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Dear Friends, We hope everyone is well. Here’s a recap of our September at Just Neighbors. Client Story “That’s twenty dollars too much,” I told Jose as he handed me $70 for his appointment with Just Neighbors to renew his Temporary Protected Status. “I know,” replied Jose. “But I want to donate $20 to help someone who can’t afford the fee.” I was touched, considering Jose himself was low-income and he supported his family back in El Salvador. Just Neighbors has helped Jose renew his TPS for several years, enabling him to continue to have lawful status and authorization to work in the United States. This work authorization is significant for Jose because it allows him to maintain his job as a Maintenance Supervisor at an elementary school in Fairfax County.
Several years ago Jose left his wife and his three young children to come here for work, as there were no jobs and no way to provide for his family in El Salvador. He says his country was ravaged with civil war and people were dying. Later, a major earthquake hit El Salvador, destroying his mother’s home and killing his uncle. The destruction caused by this earthquake prompted the United States to grant Temporary Protected Status to Salvadorans like Jose who had come here without documents. Jose could now gain lawful employment in the United States and begin sending more money home. Three years ago, one of Jose’s sons came into the United States without documents to live with Jose, and to attend school here and work. The son, 18, works part-time to send money back to his mother and siblings while attending high school. I asked Jose what it’s like to live in the United States with a temporary status, each year not knowing whether he can renew his status. He says that he would like to be able to continue living and working here, but if Immigration doesn’t allow it, he will probably go back. “It’s not in my control,” he says. At one point Jose was hopeful of gaining a more permanent status in the U.S. through a restaurant that employed him. He says the Department of Labor had even approved his employer visa. However, the restaurant went out of business, and he reverted to his tenuous TPS status. Jose’s two children in El Salvador are now much older, and he hasn’t seen them or his wife in years. He takes this family separation in stride, trying to remain positive and realizing he’s better off than many immigrants who come here in search of work. Many separated families are not eligible for TPS, of course—they may need the $20 more than Jose. Get Involved On October 27, 2007 United Christian Parish in Reston will host an Immigration Forum. The Parish, which hosts four congregations of different denominations, is located at 11508 North Shore Drive Reston, VA 20190. The Forum will feature Just Neighbors, which will present information on the subject of immigration. Just Neighbors will cover the differences between “illegal” and legal immigrants, the steps to gaining legal status in the country, and the benefits available to various types of immigrants. The Forum will begin at 9:00AM and last approximately one hour. You are encouraged to bring your friends and neighbors. Just Neighbors invites you spend an autumn afternoon with our Board, staff, volunteers, clients and supporters Sunday, November 4th from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. The event will take place at Arlington Temple United Methodist Church, located at 1835 N. Nash Street, Arlington, Virginia and at the Rosslyn Metro station on the Blue/Orange Line. We have much to celebrate, in addition to the beautiful season. This is a social occasion, and all are welcome. Please let us know if you are planning to bring your family and friends.
R.S.V.P. by October 24 to Rob Rutland-Brown at 703-979-1240 or
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. Volunteer of the Month Just Neighbors has relied on several volunteers in September, all of whom have enabled us to meet with many TPS clients while short-staffed. We would like to recognize Libby Fielder in particular because the clients she’s been meeting with all know her through her years of work at Just Neighbors. Since retiring as a Case Manager in December, Libby has volunteered regularly at Community Clinics at Floris UMC and now at TPS appointments. Clients are always thrilled to see her and impressed that she remembers so much about their lives. Thank you Libby! Around the Office Just Neighbors has welcomed three new Board members for the coming year. Kelly Koeppl, an attorney with Foley and Lardner, has joined the Board for 2008. She has been instrumental in forging our new partnership with her law firm and has already helped Foley and Lardner to accept several pro bono cases from Just Neighbors. We are also excited to welcome Lydia Rodriguez, pastor of the Hispanic congregation of Arlington United Methodist Church, to our Board for the coming year. Her leadership within the Hispanic community will be a big asset to us. Finally, Pallavi Gullo, who left Just Neighbors this month as a staff attorney, will be joining us as a member of the Board. We are thrilled that she has accepted this new role, as the Board will benefit from her knowledge of the organization and passion for our work. In the past week, four Just Neighbors clients have received their green cards! Some of these cases have been difficult and have been ongoing for over a year, making this news especially welcome. We love sharing the good news with our clients who finally have the document they have awaited for so long. Just Neighbors received $5,000 from the Washington Forrest Foundation to support our direct legal services. We appreciate the contribution! Please remember Just Neighbors in your company’s United Way Campaign; our number is 8574. Or, if you’re with the federal government, our Combined Federal Campaign number is 60682. Thank you! Sincerely, Rob Rutland-Brown
Executive Director |
