A Message from Mayor's Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs:

This past month, Baltimore celebrated the civic, cultural and economic contributions immigrants and refugees make to our city.

On June 14^th, MIMA hosted a panel discussion on Workforce Development and New American Communities. The event included presentations from the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, WES Global Talent Bridge/IMPRINT and the Baltimore RISE Program. The event discussed topics ranging from creating economic opportunities for newly arrived immigrants, building opportunities for skilled immigrants and Baltimore City’s efforts to increase access to employment for refugees and immigrants. These presentations were possible thanks to the partnership and support of the Welcoming Communities Campaign, an initiative by the White House Task Force on New Americans, which was established in 2014 with the goal of integrating immigrants and refugees into American communities. Through this partnership, cities, such as Baltimore, have access to national experts and information on a series of topics impacting New Americans and receive technical assistance to further support their integration efforts.

On June 18^th, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake participated in Baltimore’s World Refugee Day. The event celebrated the resilience of refugees who have been forced to flee their home due to religious persecution, political oppression, or conflict. Today, Baltimore serves as beacon of hope and opportunity to thousands of refugees.

Read more about this year’s successful event, as covered by the Baltimore Sun.

 

MIMA en Español

On a monthly basis, in partnership with Mundo Latino, MIMA provides vital information on city services in Spanish.  Check out this month’s topic: “Zika Virus.”

Todos los meses MIMA provee información acerca de un servicio ofrecido por la ciudad en conjunto con el periódico Mundo Latino. No te pierdas el tema de este mes: “El Virus del Zika.”

 

Snapshot of Our Community: Unidos y Seguros

Among Spanish-speaking immigrants in Baltimore, there is widespread belief that their immigrant status implicitly invites violence.  Unidos y Seguros, a community based program for Latinos sponsored by Johns Hopkins University Urban Health Institute in partnership with Gallery Church-Patterson Park, aims to provide tools for managing violent experiences, increase awareness of the mental health consequences of community level violence, and encourage solutions for community cohesion in the context of a traumatic local urban environment.

Bilingual mental health professionals guide the weekly meetings during which participants share their personal experiences with crime, explore the social and environmental factors that help them feel safe, learn from Baltimore City police officers how to prevent crime victimization, and discuss the historical roots for poverty, violence, and ethnic isolation in urban environments like Baltimore.  With dinner provided each week, program attendees are able to engage in lively exchange about race relations, policing policy, mental health resource availability, and environmental concerns that facilitate crime. Every other month, participants are also able to share their suggestions for community healing and reconciliation with policy stakeholders.   The overarching goal of Unidos y Seguros is to ensure that Latino residents are actively incorporated in developing trauma-informed systems and that the Latino community has a strong sense of connectedness with the majority ethnic groups.​ For more information, please contact Sadie Peters, MD, MHS, Staff Physician at Johns Hopkins Community Physicians at speter33@jhmi.edu or at 410-502-8544.

 

Partner Spotlight: William & Lanaea C. Featherstone Foundation

The mission of the William & Lanaea C. Featherstone Foundation is to create sustainable solutions to bridge the opportunity divide often experienced by the Latino community, as well as by other underserved communities. To achieve this mission, the Featherstone Foundation offers three major programs for the Latino community. These include their signature computer literacy program, Empowering Latinos One “Click” at a Time, their workforce development program, Reaching New Heights, and their leading financial education workshop series, Mi Dinero, Mi Destino.

This year, the foundation was named “Nonprofit of the Year” by the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Reaching New Heights and its unique strategy to prepare bilingual, low-income, Latino candidates for positions in the financial services industry. Participants in the program have successfully landed jobs at major financial institutions, such as BB&T Bank and Wells Fargo, with some reporting that they are now making double their annual income plus benefits, including health insurance, 401K and paid sick and vacation days.

To learn more about Reaching New Heights, view this impact video featuring two of their BB&T participant hires. To learn more about the Featherstone Foundation.





National Happenings

On June 17^th, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced the formation of a new Latino Alliance of the U.S. Conference of Mayors within the larger Conference of Mayors organization.

“The Conference of Mayors is pleased to announce this new Alliance, which will help our organization to be more active on a broad range of issues,” said Rawlings-Blake whose city has seen significant growth in the Latino population in recent years.  “Clearly the Latino population represents a large and growing segment of the residents in many of our nation’s cities, and we are eager to provide a forum for open dialogue, active participation and lasting policy changes.”

The new Latino Alliance of Mayors will be chaired by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and will serve as a forum for mayors to address top policy concerns,  governmental participation, and the changing demographics of Latino communities in our nation’s cities. The Alliance will also survey mayors on the economic mobility and civic engagement of Latinos to facilitate the development of impactful policies.

For more information, please visit http://www.usmayors.org/.

Hispanic Commission

The Baltimore City Hispanic Commission presents the 2016 Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Awards to honor members of Baltimore City's Hispanic community who have made outstanding contributions toward improving the community's quality of life.

Each contest winner and a guest will be invited to join Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake at a special reception for the 10th annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.

To submit your nomination, fill out the online form. Nomination forms MUST BE RECEIVED no later than Friday, August 26, 2016.

For more information, contact the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs (MIMA) by telephone at 410-396-8056 or email at hispanic.commission@baltimorecity.gov.

Calendar of Events

Sanctuary: Home, Identity and Collective Visions of Community. Artwork by Local Refugee Youth with Community Artist Ben Hamburger

June 2016-August 2016 (Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm)

Baltimore City Hall North Gallery (100 Holiday St. 21202)

Made possible by Baltimore City Community College’s Refugee Youth Project, this unique showcase features artwork by local refugee youth and an interactive art display. *Important: Adults must have photo identification to enter City Hall. More information.

Indigo Magic: Curated by Kibibi Ajanku

May 31, 2016-July 31, 2016 (Closing reception July 28, 2016, 6- 9 pm)

Frederick Douglass-Isaac Meyers Maritime Park, 1417 Thames Street

Attend this exhibition and immerse yourself in an exhibition that uses indigo as a lens to view, witness and contemplate the ways that indigenous African traditions, including those from the Tuareg people of Mali and Northern Senegal or the Yoruba of Nigeria, show up in contemporary African American art forms. More information.

XV North American Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival

June 30-July 3

Royal Farms Arena, 201 West Baltimore Street

Enjoy beautifully choreographed performances from 1,800 Lithuanian folk dancers in traditional costumes during the 15^th North American Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival. Bring your friends and family to this international festival and its first appearance in Baltimore. More information.

35^th Annual Baltimore Caribbean Carnival

July 9-July 10

Lake Clifton Park, 2701 St. Lo Drive

Capture the sounds, sights and tastes of the Caribbean with a parade, live music and entertainment and a delicious sampling of authentic Caribbean food. More information.

Operation HOPE-Small Business Workshop

July 13, 5:30 pm

Enoch Pratt Reisterstown Branch, 6310 Reisterstown Road

Attend this session by Robyn Haynes, Small Business Program Coach of Operation HOPE, to learn about the necessary components of a business establishment: feasibility, selecting a business entity, creating a business plan and effective marketing. More information.

Writers LIVE: Cheryl Tan, Sarong Party Girls

July 13, 6:30 pm

MD State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 415 Park Avenue

Be guided by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan through a young woman’s rise in the glitzy, moneyed city of Singapore, where old traditions clash with heady modern materialism. With remarkable empathy colorful Singaporean English, enjoy the characters and Singapore come to life in Tan’s vibrant story. More information.

Home Buying Education Session in Spanish

Seminario Gratutios para compradores de Vivienda por primera vez

July 16, 9am to 4pm

This is the first step to receive down payment and closing cost assistance with the city, county and state. Aprenda todo lo que necesitas saber para comprar una casa, obtener un préstamo y

como calificar para los diferentes programas de ayuda. Para registrarse para el seminario gratuito, mande un mensaje con su NOMBRE Y APELLIDO a 410-846-2703 o regístrese en www.southeastcdc.org

Visit the Baltimore Sister Cities booth at Artscape

July 15-17

During Artscape, the Baltimore Sister Cities organization will have a booth with fun activities for kids related to wind energy, and information about our sister cities around the world.  As a special attraction on Sunday, July 17, Ms. Lifen Weng will demonstrate and exhibit traditional Chinese painting. Ms. Weng is an exchange teacher at Baltimore Design School from Xiamen, Baltimore’s sister city in China. More Information.

Polish Festival

July 16-July 17

Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road

Interact with the pageantry, folklore and food and drink of Poland in this festival, presented by the Polish Community Association of Maryland. Enjoy live music, entertainment and Polish cultural heritage activities. More information.

Baltimore Pride 2016: 41 Years Strong

July 19-July 24

Mt. Vernon and Druid Hill Park

Experience and learn more about the LGBTQ community through a weekend of wonderful events and exhibitions, including the High Heel Race, Pride Parade, block Party and Festival. More information.

Introduction to Proposal Writing

July 23, 2 pm-3:30 pm

Govans Branch, 5714 Bellona Avenue

In this informative session, learn how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation, including: the basic elements of a proposal, the “do’s” and “don’ts” of writing and submitting a proposal, and develop your own proposal outline through a 30-minute hands on exercise. More information.

Creative Alliance’s Rainbow Fest

July 28- July 30

Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Avenue

Participate in the 5^th anniversary of the growing LGBTQA Film Festival with thoughtfully curated films, dazzling performances, happy hours and more! More information.