Salem Human Rights Coalition

Meeting Minutes | July 11, 2023 Present Members • Alphonse Wright | Chair • Shimon Avish | Treasurer • Pamela Geiser | Clerk • Katelyn Adams | Liason, Salem State University • Julio Mota | Liason, City of Salem, Mayor’s Office • Veronica Miranda | Member • Elise Towle Snow | Member • Denise Regan | Member • Lucy Corchado | Liaison, Salem State University Present Guests Chris Fuccione, Salem Democratic Committee Coordinator Alan Hanscom, SATV Elsabel Rincon Kris Hannah Meeting called to order, recording initiated. Welcome and Introductions. Opportunity for Public Comment. • None Governor’s Statement, read by Chair. Reports from Coalition [A] Chair Met with Mayor Pangallo, who is very supportive of the Coalition’s work. Nick Downing meeting to get ARPA funding for some of the things we’re working on, such as the New Arrivals initiative. Not sure of pace but is receptive on UBI. Emailed followup to the Mayor for $5,000 in ARPA funds. Bylaws awaiting Mayor’s signature. Huge thanks to everyone who showed up for Pride. Last minute scrambling, but we rallied and had a great march. Negro Election Day Celebration 7/15/23 – Salem United free tabling! [B] Clerk Minutes were emailed to the Coalition. Motion to approve, seconded by Veronica, and motion carried. https://www.salemma.gov/salem-human-rights-coalition Page 1 of 4  Meeting Minutes | July 11, 2023 [C] Treasurer Pride was $90 paid via check to Hope on 6/25/23. Balance $135.29. Low on swag; only have sanctuary buttons in English/Spanish. [D] Subcommittee Reports New Arrivals Did not meet. Universal Basic Income No Update. Outreach/Engagement Outreach didn’t happen either because Kate also broke her ankle, aside from Pam’s foot laceration. [E] Liaison Reports Julio – Working with SSU for Day of Service. Lisa Peterson new Chief of Staff. Kate – SSU First-Year “Day of Service” – looking for projects to get volunteers going on for 9/1/23. Guest Speaker Welcome Immigrant Network, pHD candidate, Instructor at UMASS Lowell, Elsabel Rincon I know a lot of you very well, so nice to see you all. Before I share, I would love to hear about the mission of the Coalition and the work we do so I can contextualize my message. Alphonse: to summarize, we try to find places of inequity and address them in Salem whether it’s direct information, direct action, or other initiatives. Two main foci are UBI universal basic income for Salem, and New Arrivals initiative developing space for people who are looking for services and processes for getting a more stable shelter and sustenance pipeline going. Elsabel: Journey and experience with the Welcome Lafayette Street across from Wendy’s; approach taken with immigrants and new arrivals: Our mission is to improve the immigrant community through support by and for the community. Grassroots approach. 100% volunteers since 2013. Social justice model of liberation. All community led. We approach geo-cultural relocation: departure, reception, arrival. Individual cultural identity vs. mainstream culture. Post-immigration cultural identity. How political sphere talks about migration, all impacts how immigrants can integrate into a community. https://www.salemma.gov/salem-human-rights-coalition Page 2 of 4  Meeting Minutes | July 11, 2023 Majority come across Mexico border. Departure and arrival can be exposed to violence and more trauma than others. Domestic violence and assault are key to know when dealing with New Arrivals. Learning a second language, second culture, and how to navigate it. This is different than the last three waves of immigration, before it was assimilation that was pushed. Now in this fourth wave of immigration, individuals may retain while learning and balancing both cultures. Once able to do both successfully, they can develop a post-immigration cultural identity, resulting in successful integration. Program developed to help new arrivals actively engage in American civic, cultural, and economic life sooner upon arrival while allowing them to maintain dignity, seek opportunity, and find security in their lives. Provide welcome initiatives, like welcome hours with any questions concerns or need. I need help with this? versus Can you help me pay my gas bill? Etc. basic things to complex needs depending on legal services. Training on historical social and psychosocial aspects of immigration. Advocacy on state/federal legislation that affects community. Training local mentors. Capitalizing on emerging leaders in community that everyone goes to, who do I go to for x, y, z. My friends arrived and are looking for xyz, set those leaders up with resources for information in community, especially fighting anti-immigrant messaging. Hoping to help form post- integration cultural identity through this work. $400K to NS families; very intentional about paperwork asked for getting funds through programming. Grants: partnership with CoS American Immigration Consult, grant centrally public Salem Beverly Peabody Salem, strategic planning for new immigrants; invitations for strategic planning committee to welcome immigrants into our community Financial coaching program, individuals get 1:1 coaching on goals and advocacy training in partnership this fall 2023. National ENGEN English programs for 64 online industry English classes complemented by in- person courses in the fall 2023. https://www.salemma.gov/salem-human-rights-coalition Page 3 of 4  Meeting Minutes | July 11, 2023 Members do work transnationally with the UN, foreign governments, and impacted areas of immigration to understand the root causes so people are not forced to migrate. Celebrate and humanize stories, literary and cultural events pre-covid. Documentaries, writers, authors, first-generation immigrant artists. Safety planning post-migration, vs. pre-departure and post-departure migration. Risks of detention and deportation - see a need for this kind of planning. Research on immigrant inclusion. Lucy: Known Elsabel for many years, know how passionate and driven and capable she is - proud to hear about WIN organization. I wear many hats too, offshore wind job development industry English lessons - wondering if that's one of them offered? When are these specialized classes happening? Want to distribute it through SAFE. Elsabel: Not sure, but it has been on my mind. When WIN first came together the inclusion of highly skilled immigrants came to the forefront. How do we support their reintegration into their fields? Julio: Are people getting connected to a state program? Elsabel: Immigrants are overly represented at both ends of the spectrum of education, so there is no excuse for immigrants not to be considered for these jobs, like offshore wind. Migrants are so diverse. South America is not considered a “refugee” at this time. A majority of those migrants have threatened to seek asylum, and they should be allowed to do so to allow them access to services. Sometimes people come through the border and are granted parole or some other status; the majority do not have access to services due to undocumented status. Federally funded programs cannot go to undocumented migrants. Veronica: If a family goes to DTA office can they get help or no? Elsabel: Benefits like SNAP, cash assistance, emergency shelters, etc. - if there are minors it can change, but it is specific to the family and takes advocacy. New Business Friday July 14th Negro Election Day Flag raising at Noon. Saturday July 15th Parade and celebration at the Willows. Will be tabling event from Noon to 5pm with an opportunity to march in the parade (email Alphonse if interested). Next Scheduled Meeting is August 1, 2023 at 5:30 PM. Adjournment. https://www.salemma.gov/salem-human-rights-coalition Page 4 of 4