Immigrants

Community Foundation Tweaks Strategy, Reaffirms “Sanctuary” Commitment

by | Nov 30, 2016 9:16 am | Comments (1)

Board Chair Colwell and CEO Ginsberg at the annual meeting.

New Haven’s largest philanthropic foundation intends to help not-for-profits cover more general overhead expenses, help local for-profit businesses create jobs, and help immigrants in the face of a threatened federal crackdown in the year ahead.

Continue reading ‘Community Foundation Tweaks Strategy, Reaffirms “Sanctuary” Commitment’

Immigrant Advocates: We’ll Keep Fighting

by | Nov 10, 2016 9:19 am | Comments (2)

Junta for Progressive Action, one of New Haven’s leading advocates for immigrant rights, reacted to Tuesday’s election of an immigrant-bashing president by reaffirming its commitment to continue fighting for change. Another leading advocate group, Unidad Latina en Acción and Allies, announced it’s holding a rally in front of the federal courthouse at 141 Church St. Thursday at 5 p.m. to affirm community integrity amidst a climate of hate promoted by President-Elect Trump.”

Continue reading ‘Immigrant Advocates: We’ll Keep Fighting’

Pho Ketkeo Fights The Cold

by | Oct 27, 2016 8:16 am | Comments (0)

Kat Batuigas Photo

Rajachak and Son.

The first thing that Ketkeo Rajachak noticed when she arrived in Connecticut was the cold. Rajachak had spent several months in Thailand in her teens as a refugee from communist Laos, before she was arranged to be resettled in the United States.

She remembers being handed a heavy jacket by immigration workers. If not, you’re gonna be freezing,” one informed her.

Continue reading ‘Pho Ketkeo Fights The Cold’

We Know Who They Are

by | Oct 14, 2016 10:43 am | Comments (0)

Contributed Photo

(Opinion) When asked in the most recent presidential debate about the Syrian refugee crisis, Donald Trump said his proposed ban on Muslim immigration to the U.S. has become a plan of extreme vetting … because we don’t even know who they are.”

Continue reading ‘We Know Who They Are’

Immigrant Contractor Stiffed

by | Aug 8, 2016 12:05 pm | Comments (5)

The following story originally appeared in Spanish in La Voz Hispana Connecticut. It was translated into English by Daniela Brighenti.

Jesarel Calixto, an immigrant hailing from Tlaxcala, Mexico, is the proprietor of his own business Calixto Landscaping, LLC, a company that deals with gardening, tree trimmings and other services. He came to us to report that the nursing home Paradigm Healthcare” has not paid him sums amounting to $10,000 that it owes Calixto for work performed in its two buildings, located at 181 Clifton St. in New Haven and 310 Terrace Ave.in West Haven.

Continue reading ‘Immigrant Contractor Stiffed’

At Convention, Malloy Invokes New Haven

by | Jul 25, 2016 8:11 pm | Comments (3)

Lucy Gellman Photo

Malloy addresses the crowd.

Philadelphia—New Haven’s embrace of refugees provided a case point for Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy when he got his moment in the spotlight at the Democratic National Convention Monday night. While addressing Democrats gathered for their presidential nominating convention at the city’s Wells Fargo Center, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy invoked Connecticut — and then New Haven specifically — while making a pitch to delegates on both sides of the democratic aisle: It was necessary to vote for Hillary Clinton and present a unified front because Mike Pence, governor of Indiana and Donald Trump’s vice presidential hopeful, would be scarier in the White House than Donald Trump himself. 

Continue reading ‘At Convention, Malloy Invokes New Haven’

On Orange Street, A Taste Of Home

by | Jun 30, 2016 8:16 am | Comments (1)

Jake Brussel-Faria Photo

Kim.

When she moved to New Haven in late 1978, Yoon-ock Kim — then fully intending on returning to Korea — missed the tastes of home.

There was the salt and spice of certain dishes she couldn’t find in New Haven, not quite the culinary mix of flavors and cultures it is today. Familiar ingredients were missing from Italian markets that dotted Orange Street. So when she found a small Asian grocer in East Rock with the things she wanted to eat, she and the owner became fast friends.

When that owner decided to leave seven years later, Kim acted on an instinct: Taking over the business seemed like the right thing to do.

Continue reading ‘On Orange Street, A Taste Of Home’

Naturalization, With An Artistic Twist

by | Jun 24, 2016 12:32 pm | Comments (2)

Lucy Gellman Photo

Parkes with Arterton at the ceremony.

On Friday just before noon, longtime New Havener Allison Parkes scored the hottest ticket at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas: A first-ever naturalization ceremony on the sun-soaked New Haven Green, where she and 25 other immigrants, representing 19 countries, became U.S. citizens.

For the now-naturalized citizen from Jamaica, a mother of two who takes care of her mother and works in food service at Yale-New Haven Hospital, that’s reason to celebrate. It’s been a year of submitting and resubmitting grueling paperwork after having lived in the city for years, she said, and she’s happy to have it behind her. 

Continue reading ‘Naturalization, With An Artistic Twist’