18 minute read
What Will Your Child Be Eating? Chancellor Banks Launches Inaugural Chefs Council
What Will Your Child Be Eating? DOE Launches Inaugural Chefs Council
NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor David C. Banks today announced the launch of New York City’s first-ever Chefs Council in partnership with Wellness in the Schools (WITS). The Council is chaired by Rachael Ray and includes celebrated chefs, culinary industry professionals, and food activists. “Teaching students at a young age to eat healthy, nutritious meals is critical to setting up them up for success,” said Mayor Adams. “The new Chefs Council will develop delicious, nutritious, culturally relevant meals for schools with direct input from students and parents. Through this partnership with WITS and our tremendous staff of school food workers, we will take school meals to the next level.” “Healthy and nourishing meals are essential in ensuring our students can succeed both inside and outside the classroom. This initiative will help to expand our menus while making sure they follow our strict health standards and are reflective of the cultures and communities we serve,” said DOE Chancellor Banks. “I’m grateful to the Chefs Council for the work they will do as part of this initiative and to our food service workers, who work day in and day out to ensure our students are well fed and cared for.” “As the parent of two elementary school children, I know firsthand that providing healthier food choices is only half the battle,” said Kate MacKenzie, executive director, Mayor's Office of Food Policy. “Convincing them to try something new is the real challenge, and I look forward to student feedback on the new recipes this incredible group of chefs will be cooking up! Thank you to Mayor Adams for leading by example, to Chancellor Banks and all of the dedicated school food service workers who are doing the hard work to make sure our students are nourished for success.” “Wellness in the Schools is grateful to Mayor Adams and Chancellor Banks for prioritizing school meals,” said Nancy Easton, co-founder and executive director, Wellness in the Schools. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Office of Food and Nutrition Services’ Cook Ambassadors and local chefs to bring scratched-cooked, plant-based, and culturally relevant food to nearly one million New York City school children. Expanding our model in the largest school district in the country is a significant step forward in advancing our mission to eliminate obesity related illnesses that begin in childhood.” The Chefs Council will develop scratch-cooked, plant-based, and culturally relevant recipes and provide handson training for the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Food and Nutrition Services (OFNS) chefs. They will create over 100 recipes that will be tested in schools across all five boroughs during the 2022-2023 school year in partnership with the new OFNS Cook Ambassadors. After feedback from students and parents, the recipes will be introduced as a monthly seasonal menu and the chefs will then train school cooks on implementing the new recipes onsite in all public school locations. In partnership with local education departments, WITS programs have served more than 86,000 children in nearly 200 schools nationwide during the 2021-2022 school year. In New York City, programs are currently implemented in 38 schools across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens. The launch of the Chefs Council will expand the programming presence to all DOE schools for the 2023-2024 school year. l
Advertisement
The Immigrant's Journal Celebrates 25 Years: Countdown Begins with FREE Immigration Boot Camp
Over the years, immigrants have been demonized, especially during President Trump's administration. Recently, the Texas State Governor, Gregory Abbott, exhibited deplorable behavior by sending many immigrants to New York and other states on buses. Other Republican governors have since joined him. The ongoing inhumane treatment of immigrants has made them desperate for legalization while striving to survive and feed their families. These have exposed them to fraudulent schemes run by criminals who steal from them. In some cases, they are caught and sentenced to prison. District Attorney Alvin Bragg says it is one of the issues his office will be "invested in doing more of in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office." Immigrants who seek to adjust their immigration status can be at risk of being scammed by companies or individuals who provide unauthorized and fraudulent immigration services. Unscrupulous individuals prey on immigrants knowing they are vulnerable and fear complaining to authorities. The immigrant community is a fragile one. Brian Figeroux of the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates who has been practicing immigration law for almost 25 years and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA shared the following: "When people come to the office with immigration issues, it's a painful situation. If they have been taken advantage of and defrauded, they've been here for many years, undocumented, and exploited by their employers or fellow people from their own community. So, yes, pain is a common thing." The Immigrant's Journal, founded in 1998, is about to celebrate 25 years of serving the immigrant community. The Journal proudly offers a FREE 5-week Immigration Boot Camp: An Introduction to US Immigration Law to start the celebrations. Over the five weeks, the topics are as follows:
Week 1, Sept 29: A History of US Immigration from 1869 to 2022. Why Congress Cannot Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Lobbying Techniques Week 2, Oct 6: Paths to Legalization for Entries in the US With or Without Inspection
Week 3, Oct 13: Consequences of Criminal Activities and Defenses for Deportation
Week 4, Oct 20: Immigration Fraud: Consequences and Solutions
Week 5, Oct 27: Malpractice or Fraud: Lawyers, Notaries and Form Fillers
There will be special presentations from The Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates (AsktheLawyer.us), representatives from the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), Manhattan and Brooklyn District Attorneys' Offices, and the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. The Boot Camp starts on Thursday, September 29 to October 27, on consecutive Thursdays at 6pm. Sessions are via Zoom. Interested persons can register at immigrationseminar.eventbrite.com l
Thursday, Sept 29-Oct 27 from 6pm via Zoom
Refugee Admissions and Access to Asylum/continued from page 1 2017—the first year of the Trump administration—refugee admissions and applications for asylum have plummeted in the United States. Turning away refugees and asylum seekers not only endangers the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world and diminishes the commitment of the United States to international human rights, but also—as a recent study points out—harms the U.S. economy.
The Difference Between Refugees and Asylum Seekers Refugees are migrants outside of the United States who have fled to another country, been designated by the United Nations as needing protection, and are awaiting resettlement in a third country. If the U.S. government admits them, they become “resettled” refugees. Asylum seekers are migrants who are physically present in the United States and intend to request protection from the U.S. government but have not received a response yet. If the U.S. government grants their request, they become “asylees.” There are two types of asylum seekers. Those who request asylum and are not in deportation proceedings are “affirmative” asylum applicants who apply for asylum from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Those who are in deportation proceedings and ask for asylum to avoid deportation are “defensive” asylum applicants. The latter category includes most migrants who come to the border and seek asylum.
Refugees and Asylum Seekers are Beneficial to the U.S. Economy A recent study published by IZA –Institute of Labor Economics focuses on the fact that refugees and asylum seekers—like all migrants—are economic actors. They are workers, consumers, taxpayers, and often investors. Their economic activities expand the U.S. economy and generate fiscal revenues at all levels of government that more than offset the costs of the public services they use. The study emphasizes that the fiscal impact of refugees and asylum seekers goes beyond the taxes they pay directly. It also includes the additional tax revenue generated by their presence in the economy. For instance, the availability of refugee workers may increase the productivity of a business or allow the owner of the business to invest more, both of which increase state revenue from business taxes.
Refugee Admissions and Asylum Applications Have Fallen Dramatically In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, the annual cap on the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the United States was 85,000. The number who were actually resettled was 84,994. By FY 2020, the Trump administration had lowered the cap to 18,000 and the number resettled had dropped to 11,814. Although the Biden administration has raised the annual cap significantly since then, refugee admissions have yet to catch up. The cap in FY 2022 was 125,000, but the number admitted as of July 31 was only 17,690. According to the study, the annual number of refugee arrivals in the United States fell by 86% between FY 2016 and FY 2020. As a result, there were about 295,000 fewer refugees in the United States than there would have been if refugee admissions had remained at their 2016 level. In addition to restricting refugee admissions, the Trump administration also implemented policies and programs which prevented asylum seekers from entering the United States. For instance, the Migrant Protection Protocols (also known as Remain in Mexico) forced asylum seekers arriving at the southern border to go back to Mexico to wait for their U.S. immigration court dates. And when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, immigration courts around the country closed for nearly a year. As a result, applications for asylum fell dramatically. There were 31,588 affirmative applications for asylum in the fourth quarter of FY 2017, but only 18,270 in the fourth quarter of FY 2021. The study found that the monthly number of affirmative applications for asylum dropped 68% between March 2017 and September 2019.
Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, a man from Haiti crosses the border between Mexico and the United States with his daughter in his arms to request asylum Editorial credit: David Peinado Romero / Shutterstock.com
The Economic Costs of Keeping Refugees and Asylum Seekers Out of the United States Declining refugee admissions and asylum applications have had a significant impact on the U.S. economy. continued on page 12
Immigrant Advocates Urge Mayor Adams to Reconsider Relief Centers
New York, NY: New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced his Administration will open “Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers” to receive asylum seekers arriving from Texas. The centers will be operated by the NYC Department of Emergency Management (NYCEM) and NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H), with one confirmed location in Orchard Beach in the Bronx, one location to be determined, and potentially more centers opened in the coming weeks. Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition said: “Yesterday, [Sept 23] Mayor Eric Adams announced his plans to open multiple relief centers in New York City, a plan reportedly designed to relieve pressure from our shelter system. While we recognize there is urgency in meeting the very real needs of asylum seeking families while our shelter system remains over-burdened, we believe that any effort to open a temporary relief camp at Orchard Beach is ridiculous and likely to cause more harm than good, especially as the fall turns into winter. This center raises serious concerns relating to access to transportation, care, and other supports that people need to get back on their feet, and to fully integrate into our city. Moreover, we fear that what was meant to be a temporary solution will become an inadequate permanent one, which will lead to long-term negative impacts on the individuals housed there, as well as becoming a stain on New York City’s reputation as a welcoming city. Until the Adams administration provides an updated and concrete written plan that allows for input from organizations like ours, public health, and housing experts – to ensure the health and safety of all residents – we cannot endorse this effort. The shelter crisis requires a real solution that meets the urgency of the moment with a long term solution that provides New Yorkers with permanent housing, not a temporary half-measure. Every New Yorker deserves better. We urge the Mayor and his Administration to reconsider this plan, and create a real solution to keep everyone safe and secure, now and into the future.”l New York City, NY USA August 26, 2022. NY Immigration Coalition held a press conference at City Hall demanding the city do more to help asylum seekers arriving in NYC. Editorial credit: Steve Sanchez Photos / Shutterstock.com Refugee Admissions and Access to Asylum/continued from page 11 The study estimates that from 2017 to 2020, reduced refugee resettlement resulted in a loss to the U.S. economy of $9.1 billion each year ($30,962 per refugee per year). Federal, state, and local governments lost $2 billion each year in revenue ($6,844 per refugee per year). Put differently, for each 10% reduction in refugee admissions, the U.S. economy loses $1.4 billion and federal, state, and local governments lose $310 million in revenue. The study also estimates that for every 10% reduction in the number of both affirmative and defensive asylum seekers, the U.S. economy loses $8.9 billion and federal, state, and local governments lose $1.5 billion in revenue over the course of five years.
The United States Should Welcome Refugees and Asylum Seekers The United States should reclaim its historical tradition of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers. At a time when more and more people worldwide are fleeing conflicts in their home countries, it is inhumane to arbitrarily impose extreme restrictions on refugee admissions and access to asylum. Moreover, reducing the number of refugees and asylum seekers allowed to enter the United States needlessly undermines the U.S. economy.l
The Message to All Africans: “Get In Business or Become Extinct”
BY SHAQUILLE BAIRD
Recently, prominent Nigerian filmmaker and chairman of Blaze Channel USA, Tony Abulu, hosted the first Annual Africa Expo, USA, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square Hotel. The agenda was clear: Africans must begin to monetize their talents and ideas and, in doing so, come together as a business community. “For far too long, Africans, especially the African youth, has been languishing, and it’s not getting any better.” Making no distinction between native Africans, African Americans, and Caribbean Africans, Tony Abulu dramatized the economic struggles faced by many Africans worldwide and highlighted the dire need for practical solutions. “It’s not enough to get a degree and get a job. We should be coming together as a community and creating jobs. We should create businesses, monetize our talents, and then feed the proceeds into our communities. If we do not do it ourselves, then who will?” The two-day event, which began on Saturday, September 17, 2022, and continued on Sunday, September 18, 2022, featured panel discussions, expo markets, trade and investment networking, and a president concert. Among the distinguished guests were Wall Street Financial Advisor Dr. Jana B. Woodhouse, President of the Harlem Tourism Board, Mr. Tony Rogers, CEO and Founder of the nationally distributed cable TV Network Soul City, Mr. Matt McCoy, and Nigerian actress Mrs. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde. Furthering the discussion of business ownership, Dr. Jana B. Woodhouse jokingly opened with the “lie” that many are told as children. “We got to stop lying to our kids. We lie to them very well. We tell them to go to school. You’re going to get a good education. You’re going to get a good job. And then, after 30 years, you’re going to retire, and you’ll receive half of what you’re making. And you’re going to live off of that. Doesn’t that sound lovely?” Despite the humorous opening, Dr. Woodhouse highlighted the importance of advancing education and professional experiences in entrepreneurship and imparting them to African communities. Emphasis was also placed on gaining knowledge about money, business and taxation law, business plans, marketing, and partnering strategies to achieve economic prosperity. According to the Census Bureau 2020 Annual Business Survey, “134,567 Black or African American owned businesses in the US. This figure represents 2.4% of companies in America. For the same year, 2020, a report by Statista illustrated that 19.5% of black people living in America were below the poverty line. The Census Bureau 2020 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement suggested that Blacks represented roughly 23.8% of the poverty population. To improve these statistics, which appear consistent with Africans worldwide, individuals like Tony Abulu are creating platforms to educate, train and provide investment and networking opportunities to individuals and business owners alike. Initiatives are also coming from the local government. Last week, NYC Mayor, Mr. Eric Adams, and Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, Mr. David Banks, announced a career guidance and mentorship program for public school students to achieve long-term economic security, especially for black and brown students’ community members. With a great deal of knowledge and opportunities to impart to the various African communities within America, the Africa Expo USA will be featured in significant Diaspora areas such as Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and California. The discussions, debates, and festive scenes of the Expo are both enjoyable and thought-provoking, but the real treasure of attending this event lies in the empowerment one can achieve. Africans, together as a community, must begin emphasizing entrepreneurship and ownership to flourish economically.l
Photo: IQ INC/Shaquille Baird
Looking to make extra cash? A side hustle?
We are looking for persons to sell advertisements. Experience in advertising sales is needed and preferably experience or a sincere interest in marketing. Interested? Send your resume to info@myiqinc.com
JOBS & RECESSION
14 What Services Can a Paralegal Provide?
BY THE CHAMBER COALITION
The legal profession includes many individuals who are not actually lawyers. This, however, doesn't mean that they cannot do any legal work. There are plenty of services that can be provided by a paralegal, and these services can make all the difference in your case. Paralegals can perform substantive legal work that has been delegated to them by a lawyer. They often have a mix of work experience, education, and professional training that qualifies them for this job. Below are some of the services that you can request from a paralegal.
Preparation of Documents Have you ever wondered how a lawyer is able to show up to different court cases on the same day and still have all the documents they need? This is usually because they have a team of paralegals to whom they delegate this work. Individuals in this profession are very good at preparing legal documents. From briefs and contracts to agreements, paralegals have the knowledge and experience to get these documents ready in a short amount of time. Providing Legal Information Paralegals can't offer legal advice to someone. However, they can provide legal information to a general audience. There are many individuals around the country who are unaware of their legal rights in various situations. Employees, tenants, and other parties might be forced to endure certain conditions simply because they are unaware that the law is on their side. A paralegal can be brought in to provide some legal information to such an audience so they are more aware of where the law stands when it comes to certain issues or how they can go about getting legal aid if they need it.
Explaining Procedural Issues of Law Many people who have never been to court before will be surprised at how certain things are handled. You could spend a day getting ready to argue your case only for proceedings to be postponed. One reason for this is court procedures. There are many procedures that courts are required to follow and paralegals can explain these to you.
Representing Parties in Administrative Law Hearings An administrative agency can allow a paralegal to represent you at an administrative hearing. However, if the case is appealed to a court, you'll have to find a lawyer to represent you.
Rising Prestige As paralegals perform more complex and challenging work, paralegal prestige is rising. Paralegals are no longer simply lawyer's assistants; they assume corporate management roles, leadership roles in law firms, and entrepreneurial roles in independent paralegal businesses. Over the years, paralegals have transcended the image of glorified legal secretaries to become respected legal team members.
Ready to Take the Leap? A career as a paralegal can be rewarding professionally and personally and offers a unique opportunity to help others; options vary, depending on the paralegal's practice area. Paralegals in the public interest sector help poor and disadvantaged segments of the population with legal issues ranging from protection from domestic abuse to assistance preparing wills. Ready to take the leap, the next step? Call us at 718-722-9217 or visit www.freeparalegal.org to complete your registration which includes payment.l
Orientation is Monday, October 17, 2022
