JUNTA NEWSLETTER
JUNTA Newsletter
Winter 2016
NO MORE DEPORTATIONS RALLY
Youth in Action
Dear Friends, In 2016, we continue to provide resources, services and advocacy to individuals and families in need, and focus to help our community provide a safe haven for all. As you may know, New Haven is a sanctuary city, where all matter and all are welcome. The reality is that for many, safe havens are rare and far between. As we venture further into this year, we are committed to helping our new neighbors acclimate into the community to succeed and prosper. Our work at Junta is crucial. At Junta, we stand for human rights. At Junta, every life matters. At Junta, we promote cultural traditions. At Junta, we have taught hundreds of people to read and write, positively changing their world and impacting future generations. With our assistance, thousands of residents have obtained public benefits, which prevented them from slipping further into poverty. Each year, hundreds have received assistance with their taxes through our Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, providing
additional income to sustain their economic lives. Children and youth in our programs have learned about their environment, how to live a healthy lifestyle, and to advocate and have a voice on issues that are important to them. However, Junta can’t do it alone, and I am so grateful for all of our donors, who believe in and support our work; the partners, who make it possible to serve more than we ever imagined; the foundations, who provide the resources to expand our reach; the volunteers, who continue to be by our side as we work to strengthen our community. I thank you. I thank you, as each and every one of you inspire us to reach new heights at Junta. Sincerely, Sandra Trevino Executive Director
We are happy to welcome the newest member of Junta’s team, Juancarlos Soto, Community and Youth Organizer. Juancarlos, originally from Puerto Rico, moved to New Haven as a teen and attended Wilbur Cross High School. After high school, he was accepted to Paier College of Art and graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design.
l ng mural
Juancarlos is a big hit with our youth action committee, he utilizes his artistic talent teaching them to use art as a social justice advocacy tool. The youth are currently working on a paper mural to address issues of violence in their communities, which will be showcased on May 30th at the Arts & Idea’s pop-up festival in Fair Haven. We hope you will stop by at the festival to see the mural and speak with our youth about what they are learning at Junta.
JUNTA NEWSLETTER |
Advocacy
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THE GREAT GIVE 2016
Junta continues to educate and engage community members to inform them about the immigration benefits offered through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the planned immigration policy, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA). To help get the word out about these programs, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Alliance (MIRA) came to Junta and trained six volunteer community navigators on extensive outreach effort. The navigators will work with Ana Maria Rivera-Forastieri, Director of Advocacy and Program Development, to reach the population in need of these benefits. As part of our expansion to provide greater service to the immigrant population, Junta has applied for Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) recognition and accreditation. Some of our staff, board, and volunteers will become accredited representatives, able to assist clients in immigration proceedings.
Families Receive FREE Computers!!
Please mark your calendar to support us during The Great Give on May 3rd and 4th! With your help, we can make exciting things happen in our youth programs this spring and summer!
UFCW LOCAL 371 ROCKS!
Sending a heartfelt thank you to UFCW Local 371 members for donating over 75 toys this past holiday season. You made many children very happy!
and exploring the natural environment at Devil’s Hopyard State Park in East Haddam, Connecticut.
Your gift will help to expand our children’s program, The Neighborhood Place (TNP), serve eleven additional children (ages 5-14). TNP is in great demand, with over 90 families on our wait list! Your gift will also help send two of our Youth in Action Committee members to the upcoming Keeping Families Together Youth Summit in Washington, DC, and you will help provide 65 children the opportunity to partake in our Big Turtle Village’s five-day sleepaway camp this summer. The children will spend their days making new friends
We are very excited to announce our new partnership with Concepts for Adaptive Learning (CfAL). We are working with CfAL to deliver the Tech4-ALL-CT program (T4a) for disadvantaged families living in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury. The goal of the T4a program is to extend learning beyond the classroom and increase parent’s involvement in their children’s education. After completing 10.5 hours of free computer literacy training, parents receive a free refurbished computer, home installation and a year of free internet service. Our first class, in partnership with CfAL, held at Fair Haven School on Grand Avenue, was a huge success. We had eleven parents graduate from the course! If you know of anyone who could benefit from the program, please have them contact Janine Dogolo at Junta for more information.
Figure 1Junta's first Junta’s graduating class g class
JUNTA NEWSLETTER
Thank you for your support! We are so very grateful for the generous support of old and new friends of Junta. Without you, we could not continue to provide the programs and services that are needed to make our community a healthier and viable environment to live, work and play.
SAVE THE DATE! JUNTA’S 47TH GALA September 22, 2016 Amarante’s Sea Cliff We appreciate our very generous grantors! We couldn’t continue the important work we do without you!
MAKE A DONATION! We rely on the support of all of you to offer free programs, services and advocacy to the community. Please give a donation today!
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: JUNTA for Progressive Action 169 Grand Avenue, New Haven, CT 06513 OR GIVE ONLINE AT: www.juntainc.org
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Fund City Missionary Association of New Haven City of New Haven Youth Violence Community Development Block Grant Community Foundation for Greater New Haven Enterprise Holdings Foundation Hispanic Federation Lewis G. Schaeneman, Jr. Foundation NewAlliance Foundation TD Charitable Foundation
HELPING HANDS THRIFT STORE Donate items and designate Junta as your charity of choice to Helping Hands Community Thrift Store and Furniture Bank located at 334 Boston Post Road, Orange, CT. Junta will receive a portion of the sale proceeds to help sustain our services and programs that we provide to the Greater New Haven community.
JUNTA NEWSLETTER |
JUNTA Newsletter
169 Grand Avenue New Haven, CT 06513
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