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.
Households across the country have been receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone or by mail. If you got a letter with a Census ID, you can go to www.my2020census.gov and use that ID to take the census survey. If you did not get a letter, go to the website and use your street or P.O. address to take the census survey.
The Census 2020 survey is available in the following languages:
Why is it so important that you respond? What is this data used for?
Census data:
Determines the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next 10 years.
Helps determine the amount of federal funding state governments and communities receive for public services and infrastructure over the next 10 years.
Is also used by local governments, businesses and non-profits.
Use the following links to learn more about the census, your options for participation, how to protect yourself from fraud, and why counting EVERYONE matters.
If a census taker comes to your door: Ask for ID from anyone who is asking information of you, and know what questions census takers may ask. Census takers CANNOT ask about citizenship status. If you have any doubts about a census taker’s identity, call 844-330-2020 to speak with a Census Bureau representative.
This video was created for the Get Out the Count Video Challenge almost exclusively during the shelter-in-place order in Lansing, Michigan. The participants are friends who speak English, Arabic, Burmese, Kinyarwanda, and Nepali. #2020Census
COVID-19 and Public Charge: “The Public Charge rule does not restrict access to testing, screening, or treatment of communicable diseases, including COVID-19.” – USCIS
COVID-19 y Carga Pública: «USCIS exhorta a todas aquellas personas, incluidos los extranjeros, que tengan síntomas similares a los del coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) (fiebre, tos, dificultad respiratoria) a buscar el tratamiento médico o servicios de prevención necesarios. Dicho tratamiento médico o servicios de prevención no afectarán negativamente a los extranjeros como parte del análisis futuro de carga pública.» – USCIS
AN EVENING OF ETHNIC FOOD, MUSIC, FASHION, AND UNITY
CONCORD, NH – The Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success (ORIS) is pleased to present the 2nd Annual Umoja (Unity) Gala on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Grappone Conference Center.
Guests will enjoy a thoughtfully curated array of cuisine from Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, including dishes such as Matbusha- (thick, flavorful dip served with flatbread), MalabarPrawns, Egyptian Lahma Bil Basal (tender beef in a rich onion sauce), Channa Masala Chole (chickpea curry), Tharid (Emirati Lamb stew), Plantain Cake, Mandazi (African donuts), and much more.
Performances by local musicians including Martin Toe, a local hip-hop artist originally from Liberia, and the Himalaya Heritage Performing Arts Group presenting classical kirtan and Nepali folk songs will entertain guests throughout the evening and the Jamhuri Band will return with their Swahili music that is sure to pack the dance floor. Emelyne Adios of Style by Emelyne will present a fashion show featuring her clothing designs made of kitenge, a fabric with brightly colored designs from her native country of Burundi. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase to enter to win unique, themed raffle baskets.
The Umoja Gala was first held in February 2019 as a fundraiser for New American Africans (NAA), a post-resettlement organization for African refugees who have been resettled here in New Hampshire. ORIS is also a post-resettlement organization, whose mission is to aid in the resettlement of refugees and immigrants in New Hampshire by providing assistance, training, resources, and opportunities that promote self-sufficiency. In late 2019, ORIS and NAA merged in order to consolidate and expand services, share valuable resources, and simplify fundraising without competing with each other, thereby broadening each organizations’ approach and strengthening the capacity of the new American communities and service providers across city lines.
Now that the organizations have merged, in the true spirit of “Umoja” (oo-MOE-jah), which means “Unity” in Swahili, ORIS is pleased to continue the annual Umoja Gala and build on the success of its inaugural event.
The 2nd Annual Umoja Gala is sponsored by Parker Education, Mesa Law, St. Mary’s Bank, Northeast Delta Dental, Next Rung Technologies, Norman Associates, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, Associated Grocers, Elm Grove Companies and several in-kind sponsors and supporters. The presenting sponsor of the Umoja Gala is Hannaford Supermarkets.
“We are very proud to sponsor this wonderful event. Our friends at ORIS work hard to equip New Americans with the knowledge and skills to reach their goals,” said John Fifield, Director of Operations for Hannaford. “We at Hannaford witness firsthand the richness of diversity in our local communities, and appreciate the wonderful benefits that New Americans offer to our business. Together, we can all build a better today and tomorrow for New Hampshire.”
The Umoja Gala takes place on Saturday, March 14, 6:00pm-10:00pm at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH. Tickets are $80 per person and can be purchased by visiting www.RefugeeSuccess.org. There is also an option to text-to-donate for people not able to attend: Text UMOJA to 44-321. For questions or more information, please contact Jessica Livingston, Event Coordinator, at 603.568.5740 or jessica@jlivinspirations.com.
