News Updates
+ It's National Immigrant Heritage Month
Originally started in 2014, National Immigrant Heritage Month is a month-long celebration that allows communities to explore their own heritage and celebrate the shared diversity of the nation.
President Joe Biden proclaimed June National Immigrant Heritage Month this year and called on Congress to act to protect all immigrants coming to America.
"Immigrants help strengthen our diplomatic and people-to-people ties around the world. It’s simple: immigrants keep our Nation strong and our economy growing.
That truth used to be something most of us agreed on. President Ronald Reagan proudly signed a law giving an opportunity to 2.7 million undocumented people to seek permanent residence. President George W. Bush pushed hard for comprehensive immigration reform. On day one of my Presidency, I sent the Congress my plan that includes a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, people with temporary status, farmworkers, and essential workers; smarter border solutions, including more equipment and modern infrastructure; and provisions to clear court backlogs, speed up processing, and protect families. Let us come together again in a bipartisan way to fix our broken immigration system for good."
+ Cultural Pass, summer reading get underway today
 School is out for the summer and the 2023 Cultural Pass and library summer reading programs are here to prevent summer learning loss, provide fun and free arts and culture experiences, and inspire students age 0-21 to take full advantage of their passport to creativity. Cultural Pass is available in Jefferson, Bullitt, and Oldham counties in Kentucky and Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties in Indiana.
The admission-free program supports and encourages summer learning by providing access to over 40 of Greater Louisville’s arts and cultural institutions, including Kentucky Science Center, Louisville Zoo, The Little Loomhouse, Louisville Leopard Percussionists, Carnegie Center for Art and History, the Speed Art Museum, and so many more! The program offers opportunities across Louisville and Southern Indiana from June 1 – August 6, when the school year resumes.
Participants can register online or pick up a Cultural Pass booklet at any Louisville Free Public Library location. For the first time, the Cultural Pass is also available in Spanish!
Additionally, the Library is holding its annual Summer Reading Program, a free 10-week program that encourages kids and teens to read for fun over the summer by offering prizes and incentives. Every child - from infant through 12th grade - who completes the program will receive an LFPL backpack or small shoulder bag, as well as passes to local attractions, sporting events, and restaurants.
+ Public Health and Wellness asks residents to help prevent mosquito bites and breeding grounds
To protect Jefferson County residents from diseases the pests can carry, the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) is out in the community actively treating known breeding grounds, trapping mosquitoes and testing them for diseases such as West Nile virus, St. Louis Encephalitis virus, La Cosse Encephalitis virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus.
Each spring and summer, LMPHW mosquito control experts treat 14,500 catch basins to eliminate mosquito larvae, as well as 8,982 miles of swampy areas and large areas of land known to collect standing water. The department also places 148 mosquito traps around the city and county.
To protect you and your family from mosquitoes, remember the three D’s: Drain, Defend, Dress.
Drain: Prevent mosquito breeding grounds by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, toys, pet water dishes, discarded tires and drain birdbaths on a regular basis.
Defend: Use insect repellents when you go outdoors. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection. To optimize safety and effectiveness, repellents should be used according to the label instructions. More information about insect repellents can be found here.
Dress: Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and closed-toed shoes when outdoors. Avoid perfumes and scented lotions.
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+ 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 for LENSAlert & Smart911
Sign up to receive emergency alerts on your cell phone!
Text "LENSAlert" to 67283
Policy Updates
+ DHS, State Department announce enhancements to the Central American Minors program
The most recent enhancement, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department on April 12, builds on President Joe Biden’s Executive Order in the following ways:
Central American Minors program applicants interviewed between August 16, 2017 and January 31, 2018, who did not qualify for refugee status and were ineligible for parole consideration following the 2017 termination of the parole component of the CAM program will now be eligible to pursue parole.
+ DHS announces upcoming re-parole process for Afghan nationals
On May 5, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it is establishing a process to re-parole eligible Afghan nationals so they can continue living and working legally in the United States. Beginning in June, Afghan nationals who arrived in the United States under humanitarian parole through Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) will be able to request a re-parole through online and paper filing. As with any parole request, these requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons and significant public benefit. Additional details regarding the process will be available soon.
+ Fact Sheet: U.S. Government announces sweeping new actions to manage regional migration
The State Department and Department of Homeland Security 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.
+ USCIS opens HART Service Center focusing on humanitarian cases and backlogs
On March 30, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the opening of the Humanitarian, Adjustment, Removing Conditions, and Travel Documents (HART) Service Center, the sixth service center within its Service Center Operations (SCOPS) directorate, and the first to focus on humanitarian and other workload cases.
In an effort to address the backlog associated with humanitarian immigration relief, the center has reassigned 150 current service center personnel and plans to hire an additional 330 employees, with nearly full staffing by June 30, 2025. While the center is currently hybrid, it is envisioned to be a 100% virtual service center across multiple time zones, identified by specialized work rather than a physical location.
+ Redesign of Green Cards and Employment Authorization Document
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began issuing redesigned Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards) and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) to improve security. 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.
+ Guidance for Adjustment of Status applications
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (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 the Bento Box Class
 Friday, June 1 | 6 - 8 p.m.
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.
Asia Institute - Crane House, 1244 S. 3rd St.
+ Attend the Global Lou Festival
 Saturday, June 3 | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Americana will host their annual GlobaLou Festival on Saturday at Iroquois Park. GlobaLou is free to attend and open to the public. We invite musicians, dancers, food vendors, and artisans from Louisville to share their cultures and celebrate our international community. The festival is family-friendly and includes a kid zone featuring a bounce castle, scavenger hunt, and other exciting summer activities for children.
+ Cultural Pass Day kick-off event
 Saturday, June 3 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cultural Pass will celebrate the start of the summer alongside Louisville Free Public Library’s Summer Reading Kick-Off on June 3 at the Main Branch of the Library, 301 York St. Several 2023 Cultural Pass venues and partners will lead activities throughout the day.
Families with children ages 0-21 are invited to pick up their Cultural Pass, sign up for Summer Reading, and enjoy performances and arts and culture vendors!
+ OSHN, Whitney Strong Foundation Violence Prevention Ambassador Training
 Saturday, June 3 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods and the Whitney Strong Foundation combine their experience, evidence-based trainings to offer a dynamic violence prevention session that will highlight the public health issue of gun violence and train on proven strategies led by prevention and health experts. The event will be held at Louisville Slugger Field, 401 E. Main St.
Registration is required!
+ Come to Metropolitan Housing Coalition's Annual Dinner
 Tuesday, June 6 | 5 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.
+ A special presentation of the City of Ali
 Tuesday, June 6 | 7 p.m.
You are invited to a special Spanish presentation of the documentary City of Ali at Logan Street Market, 1001 Logan St. The event is a wonderful opportunity to rekindle our hearts with pride and inspiration, reliving through this film the legacy that our Champ left Louisville and the world!
+ Come to the annual Fan Fair
 Saturday, June 10 | 9 a.m. - noon
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.
+ REACH Small Business Celebration and Networking
 Saturday, June 24 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
The REACH small business event will provide opportunities to network and to learn how to speak with financial organizations for funding your business goals. You will also become familiar with a number of business loans and other financial resources - from banks to nonprofits to government - available in Louisville.
10 a.m.: Open Networking
11 a.m.: Main program with Lunch
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.: Speed Networking with financial and business resource organizations
REACH is a resource program for new American and immigrant-owned businesses impacted by COVID-19.
+ Eat lunch at the Food Truck Clinic
 Every Thursday, now through October 19 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Enjoy some of your favorite local food trucks for lunch all summer long. Join Louisville Metro Departments of Health and ABC, Louisville Division of Fire and Jefferson County Fire as they host Food Truck Clinic Thursdays.
Located in the alley at Armory Place, behind the Metro Development Center at 444 S. 5th St.
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