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IMMIGRATION NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS, JUNE 2009
Mayor's Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (MOIRA)
6400 High Star, #131 Houston, TX 77074 T: 713-778-6503
www.houstontx.gov/moira
If you would like to receive periodic emails from Mayor Bill White and the City of Houston
on topics of interest to you and your neighborhood, please go to www.houstontx.gov and
register with CitizensNet.
OTHER AGENCIES
IMPORTANT LINKS FOR THE US (COUNTY/STATE/FEDERAL)
IMPORTANT CITY LINKS CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION
SERVICES ²Harris County Home Page MOIRA
² Mayor Bill White ²Harris County Elected
² City of Houston main Website Officials
RESOURCE GUIDES
²About USCIS
² MOIRA Office Location Services & Benefits ²List of County Depts.
² MOIRA GUIDE ESL, GED,
²City Council ²Immigration Forms ²List of Courts
²City Secretary CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION
Laws & Regulations ²State of Texas Homepage
² 3-1-1 LEGAL ASSISTANCE
²Education & Resources ²Renew Driver Licenses
²RIGHTS &
² Health & Human Services ²Press Room ²Texas Legislature Online
²Municipal Courts RESPONSIBILITIES
²Learn about visiting the ²Texas State Agencies
² Housing & Comm. FOR DAY LABORERS &
U.S. temporarily as a visitor ²US Department of labor
Development CONTRACTORS
(tourist, student, or worker) ²EEOC
²2005 COMMUNITY
²Police Or permanently. ²OSHA
² Affirmative Action RESOURCE GUIDE
² Citizenship ²Social Security
² Library Administration
²
²US Government Website
² United States Census 2010

IN THIS ISSUE:
› WHAT: DHS – USCIS NEWS

• Home
• Press Room
• Press Releases by Topic
• Service Centers
• Rule Requiring Federal Contractors to Use E-Verify System Delayed 06/03/2009
• USCIS Reminds Applicants for Adjustment of Status, Asylum, Legalization, and TPS Beneficiaries to Obtain Advance
Parole Before Traveling Abroad 05/29/2009

› WHAT: World Refugee Day Celebration, Saturday June 20 Westland

YMCA
To View Flyers in Chinese, Vietnamese, French, Amharic, Arabic, Check out our new
Facebook Event page at: http://tinyurl.com/WRDHouston.

WORLD REFUGEE DAY – DIA MUNDIAL

DEL REFUGIADO
• World Refugee Day aims to raise awareness about the 21st century's refugee challenge.
Around the world people are forced to flee their homes due to war, political violence,
exclusion, and the competition for scarce resources in troubled states. In Houston, a
coalition of refugee resettlement agencies and community organizations has formed to
highlight what the refugees in our city are doing to establish new homes, while also
honoring and celebrating their roots.
• La Celebración de “El Día Mundial del Refugiado” tiene como objetivo levantar la
conciéncia del público en general acerca de los problemas que enfrentan los
refugiados. Alrededor del mundo, miles de personas son forzadas a huír de su
hogar debido a la guerra, violencia política, exclusión y por la competición de los
escasos recursos disponibles. En la ciudad de Houston, la coalición de agencias
que patrocinan a refugiados y organizaciones comunitarias se hán unido para
honrar la lucha de los refugiados por abrirse camino en este nuevo país; así
como también para celebrar sus raices.

SATURDAY, JUNE 20TH

3:00pm to 6:00pm
Westland Family YMCA
10402 Fondren
Houston, TX 77096
Come join us for this FREE community
event!
VENGA Y PARTICIPE EN ESTE EVENTO
COMUNITARIO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Quynh-Anh T. McMahan, MSW
Co-Chair, World Refugee Day Planning Committee
(281) 435-7546
qtmcmahan@yahoo.com

Community to Celebrate and Honor Refugees

Who Now Call Houston “Home”

Houston, TX, June 8, 2009 – A coalition of over 20 local nonprofit organizations, civic groups
and businesses invites the public to a free, family-friendly event celebrating World Refugee
Day 2009 on Saturday, June 20th (from 3:00-6:00pm) at the Westland Family YMCA
(10402 Fondren, Houston 77096).

First Lady Andrea White will open the ceremonies with a keynote address, followed by
entertainment by refugee musicians and performers. This free community event will offer live
performances, children’s activities, educational documentaries, ethnic dance and music,
refreshments, recreational activities, art displays by refugees, games and more. Last year’s
event drew a crowd of over 200 people; this year’s event aims to be even bigger.

Due to its thriving economy, affordable housing, and strong network of social service
agencies, Houston is considered a Tier 1 resettlement city, serving one of the largest
populations of refugees of all US cities. Despite these conditions, though, refugees often face
many barriers before becoming self-sufficient, particularly in these troubled economic times.

“You get frustrated,” shares Justin Mwambak from the Congo. “Sometimes you give up….The
first thing is to lose…your country…your own land. You’re good, and then you find yourself in
another country. You got nothing. And it [causes] many refugees to…lose hope.”

But there are groups in Houston willing to offer Justin, and others like him, the hand up they
need to move forward. A coalition of refugee resettlement agencies and community
organizations has formed to highlight what the refugees in the city are doing to establish new
homes, while also honoring and celebrating their roots. The World Refugee Day community
event is one of the coalition’s flagship initiatives.

“I appreciate what people have done for me so far,” says Daniel Garang, one of the so-called
“Lost Boys” of Sudan who resettled to the US in 2000. “When I was living in dark days…there
were people out there who were working hard for my life.” Daniel now lives, works and thrives
in Houston, while also giving back to the community by helping fellow refugees learn to read
and write English, and to help them find employment.

About World Refugee Day

In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly adopted June 20th as World Refugee Day. The
aim of World Refugee Day is to raise awareness about the 21st century's refugee challenge.
Around the world people are forced to flee their homes due to war, political violence,
exclusion, and the competition for scarce resources in troubled states. World Refugee Day is
an opportunity for communities to recognize, honor and celebrate refugees across the globe,
and in their own neighborhoods.

More information on the World Refugee Day Celebration in Houston can be found at:
http://unahouston.org/component/content/article/35-about/111-world-refugee-day-2009 or on
the Facebook Event Page at: http://tinyurl.com/WRDHouston.

###

› WHAT: Events/Programs from Neighborhood Centers Inc. (NCI)

Community Garage Sale

June 27, 2009
Participate in the Garage Sale by selling your items or come shop!!!
Neighborhood Centers Inc is offering a community garage sale the 4th Saturday of every month from 8am to 1pm behind the SW
Multiservice Center (6400 High Star, 77074). Community members have the opportunity to rent a table from Neighborhood
Centers for $20.00 (NCI Members/Staff $15.00). Community members are able to sell any and all kind of items (excluding food)
and of course keep their own profits. NCI will provide a table and two chairs; all are responsible for their own items. Please
contact Neighborhood Centers Staff at The BRIDGE/ El PUENTE (713-592-0288) for more details and rental information.

› WHAT: SUMMER MEAL PROGRAM – PROGRAMA DE COMIDAS GRATIS DURANTE EL VERANO

Houston Parks and Recreation Department www.houstonparks.org
Summer Food Program - Programa de Alimentos de Verano
To find a site near you call 2-1-1 or (713) 676-6832 and give the operator your zip code. They’ll assist with finding
the site closest to you.
La escuela puede estar en receso por el verano, pero eso no significa el final de los almuerzos y meriendas gratis
para los estudiantes gracias a HPARD del Programa de Alimentos de Verano.

Para encontrar un sitio cercano llame al 2-1-1 o (713) 676-6832 y darle al operador su código postal, ellos le
ayudarán a encontrar el sitio más cercano.

› WHAT: Hurricane Preparedness Resource Materials – Documentos

Informativos Para Prepararse En Caso De Huracanes click here.
•Ready.gov •Listo.gov •Evacuation Information •Houston Hide from the Wind •Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities

• No one likes to think about disasters, but they happen here just like in every other part of the world. The
question is — are you prepared to survive them?
• A 15-minute DVD is available to prepare you and your family on how to respond to and recover from the
effects of any disaster.
• The DVD contains versions in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese. It also contains captioned versions
in each language for the hearing-impaired.
To order your free copy of the DVD by mail, click here.

Hurricane Predictions Evacuation Plans Power Restoration

› WHAT: FREE! Citizenship & Computer Classes at the Express Library

HPL Express Southwest
6400 High Star
Houston, Texas 77074
832.393.2660
more details
• Citizenship Class Tuesdays & Thursday 6:00 PM: Classes are designed to guide you through the naturalization process
and prepare you for your interview. It focuses on American History and Government as well as communicative English
skills. Classes are in English with limited assistance in Spanish. Space is limited; registration is every first Tuesday of the
month.
• Urgeworks: Dance Workshop 7/24/2009 2:00 PM: From the Streets to the Stage: Dance Instruction Workshop.
This teens event is part of the Summer Reading Program.
• Urgeworks: Dance Workshop 7/31/2009 2:00 PM: From the Streets to the Stage: Dance Instruction Workshop.
This teens event is part of the Summer Reading Program.
• Rosetta Stone: Date: Saturday June 20th, 2009 time: 02:00 PM
Description: Learning a new language can be difficult but with Rosetta Stone students can learn a different language from the
comfort of their home, free and at their own pace. Basic Internet skills and a Houston Public Library Card are required. Ages:
Adults
• HPL Database: Date: Monday June 22nd, 2009 Time: 12:00 PM
Description: Learn to fully benefit from the various facets of the library's online database. Basic Internet skills are required.
Ages: Adults.
• Tech Help: Date: Tuesday June 23rd, 2009 Time: 12:00 PM
Description: An open session dedicated to answering questions related to computers/technology. Ages: Adults <br>
• Chess Knight: Date: Tuesday June 23rd, 2009 Time: 05:00 PM
Description: Open chess games for players of all skill levels.
• PowerPoint: Date: Wednesday June 24th, 2009 Time: 12:00 PM
Description: Learn to create a slideshow presentation. Ages: Adults
• Keyboarding: Date: Thursday June 25th, 2009 Time: 12:00 PM
Description: Learn the proper way to type and practice to improve skill and accuracy. Ages: Adults <br>
• Teen Activity: Date: Thursday June 25th, 2009 Time: 01:00 PM
Description: Make and take a challenging craft project. AGes: Teens
• Word: Date: Friday June 26th, 2009 Time: 12:00 PM
Description: Learn the basics of Microsoft Word. Experiment with fancy fonts, cutting and pasting. Ages: Adults <br>
• Internet Basics 1: Date: Saturday June 27th, 2009 Time: 11:00 AM
Description: This course explains the purpose of the Internet, what is needed to connect to it, and important terms related to
the Internet. Also it explains the World Wide Web and how to perform searches and transactions. Prequistes: Computer Basic
1 & 2.
• Internet Basics 2: Date: Saturday June 27th, 2009 Time: 02:00 PM
Description: This course explains what email is and how to use it. It also explains the features of online communities and how
instant messaging works. Prerequisites: Computer Basics 1&2.
• Computer Basics 1: Date: Monday June 29th, 2009 Time: 12:00 PM
Description: This course explains: the main parts of a computer, the keyboard, and how to use the mouse. It also defines
common computer terminology such as program, the data, network, etc. Prerequisites: None
• Computer Basics 2: Date: Tuesday June 30th, 2009 Time: 12:00 PM
Description: This continuation of computer basics explains the features of different computers and the role of the memory. It
describes different types of productivity, communications, educational, and entertainment programs. It also explains the
features and functions of Windows XP. Ages: Adults.
• Chess Knight: Date: Tuesday June 30th, 2009 Time: 05:00 PM
Description: Open chess games for players of all skill levels.

Morris Frank Library is now open.

10103 Fondren, Brays Oaks Towers Building (in front of YMCA)
Houston, Texas 77096
832.393.2410

La Biblioteca Pública de Houston, Morris Frank Express, está enseñando Clases de

Computación bi-lingue para el público. Las clases serán todos los Lunes, Miércoles,
Viernes y Sábado de 12pm-2pm. Registración no es necesaria, solo pedimos que llegue quince
minutos antes.

También estaremos ofreciendo Clases de Ciudadanía todos los meses. Clases serán todos
los Lunes y Jueves de 6pm -8pm Registración será el primer Lunes de cada mes. El curso dura
4 semanas. El curso de Ciudadanía es solo en Ingles.

Todos nuestros cursos son gratis y abiertos al público.

GRATIS