory Caribbean cuisine, the sounds of a steel band and festive costumes and dancing.
Stay tuned for more information regarding this year's reception.
Partner Spotlight
Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance (ERICA)
Betty Symington, Director
4 E University Parkway
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-467-3751
ERICA welcomes those fleeing injustice, poverty and persecution in other countries. With volunteers and community partners, this organization helps refugees, asylum seekers and other humanitarian immigrants in Greater Baltimore rebuild their lives through one-on-one problem solving, material assistance and educational workshops.
Learn more about ERICA at www.erica-baltimore.org
Local Impact - Family Reunification Loans and Grants
Family reunification and dedicated financial assistance through zero interest loans have been a focal point of ERICA’s programming since the organization’s inception in 2001. Within the last thirteen years, ERICA has issued 110 loans totaling $117,400 to refugees and asylees for family reunification or legal assistance fees.
In 2014, their programming and commitment of resources to family reunification specifically meant that throughout their work with six families, they reunited 4 spouses and 23 children to immediate family. In 2015, ERICA will issue family reunification grants instead of their zero interest loans because of ongoing financial challenges facing many recently reunited families in the region
We applaud ERICA for their responsive and innovative programming with immigrants, asylees and refugees and look forward to many years of positive impact and partnerships!
 Hispanic Commission
May was an eventful month for the Commission. On May 4, the Mayor, the City Council and the Hispanic Commission warmly welcomed two new commissioners, Ms. Michelle Mendez and Ms. Faviola Donato Galindo. The Commission looks forward to utilizing their expertise as we continue to build cooperation and promote cultural understanding and inclusion for the Hispanic community at the municipal level.
The Commission and the Hispanic Advisory Council for Public Safety hosted Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby and her team on May 13. During this meeting, we discussed the demographics and needs of the Hispanic community, learned more about the State’s Attorney commitment to inclusion and innovation and discussed opportunities for further connection and collaboration.
We look forward to updating you on the outcome of these partnerships and our ongoing progress in supporting the development of the Hispanic community in Baltimore.
Learn more about the Hispanic Commission
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Immigration Action
On Tuesday, May 26, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit denied the Department of Justice’s request for an emergency stay. As a result of this decision, the implementation of DAPA and expanded DACA will remain stalled as we await the appeal process. The 5th Circuit Court has tentatively scheduled a hearing during the week of July 6.
While this decision is disappointing, we remain confident that the President’s lawful Immigration Actions will prevail in favor of our communities. Our city simply cannot continue to be the engine of economic growth it is without fully integrating all of our communities. We look forward to the resolution of this challenge to ensure the President's immigration actions are implemented swiftly.
As the battle in courts continue, our city is moving forward:
- Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake launched the campaign "Be Careful, Prepare, Seek the Right Help" in coordination with the State Attorney General's Office, Enoch Pratt Free Libraries, legal assistance service providers, 211 and community partners.
- MIMA has developed informational and web resources guides with national and local information (Materials available in Korean, Chinese, English, French and Spanish)
- Our office coordinated Information Forums in partnership with our community partners.
- MIMA joined the Cities United for Immigration Action Campaign.
- MIMA joined the DMV Notario Enforcement Workgroup.
- In partnership with 70 other cities and counties, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake signed the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Amicus Brief in support of lifting the preliminary injunction.
Join us in our efforts as we stand for Immigration Action. Together, we will make our city stronger.
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