NEWS

DREAM ACT RENEWAL COMMENTS SOUGHT

While we are still focused on getting the Dream Act fully enacted, this memo reminds us that it is a really limited program in concept. It is already necessary to prepare for what is required for renewal, since it is only valid for two years.

A National Immigration Law Center DREAM UPDATE

This past Wednesday, Dec. 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invited the public to provide comments about the renewal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Members of the public have until February 18, 2014, to provide comments on the draft DACA renewal form. After that, USCIS will publish a final form and instructions.

Until USCIS releases the final form and instructions, there is no renewal process. You can begin preparing for the DACA renewal process by saving money for the fees.

Under the DACA program, certain immigrant youth can receive a work permit that is valid for two years. The final DACA renewal form will allow DACAmented youth to apply to renew their work permits for another two years.

As we receive more information, NILC will keep you posted on the DACA renewal process. More information about the DACA program is available at www.nilc.org/dreamdeferred.html.

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Workers victorious in wage theft case

wage theft celebration 12.16.13 Restaurant workers celebrate

At the Monday Lunch on December 16, four workers, accompanied by members of the wage theft committee, met with the owner of the restaurant who had not paid them. To all of our surprise, he presented them with a check for $2400–one week’s pay for all four. There is still money owed, but everybody celebrated the event!

Warm winter outerwear now available at lunch program

IMG_6970 A lunch guest considers the offerings

IMG_6972 More workers participate in the lunch program each week as the weather gets colder

The Leonia Public Library has once again become a collection point for warm winter outerwear for the CoFiA worker community. People who have clean, warm jackets, hats, and gloves in good condition are invited to drop them off in the CoFiA box for distribution on Mondays. Most popular are men’s clothing in sizes small and medium, but women’s and children’s winter clothing is also helpful.

Our thanks to the Library for providing this service, and to Co-chair Carolyn Sobering for organizing it.

English language teachers and students plan holiday party

ESL class 10.1.13001 Teacher Norm and student Norma hard at work

ESL class 10.1.13005 The advanced class includes a woman from Poland this year

An energetic group of students and teachers meet every Tuesday night at 7:00 at the Palisades Park Library for language instruction and conversations about topics of mutual interest. A recent class explored issues of pollution of the environment, and discussed possible solutions. All agreed that walking is better for the environment than driving a car! Teacher Norm Smith shared photos from a recent trip to Germany showing how large wind farms are reducing the need for fossil fuel in that country.

The semester will close with a holiday celebration on December 17, with everyone contributing to the party. At Thanksgiving, Norma’s pan de maize was a big hit!

CoFiA Annual Meeting celebrated work well done

IMG_6965 old friends reconnect

IMG_6961 Pete Shanno shared his experiences on a trip to Guatemala last summer

IMG_6957 Ellie Spiegel presented a small gift of appreciation to our organizer, Angelica Martinez

IMG_6956 Three dedicated volunteers enjoy the evening

Members and friends of CoFiA gathered at the Presbyterian Church in Leonia to enjoy dinner, conversation, and an excellent program–as well as a brief business meeting. Co-chairs Suzanne Broffman and Carolyn Sobering, along with Pete Shanno and others, shared their experiences during a trip to Guatemala last summer. In addition to helping local people build “bottle schools” the group had a chance to meet the family of our secretary, Guillermo Calan; and to visit with Amado Espada, a long-time CoFiA friend and member who returned to Guatemala to teach English and raise his children.

CoFiA is looking forward to meeting more challenges in 2014. People who wish to become members are invited to complete the application form from the home page of this web site, and return it with their membership fee and a donation if possible. As you know, we depend on donations from members and friends and a few small donations from organizations to carry on our work.

Wage Theft Committee Meets

wage theft workers meeting001wage theft committee meeting

WAGE THEFT COMMITTEE UPDATES

This hard-working committee is tracking almost a dozen cases of stolen wages—some people have received full or partial payments, and others are still in the works. One worker collected $913, another has been offered $1300 but is owed $2100. Another worker, who had worked many, many hours of overtime, was paid for regular work but not for the time-and-a-half he was owed. The committee is in regular touch with the employer.

One case has been filed with the NJ Department of Labor which is following up—but now the worker has disappeared.

A large law firm agreed to take a case where the worker is owed about $20,000. After many months the case went to trial—and the employer’s attorney did not show! So the worker won by default, including attorneys’ fees. The law firm has hired a “bulldog” lawyer to try to collect on the judgment.

A new situation has been reported where several workers were not paid for a number of weeks by a restaurant in Palisades Park. When members of the wage theft committee went to the restaurant to protest the theft, and the chair of the committee began to call the owner, he agreed to pay one person at a time, for just one week at a time—a process that would result in payments lasting several months. The owner continued to make appointments to make the payments, but then would cancel them. And now the restaurant is closed! The committee is still in touch with the owner, advising him that the money is still owed.

Members of the committee continue to track several other situations. Strategies must be devised to deal with each one; even though failing to pay employees for work done is against the law, enforcement of the law is virtually non-existent.

Coat Drive Begins Soon

cofia-circle.jpg

The Community of Friends in Action will begin its annual coat drive on November 25. This year the drive is co-sponsored by the Rotary Club of the Palisades and the Leonia, Edgewater, and Palisades Park Libraries. All clean, warm winter outerwear–coats, jackets, hats, scarves, gloves–in good condition is welcome and will be much appreciated. Please place items in the boxes supplied in the libraries.

CoFiA Annual Meeting, Friday, Dec. 6, 2013

Pete, Carolyn and Suzanne with Mayor Otto Vielman
Pete, Carolyn and Suzanne with Mayor Otto Vielman

This year’s annual pot-luck dinner and annual meeting will be held at the Presbyterian Church in Leonia on Friday, December 6, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. People who plan to participate are asked to let Co-Chair Carolyn Sobering know what they will bring to share. (cwsobering@verizon.net.)

Sobering, Co-Chair Suzanne Broffman, and CoFiA volunteer Pete Shanno will report on their trip to Guatemala last summer. They were part of a work tour led by the group, “Hug It Forward,” that worked with local people in building a school in one town. A highlight of the trip was to be able to meet the family of CoFiA/GUD member Guillermo Calan.

They will present a brief video and answer questions about the experience.

Come to La Fiesta, November 24, 4 – 8 p.m.

flyer draft test rev.LA FIESTA PRESENTS AN EXCITING LINE-UP OF PERFORMERS

 

The Community of Friends in Action’s fall fundraiser will be held on Sunday, November 24, from 4 – 8 p.m. at the Legion Hall, 399 Broad Avenue, Leonia, NJ 07605.

 

Headlined by the Still Standing Band the event also features Juan Pablo Morales Estrada, guitar, a marimba, and Grupo Folklórico Tikal, a local Guatemalan folk dance troupe.  There will also be recorded music for dancing, and lots of food and beverage.

 

A special treat will be a display of Guatemalan crafts for purchase.  Get a headstart on the holiday shopping season, and help two good causes at once!  The lovely crafts are made by the MayaMam Weavers, a project of Grupo Cajolá, of Cajolá, Guatemala, and Morristown, N.J.  The proceeds will be divided between CoFiA and the MayaMam Weavers.

Tickets are $10/person, and $20/couple or families.

Watch this space for more updates!  For information call 201-833-1737