by changer | Oct 2, 2014 | More News, Uncategorized
Julissa Ferreras, council member of the 21st district in Queens, spoke at the Queens Tenant Monthly Meeting.
CMS held our first Queens Tenant Monthly Meeting of fall 2014 on Wednesday September 24.Over 80 community members attended the meeting at St. Sebastian Parish Center. We were joined by council member Julissa Ferreras of the 21st district in Queens. She spoke about current housing issues in the Elmhurst, Corona, and Jackson Heights area and a new development for affordable housing that is opening in Corona. Ariel Salazar of the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs gave a presentation on the new paid sick leave law that was enacted in the city of New York on April 1st 2014. This law grants new rights for employees to receive compensation for days that they or a loved one are sick and cannot work.
CMS housing attorney Kenny Minaya ended our meeting with announcements that effect tenants throughout the 5 boroughs. He explained the rent increases that are beginning on October 1st and he reminded tenants about the legal temperature in New York City apartments. He also spoke regarding the expiration of the rent stabilization law in June 2015 and a renewal that further protects the rights of tenants. CMS staff Jennifer Park, Alexina Delvecchio, Alice Davis, and Quetzalli Rocha were present to speak with community member about our Immigration Legal Services and Immigrant Workers Rights Program. Members of CMS partner organizations JASA, Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens, and Fidelis Health Care were available to speak with community members about the various services they each provide. CMS will be holding the Queens Tenant Monthly Meetings now through June.
For more information about the CMS monthly meetings, please contact Kenny Minaya at kminaya@catholicmigration.org.
Location: St. Sebastian Parish Center
39-60 57th St., Woodside, NY 11377
Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Dates:
October 28, 2014
November 26, 2014
December 17, 2014
January 28, 2015
February 25, 2015
March 25, 2015
April 30, 2015
May 27, 2015
June 24, 2015
For a full list of CMS events, please see our Events Calendar!
by changer | Sep 26, 2014 | fundraising, News
On September 18, friends and supporters of Catholic Migration Services gathered at the offices of Time Warner, Inc. at Columbus Circle to enjoy beautiful views of Central Park and celebrate CMS’ legal services programs. For the fifth consecutive year, Time Warner, Inc. generously sponsored CMS’ Fall Benefit, which is an important source of financial support for the organization.
Attendees were welcomed by Time Warner, Inc. attorney Kwanza Butler who expressed Time Warner’s commitment to pro bono work and civic engagement including its relationship with CMS. CMS is thankful for its partnership with Time Warner, Inc. and for the support of all those who contributed to make the Fall Benefit event a success.
by changer | Sep 17, 2014 | News
CMS staff Xiomara Bustamante (on the right) works with parishioner at St. Catherine of Alexandria.
On Sunday, September 14th CMS staff conducted outreach at two different parishes in Queens and Brooklyn. Staff Alexina Delvecchio, Rebecca Rybaltowski, and Xiomara Bustamante attended service at St. Catherine of Alexandria in Brooklyn and after Mass answered questions and conducted consultations for over 20 parishioners. At Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Astoria CMS staff Jennifer Park, Nancy Pardo, and Chris Holtz attended both English and Spanish Mass and were able to provide legal services to over 25 parishioners. CMS will be attending weekly Masses across Queens and Brooklyn this fall to provide immigration, labor, and tenant rights information and consultations.
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by changer | Sep 10, 2014 | News
CMS Outreach Assistant Rebecca Rybaltowski at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
On September 7th CMS Outreach Assistant Rebecca Rybaltowski attended the Fidelis Community Resource Fair at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Corona. This successful event helped CMS reach out to many people who were interested in immigration matters and learn about the services that CMS provides. Several organizations that partner with CMS, including Faith in NY, NICE, Catholic Charities, New York Family Justice Center, Fidelis, Grameen VidaSana, and Queens Immigrants United were at the event and reached out to over 2,000 parishioners who attended the fair. This fair hosted by Fidelis Health Care helped to increase the scope of knowledge and access to valuable resources and services available to community members.
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by changer | Sep 5, 2014 | News
Staff of CMS and AAANY partner together to provide legal services.
CMS is collaborating with the Arab-American Association of New York (AAANY) to make free legal services more accessible to the Arabic-speaking community in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. AAANY is a social services organization serving the Arab immigrant community to adjust to their new home in New York. Their services include ESL and citizenship classes, public benefits eligibility screening, job application and resume assistance, youth programs, and leading advocacy efforts in a variety of campaigns.
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