Is a

proud sponsor of

Film Festival 2011

Love Wrinkle-Free

Error Attack

Love You To Death

For more info please click below

http://www.saiff.org/2011/index.php

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Dialogue between the various communities is what binds them together. This is more relevant today, particularly after the events of September 11, 2001. Thus it is important that the immigrants living in New York City talk and understand each other. English is the only language the communities living in America have in common because it is used by everyone be it school teachers, the police and fire departments, and city offices. So if an immigrant is unable to speak English, he or she would be cut off from the outside world, unable to shop, go to the bank or even order delivery food.

Most of the immigrants who have had prior educational background and are comfortable with their native language of Punjabi / Urdu/ Hindi/ Spanish/ Russian are unable to participate in events such as parent-teacher meetings at schools, supermarket shopping, helping their children with homework or seeking appointments with a doctor. Some are frustrated that their children come home and ask them why they cannot speak English. This is happening to all immigrant men and women who have lived in New York.

According to the latest census (2002) statistics, one out of every 10 New Yorkers is Asian. Seven out of every 100 New Yorkers use Asian languages at home. And, most noticeably, four out of seven New Yorkers using Asian languages at home consider their English less than fluent. In Brooklyn, 38 percent of the population is foreign-born. It is in this context that COPO realized that the first and foremost task was to educate the immigrant population in ESL and started its ESL classes for all who wish to learn the language.

The setting and makeup of our classes has been developed with cultural appropriate needs in mind. The teachers have been carefully selected from among the volunteers from within the community and experts in the teaching profession. The classes are FREE and are held on a weekly basis. The course is of fifteen weeks duration. The enrolled students are first assessed for their English language abilities, and then divided into groups where each learns at his/her own level

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The seriousness of the youth problems in our city has caused a growing sense of urgency among parents, immigrant communities and government agencies concerned with ways to improve the current conditions and future prospects of these youths. However, while community mobilization, enhancement of economic power, services directed towards youth, and coordinated lobbying and advocacy measures may bring desired results in the long term, in the short term more immediate action needs to be taken to rectify the problems facing young people.

In general, today’s youth are faced with many problems, often exacerbated by peer pressure. The most serious include school difficulties, depression that often leads to suicide, substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse, homelessness, peer conflicts, pregnancy, unmet basic needs, health problems, violence, gang activity, and the need for employment. In a survey recently conducted by COPO, it was found that most of the hate crime and abuse incidents after the tragic events of 9/11 happened in educational institutions. Serious concerns have been raised by the parents, educationists and community based organizations about school violence. To combat this problem, it is suggested that innovative ways and means be adopted so that young people are off the streets, and involved in community improvement activities along with the need for intensive job training, flexible work hours and better pay.

It is with this in mind that we construed the Youth Program at COPO. The goal of the Youth Program is to prepare young people between the ages of 14 and 21 for what we call the “road to life”. To accomplish this goal, COPO tries to promote educational and social support for young people from low-income immigrant families in Brooklyn. Our youth program is based on the age old concept of - a healthy mind makes a healthy body and therefore we strive to ensure access to free and high-quality educational programs designed to transform young people at risk to better participatory and effective citizens.

The programs are aimed to not only provide young people with alternative activities to crime, drugs, and gangs but at the same time provide them with learning opportunities through participation in educational improvement and programs which include, but are not limited to, career readiness training, academic enhancement, leadership development, counseling/support services and stress reduction through meditation. The programs envisage adopting the young people as a subject and not as an object of development. While we use young people as the stepping stones, the tools used are studies, sports, arts and stress management.

It is in this context that it was felt that there is a special need in the immigrant community particularly the South Asian community for legal assistance and counseling and in response to this need, the Council of Peoples Organization (COPO) thought of starting its Immigrant American Rights Project (IARP).

IARP is a comprehensive, community-based effort to educate the immigrants and permanent residents about their Rights and at the same time to facilitate the process for attainment of citizenship and to promote civic participation in the immigrant community so as to foster peace and friendship between various ethnic communities. IARP includes free legal assistance to victims of hate crimes, and people under detention along with educating the community about its rights through its Know Your Rights Clinic. It would also provide service to individuals seeking to become U.S. citizens including free citizenship test preparation classes; and free legal training to volunteers from within the community to enhance organizational capacity to provide essential naturalization services and train them towards Know your rights program. It is COPO’s firm belief that knowing your rights, increased civic participation and naturalization are the first steps to community self-sufficiency and empowerment.

IARP consists of :

• Know Your Rights Clinics
• Legal Access
• Community Education

One legal clinic/workshop is organized every month ( usually on Fridays) in collaboration withCyrus D. Mehta & Associates PLLC and The Legal Aid Society.

The Legal Clinics are FREE