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This month, Mayor Pugh joined the iMarch
along with mayors and county officials across the country to urge members of
Congress to fix our immigration system, starting with the Dream Act. “Let’s drop the partisanship and get to
work. We can protect Dreamers. We can pass sensible immigration reform. We can
let hard-working families reach their fullest potential and further strengthen
our communities. We can help our business owners and industries. And we can
unleash the energy and potential of our great country and city,” said
Mayor Pugh.
To see Mayor Pugh’s full message to Congress,
please view the video below:
Quick facts about the economic
contributions of immigrants in Baltimore and the region:
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Baltimore has 21,000 immigrant entrepreneurs
-
Immigrants in Baltimore pay $3.4 billion in taxes
each year
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More than 40% of our immigrant population in
Baltimore has a bachelor’s degree or higher
- Immigrants own nearly 65,000 homes across the metro
area
- The DACA population in Maryland holds $381.6
million in spending power as consumers
Check out this month’s topic, Fire Safety Tips and Free Smoke Alarms in CIty of Baltimore
No te pierdas el tema de
este mes, Consejos de Seguridad contra Incendios y el Programa de Alarmas Gratis
en la Ciudad de Baltimore
Creative
Alliance’s Artesanas Mexicanas is a folkloric visual arts program led and
taught by talented women who are native from Mexico and residents of Southeast
Baltimore. The group was founded in 2013 by Maria Gabriela Aldana, Creative
Alliance’s Education Director, to sustain thriving Latin American traditions in
Highlandtown Arts District and in response to the immediate need of employment for
Latina women. The group develops after-school curriculum and cultural events
for families that share their rich culture and holiday traditions such as Día
de los Muertos and Posadas as major cultural festivals. Most recently, the
program was awarded a grant from Baltimore City to expand into schools such as
Patterson Park Public Charter School and Highlandtown Elementary/Middle #215,
where students learn how to make piñatas, papel picado, altars, and corn-husk
flowers using techniques rooted in indigenous values.
In
August 2017, Artesanas Mexicanas was named Best of Baltimore by Baltimore magazine
for “Art That Gives Back,” and received its third Maryland Traditions grant for
supporting three generations of folkloric artisans as eleven master artisans
training ten new apprentices.
For
more information regarding the program, please contact Maria Gabriela Aldana at
maria@creativealliance.org, 410-276-1651 x209 and visit http://www.creativealliance.org/blog/2015/12/artesanas-mexicanas
The Immigration Outreach Center, Inc. (IOSC) is a
501(c)3 based out of St. Matthew Catholic Church in East Baltimore. Their
congregation includes immigrants representing 45 countries and has served people
from 114 countries. The IOSC is an independent non-profit organization
dedicated to serving Baltimore’s immigrant community regardless of immigration
status, race, ethnicity or religious affiliation. Their mission focuses on
partnering with and empowering local immigrants to lead successful lives in the
United States. IOSC is devoted to serving as “hub” from which their clients are
able to build the networks that speak to their specific needs.
The IOSC provides a broad range of referral services,
which include legal and healthcare services, housing information, and assistance
with finding educational and employment opportunities. The center regularly
provides free health seminars and sessions pertaining to issues of immigration.
Immigrant children in grade school are also welcome to receive tutoring on a
weekly basis. The Immigration Outreach Center, Inc. serves as a staple to the
Baltimore community allowing for individuals facing issues of immigration to
interact with the wider immigrant community and obtain assistance
confidentially. The IOSC is committed to provide a safe place where immigrants
can tell their story and they commit to walk the journey with everyone who
comes to them for assistance.
The IOSC is a member organization of Baltimoreans
United in Leadership Development (BUILD). They build relationships within the
immigrant community in order to bring important issues to community leaders and
take action to achieve these goals. More information
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This past November, former Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine
Duke announced the decision to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
designation for Hondurans living in the United States. Though
the original termination date was decided as January 5, 2018, the postponement
of the final determination of the designation allowed for a six month extension
until July 5, 2018. At least two months before the termination date, the
country’s conditions will be assessed by the Secretary with regard to the
extending, redesigning, or terminating TPS for Honduras.
Hondurans wanting
to maintain Temporary Protected Status under Honduras’ designation until the July
5, 2018 termination date must re-register between December 15, 2017 and
February 13, 2018. This process includes the
submission of Form I-821 for TPS and the completed submission of Form I-765,
the application for Employment Authorization.
DHS has automatically extended current EADs under the TPS designation
for Honduras until July 4, 2018. More Information
TPS
holders from Honduras should seek legal advice from licensed attorneys or legal
service providers as soon as possible. Check out MIMA’s Welcome Guide for information regarding legal services or via AILA’s Immigration Lawyer Search
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Former Acting Secretary of Homeland Security
Elaine Duke also announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status
designations for
Nicaraguans living in U.S. this past November. The termination was decided
after a review of the country’s conditions and consultation with U.S.
government agencies. The termination date of January 5, 2018 has been extended
to the following year, January 5, 2019, to allow for “an orderly transition for
those affected.” Nicaraguans wanting to maintain Temporary Protected Status
under Nicaragua’s designation until the January 5, 2019 termination date must
re-register between December 15, 2017 and February 13, 2018. This process
includes the submission of Form I-821 for TPS and the completed submission of
Form I-765, the application for Employment Authorization. DHS has automatically extended current EADs
under the TPS designation for Nicaragua until March 6, 2018. Nicaraguans
receiving TPS who reapply and file their applications before the February
deadline will have their current EADs extend automatically until July 4, 2018. More Information
TPS
holders from Nicaragua should seek legal advice from licensed attorneys or
legal service providers as soon as possible. Check out MIMA’s Welcome Guide for Information regarding Legal Services or via AILA’s Immigration Lawyer Search
Candlelight
Vigil
December
28 (6:30pm – 8:30pm)
War
Memorial Plaza, 100 N. Holliday Street
Please join Mayor Catherine Pugh for a candlelight vigil
to honor lives lost to violent crime in Baltimore City. More Information
Kwanzaa
Celebration 2017
December
30 (12pm – 4pm)
Reginald
F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt Street
Celebrate this annual African
American holiday with African dance, storytelling, drumming performances,
workshops and traditional crafts using fiber art. More Information
New
Year’s Eve Spectacular
December
31 (9pm – 12:30am)
Baltimore
Inner Harbor
Baltimore’s
New Year’s Eve Spectacular takes place Sunday, December 31, 2017. At the stroke
of midnight, colorful fireworks and lights filled the sky above downtown
Baltimore. Those celebrating at the Inner Harbor can enjoy ice skating at the
Pandora Ice Rink, open until 12:30am. Regular rink admission prices apply. More information
Window
Horses: The Poetic Persian Epiphany of Rosie Ming
January
11 (11am – 7:30pm)
Creative
Alliance, 3134 Eastern Avenue
A new animated feature film
that follows the self-discovery of a young Chinese/Iranian poet from Canada,
Rosie Ming, as she reconnects with her lost Iranian heritage. Advanced tickets
are: $10, $7 for members and +$3 at the door. More Information
Martin
Luther King, Jr. I Have a Dream Weekend
January
13 (10am – 5pm)
January
14 (12pm – 5pm)
January
15 (9:30am – 4:30pm)
Port
Discovery Children’s Museum, 35 Market Place
Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s
life and legacy through fun, educational activities at Port Discovery’s “I Have
a Dream Weekend.” Experience African-American history and heritage through
interactive programs and performances designed to educate, inspire and help
children understand the impact Martin Luther King, Jr. made on America and the
world. Educational activities are planned from 10AM to 5PM on Saturday, January
14, from 12PM to 5PM on Sunday, January 15, and from 9:30AM to 5PM on Monday,
January 15. Admission is free with museum entry, which is
$15.95 for individuals two and up. Members and children under two enter free. More Information
Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade
January
15 (12pm)
Martin
Luther King Boulevard & Eutaw Street
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh
and the Baltimore
Office of Promotion & the Arts celebrate the 18th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade.
The parade commemorates the life of civil rights leader and icon Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. More than 70 groups participate in the parade including high
school and community bands, honor/color guards, equestrian units, fraternities
& sororities, lively dance squads and civic organizations. More
Information
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
January 15 (all day)
Various Locations
To honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday,
January 15, 2018 Mayor Catherine E. Pugh will host the inaugural Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. This year, the City of Baltimore invites
residents to emulate Dr. King's leadership and compassion for others by
volunteering in their communities. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a public
servant who devoted his life to the advancement of civil rights and equality.
Building on this momentum, Baltimore begins a new tradition to honor this
commitment and to encourage community-based organizations to organize and
submit service projects that welcome volunteers of all ages. Join Mayor Pugh's
call-to-action and find a volunteer opportunity in your neighborhood. More
Information
Open
Hours: YAAAS!: Towson University x Refugee Youth Project
January
20 (2pm – 4pm)
Baltimore
Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive
Youth Artists
and Allies taking Action in Society—YAAAS!—is a new arts-based community
engagement project that partners Towson University graduate students with
refugee youth attending Patterson High School in southeast Baltimore. Together
they explore how the arts can be a powerful vehicle for supporting refugee
youth in learning English, forming relationships across differences, expressing
themselves, and finding their own sense of agency, while they build their new
home. Join them for a creative presentation to learn about their eight-week
artistic exploration. More
Information
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Mayor's Office of Immigrant & Multicultural Affairs
100 N. Holliday Street, Room 250
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-396-8056
mima@baltimorecity.gov
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