Welcome to the first Union Settlement Association e-bulletin! You can expect to receive several updates from us throughout the year. If you wish to forward this e-bulletin to a friend or to opt out, please use the links at the bottom of this message.
PROGRAM UPDATE: Union Settlement Works to Ensure Needy Latino Seniors Receive Food Stamps
In New York City, two out of three Latino senior citizens are living near or below the poverty line, yet Latinos have the City's lowest rate of participation in the food stamp program. The community confronts a number of barriers to enrollment: for many, English is a second language and they require help completing complicated forms; many are reluctant to accept government assistance because they are too proud or feel ashamed; others may be undocumented and fear deportation.
For these reasons, we have long made benefits assistance available to the community—benefits assistance that is both linguistically and culturally sensitive. "We offer information," says Maria Alejandro, Director of Senior Services. "We explain that there is nothing to be ashamed of. Many of us have family members who receive food stamps."
Last month, Union Settlement hosted two special open house events to help East Harlem seniors access the benefits that they are entitled to. We enrolled over 20 people who were immediately given food stamp "debit" cards ready for use, and we helped more than 90 others increase their benefit levels.
 These events were held in partnership with the Latino Center on Aging. To help raise awareness on this important issue, Maria Alejandro, pictured at left, appeared with Mario Tapia, Executive Director of the Center, on Tiempo, a weekly public affairs program on WABC-TV. Watch the video here.
If you know someone who may qualify for food stamps, please encourage them to contact Union Settlement at 212-828-6104.
PROFILE: Miriam Learns English and Continues Her Education
Last year, Miriam (pictured above, left, with Director of Adult Education Melissa Nieves) a 17-year-old from the Ivory Coast, began participating in Union Settlement's Adult Education classes. Her parents were hesitant to allow her to attend school at all, and she had only finished middle school in the Ivory Coast. A Union Settlement teacher met with Miriam and her parents and explained the options available to them in their new country. The City Department of Education did not have a program that offered literacy for teens, and Miriam was not at an academic level in French or English that would allow her to do high school work. So the family determined, with the help of our teacher, that she would be better off at our New Populations program, which is specifically geared towards East Harlem's newest wave of immigrants from Africa and the Middle East. Since enrolling in January 2009 Miriam has blossomed, passing quickly through our English for Speakers of Other Languages—Basic Literacy course and participating in our student filmmaking program. During the summer she got her first job, at a local store as a salesclerk, and she is now enrolled in our Home Health Aide Training and Job Placement Program, which will lead to secure employment and the potential for continued advancement through the health care field.
"At Union Settlement I learned to stay focused on my goals. I want to work in medicine and love to help people."
For more information about Adult Education at Union Settlement, follow this link for English or oprima aquí por información en español.
COMMUNITY SERVICES: Tax Preparation
Last year, through our collaboration with the Volunteers in Tax Assistance Program, Union Settlement Federal Credit Union offered free tax preparation services to 1,455 of East Harlem's struggling residents, and participants received a total tax refund of $1,722,224. The effort also brought in 335 new Credit Union members.
For more information on free tax preparation follow this link.
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Black History Month at Union Settlement
Children in the Union Settlement Head Start program at Washington Houses dressed up as important leaders to celebrate Black History Month. Each class performed and presented on a topic ranging from African American dancers to African American educators. Complete with music, dancing, and wonderful costumes, the program was well attended by parents.
Manhattan HIV/AIDS Profile Conference
The Manhattan HIV CARE Network, coordinated by Union Settlement, is organizing a conference to bring together providers and other members of the HIV/AIDS community to share experiences and generate strategies for the coming year. The Manhattan HIV/AIDS Profile Conference will be held on March 26th, 2010 at the NYC Seminar and Conference Center, located at 71 West 23rd Street.
Space is limited. To RSVP, call (212) 828-6142 or email gcruz@unionsett.org with Conference RSVP in the subject line. For more information, please call (212) 828-6141.
2010 Spring Gala
Union Settlement's Spring Gala will be held this year on Wednesday, April 28th, at the Grand Hyatt on 42nd Street at Grand Central Station. This year we will honor three extraordinary leaders:
Mark L. Wagar
President and CEO
Empire BlueCross BlueShield
Jeremiah A. Barondess, MD
President Emeritus
The New York Academy of Medicine
John B. Rhea
Chairman
New York City Housing Authority
Please join in supporting Union Settlement and our major annual event.
Ethnic Festival, May 22
Union Settlement's 14th Annual Ethnic Festival, a street fair and celebration of the many cultures and traditions of East Harlem, will held be on Saturday, May 22 , on 104th Street from 2nd to 3rd Avenues. The re will be 6 bands performing music from Latin America, the Caribbean and more, a Taste of East Harlem's wonderful restaurants, activities for children of all ages, and lots of fun. Come one and all!
www.unionsettlement.org
The Union Settlement website is expanding and becoming a lively space for communicating with our community and our supporters. You may want to visit some of the newest sections such as Union Settlement in Pictures or our community and research partners pages. You can expect expanded program pages and much more in the coming months. Also, our 2009 Annual Report is available on our website as is the Winter 2010 edition of our newsletter, the Union Settlement Chronicle. You can stay connected with Union Settlement on Facebook as well.
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