Cultural Connections Committee

Gate City Immigrant Initiative Meeting Minutes May 27, 2015 9:00AM – 10:30AM Catholic Charities New Hampshire Present: Jenn Hosking, Mark Hastbacka, Damaris Njenga, Sylvia Gale, Cathy Chesley, Galina Szakacs, Shirley Woodward, Shayana Owen, Sharon Dalton, Donna Marceau, Simon Gahungu, Beatrice Igiraneza, Amadou Hamady, Karen Emis-Williams. Meeting opened at 9:00AM Symposium: Rivier University has offered to host; date TBA in late October or Early November at the Dion Center; Bobbie Bagley is the contact at Rivier. Possible theme “Recognizing the Opportunities of Diversity”.  Possible Keynote: Jose Vargas, journalist and film maker of “Define American”  Possible breakout sessions topics include:  Law Enforcement-possible panel with NH Attorney General, Nashua PD, ICE, USCIS, FBI  Diversity in the Workplace: -possible involve Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, Rotary etc. Galina shared idea of involving One Greater Nashua’s Civic and Business Engagement Committee; involved local minority business owners on panel; have employer recognition for those business who are proactive in hiring and supporting immigrant employees  Cultural Competency Theme: Lost in Translation or “The American Dream: Real Lives/Real Stories; possible panel of immigrant to share their experiences of the differences between the America they saw from abroad and the one they experience upon arrival; noted that we need to move away from traditional cultural competency trainings to something the accurately reflects what the receiving community needs to learn/understand from immigrants.  Health and Wellness-Details TBD Other Conference Notes: Vendor display during lunch hour; Sponsors needed to cover costs; Karen and Janeth prepared a list of potential sponsors; Galina to identify businesses whom we could contact. Other Suggestions: Identify a planning committee to help plan the symposium; start meeting regularly a few months in advance of Symposium; Please contact Karen/Janeth if you want to help out. Also, involve the Superintendent of Schools. Resettlement Agencies Update:  Ascentria: Shirley reported in May they resettled in Nashua: 10 Congolese 2 families (1 family of 6 and the other of 4). Also 1 Pakistani family of 5. Concord: 12 Congolese, 5 Burundi, 4 Iraqi, and expecting 3 more Burundi’s.  International Institute: Amadou reported since Oct’14 there were 51 refugees resettled in Nashua: 2 Somali families (10 people), 3 Congolese families (18 people), 4 Burmese families (17 people) and 1 Iraqi (5 people), 1 Sudanese (1 person). In May a family from Burma (4 people) out-migrated. The projection for Nashua is 50 and currently there are 47. They may go over the original projection numbers because there’s a reunification case coming. Manchester: Oct.’14 – current: 87 people resettled which consists of Iraqi, Bhutanese, Somali. There has been an out-migration to Nebraska, Colorado and Minnesota. Community Announcements: Donna Marceau reported that the WorkReady NH Program at the Nashua Community College will not have funding after September. This is troubling because those participating in this program have a higher rate of employment after completing the program. Comments about closing could be addressed to Community College President, Ross Gittell and the Governor. NEXT MEETING: June 24, 9AM at City Hall Auditorium; come early to get parking pass