By: Eva Castillo, Director of Welcoming New Hampshire
As a naturalized citizen, I take my voting rights very seriously. Many of us come from places where the people cannot choose their country’s government, so I cannot take this privilege for granted. I remember when, as a foreign student in Michigan, I could not participate with my vote, so I volunteered my time to make sure those who could vote did not waste their chance. Today, I can proudly say I have not missed a single election since I became a citizen of this nation.
I still do electoral work with immigrants every election cycle; it is one of my favorite activities. The 2020 pandemic, however, has added an additional burden to this election season. We have been forced to adapt our Get Out The Vote efforts to the new norms of social interaction. Texting and social media messaging have supplanted the traditional door-to-door canvassing. Many people will vote by mail or absentee ballot, but there is still a lot of uncertainty about the process in general. We are trying our best to answer questions and motivate people to vote, but I must admit that I find it awkward to do this electronically and I miss the personal contact with the voters.
We have compiled and posted information in various languages on the Welcoming NH website and facebook page to make sure New Americans understand this election’s voting process. Please, feel free to share this info and message us if you need assistance.
A democracy is made stronger by the number of people that take part in the electoral process. Like they say, every vote counts, and the only vote wasted is the vote not cast.
I have my voting plan for November 3rd. How about you?
This is an urgent final reminder to complete the U.S. 2020 Census questionnaire. We have only until October 15 to complete the census. This can be done online at https://my2020census.gov/ or you can call 844-330-2020.
If you have not completed the census yet, it is likely that a census worker will come to your door soon.
Also, we are looking for VOLUNTEER translators to join the Mobile Questionnaire Assistance events happening on weekends and afternoons in Manchester. Please contact Bill Maddocks at billnhccc@gmail.com
Welcoming Week 2020 is September 12-20, and while festivals and other events might have been canceled, that doesn’t mean we can’t still connect and celebrate! This year’s Welcoming Week theme is Creating Home Together, so Welcoming NH and partners – including some of your favorite multicultural festivals! – are working together to create an online cookbook as an opportunity for New Hampshire residents to share food and culture despite these challenging times.
Through this virtual recipe exchange, we encourage you to share your favorite dish and a bit of your story (or your family’s story). Let this be an opportunity for us to come together and take pride in our different cultures, our unique experiences, and our shared love of food and community!
Please tell us about your recipe by using this form or by emailing us! ** The virtual cookbook will be published on the Welcoming NH website. Contact Welcoming NH with any questions: welcomingnh@gmail.com
** We are happy to assist with recipe submissions in any way we can. Please let us know if you or others need a paper copy of this form, translation assistance, or a phone number to reach us.
Second Start’s New American Driving School in Concord, NH will be starting another round of driver’s ed classes on August 17. Classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays, 6-8pm. To learn more or register, visit: www.second-start.org/new-american-driving-school
Welcoming America recently wrote an article titled “Why welcoming cannot thrive as long as racism persists.”
This short but important message on racism should resonate with all of us. Welcoming New Hampshire, a statewide movement within the larger national and even international Welcoming movement, strongly agrees with this message. We at Welcoming New Hampshire are committed to recognizing and tackling racism on all levels, and we strive to continue building an inclusive and collaborative network of partners and allies who care to move everyone forward.
“When the shadow of terror hangs over us and our neighbors, this is not freedom; it is oppression, and it affects all of us.” – Welcoming America
Read Welcoming America’s article below or by clicking here.
Why welcoming cannot thrive as long as racism persists
Welcoming America | May 29, 2020
Being welcoming is more than being tolerant—it’s having a true respect and appreciation for our neighbors and making sure that, in our culture and in our policies, everyone belongs. Unfortunately, the recent events in Louisville, KY, Minneapolis, MN, and Brunswick, GA show that we still have a long way to go to being a truly welcoming America.
We cannot be welcoming when African Americans are repeatedly targeted because of the color of their skin.
We cannot be welcoming when violence against our neighbors is minimized or ignored.
We cannot be welcoming if we are afraid to address the root causes of racism.
The pandemic has amplified the problems of inequality in our society. No one can escape the risks of catching the virus, and yet, African Americans, minorities, and immigrants have been disproportionately affected by it. We must go beyond these momentary crises and commit to changing these systemic issues from the inside out. Who we elect, the policies we support, the words we speak—these are things we as individuals can control and must use to bring lasting change.
We stand with our African American friends and neighbors in calling for justice and true accountability. We also call for a new normal, one where every person—regardless of their race, gender, or creed—is treated equally under the law and able to live safely in their communities without fear. When the shadow of terror hangs over us and our neighbors, this is not freedom; it is oppression, and it affects all of us. Conversely, when each person in a community feels they belong, everyone benefits. Each of us is empowered to be that change and obligated to make the problems of racism and injustice our own if we want to achieve a welcoming America.
The New Hampshire Housing Relief Program is designed to keep people from losing their housing and to secure or maintain permanent housing.
“Governor Chris Sununu has authorized the allocation and expenditure of $35 million from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (“flex funds”) to support families or individuals in need of housing assistance as a result of COVID-19. Of the allocated $35 million, $20 million will be initially expended, with $15 million being held in reserve, for rent stabilization and housing support.”
“The New Hampshire Housing Relief Program is designed to keep people from losing their housing and to secure or maintain permanent housing. The program has two components: one-time assistance grants; and a short-term rental assistance program.” – https://www.capnh.org/
The one-time assistance grants can be used to assist households with:
Past-due rent from April 2020 forward for households that fell behind on rent due to either increased household expenses or lost household revenue as a result to COVID-19;
Past-due housing/household related expenses that may impact an individual’s/families’ ability to remain housed; and/or
Other housing related one-time expenses that if not paid impact the ability to maintain housing.
New Hampshire Self Employed Livelihood Fund (SELF)
“Governor Chris Sununu has authorized the allocation and expenditure of CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (“flex funds”) to provide emergency financial relief to support New Hampshire self-employed, for-profit businesses due to the economic disruption caused by COVID-19.” – https://www.revenue.nh.gov/new-hampshire-self/index.htm
Important Dates & Timeline:
Application Period: July 6, 2020 – July 17, 2020
Deadline to File a Completed Application: July 17, 2020
The Self Employed Livelihood Fund grant award amounts will be calculated similarly to the Main Street Relief Fund, with the maximum award amount a business can receive is $50,000.
Eligibility Criteria For a self-employed business to qualify for a SELF Grant, it must:
Be a “self-employed” business
Be a for-profit business
Have its principal place of business in New Hampshire
Have been in operation for at least one year before July 17, 2020
Anticipate a loss of gross receipts from 2019 to 2020 due to COVID-19
Have total 2019 gross receipts of less than $1,000,000
Not be currently in bankruptcy
Not have permanently ceased operations
Not have been awarded a Main Street Relief Fund Grant
Granite State Organizing Project (GSOP), in partnership with New Hampshire Legal Assistance (NHLA), has put together some helpful information on evictions and foreclosures in New Hampshire during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. Below are links to this information in English and Spanish.
The City of Manchester recently announced some very positive news regarding the City’s ongoing efforts to honor and better serve and represent Manchester’s diverse population.
Mayor Joyce Craig announced that the Mayor’s Multicultural Advisory Council, chaired by Arnold Mikolo, would be expanding to include members of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The City of Manchester secured a $20,000 grant from the Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation to provide diversity and cultural competency training for city employees who regularly interact with the public. The training, which was originally suggested by the Mayor’s Multicultural Advisory Council, will be led by the New Hampshire Health and Equity Partnership and New Hampshire Area Health Education Center.
The City of Manchester plans to begin scheduling community conversations to hear directly from residents about how the city can do better.
For more information on these announcements, visit the following links:
NHPR junto a Granite State News Collaborative lanza un nuevo servicio de información para la comunidad hispanohablante
“Un nuevo noticiero radial en español es diseñado especialmente para comunicar lo más reciente sobre la emergencia sanitaria del COVID-19 con la comunidad hispanohablante de New Hampshire.” – Patricia McLaughlin, NHPR
[Traducido por María Aguirre Torres y Daniela Allee]
¿Qué Hay de Nuevo, New Hampshire?: New Spanish Language Audio Updates
NHPR and Granite State News Collaborative launch news services to reach Spanish-speaking community
“A new Spanish language audio newscast will provide Spanish speakers in New Hampshire with the latest information on coronavirus-related developments and other news.” – Patricia McLaughlin, NHPR
The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) has created a document that provides an overview of immigrant eligibility for the major federal public assistance programs.
