[il-talk] Fwd: Dreamers/ immigrants/Job opportunities

[Patti Chang]

"The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future."

Patti S. Gregory-Chang
NFBI President
NFB Scholarship Comm. Chair
Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Araceli Avina <araceli.avina at horizons-blind.org>
Date: September 15, 2014 at 8:30:22 AM CDT
To: <carolewalther at hotmail.com>
Cc: <pattischang at gmail.com>
Subject: FW: Dreamers/ immigrants/Job opportunities

FYI

-----Original Message-----
From: Watkins, Mary [mailto:Mary.Watkins at illinois.gov] 
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2014 10:27 AM
To: Araceli Avina; Andrews, Gail; Garcia, Laura A.; Harris, Janet; Eisner,
Cheryl
Cc: Lilburn, Cynthia
Subject: FW: Dreamers/ immigrants/Job opportunities
Importance: High


FYI - 

Mary M. Watkins
Bureau of Blind Services
Rehabilitation Counselor Sr.
Ph: 847-758-3483
Fax:847-758-3473

Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.
Ralph Waldo Emerson


-----Original Message-----
From: Morales, Migdalia 
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2014 8:52 AM
To: Parrott, Deirdre
Cc: Ortiz, Juan; Shanks, Gina; Pringle, Sherinda; Morales, Migdalia; Argue,
Nicole; Watkins, Mary; Adkins, Sylvia J.; Jurado-Cobo, Maria E.; Ross,
Aisha; Metcalf, Alice; Sawyer, Carolyn
Subject: Dreamers/ immigrants/Job opportunities
Importance: High

Good morning,

This information is for individuals that works with the Hispanic community.
Do not hesitate to pass it on. 

Sincerely,

Migdalia Morales

Senior Bilingual Rehabilitation

Counselor Humboldt Park Office/DHS/BBS

2753 W. North Ave. 3rd. Floor

Chicago IL 60647

773-292-4410 or 773-292-4440 fax



FYI


April 11, 2014

Mayor Emanuel Announces Internships And Job Opportunities For DREAMer
Students

DREAMers will be Eligible to Apply for Nearly 23,000 City-funded
Internships, Volunteer and Job Opportunities

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that the City is, for the first time,
opening up nearly 23,000 City-funded internship, volunteer, and job
opportunities for undocumented students, or “DREAMers.”

“Chicago is a city that was built by immigrants and I am committed to
ensuring that DREAMers have the same opportunities offered by the City to
all of Chicago’s youth,” said Mayor Emanuel. “We will open our doors to
support talented young people who are committed to their education, building
their job skills, and bettering their communities.”

The City will begin accepting applications immediately for approximately 500
City internships, volunteer, and job opportunities offered year-round, 30
Mayor’s Office Fellowships, as well as more than 22,000 opportunities to
participate in summer jobs, internships and job training programs offered
through the One Summer Chicago program.

“DREAMers and DACA recipients are assets that we need to nurture and develop
like precious natural resources for the benefit of the entire community,”
said Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez (IL-04). “They are an integral part of
Chicago’s workforce of tomorrow. Once again, the City of Chicago and Mayor
Rahm Emanuel are leading the way on the inclusion of our immigrant
communities.”

In December 2012, the Chicago New Americans Plan highlighted barriers that
DREAMer students faced, including language barriers and information gaps
about the opportunities available to them. These impediments have in the
past served as an obstacle for these students and their families, in some
cases preventing them from accessing critical enrichment programs.

With the current initiative, the City has worked to identify and eliminate
administrative barriers to employment and internship enrollment of DREAMers,
and staff and public agency partners will now be sufficiently trained about
the nuances surrounding deferred action documentation.

To maximize the availability and access to these opportunities for Chicago’s
DREAMers, the Mayor’s Office of New Americans and the Department of Family
and Support Services will lead a coordinated outreach campaign in targeted
neighborhoods and schools with high concentrations of immigrant populations.
These efforts will include distributing informational materials to immigrant
students and families, hosting joint community events, and expanding
marketing efforts through existing City programs.

“Immigrant and undocumented students face a range of unique challenges and
barriers to leveraging their skills,” said Department of Family and Support
Services (DFSS) Commissioner Evelyn Diaz. “That is why DFSS will work with
its public agency partners to inform students and families of these summer
enrichment programs and internship opportunities and encourage DREAMers to
apply.”

In addition to the summer enrichment opportunities, the City will begin
training its staff to ensure they are well equipped to help immigrant
students receive accurate and helpful information about opportunities
available to them. DREAMers in high school and college will be able to apply
to approximately 500 volunteer and internship opportunities offered by the
City year round and gain valuable experience in municipal government. In
addition, graduate students with deferred action and work authorization who
are interested in learning about municipal government and public policy will
be able to apply to the Mayor’s Office Fellowship program this upcoming
fall.

“We are conducting tailored training for City staff to provide Chicago’s
DREAMers with opportunities to excel outside the classroom and obtain
valuable professional experience in City government,” said Department of
Human Resources (DHR) Commissioner Soo Choi. “With this training, we can
ensure that DHR and all City staff are well equipped to provide DREAMers
with the information they need so they can continue contributing to this
city.”

To date, the City of Chicago has taken numerous steps to support
undocumented students. For example, in August 2013, the Mayor announced the
start of IL DREAM Act Training for Counselors at Chicago Public Schools to
ensure that CPS school staff would be trained and aware of the best ways to
support all students by understanding legal challenges that affect the
guidance immigrant students should receive.

In August of 2012, Mayor Emanuel announced that $275,000 in private
donations had been raised for the Illinois DREAM Fund. With this donation,
nearly 100 DREAM youth will be able to complete their first year in City
Colleges of Chicago’s College to Career program, ensuring that they have the
skills to meet the demand for careers in growing fields.

Parents and students can learn more about the internship, volunteer, and job
opportunities offered by the City of Chicago by visiting the Mayor’s Office
of New Americans website www.cityofchicago.org/newamericans or calling 311.