+ Let's Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Let's celebrate the extraordinary stories, experiences, and cultures of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders. Our communities embody an inspiring array of diversity and uniqueness that must be acknowledged and celebrated during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
+ Louisville Chef Edward Lee invited to prepare state dinner at the White House
By Darlene Superville - AP, Photo: CNN
Last week, Louisville's very own, Chef Edward Lee was invited to prepare the White House state dinner in honor of South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol visiting the United States. Read the full story below.
+ South Korean-American pie: Unpacking the US-South Korea summit
South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol recently completed a six-day visit to the United States commemorating the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korea alliance. The week’s summit marked the fifth meeting (and second summit) between U.S. President Joseph Biden and Yoon in less than a year, and it is only the second state visit hosted by Biden.
The Meet Your Neighbor Campaign will help you better understand the impact of the affordable housing program.
After my husband passed, my pension alone wasn’t enough to pay the mortgage. But housing assistance helped me keep the home we worked so hard for our whole lives. And my grandchildren and I get to keep spending time in the kitchen; home of Nana’s Kentucky State Fair blue ribbon apple pie.
+ U.N.: 815,000 refugees could flee Sudan if fighting continues
Jordanians evacuated from Sudan arrive Monday, April 24 at a military airport in Amman, Jordan.
(Story by Joseph Konig and AP International/ AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)
Amid an outbreak of fighting between Sudan’s two rival military powers, Africa’s third-most populous country could see 815,000 people end up as refugees in neighboring countries, the United Nations warned on Monday.
The conflict between the Sudanese military and the powerful militia known as the Rapid Security Forces, which began last month, has already sent an estimated 73,000 people fleeing to bordering nations in just over two weeks, including Chad, Egypt, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia and Eritrea, said the UNHCR, the U.N.’s refugee agency, on Monday. By Tuesday, that estimate had been increased to more than 100,000.
+ Automated appointments now available for utility assistance
Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services joins with Community Action Agencies across the state to begin accepting applications for the 2023 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Spring Subsidy Cooling Component. This federally-funded program is designed to help offset the cost of higher electric bills due to rising temperatures. Applications will be accepted now through June 2, 2023 or until funds are depleted.
Sign up to receive emergency alerts on your cell phone!
Text "LENSAlert" to 67283
Policy Updates
+ Fact Sheet: U.S. Government announces sweeping new actions to manage regional migration
The Department of State (State) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are announcing sweeping new measures to further reduce unlawful migration across the Western Hemisphere, significantly expand lawful pathways for protection, and facilitate the safe, orderly, and humane processing of migrants.
+ Fairness to Freedom Act introduced to help protect immigrants facing removal
The Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023 would establish the right to federally funded, full-scope legal representation, require the federal government to facilitate access to counsel for people in custody, and establish the Office of Immigration Representation to oversee a new national system of representation and work with existing state and locally funded removal defense programs. To learn more about this bill and Universal Representation, please visit the Fairness to Freedom: Campaign for Universal Representation led by the National Partnership for New Americans and Vera Institute of Justice with over 173 other organizations.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW:
Reach out to your Congressional members and ask them to co-sponsor the Fairness to Freedom Act using the attached template.
+ Kentucky General Assembly passes House Bill 13
House Bill 13 retains original provisions and amends KRS 281A.120 to allow an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, but can show proof of legal presence and authorization to work in the United States, to apply for a CDL permit.
+ Biden administration extends protections for Ukrainians
The Biden administration announced that it would grant another year of temporary legal status for some Ukrainians who arrived in the United States before April 25, when the Biden administration rolled out the Uniting for Ukraine program.
+ Redesign of Green Cards and Employment Authorization Document
United States Citizenship and immigration Services (USCIS) announced on January 30 new designs to improve security of Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards) and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). USCIS began issuing the redesigned cards on Jan. 30, 2023. The new Green Card and EAD designs contain improved technology and designs meant to further secure the documents. Current cards remain valid until their expiration date (unless otherwise noted). Green card holders are encouraged to apply for the new cards.
USCIS updated their guidance in their policy manual to clarify that both asylees and refugees must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least one year when their Adjustment of Status is adjudicated. This new physical presence requirement supersedes the old rule which stated that asylees and refugees must have been physically present in the U.S. for one year at the time they file their adjustment of status application.
Events
+ Come to Cinco de Mayo family fiesta
Sunday, May 7, 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Join the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Affairs, the Louisville Latino Council and other community partners who will host a Cinco de Mayo celebration at Fourth Street Live!
Guests can enjoy live music from a mariachi band and performances from Mexican Lindo dancers.
This free fiesta will also include dancing, activities for both adults and children and, of course, a lot of great-tasting food and drinks
Fourth Street Live!, 411 S. 4th St.
+ Get your COVID-19 Vaccines
Tuesday, May 9, 10 A.M. - 4 P.M. and Saturday, May 13 , 9 A.M. - 3 P.M.
COVID-19 is here to stay, but free and easy vaccines may not be. See Forward Ministries, Family Health Centers and the Kentucky Nurses Association will be holding community COVID-19 vaccine clinics for anyone five years and older. Pfizer primary series and bivalent boosters available. Don’t wait – vaccinate! Language interpretation is available.
Future Clinics:
Tuesday, May 9 La Casita Center Event clinic time – 10A-4P Address – 223 E. Magnolia Ave 40208
Saturday, May 13 Americana World Community Center Event clinic time – 9A-3P Address – 4801 Southside Drive, 40214
+ Celebrate AAPI month with Crane House and Young Professionals
Wednesday, May 10, 6 P.M.
If you are between the ages of 21-45, have an interest in Asia and want to have a great time while networking with others, then YOU should become a member of Crane House Young Professional.
Crane House Young Professionals share a passion and desire to unite and strengthen the Asian Community in Louisville and Southern Indiana. They aim to achieve this by connecting professionals and mentoring students to achieve mutual success and professional excellence.
+ Join KRM and Hyphen Film Center for a film screening
Friday, May 12, 6:30 P.M.
Reflections on Home is a docuseries that explores the refugee and immigrant experience through the artists' lens as they share their journey from their artistic roots, how their journeys from their artistic roots, how their creativity has evolved and discuss possibilities for the future.
Screening and panel discussion at Logan Street Market, 1001 Logan St.
+ Come to the Multicultural Job Fair
Saturday, May 13, 1 P.M. - 5 P.M.
Stop by See Forward Ministries for their Multicultural Job Fair! They will host recruiters and employers who are hiring for jobs in warehousing, retail, construction, and more.
Free Chol Soo Lee is a documentary about a man sentenced to life for a 1973 San Francisco murder. Korean immigrant Chol Soo Lee was set free after a pan-Asian solidarity movement, which included Korean, Japanese, and Chinese Americans, helped to overturn his conviction. After 10 years of fighting for his life inside California state prisons, Lee found himself in a new fight to rise to the expectations of the people who believed in him.
Join Russell Place of Promise for the Place of Promise Convening. They will come together with local and national funders to talk about the work RPOP has led for the past five years.
In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Month in May, join Asia Institute - Crane House, partnering with Beechmont Neighborhood Association and Louisville StrEatery, to host the first-ever Taste of Asia Block Party!
This is a FREE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY ANNUAL EVENT! Asian-themed food trucks, live music, and entertainment from the local community and retail vendors will all be there! Lots of fun and food! Get to know the community members around Beechmont!
Make your very own, unique, one of a kind, Bento Box with Asia Institute - Crane House and Japan American Society of Kentucky. Admission is $40, register below.
The eighth annual Fan Fair is set for June 10 at the Edison Center in Old Louisville. Every year, this popular event collects and distributes much-needed fans to hundreds of neighbors in our community.
The qualifications to receive a fan are age 60+ or a verified disability (doctors note or SSA declaration of SSI/SSDI benefits can be proof).
WE NEED YOUR HELP! If your organization is interested in sponsoring Fan Fair and/or creating an exhibit at the event – or if you wish to make a donation to help us acquire more fans – contact us at 502-574-5092. 🙏
+ Join local thought leaders for a book signing event
Saturday, May 27, 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Selma Jacinto Domingos, Founder & CEO of Selma Unlimited Network - SUN & Green Health Cleaning Services, is a leader, an accomplished university professor, an author, a business woman and active community member. She was born in Luanda, Angola, Africa and lived in Rome, Italy for years where she worked with international students & professionals before moving to the U.S. in 2015.
Di Tran is a serial entrepreneur, business owner, professor, and active community member. His story is one of survival, determination, and service. Tran’s family immigrated to the U.S from Vietnam in March 1995. Unfortunately, they came with very little, so he had to work hard.
Both Domingos and Tran wrote books about their experiences and will be taking part in a book signing at Oxmoor Farm, 720 Oxmoor Ave.
+ Come to Metropolitan Housing Coalition's Annual Dinner
Tuesday, June 6, 5:00 P.M.
Metropolitan Housing Coalition (MHC) invites you to the 2023 MHC Annual Meeting Dinner, MHC's annual fundraising event. Dr. Lance Freeman is a Professor in the Urban Planning Program and the Director of the doctoral program in Urban Planning at Columbia University in New York City. He is the editor of the journal City & Community. His research focuses on affordable housing, gentrification, ethnic and racial stratification in housing markets, and the relationship between the built environment and well-being. Dr. Freeman is the author of There Goes the Hood: Views of Gentrification from the Ground Up by and A Haven and a Hell: The Ghetto in Black America. Freeman will focus his keynote address on racial equity, housing justice, and equitable zoning reform in the city.
The Global Louisville Directory is an interactive online tool that connects the community with institutions, businesses, organizations, and services that speak their language and have a higher understanding of cultural competency structures that reduce anxiety for foreign-born consumers and increase their level of comfort to thrive as a valued resident of Louisville.
Click HEREto register your business, organanization, or service on the Global Louisville Directory.
Global Lou Highlights
There are many authentic restaurants owned by Louisvillians with a variety of families that brought their delicious cuisine to our city. Here are some restaurants around Louisville directly from our Global Dining Passport:
Check out the international restaurants, and visit the Global Louisville Directory HERE to find more international businesses!
Image of the Week
+ 'KPOP' composer becomes first Asian woman to be nominated for a Tony for best original score
Helen Park at the opening of "KPOP" in New York on Nov. 20.Anthony Behar / Sipa USA via AP file
Composer Helen Park made history Tuesday after nabbing a Tony Award nomination for best original score in a Broadway show.
Park, along with co-composer Max Vernon, received the nod for their work in the musical “KPOP,” which debuted on Broadway in November. The nomination makes Park the first Asian woman to be nominated in the category.
Hi, you are receiving this email because we added you to our mailing list as a valuable partner and member of the community. You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking on the subscriber services link. Please do not reply to this account since we won't be able to see your emails. You can contact us at: Globalization@LouisvilleKY.gov
