On December 8, 2015 United Methodist Bishop Sally Dyck traveled to Capitol Hill to add her voice to those of other national faith leaders and three U.S. senators calling for lawmakers to show mercy and allow Syrian refugees to resettle in the U.S. Read more here.
News
NIJFON Welcomes Susan Yanun as Director of Development
The year of 2015 has been an amazing year for Northern Illinois JFON! Our Board of Directors decided that for us to continue to grow in fulfilling our vision, and expanding our mission, that we needed to hire a Director of Development (part-time). We are excited that Susan Yanun will be joining our staff, beginning January 4, 2016!
Susan has spent years fighting for social justice, immigrant rights, and community-led grassroots planning and development, much of the time through her position as the New Communities Program Director and Planning Director of Logan Square Neighborhood Association in Chicago, IL. She began her experience with NIJFON as the Chicago Clinic Co-Coordinator for three years. In her new role as Director of Development, Susan plans to work with the board, staff attorneys, and clinic volunteers to diversify and increase funding for Northern Illinois JFON to build its capacity and increase its ability to fulfill its mission of providing high quality, free legal service, education and advocacy. Continue reading “NIJFON Welcomes Susan Yanun as Director of Development”
The Screening Process for Refugee Entry into the United States
A step-by-step guide to the rigorous process for refugee entry into the U.S.
The following images come from this post on whitehouse.gov, where you can also read the full text of the workflow. Click on each image to view it alone or view the whole workflow as one image on whitehouse.gov.
Refugees undergo more rigorous screening than anyone else we allow into the United States. Here’s what the screening process looks like for them: Continue reading “The Screening Process for Refugee Entry into the United States”
Do y’all even know any Syrians?
Personal reflection from NIJFON’s Supervisory Attorney, Jennifer Ansay:
I do. I know 9. Not a whole lot, I admit, but the ones I do know, I know really well. Really, really well. Probably better than most of their families or closest friends know them. Because of the nature of our relationships, I need to know about their lives in a very detailed way. Having to get the kind of information from them that I need, I sort of develop a close relationship out of necessity. Out of the 9 Syrians I know, I can say without any reservation that they are all exactly the kinds of people we want and need to have in the United States.
The first Syrian person I met, and the one I know the best, is …
One of the strongest women I know.
Out of the Shadows: Supporting Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence
What happens when abuse victims feel like they can’t call for help?
For many immigrant women who lack legal status, this is a horrifying daily reality. Undocumented women are already vulnerable to exploitation as they navigate a life in the shadows. For those who are being abused, language and cultural barriers can make it challenging to work with the police. Many abusers threaten to have women deported, fired, or separated from their children if they speak out. Fear and uncertainty keeps these women from raising their voices – and makes it even more vital that bystanders like you know how to respond. — Sojourners
Continue reading “Out of the Shadows: Supporting Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence”