This month, we are thrilled to welcome Mayoral Fellow Erin Cox to MIMA. Over the next 9 weeks, Erin will be working with city agencies in reviewing and assessing existing language access resources, identifying gaps, researching best practices and ultimately making recommendations on how to strengthen language access services within city agencies and the city’s overall plan.

Erin Cox holds a Master of Public Policy degree from The George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Spanish from Southern Nazarene University. Immigration policy was her concentration in her graduate work and research internships at the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Migration Policy Institute.

The Baltimore City Mayoral Fellowship is a ten week full-time placement in a mayoral office or Baltimore City agency.  Fellows are assigned to projects that focus on a myriad of public policy issues and challenges.  More information

Originally started in the mid-1990s and since receiving its non-profit status in 2004, the Baltimore Association of the Nepalese in America (BANA) focuses on preserving and celebrating Nepalese culture and educating the Nepalese community on the American government and its rules and services. In recent years, they have made efforts to share their experiences with the local government and community and determine opportunities to improve the local community.

What is one thing we should know about the Nepalese community in Baltimore?
When I tell people that there are 10,000 Nepalese-Americans living in Maryland, many people ask, “Is it real?” Also, some may be surprised to know that there are 200 or more Nepalese small business owners in the Baltimore area and many professionals are doctors, business owners or economists.

What efforts has BANA been involved in recently?
This year, due to the Gorkha earthquake on April 25, we decided not to celebrate any festivals and instead dedicate these events to the earthquake victims.

On my recent visit to Nepal to assist in emergency relief efforts, in one town, I witnessed about 1500 students studying outside and whole school buildings that are now gone. We are trying to engage local participation to build the school again.

I also saw people sleeping in tents. The rainy season is coming and people cannot survive in tents during this season. We are trying to help build about 100 temporary homes.

Among all the Nepalese associations in the area, we have raised about $100,000, with BANA contributing $50,000. We will be donating the funds to the government in Nepal. We hope through this we can have some good impact in Nepal.

More information

Soccer Without Borders-Baltimore (SWB Baltimore) is a nonprofit organization that uses soccer as a tool for positive change and providing newcomer refugee, asylee and immigrant youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion, and personal success.  SWB Baltimore is working with English language learners (ELLs) within the newcomer community through the universal language of soccer. Their programming engages youth coming from over 25 countries. These students find companionship among their teammates, amidst cultural and linguistic differences, through their shared love and passion for soccer.

Beyond bringing the youth together into a shared community, their soccer programming is also deeply integrated into the academic programming, pulling themes and vocabulary from their English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) curriculum into daily soccer practice plans. Through their holistic programming of soccer play and instruction, English language development, academic support, team building, cultural exchange and civic engagement, the SWB-Baltimore team works to ensure that newcomer youth in Baltimore can reach and achieve their dreams. 

More about Soccer Without Borders-Baltimore