Caribbean American Weekly - Issue 144

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ISSUE 144 VOLUME 22

February 10, 2022

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES!

The Least Romantic Valentine's Day Ever: Why Financial Discussions Just Might Save Your Relationship

BY JANET HOWARD

Jamaica Minister Urges Diaspora to Invest Now in Local Tourism ....9

O

n the list of best Valentine's Day activities, talking about money ranks just below washing the dishes and cleaning the floor, but unlike those household chores, discussing the way you feel about your finances just might save your relationship. You might continued on page 16

Federal Court Restores Access to Work Permits for Many Asylum Seekers ....11 CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Black Lives Matter – 10 Years Later

BY VICTORIA FALK, SPECIAL TO CAW

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Editorial credit: Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock.com

Marriage, Divorce and Custody Questions ....7

T&T’s Caryl Jacobs Drops New Single “Easy on Me” ....13

PAHO: Americas Remain Most Unequal Region in the World in Fight Against COVID-19 ....3

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his Black History Month is an appropriate time to look back at the Black Lives Matter movement's impact on the world and examine its relevance today. Three AfricanAmerican females, Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi, are continued on page 4

Knowledge is Power when you use it!

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Ask the Lawyer:

COVID-19 Linked to Risk of Blood Clots in Stroke Patients ....14

Brian Figeroux, Esq., Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association

Banks: Why NYC’s Public Schools are Safe for Young People ....6

Board Member Arva Rice Named Interim Chair of the CCRB ....5

Lorine Charles-St. Jules Named New CEO of SLTA ....2

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CARIBBEAN NEWS ROUNDUP Caribbean Consulates Anguilla 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Antigua & Barbuda 305 East 47th Street, Suite 6A New York, N.Y. 10020 Tel: 212-541-4117 The Bahamas 231 East 46th Street New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-421-6420 Barbados 820 Second Avenue, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-551-4325 Belize 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-593-0999 Dominica 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400H New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-949-0853 Dominican Republic 1500 Broadway, Suite 410 New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-599-8478 Grenada 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1101 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-599-0301 Guyana 308 West 38th Street New York, N.Y. 10018 Tel: 212-947-5119 Haiti 815 Second Avenue,6th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-697-9767 Jamaica 767 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-935-9000 Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-838-6887 Montserrat 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Panama 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-840-2450 St. Kitts & Nevis 414 East 75th Street, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10021 Tel: 212-535-5521 St. Lucia 630 Third Avenue, 7th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-697-9360 St. Maarten 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 800-786-2278 St. Vincent & The Grenadines 801 Second Avenue, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-687-4981 Trinidad & Tobago 125 Maiden Lane, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10038 Tel: 212-682-7272 For more Consulate information go to www.cawnyc.com/directory

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CARICOM Congratulates Grenada on Its 48th Independence Anniversary

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he Caribbean Community has congratulated Grenada on its Forty-Eighth Anniversary of Independence, noting the country’s resolute movement along the path to development.

CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett, in a congratulatory message to Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, also commended the country’s significant contribution to promoting regional integration.

Here is the Secretary-General’s congratulatory message: “Honorable Prime Minister There is much for the Government and People of Grenada to be proud of since achieving independence forty-eight years ago, as the country has moved resolutely along the path to development.

Grenada’s contribution globally in academia, sports, culture and diplomacy is well documented.

The theme chosen for this year’s festivities, “Overcoming our Adversity – Safeguarding Livelihoods – Protecting our Future” speaks to the firm determination of all Grenadians to play an active role in the continued development and prosperity of their country.

Honorable Prime Minister, Grenada continues to make significant contributions to the promotion of regional integration.

In particular, the Community welcomes Grenada’s steadfast leadership on Science and Technology (including Information and Communications), for which you, Prime Minister, have portfolio

responsibilities in the Quasi-Cabinet of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government.

On behalf of the Caribbean Community, I offer sincere congratulations to the Government and People of Grenada on this significant day of celebration.”l

Barbados & CTBTO to Strengthen Relations

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arbados will seek to strengthen its relations with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Senior Minister coordinating for all Social and Environmental Policy, Senator, Dr. The Most Honorable Jerome Walcott, stated this during a recent courtesy call with CTBTO’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Robert Floyd, who was on his first Caribbean and Latin America visit.

Dr. Walcott and Dr. Floyd, along with

Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and Non-resident Permanent Representative to the CTBTO, Ambassador Chad Blackman, discussed the benefits Barbados could access from being a member state of the organization, and the way forward in establishing a National Data Centre.

They also discussed the organization’s celebration of 25 years since the signing of the treaty by 185 member states; the systems it uses to detect nuclear testing; tsunami warning systems; using the data

collected to assist Barbados in its weather forecasting; climate change adaptation and mitigation modelling; capacity building and technical training Minister Walcott said he was looking forward to a “lively and engaging collaboration” with the organization, and was pleased that Barbados was the first stop for the Executive Secretary on his tour, which included Dominica, Costa Rica, and Mexico.l —Sheena Forde-Craigg, Barbados Government Information Service

Lorine Charles-St. Jules New CEO of SLTA

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he Board of Directors of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority has appointed Mrs. Lorine Charles-St. Jules to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective February 1, 2022. With more than two decades of tourism and leadership experience, Mrs. Charles-St. Jules has achieved significant success in the hospitality sector and most recently served as USA Account Manager for the Anguilla Tourist Board.

She has been CEO of a global marketing agency PEAEYE7 Marketing International for five years, handling business development and luxury resort marketing throughout the Caribbean, the U.S., and Canada.

Mrs. Charles-St. Jules has deep expertise in setting and executing business strategies across many facets of the

CEO Charles-Jules. Photo: Caribbean Business Report

tourism industry, including marketing destinations, developing sales programming for luxury resorts, and global travel trade management. An award-winning strategic thinker, she is an accomplished sales leader, research consultant for the Organization of American States, public speaker, and Adjunct Lecturer at Monroe

College in New York and University of New Haven, Connecticut. The CEO position brings Mrs. Charles-St. Jules back to her roots in Saint Lucia, where she previously held various executive positions at Saint Lucia Tourist Board for nine years including Director of Marketing, and Tourism Planning Officer for the Saint Lucia Ministry of Tourism for two years.

Mrs. Charles-St. Jules is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, with a master’s degree in International Tourism Development and Sustainability. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Digital Marketing from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management and Tourism from the University of the West Indies.l(Caribbean Business Report)

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3

THOUGHTS

Americas Remain Most Unequal Region in the World in Fight Against COVID-19

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ashington D.C. February 2, (PAHO): While 63% of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have now been vaccinated against COVID-19, coverage remains uneven, with 14 countries and territories immunizing 70% of their populations and the same number failing to reach even 40% coverage, the Pan American Health Organization Director Carissa F. Etienne said during a media briefing today.

With 7 million new infections and over 34,000 deaths reported in the region since last week, the PAHO Director highlighted “worrisome gaps” in the vaccination of at-risk populations – with some countries reporting lower coverage among the elderly compared to younger groups who are less at risk for severe disease.

Dr. Etienne said the full extent of the disparity remains unknown, as detailed data is limited, so it is vital that “countries collect and report data showing vaccination coverage by age, sex or by risk group.”

“These data are crucial to designing targeted vaccination campaigns, maximizing the impact of vaccine doses and saving lives,” she said.

Looking towards upcoming COVID vaccination campaigns, the director announced that vaccine supplies are expected to pick up in 2022.

Director Dr Etienne. Editorial credit: PAHO

Thanking donors that already “helped our region secure doses when supply was limited,” Dr. Etienne said further donations from the United States, Spain, Canada, Germany, France and other countries total some 26 million doses.

PAHO’s Revolving Fund, which has so far purchased almost 100 million doses, is also on track to obtain a further 200 million doses on behalf of the region this year.

As these doses arrive, Dr. Etienne urged countries to start making the necessary preparations for vaccine roll-out, including investing in vaccination programs, collecting and reporting detailed vaccine data, and prioritizing high-risk groups.

“Countries should refocus their efforts in protecting health workers, immunocompromised individuals and the elderly, first,” the Director said.

She also sent a special message to the millions of adults in the Caribbean who have yet to receive their vaccines.

“I am a medical doctor, wife, mother and grandmother. I could not wait to get my vaccination, I was so anxious for the wellbeing of myself and my 95-year old mother,” Dr. Etienne said.

“Please don’t delay, get vaccinated today,” she urged. “COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and they’re the best way to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities from this virus.”

Turning to the COVID-19 situation in the region, the Director reported that the rise in infections appears to be slowing down in places hit earliest by the Omicron variant.

Most new cases were reported in North America, but surges continue across Central and South America and deaths increased by nearly one-third in all subregions.

In the Caribbean, deaths have more than doubled in Cuba, the Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda and other islands, including Martinique and Guadeloupe are seeing the virus spread rapidly among young and unvaccinated populations.

“These trends show that we must continue to sustain every part of our COVID response,” Dr. Etienne said.

“Vaccinations, testing, and continuing public health measures like mask wearing and social distancing remain crucial.”l

Congresswoman Clarke Issues Statement on the Sudden Passing of Her Long-time Partner

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ashington, D.C.: Today, [February 2], Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, (NY-09) issued the following statement on the sudden and unexpected passing of her life-partner of 30-years, Mr. Charles B. Durham: “It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the sudden and unexpected passing of my life-partner and best friend, Mr. Charles B. Durham over the weekend. “Mr. Charles,” as he was affec-

Congresswoman Clarke Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

tionately known, has been my rock and steadfast life partner whom I have had the sincere privilege, joy and honor to share the last 30 years with. There are no words to describe the sense of loss all those who love him feel. I simply ask that you honor my family’s privacy during our moment of grief and please be gracious with your patience, as we come to terms with this announcement,” said Congresswoman Clarke. l

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CIVIL RIGHTS Black Lives Matter / continued from page 1 credited with co-founding the Black Lives Matter social justice movement to fight racism in the United States. They were outraged by the turn of events in the Trayvon Martin case, where Trayvon, an unarmed Black teenager, was shot and killed in February 2012 by a vigilante who was acquitted after claiming selfdefense. The former neighborhood watchman was released from prison despite public outcry, leaving many African Americans despondent that justice failed.

Instead of simply wallowing in disappointment, the Black female activists combined forces and gave birth to Black Lives Matter, which developed into a significant, powerful, international movement over the years. It started with social media posts shared with "#BlackLivesMatter." It grew into a global movement with people from all around the world, as far-reaching as Ghana, West Africa, and London, taking to the streets in non-violent protests to declare that Black lives mattered. Black Lives Matter activists shined a light on the prevalence of institutional racism in America and called for defunding of the police. Most of the protesters were Black millennials, who identified themselves as democrats. Support for Black Lives Matter increased as more tragic cases of unarmed African American men and women were killed by the police surfaced into the news, with rogue police

officers repeatedly avoiding punishment.

Supporters of the movement included people of all different age groups, from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, and across political parties.

However, as growing sentiment favored the Black Lives Matter movement, multiple opposing groups formed simultaneously, who argued institutional racism did not exist and accused Black activists of sparking violent confrontations across the country to gain attention for their cause. These groups criticized Black Lives Matter activists as being racists and sparking conflict. Furthermore, questions emerged about the large donations made to fund the Black Lives Matter movement, with some supporters and opposers alike questioning if the funding was spent inappropriately.

So, what happened to Black Lives Matter?

During a recent forum sponsored by New York Magazine, Moderator Lindsay Peoples Wagner, of "The Cut," poised

that question to contributors of "The Cut," Brittney Cooper and Camonghne Felix, and Editor of "The Cut," Morgan Jenkins. The ladies began their conversation by remembering Trayvon Martin, who would have been 27 years old this year. They recalled "the pain and despair" they felt when his murderer was acquitted. Brittney Cooper recalled asking herself, "What does having a Black President in office mean when Black people are still being killed like this?"

African Americans were faced with the reality that although there was finally a Black man in the White House, former President Barack Obama, Black men were still being killed in the streets due to racial hatred.

In reviewing the Black Lives Matter movement, Brittney Cooper stated, "We moved into creativity." The movement leaders found ways to continue supporting the cause without taking to the streets and being visible. "We realized that if you stay that visible, then they can come in and assassinate your leader," said Ms.

Cooper. When Ms. Sasha Johnson, a Black Lives Matter activist in London, was shot in the head in May of 2021 and had to fight for her life, awareness of the risks to Black Lives Matter leaders grew after receiving numerous death threats.

Other lessons learned from the Black Lives Matter movement include, "We have to stop being so anti-institution. We have to know where we've been, to know where we're going,” as Brittney Cooper stated. Camonghne Felix added that Black Lives Matter activists who were unaware of the Civil Rights Movement in America were "thinking they were creating something new.”

They fell into the trap of believing things that people did in the past did not bring us any progress. We have to read more. My generation needs to do a little more listening, a little more reading, and attend workshops." Felix spoke of Angela Davis, educator, and activist, and how she has learned from listening to her. continued on page 5

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CIVIL RIGHTS

Board Member Arva Rice Named Interim Chair of the CCRB

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EW YORK: The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) announced that Arva Rice has been named interim chair of the Board. Chair Rice is presiding over the CCRB’s February Board meeting on Wednesday, February 8 at 4:00pm and delivered her first remarks and vision as interim chair.

“Arva Rice has been a champion for equity and justice throughout her career, and we know she will continue her long career of successful advocacy as CCRB Interim Chair,” said Mayor Adams.

“Civilian oversight is critical to achieving the safety we need and the justice we deserve, and I know Interim Chair Rice will be an important partner in delivering both for all New Yorkers.”

“After decades working to make New York City a fairer, more equitable, and safer city, I am honored to use my expertise to lead the CCRB into its next chapter,” said CCRB Interim Chair Arva Rice. “It is a privilege to have an even greater opportunity to serve this city and continue efforts to make it a safer and more just place for all New Yorkers.

Former CCRB Chair, Fred Davie, and the rest of the board have made great strides in the last several years and I hope to build on this momentum and continue to push the Agency forward.”

About Arva Rice Arva Rice serves as interim chair of the CCRB. She joined the CCRB Board in 2021. As president & CEO of the New York Urban League, Chair Rice leads the mission to enable underserved communities to secure a first-class education, economic self-reliance and equal respect of their civil rights through programs, serv-

Black Lives Matter / continued from page 4 While Morgan Jenkins learned to "take it slow, "you risk being judged by criticizing Black people openly. Even our contributors, at times, won't have an answer. It's okay to be without answers, without a resolution."

Brittney Cooper added, "Your leaders will disappoint you. That's true for us as it was with other movements. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Learn what it's like to support someone. Be adaptable, committed, and loving enough to move forward."

Although you do not see Black Lives Matter activists in mainstream media as much nowadays as has been in the past, the movement is indeed moving forward.

Critics of the movement wonder if supporters should still consider making donations to the organization and if Black Lives Matter leaders have become "exhausted" and "apathetic."

While Black Lives Matter leaders wonder if mainstream media is willing to

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Chair Rice. Editorial credit: CCRB

ices and advocacy. Prior to joining the League, she served as the executive director of Project Enterprise, an organization that provides business loans, technical assistance and peer support to New York City entrepreneurs who lack adequate access to business financing. Aside from her decades serving and uplifting New Yorkers, she also has extensive experience in collaboration building, strategic planning, fundraising and marketing.

Before joining the CCRB, Chair Rice was a key leader in drafting the Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Plan, a department wide reform initiative passed by the City Council in March of last year.

Chair Rice served under the last administration as a commissioner for the NYC Equal Employment Practices Commission and the Commission for Gender Equity. She is also a member of the Women’s Forum and Greater New York Chapter of The Links Incorporated.l show the real platforms of Black Lives Matter and pro-Black activists.

Still Work to Be Done "Affirming our lives felt good," said Felix. "Although Black people are not necessarily safer, the amount of people who have been made aware of the conditions facing Black America has increased" as a result of Black Lives Matter. "It feels like people are quick to forget, but the issues are still lingering on," expressed Lindsay.

Wagner presented a case for reparations, while Cooper suggested universal basic income for all. Felix is "mostly concerned with Black people's mental health and getting cops and military out of our schools." Morgan expressed her desire to see less funding go to the police and some of that money to fund community programs instead. Cooper, Felix, Wagner, and Jenkins agreed that there was progress made as a result of the Black Lives Matter movement, and there is so much more that needs to be done. l

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EDUCATION

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Why New York City’s Public Schools are Among the Safest Places for Young People

BY DAVID C. BANKS, DR. TED LONG AND DR. DAVE A. CHOKSHI

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cross the country, we have seen schools grapple with how to safely return to in-person learning. From navigating vaccine requirements and launching in-school testing to distributing KN95s and other PPE, adapting to the realities of this pandemic has been no easy feat. In New York City, we committed to opening our doors for in-person learning in September 2021, and since then, our approach has become a national model for how to keep students learning safely in school during the pandemic.

In our public schools right now, fewer than 2% of students who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 contract the virus themselves, compared to 14% or greater in households, a more than sevenfold difference in risk compared with school settings. There is less COVID-19 in our schools than in the broader community, and we’ve already seen cases drop significantly as part of the Omicron downslope.

From the outset, we made it clear that all our decisions and policies would be

Bronx, NY: Chancellor Banks & Mayor Adams.

Editorial credit: Steve Sanchez Photos / Shutterstock.com

based on science and data—regarding both disease control and the environments that are most conducive for children’s learning. Students suffered grievous learning and social-emotional setbacks during the shutdown, and the opportunity and achievement gaps widened the most among our historically disenfranchised students of color. The science has proven that our schools are now among the safest places for young people to be during this pandemic and our ‘Stay Safe, Stay Open’ plan has kept all schools open since winter break. We are listening to students and families about what they need to feel safe, but not compromising on our COVID-19 prevention safety measures and our ability

to keep schools open for all kids.

All of this is proof that vaccination, universal masking, physical distancing, proper ventilation and air purifiers, vaccination requirements, and widespread testing works. We’ve adopted all these strategies in our schools, plus dedicated COVID-19 Command Center staff to rapidly respond to operational issues and staffing challenges.

A key element that sets New York City apart is our massively expanded testing strategy. The science has shown that vaccination plus robust in-school and athome testing is the way to keep our schools safely open. Here’s what that looks like in our public school system.

First, we are continuing to use PCR surveillance testing to detect a signal of increased transmission within a school building. However, to get the most accurate picture of transmission, we have surpassed the CDC’s guidance of taking a random sample of unvaccinated students only and now test the vaccinated school community as well, doubling our overall reach.

Second, we have distributed over 7 million rapid tests to schools; an estimated 2.25 million students or teachers

received tests because they were symptomatic or close contacts of someone who had tested positive. Through these athome tests, we’ve been able to rapidly identify more than 25,000 new cases.

Then, we go further, helping these individuals who test positive to isolate immediately so that they do not come back to school and risk infecting others, and we can safely continue in-person instruction.

As a result of this expansion of testing on top of our existing safety strategies, we have had zero classroom closures and zero building closures since starting this semester on January 3, and in person education has been able to be continuously offered.

We’ve worked hard to learn what works, and we believe we have the expertise and the tools to prevent a return to the days of fully remote learning. The science tells us what our parents and teachers know: Our students can soar when they learn in engaging, inclusive classrooms surrounded by peers and caring educators. Beyond the social and emotional benefits, in-person learning also supports our kids’ mental and physical health. And we will continue to work continued on page 7

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FAMILY MATTERS

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Child Tax Credit: Marriage, Divorce and Custody Questions

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arriage changes your life in many ways, and those changes may impact your Child Tax Credit. It’s possible that your filing status, your income, and the number of qualifying children in the household may all change. For many people, marriage will not result in any changes to the amount of their Child Tax Credit.

Parents who married in 2021 It is possible that as a result of a marriage in 2021, a family will be eligible for a smaller or larger Child Tax Credit than the IRS had estimated based on your previous information. Families will be eligible to claim any Child Tax Credit amount they are eligible for over the amount of any monthly Child Tax Credit payments received last year when they file their 2021 tax return during the 2022 tax filing season.

Parents who separated, share custody, or alternate claiming dependents If you did not receive advance monthly Child Tax Credit payments in 2021, you may still be entitled to the full amount of the credit. Even if someone else received payments for the child in 2021, if the qualifying child lived with you for most

of 2021 then you may be eligible to claim the full amount of the credit.

Monthly payments The IRS estimated and directed monthly payments based on 2019 and 2020 tax information that may not have accurately reflected circumstances in 2021. If someone else rightfully claimed a child on their 2019 or 2020 taxes who is a qualifying child for you in 2021, they may have received monthly Child Tax Credit pay-

ments based on those previous years’ claims. However, this will not impact the amount of benefit you are eligible to claim for the Child Tax Credit in 2021.

If you rightfully claim a qualifying child for purposes of the Child Tax Credit in 2021, then you will receive the full amount of the Child Tax Credit for which you are eligible, even if someone else received advance payments for that child in 2021.l —ChildTaxCredit.gov

NYC’s Public Schools/ continued from page 6 closely with families and school communities to keep our schools as safe as possible.

New York City families deserve enormous credit for doing their part to protect school communities. There’s one more thing anyone with a child aged five or over can do to keep our schools safe: get them vaccinated if you have not done so already. The vaccines are playing a major role in preventing the worst COVID-19 outcomes, and are safe, free, and available regardless of immigration status. We encourage you to find a nearby vaccination site by visiting vaccinefinder.nyc.gov or calling (877) VAX-4-NYC (877-829-4692).

The biggest lesson we have learned is that our schools are a critical lifeline for our young people, especially our most vulnerable students. And we know that our schools are the healthiest places for them to be during the pandemic. We ask all New Yorkers to support us as we do our jobs so that our students can do theirs: fulfill their brilliance and promise, graduate with an employable skill, and become a positive force for change in our communities and city.l David C. Banks is the NYC Schools Chancellor. Ted Long is Executive Director of NYC COVID-19 Test & Trace Corps. Dr. Dave A. Chokshi is New York City’s Health Commissioner.

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USCIS’ New Mission Statement: Upholding America's Values as a Welcoming Nation

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ASHINGTON : Today, [February 9], U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced changes to its mission statement. The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), a multiethnic coalition of the nation’s largest state-level immigrant advocacy organizations, welcomes the changes and calls for the agency to expand access to citizenship and increase the efficiency of application processing.

“Changes to the USCIS mission reflect the Biden administration’s redirection of the agency’s culture, moving away from the extreme vetting and unnecessary, burdensome scrutiny that characterized the worst policies of the previous administration,” said Nicole Melaku, executive director of NPNA. “The new mission statement affirms USCIS’ role in upholding the values of the United States as a nation of welcome and possibility, and the need for the agency to conduct its work with fairness, integrity, and respect.

We look forward to the agency realizing its new mission through culture, policy, and practice, which we hope will be

reflected in its 5-year plan due to Congress this spring.“ The new mission statement is the result of an agency-wide review of its mission, including an internal survey of USCIS workers. The previous mission statement, published by the Trump administration, removed a reference to the United States as a “nation of immigrants.” The 2018 mission statement came amidst a series of changes to USCIS that increased the backlog and processing delays and nearly bankrupted the agency in 2020. NPNA and other immigrant rights organizations widely criticized the changes for turning USCIS

into an enforcement agency rather than that of a public good tasked with fairly and efficiently adjudicating applications.

This new mission statement is reflective of a course correction as USCIS works to restore the public’s trust in the administration of immigration benefits and as advocates work tirelessly to ensure immigrants have access to the immigrant benefits that they are eligible for.

NPNA has called for the administration to expand access to naturalization and other immigration benefits and implement its inter-agency strategy to proactively promote citizenship for the approximately nine million currently eligible immigrants. In addition to its policy demands, NPNA launched the “Naturalize 2 Million by 2022” campaign with its member organizations and national and municipal partners to encourage eligible immigrants to apply for citizenship. The campaign has already shown success, as naturalizations

by USCIS increased to 855,000 in the fiscal year 2021, reaching 42% progress towards the goal of naturalizing two million new citizens.l

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ISLAND FOCUS: JAMAICA

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Jamaica Minister Urges Diaspora to Invest Now in Local Tourism

BY LINDA S. HOHNHOLZ ETURBONEWS.COM

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amaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is encouraging members of the Diaspora to invest in the local tourism sector, which continues to drive Jamaica’s economic recovery.

Speaking during the ‘Let’s Connect with Ambassador Marks’ online series, Bartlett noted that: “We have a Diaspora with enormous wealth, experience, capabilities, talent, skill, and connectivity with communities. We need to be investing in capital formation and new enterprises in Jamaica so that Jamaica can build its capacity to respond to the demand that tourism brings.”

He disclosed that one key sector that needs investment is agriculture. He also shared that Jamaica has not been able to produce the required agricultural supplies in the numbers, volume, consistency and at the price point required to supply the hotels.

“The next element that we are moving in on very strongly is to build out the capacity of Jamaica in this current and post COVID-19 period to deliver more on the demand of tourism. We argue that

Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Editorial credit: Jam Travels / Shutterstock.com

tourism is an extractive industry because we have not been able to supply the agricultural demands of the industry,” said Bartlett.

“It is important that the highest level of production and output be available at all times. When that is not so, it must be had regardless, and therein lies the problem of leakages within the economy. We bring together the potential for increasing the production patterns within our country, which has to be driven by investments or public-private partnerships. So, we also need investments in the manufacturing of various goods that are utilized in the industry,” he added.

“When we look at other services, such as energy, communication, financial,

insurance, health, and transportation, billions of dollars are spent on transfers of visitors from airports to hotels and attractions. Investment is also needed in attractions because tourism fulfils the passions of people, and they travel to do just that,” said the Minister.

During his presentation, he also disclosed that the Jamaican Government will be targeting more high-end investments in the sector.

“I think we have reached the level in room count for mass tourism, and we are moving now to high-end. So, it will be lower density and higher-end, with higher average daily rates and stronger input on value-added,” he said.

He also announced that Jamaica would

be pioneering Global Tourism Resilience Day in Dubai in the coming weeks, endorsed by major international stakeholders.

“Jamaica is also suggesting to the world that on the 17th of February, starting this year, the world should pause and reflect on the critical importance of building resilience. So, we will be establishing in Dubai, during Jamaica Week, the firstever Global Tourism Resilience Day. We have had the endorsement of the great gatekeepers of tourism in the world – UNWTO, WTTC, PATA, and the OAS,” he said.

‘Let’s Connect with Ambassador Marks’ enables members of the Diaspora to communicate directly with the Ambassador about mutually beneficial issues and to stay informed about the Government’s policies and programmes, as well as the Embassy’s activities.

Jamaican Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks is occasionally joined by various distinguished guests, including government ministers, US government officials, key players in various local and international organizations, and prominent members of the Jamaican Diaspora.l

You may be eligible for COVID-19 Treatment People who have tested positive for COVID-19 may be able to receive outpatient treatment to help symptoms and avoid hospitalization. Treatment works best if you begin it soon after you start feeling symptoms, so get tested right away.

Monoclonal antibody treatment is a one-time IV or injection to help fight COVID-19 while your immune system produces its own antibodies.

Oral antiviral pills are taken for five days and helps stop the virus and keeps it from replicating, which reduces the amount of virus in your body.

There are currently two authorized pills - paxlovid and molunpiravir.

Both monoclonal antibody and oral antiviral treatments can reduce your risk of becoming sick from COVID-19 and avoid hospitalization.

COVID-19 treatments are not a substitute for vaccination. COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots remain the best protection against getting severely sick due to COVID-19.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have tested positive, talk to your doctor, or call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319).

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10

IMMIGRATION

Corrupt US Employers and Smugglers Are Exploiting Migrant Teens for Profit

BY WALTER EWING

A

skyrocketing number of migrant teens from Central America are finding their way into the undocumented workforce of the United States.

They are doing rigorous, grueling work often meant for adults, like operating heavy machinery in food processing plants. Exploitation by unscrupulous employers and a lack of follow-up by U.S. authorities mean many get trapped in this vast network of under-the-table labor.

Many of these teens forgo school to secure full-time jobs. Under the guidance of illegal document brokers, some assume identities that hide their true age from their employers. Most of the money they earn goes back to their home countries to help support their families and pay off debts to the smugglers who brought them to the United States.

Undocumented migration from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras started growing dramatically in 2020 as conditions worsened in migrants’ home countries. At first, many of these migrants (both adults and children) were immediately expelled back to their countries under Title 42. The Trump adminis-

tration invoked this public health order starting in March 2020 in the name of combatting COVID-19.

Under the Trump administration, nearly 16,000 unaccompanied minors, most from Central America, were expelled under Title 42 before a judge halted the practice in November 2021. The Biden administration has kept Title 42 in place, although in February 2021 the administration formally exempted unaccompanied minors.

By law, unaccompanied minors from Central America who are encountered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are transferred to shelters run by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS then searches for a sponsor who can care for the child. Sponsors are usually family members who are already living in the United States (although they may also be undocumented). Once a sponsor has filled out the paperwork and gone through a background check, HHS will release the child into their care.

According to HHS, 122,731 unaccompanied children were referred to the agency by DHS in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021—up from 15,381 the year before.

Likewise, HHS released 107,686 unac-

companied children to adult sponsors (usually family members) in FY 2021— up from 16,837 the prior year. During the first three months of FY 2022 (October 2021-December 2021), the agency released 34,328 unaccompanied children to sponsors.

The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children are teenagers. In FY 2021, for instance, 33 percent were 17 years old, 39 percent were either 15 or 16, and 13 percent were either 13 or 14.

Illegal document brokers are ready and waiting for undocumented teenagers when they are most vulnerable. The brokers arm them with a fake name and date of birth, as well as a link to a valid social security number.

Many undocumented immigrants (adults and teens alike) turn to labor contractors or staffing agencies to find jobs.

For instance, this is how many chicken processing plants in the South find workers. Under this arrangement, the plant doesn’t have to worry about whether new workers are authorized to work in this country. Rather, the contractor doing the hiring is obligated to ensure that all employees are work authorized. This workaround increases the chances of employers exploiting undocumented minors.

Some employers deliberately and brazenly take advantage of the fact that many of their workers are undocumented, underage, or both. The employers may pay substandard wages, maintain poor working conditions, or demand excessively long work shifts under the assumption that their workers are in no condition to complain to anyone about it.

The federal government must remain vigilant with all employers and guarantee that wage and labor laws are vigorously enforced for all workers. HHS should also try to make sure that children are not sent to sponsors who will take advantage of them and follow up more carefully to help fight labor trafficking.l

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11

IMMIGRATION

Federal Court Restores Access to Work Permits for Many Asylum Seekers

BY GIANNA BORROTO

A

federal court issued a decision on February 7 invalidating two Trump-era regulations that restricted access to work permits for asylum seekers. In her decision, Judge Beryl Howell of the District Court for the District of Columbia found that Chad Wolf had not been lawfully serving as Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) when it issued the two regulations, so the regulations were void from the start.

The case, AsylumWorks v. Mayorkas, was brought by a group of affected asylum seekers and three organizations arguing that the rules interfered with their missions to provide social services and other assistance to asylum seekers.

The decision restores access to work permits—or employment authorization documents (EADs)—for asylum seekers who were barred from employment authorization or whose work permits were delayed because of the regulations.

DHS issued the two regulations challenged in AsylumWorks in June 2020.

The first rule, known as the “Timeline

Repeal Rule,” eliminated the government’s 30-day deadline to adjudicate initial asylum seeker work permit applications.

The second regulation, the “EAD Bar Rule,” imposed a series of restrictions on eligibility for work permits. This included barring work permits for asylum seekers who entered without inspection and those who were deemed to have “delayed” their asylum applications. The regulation also more than doubled the amount of time asylum seekers had to wait to apply for work permits after filing for asylum, from 150 days to one year.

Before the AsylumWorks decision, a preliminary injunction in another case, CASA de Maryland v. Mayorkas, acted as an important stopgap for asylum seekers who could become members of CASA or the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, the organizations that brought the CASA lawsuit. However, the CASA injunction does not apply to all aspects of the two regulations. For example, asylum seekers who entered the United States without inspection after the rules went into effect remained barred from work authorization until Monday’s rul-

ing.

The AsylumWorks decision focuses on whether Wolf was lawfully serving as Acting Secretary of DHS at the time DHS issued the regulations. Former DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielson and Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan attempted to make changes to the order of succession for the DHS Secretary position before their respective resignations. Through the revised order of succession, Wolf became Acting DHS Secretary after McAleenan’s resignation.

Analyzing the issue under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act (FVRA) and several other statutes that dictate order of succession for acting officials, the court found that Wolf’s tenure as Acting DHS Secretary was unlawful because the changes to the order of succession did not pass muster. And under the FVRA, all actions taken by an official whose appointment is unlawful are also unlawful. This includes the two regulations challenged in AsylumWorks, which DHS issued under Wolf.

This decision is the seventh to find Wolf’s appointment unlawful and the first to hold that the current DHS

Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, could not ratify Wolf’s actions after the fact because they were void from the start.

Mayorkas had attempted to ratify the Timeline Repeal Rule once in office, but the court found that Mayorkas could not cure the defects caused by Wolf’s unlawful appointment.

The AsylumWorks decision is another important step toward undoing the Trump administration’s series of attacks on asylum seekers. Voiding the two regulations restores dignity to asylum seekers by removing unnecessary barriers to employment eligibility while they await a decision on their asylum claims, a process that can take years in the backlogged immigration courts. It also ensures that asylum seekers can access other crucial benefits that are often dependent on a work permit, such as a driver’s license.

The government has not indicated whether it will appeal the decision to the D.C. Circuit or seek a stay, or how it will implement the decision. But for now, asylum seekers should be able to apply for work authorization without the harmful restrictions imposed by these rules.l

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12

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

Goal for 2022: Become a Paralegal attorneys, opposing counsel, vendors, staff members, clients, and others. The work is varied, and each day brings new challenges.

BY THE CHAMBER COALITION

A

career as a paralegal (also known as a legal assistant) can be a wonderfully fulfilling profession. Paralegals perform legal, regulatory, and business-related research for lawyers working at their organization.

Most of the time, paralegals work for law offices, non-profits, corporations' legal departments, or courts. These professionals also provide legal support services to attorneys. They assist lawyers in filing motions, memoranda, pleadings, and briefs in various court systems and accompany lawyers to see clients and go to court. Here are five great things about being a paralegal: 1. Rise in Pay Paralegal compensation has risen steadily in the past decade. As paralegals perform a broader and more complex range of tasks (paralegals even represent clients in court in certain countries and administrative tribunals), their earnings continue to rise. The average paralegal salary hovers at around $50,000 per year, but paralegals often make more through bonuses. Overtime hours can also add significant cash to a paralegal's paycheck.

2. Explosive Employment Outlook The paralegal field is one of the fastestgrowing professions on the globe. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, predicts the employment of paralegals and legal assistants by over 25 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations. Among the factors driving this growth is client demand for cheaper, more efficient delivery of legal services. Since hourly rates charged by attorneys are typically double or triple the rates of paralegals for the same task, law firm economics mandates the increased use of paralegals to minimize costs. As a result, a paralegal career is one of the hottest non-lawyer jobs in the legal industry.

3. Easy Career Entry Unlike lawyers who must complete seven years of formal education and pass the bar exam to practice law, you can become a paralegal in as little as a few months of study.

4. Intellectual Challenge Paralegal work is intellectually challenging and involves a range of high-level skills. The most successful paralegals are problem-solvers and innovative thinkers.

Paralegals must become subject matter experts in their specialty areas and master legal procedure, research, drafting, and other skills. They must stay on top of ever-changing laws and new legal trends and developments while interfacing with

5. Rising Prestige As paralegals perform more complex and challenging work, paralegal prestige is rising. Paralegals are no longer simply lawyer's assistants; they assume corporate management roles, leadership roles in law firms, and entrepreneurial roles in independent paralegal businesses. Over the years, paralegals have transcended the image of glorified legal secretaries to become respected legal team members.

Ready to Take the Leap?

A career as a paralegal can be rewarding professionally and personally and offers a unique opportunity to help others; options vary, depending on the paralegal's practice area. Paralegals in the public interest sector help poor and disadvantaged segments of the population with legal issues ranging from protection from domestic abuse to assistance preparing wills. Ready to take the leap, the next step? Call us at 718-722-9217 or visit www.freeparalegal.org to complete your registration which includes payment.l

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nHEALTH

nENTERTAINMENT

nRELATIONSHIPS

nRECIPES

Caryl Jacobs New Single! “Easy on Me”

C

aryl Jacobs is a talented singer / songwriter from the beautiful twin isles of Trinidad and Tobago. With a strong musical background, as both parents (Carl and Carol Jacobs) held a very iconic role in the calypso/soca industry, Caryl began her professional career at the age of 16, singing in the family-owned band ‘Islanda’.

She migrated to the US during her teenage years, where she became more exposed to the glorious world of music.

Her talent spans from performing the US national anthem at the NBA’s Miami Heat game, to doing frontline vocals for

bands at major international carnivals, including Trinidad, New York’s Labor Day and Canada’s Caribana.

A genuine love for life and passion for different genres of music has led to her preferred style of a fusion between Reggae, Pop and Soca.

This, combined with her sultry, sexy style that matches the diverse ranges of her vocals, has lead to her working alongside various international artistes over the years. Some of these highlights in her career thus far include collaborations with the legendary reggae artist Glen Washington; dancehall sensations Beenie Man, Red Rat, Mad Cobra; Sly & Robbie; Soca hit makers Rupee, Allison Hinds and the ‘King of Soca’ Machel Montano.

Caryl recently signed with ‘Chris Knight Music Group’ where she has begun work on a collection of new releases to look out for!l Follow Caryl https://www.instagram.com/caryl_jacobs/

nSPORTS

nHOROSCOPE

Kitchen Corner

Simple 'N' Delicious Chocolate Cake

A

very simple to make chocolate cake that I developed while trying to combine my chocolate and coffee cravings. It tastes so good no one will believe how easy it was! (It can be frosted with chocolate or coffee icing but I like it plain.)

By Deleteduser, AllRecipes.com Ingredients 1 cup white sugar 11⁄16 cups all-purpose flour ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup butter 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup cold, strong, brewed coffee Directions Step 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8-inch pan (see Editor's Note). Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

Step 2 In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat well. Add flour mixture, alternating with coffee. Beat until just incorporated.

Step 3 Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

Allow to cool before frosting.

Editor's Note: To bake this recipe as cupcakes, line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.

Divide batter into pan and bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in a center cupcake comes out clean, 15 to 18 minutes.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 282 calories; protein 3.7g; carbohydrates 40.7g; fat 13g; cholesterol 53.8mg; sodium 540.6mg.l Servings: 8

Yield:1 8-inch pan

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14

GENERATIONS

COVID-19 Linked to Risk of Dangerous Blood Clots in Stroke Patients

BY MICHAEL MERSCHEL, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION NEWS

O

lder stroke patients who had a history of COVID-19 were more likely to develop dangerous blood clots in the veins than those who did not have the coronavirus-driven disease, a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.

Blood clots that form in veins, a condition called venous thromboembolism or VTE, are a common complication after stroke. Clots can form in a leg or elsewhere, then may break free and block blood supply to the lungs, causing often fatal pulmonary embolism.

Several studies suggest SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, may increase the risk of VTE among people hospitalized with COVID-19, said Xin Tong, the new study's senior researcher and a senior statistician in the CDC's Division of Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention.

But Tong said few studies examined the association between COVID-19 and VTE risk among people with an acute ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke in which a clot in an artery

blocks blood flow to the brain. And none had examined this association between VTE and stroke patients who'd had mild symptoms of COVID-19 that did not require hospitalization.

Tong and her co-authors used Medicare data to examine the association between VTE and COVID-19 among 235,567 Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older.

All had been hospitalized with an acute ischemic stroke between April 2020 and November 2021.

Among them, 7.8% had a history of COVID-19, which required hospitalization for slightly more than half.

VTE was most common among those with a history of COVID-19 hospitalization, at 4.4%. Among those with COVID-19 that had not required hospitalization, 3.1% had VTE. Those without a history of COVID-19 were least likely to have VTE, at 2.6%.

That translated to a 64% higher risk of VTE among stroke patients with a history of COVID-19 hospitalization, and a 21% higher risk among those who'd had COVID-19 but didn't need to be hospitalized.

The study will be presented next week at the American Stroke Association's

International Stroke Conference. The findings are considered preliminary until a full paper is published in a peerreviewed journal.

Researchers also found that Black stroke patients had the highest rate of VTE compared to other racial and ethnic groups. For example, 6.3% of Black stroke patients who'd previously been hospitalized for COVID-19 had VTE. That compares to 3.4% and 4.1% of their Hispanic and white counterparts, respectively.

Among the limitations the researchers acknowledged was they could not identify if the VTE happened before or during the stroke hospitalizations.

Despite that, and limits on what can be understood about some racial and ethnic groups because of small numbers of patients, the study provides "a good bigpicture overview of what we're seeing" across the country, said epidemiologist Amelia K. Boehme of Columbia University in New York City.

"We know that COVID increases the risk of VTE," said Boehme, who was not involved in the research. "We know that ischemic strokes increase the risk of VTE. So the idea that combined COVID

and ischemic stroke would further increase the risk of VTE makes sense from a clinical perspective."

The study suggests that stroke patients who've had COVID-19 should be carefully monitored for potential VTE, she said.

The possible reasons behind a link between COVID-19 and an increased risk of VTE are complex and not well understood, Tong said. Some underlying conditions of stroke patients can overlap with VTE risk factors, which include older age, prolonged immobility, obesity, and prior VTE or stroke.

Some of those same factors overlap with risk of severe COVID-19.

"Further studies are needed for the likely mechanisms between COVID-19 and increased risk of VTE," Tong said.

Meanwhile, she said, doctors should be aware of the association and follow protocols for early prevention and treatment.l

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HEALTH

15

What Doctors Want You to Know to Protect Yourself from Omicron

O

micron is between 1.5 to 3 times more transmissible than the Delta variant of the SARS-CoV2 virus that causes COVID-19.

Additionally, people who manifest symptoms are doing so more quickly than with previous strains -- sometimes just two to three days after exposure. And recent evidence shows daily Omicron deaths in the United States have exceeded those from the Delta variant. Amid these troubling facts, there is pervasive confusion about what steps individuals should be taking right now to protect themselves.

“Although we have effective tools -particularly vaccines -- to limit the spread of the virus and severity of COVID-19, the latest surge of cases fueled by the Omicron variant has created new challenges and raises important questions about masks, testing and isolation guidance,” says Gerald E. Harmon, M.D., president of the American Medical Association (AMA).

With easily transmissible Omicron the now dominant variant, here’s what you need to know to keep yourself safe, according to the AMA:

• Get vaccinated: Although breakthrough infections have increased with Omicron, COVID-19 vaccines remain extraordinarily effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death.

All those who are eligible for the vaccine and booster should get them. Learn more at GetVaccineAnswers.org.

• Wear a higher-quality mask: The CDC says that while the best mask is the mask you’re going to wear consistently,

well-fitted respirators, such as KN95s and N95s, provide the highest level of protection. N95s are no longer in short supply, and the federal government recently announced that it is sending 400 million N95 respirators to pharmacies and community health centers across the country, where you can get them free of charge. In lieu of respirators, surgical masks and double masking also offer additional protection over a cloth mask.

•Testing is critical: Visit amaassn.org/delivering-care for a helpful guide from the AMA on which test is right for you. You should consider getting tested if you have symptoms or if you have had a known close exposure to someone with COVID-19, and maybe before gathering indoors with people outside of your household. If you test positive, the AMA suggests testing negative before ending any isolation period.

An antigen test is the best tool to determine whether someone is still infectious.

And even if the repeat test is negative when ending isolation, patients are advised to wear medical grade masks for at least five days after ending isolation.

You can receive four free, at-home COVID tests by signing up here: special.usps.com/testkits.

“We continue to urge those with questions about COVID-19 vaccines to talk to their physician. Vaccinating as many people as possible and taking the preventive health measures we know work are the only ways to slow the spread and move us closer to the end of this pandemic,” says Dr. Harmon.l(StatePoint)

Protect yourself, New York.

Get vaccinated.

Stay up to date with a booster.

Wear your mask.

NYC VACCINE FOR ALL:

SAFE, FREE, EASY

To learn more, visit nyc.gov/vaccine昀nder or call 877-VAX-4NYC 877-VAX-4NYC..

Eric Adams Mayor Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc Commissioner

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16

MONEY MATTERS Least Romantic Valentine Day/ continued from page 1 not want to lead with those money matters — it is Valentine's Day after all, but once the candles have been put out and the chocolate has been eaten you may want to pencil in time for these important matters.

If you doubt the importance of talking about money, just consider that financial incompatibility ranks second only to marital infidelity in leading causes of divorce. If you want to spend this Valentine's Day having fun and next Valentine's Day as a couple, planning ahead for this important subject is a very prudent thing to do.

Discuss Your Monetary Similarities — and Your Differences When it comes to spending, saving, and investing money, everyone is an individual. Even if you and your romantic partner agree on religion, politics, and what color the bedroom curtains should be, there is a better than even chance that you will not see eye to eye on all things monetary.

Some of these monetary differences will be small and insignificant, while others will be large and worrisome. Here are some of the incongruities you may want to discuss as part of your Valentine's Day festivities: •Are you a saver and your spouse a

spender? You need to know that long before the wedding bells start ringing.

Spendthrifts and dedicated savers can live happily together, but long-term success will require a delicate balancing act.

•How do you and your partner view investing? Are you a buy and hold devotee while your spouse prefers day trading? Views on investment will influence everything from retirement planning to the paying of day-to-day expenses.

•Do you both view a monthly budget as key to financial success? How do you feel that budget should be set up, and which luxuries are you willing to sacrifice to keep that spending plan on track?

•How much money do you both make?

Do you know one another's salaries, or is job-related income a deep dark secret? If your relationship is getting serious, talk-

ing about income is totally appropriate — even on Valentine's Day. Look for Creative Workarounds It is not the end of the world when you and your partner do not see eye to eye on money, finances and investments. It would be strange indeed if you and your lover agreed on everything in life.

What sets successful couples apart from their divorce-bound counterparts is how they handle those differences. No matter what the source of the monetary disagreements, there are always creative workarounds to be had.

If you are a dedicated saver and your partner loves to spend money, letting them maintain a (small) separate checking account could be a smart workaround. That way your partner can play around with part of their paycheck without putting the household finances at risk.

A similar workaround can be found for partners with disparate views of investment risk. If you view low-cost index funds as the core of the household investment portfolio but your partner looks for moonshot stocks, setting up a limited trading account for those riskier investments will let both of you sleep more soundly. If one of those moonshots pans out, your partner can treat you to a romantic night out — maybe even on Valentine's Day. Talking about how much you make, how you invest your money and what you spend it on may not be the most romantic discussion, but it is a necessary one. So go ahead — plan a romantic Valentine's Day, complete with red roses, decadent chocolates and all the trimmings, but when the day comes to an end, talking about money could make your relationship stronger still. l

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17

LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

Celebrate Valentine's Day Differently This Year!

BY CHRIS TOBIAS

A

dmit it...you're tired of the same old, same old when it comes to celebrating Valentine's Day. Celebrating on February 14 does not have to be about chocolate and flowers every single year.

This year, celebrate differently and see if you can't liven up the holiday and your relationship with your significant other at the same time!

Think outside the box: Celebrate on February 13, or 15, or all month Celebrating Valentine's Day comes with a lot of pressure (just like New Year's Eve, which you may still be exhausted from planning). One way to take that pressure off? Don't bother celebrating on the actual holiday of February 14!

The entire month of February can be a challenging one in which to celebrate anything. Most places in the world are experiencing blah weather, the winter holidays are long past, and now you're just in the doldrums before spring.

Don't be tied to celebrating on just one day!

Think of treats or surprises for your loved one throughout February (although you may want to run this idea past your partner first, in case they are expecting a big night out on the actual date of the

14th). Look for ways to help your partner. Do they hate cooking? Surprise them with take-out. Looking for a night to watch that movie at home that isn't really suitable for the kids? Arrange with a friend or babysitter to take the kids for a couple of hours and have a staycation on your couch.

Valentine's Day should really be a state of mind, not just a day on the calendar.

Make a point, throughout the year, of telling your partner you love them. Ask them how their day is, and really listen.

Don't always make your focus how to solve your partner's problem. Remember that true intimacy often comes about when people feel they can say anything and be truly heard by their lover.

Show that you know what your partner really wants Is your spouse a person who loves surprises? Then plan one! On the other

hand, is your partner a person who likes to plan and anticipate? Then take this holiday as a chance to communicate and make an action plan you can both enjoy.

Do you both absolutely require presents? Or not? Some couples are happy to skip the more stereotypical jewelry and attire, and instead save towards other long-term goals or travels.

Above all, let your partner know that you recognize the importance of your relationship in your life. Sometimes the best aphrodisiac is letting your lover know that you are thinking of them, first and foremost.

Don't try anything new in the bedroom Wait, did you read that right? Right around Valentine's Day, magazines and advertisements and all social media discussions feature such headlines as "Your Best Sex Life Now: New Tips and

Tricks!" or "Shake Up Your Love Routine with These New Ideas!" Couples look around at this time of year and may start to be convinced that everyone else has more and better sex (of all kinds) than they do. It's not true.

Frantic attempts simply to do something "new" in an intimate relationship do not typically make for joyful physical encounters. If you want to expand your repertoire and try some new things, that's fine, but consider introducing such ideas in the weeks around Valentine's Day. Only try new things when you're relaxed, have time, and both of you are ready to explore new techniques together.

Especially if you're short on time or energy on the actual date of February 14, there's no better day than just to give each other permission to do the things that always feel good for everyone. You can always try something new; you have time. That can be one of the best aspects of a long-term relationship: patience and flexibility.

Valentine's Day doesn't have to be an expensive lesson in last-minute, lackluster gifts, or expected plans. With good communication and loving attention to detail on all the other days that aren't February 14, partners can find ways to celebrate all of their Valentine's Days together in unique ways! l

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18

CONVERSATIONS

Not Everyone is Male or Female – The Growing Controversy Over Sex Designation

BY CARL STREED JR & FRANCES GRIMSTAD, THE CONVERSATION

C

heck out your birth certificate and surely you’ll see a designation for sex. When you were born, a doctor or clinician assigned you the “male” or “female” label based on a look at your genitalia. In the U.S., this has been standard practice for more than a century.

But sex designation is not as simple as a glance and then a check of one box or another. Instead, the overwhelming evidence shows that sex is not binary. To put it another way, the terms “male” and “female” don’t fully capture the complex biological, anatomical and chromosomal variations that occur in the human body.

That’s why calls are growing to remove sex designation from birth certificates, including a recent recommendation from the American Medical Association.

I am a professor of medicine who has worked extensively on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) issues. My coauthor is a professor of gynecology who is deeply involved in the health of people who are trans and intersex.

Our research and clinical experience

show that sex designation is not something to take for granted. For those who don’t fit neatly into one of two categories – and there are millions – an inappropriate classification on a birth certificate can have consequences that last a lifetime.

The problems with sex designation Variations in genital anatomy happen more frequently than you might think; they occur in 0.1 to 0.2% of births annually. In the U.S., that’s about 4,000 to 8,000 babies each year.

Other sex traits don’t necessarily help either. Doctors examining the reproductive organs can find people born with

both a vagina and testes, and also those born without any gonads. And when evaluating an individual’s estrogen and testosterone hormone levels, long defined as key determinants of female and male bodies, doctors find some people with vaginas still produce significant amounts of testosterone. Because of this, testosterone is not a great indicator for defining sex; higher amounts of testosterone do not necessarily make someone male.

Even karyotyping – a laboratory procedure used since the 1950s to evaluate an individual’s number and type of chromosomes – doesn’t tell the whole story.

While we typically expect people to

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either have XX or XY pairs of sex chromosomes, many people have variations that do not fit either category. These include Turner syndrome, in which a person is born with a single X chromosome, and Kleinfelter syndrome, which occurs when a person is born with a combination of XXY chromosomes.

In short, human diversity has demonstrated that the binary categories of male and female are incomplete and inaccurate. Sex designation, rather than “two sizes fit all,” is on a spectrum. Up to 1.7% of the U.S. population – that’s more than 5 million Americans – have an anatomy and physiology that present intersex traits.

Binary designations can be damaging Those with intersex traits who are assigned at birth to be female or male can experience medical care that harms them, both physically and psychologically.

Sometimes physicians perform surgeries to align bodies into binary categories.

For example, those born with a larger than typical clitoris may have it reduced in size. But some who have this childhood surgery suffer as adults from pain and difficulty having sex.

Additionally, governments sometimes limit those with intersex traits from fully participating in society. For instance, in Australia, marriages have been annulled because governments have previously ruled that an intersex person – someone not seen to be “100% man” or “100% woman” – cannot be legally married.

Private entities often do the same. The International Olympics Committee uses cutoffs of hormone levels to determine who plays in women’s sports. As a result, some athletes have been barred from participation.

And for those with a gender identity that differs from the sex designation on a government document, discrimination, harassment or violence can result.

State governments have begun to acknowledge sex diversity. Some let gender-diverse people change their designation on birth certificates, although there are restrictions. Medicine too is changing. For example, some pediatric centers have stopped performing surgeries on newborns with differences in sex development. Still, society at large has been much slower to move beyond the use of strictly binary categories.

As clinicians, we strive to be accurate.

The evidence shows that using male and female as the only options on birth certificates is not consistent with scientific reality. Evidence shows that removing this designation will tell new parents that it’s not sex assignment that’s most important at birth but rather the celebration of a healthy and happy baby.l Carl Streed Jr is an Assistant Professor of Medicine, Boston University. Frances Grimstad is an Assistant Professor of Gynecology, Harvard University

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