CASA

How beautiful it was to celebrate the graduation of our 18 AmeriCorps members in Maryland. They had a tremendous impact on the community, helping them get over $2,000,000 in tax refunds from the federal and state governments, learn how to prepare a budget or open a bank account, apply and obtain American citizenship, and help high school students apply for College or develop a plan to achieve that dream. It was a joy and a privilege to have our friends and partners with us. Your presence and support have been invaluable. Thank you, Maryland Governor's Office of Service and Volunteerism Executive Director Liz Looney Lorenz, SHRM-CP -Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation-, Comptroller of Maryland Assistance Comptroller for Public Engagement and Communications, Maria Robalino, and Director for Latino and New Americans Sergio Polanco. This team was successful thanks to the everyday leadership of Sam Haberman, Miriam Molina, Earvin Gonzalez, LeAnna Harrison, Shannon Wilk de Benitez, Crisaly De Los Santos Polanco. Thanks, George Escobar, for your leadership. And thanks to the CASA, Inc. departments of Finance, Development, Communications, HR, IT, and Legal Services for your support and partnership. Gage Ziehmn Ardağ, Kirsten Clark, July Silva, Víctor Robert Rodríguez, Crystal Henderson, Antonella Monroy, Jossie Flor Sapunar, Nkeshi Free, Ama Frimpong-Houser. It takes a village! We are starting a new cohort in September. We cannot wait to see what the new AmeriCorps members will bring to our team!

This year is pivotal for American politics and a crucial time for policy impact in our community. I urge you to take a few minutes to connect with and follow CASA's incredible policy team. They’re not just kind and brilliant; they’re deeply dedicated to our people. Patrick Giuliani, JD coordinates CASA’s TPS and federal campaigns, organizing federal and Congressional outreach on key issues. As a child of Mexican and Italian immigrants, Patrick has a rich background in representing detained migrants and asylum seekers. He has worked on humanitarian relief programs at the US-Mexico border and holds degrees from Saint Louis University and Notre Dame Law School. Jose Coronado-Flores is a Guatemalan immigrant, author, and climate-focused research and policy analyst. A DACA recipient and Harvard graduate, Jose is committed to improving the quality of life for marginalized communities by reducing pollution, bettering housing conditions, and advocating for climate resilience. His passion for advocacy stems from his personal experiences with the struggles his community faces. Christian Martinez Lemus serves as a Research and Policy Analyst for CASA, focusing on state and local campaigns in Virginia. With three undergraduate degrees and extensive experience in legislative work, Christian has been dedicated to advancing policy since 2021. He proudly embraces his Guatemalan heritage and is committed to making impactful changes in his community. Ninfa Amador-Hernandez specializes in state policy, including healthcare expansion for immigrants and housing justice. A Honduran immigrant and a proud advocate for community development, Ninfa's dedication is fueled by her personal experiences and her passion for transformative policy. She is a 2024 honoree of the Leading Women 40 under 40 award and a 2023 awardee of the Maryland Latino Caucus Rising Leader Award. Eden Aaron focuses on local campaigns in Maryland, working to improve the quality of life for Black and Brown immigrants and working-class families. An immigrant from Ethiopia, Eden has played a key role in impactful campaigns on housing, healthcare, and voting rights. She holds advanced degrees from the University of Maryland and is fluent in Amharic and Afaan Oromo. I'm so proud to work with this amazing group of people. Say hi, connect, and let's WIN for our people!

My team is hiring! 🎉 CASA's development team is dynamic, invested in individual and team growth, and deeply committed to CASA’s mission of creating a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working-class Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. We have set record-breaking fundraising goals for five consecutive years and are actively working to transform the development space into a platform for advancing the causes of racial and gender justice, equity, and inclusion. We are looking to hire two people for this role, and are also hiring for two additional roles on the team! Reach out to me or Kirsten Clark with any questions!

We thank USCIS and MITRE staff for coming to CASA to conduct a focus group and a series of individual interviews with immigrants who recently applied for American citizenship. USCIS is researching how to improve the online citizenship application form so more LPRs feel inclined to use it instead of the paper form.  CASA members provided meaningful insights and ideas on how to improve the system. Making online services accessible to all is also a needed #inclusion policy. Thanks to our partners National Partnership for New Americans , New Americans Campaign (NAC) , NALEO Educational Fund. #citizenship

#hiring #ESOL I am currently interviewing for both in person and virtual instructors for CASA's evening and morning Fall programs in Montgomery County Maryland USA. The post isn't up on the website yet, but attaching the job description here. If interested please email me your resume at [email protected]

A few Americorps and other spots open at CASA! Check it out! https://lnkd.in/eQ7ccNXg

I had the amazing honor to work alongside the amazing team at Next City to publish my article "The Government Is Failing To Meet Refugees’ Basic Needs. We’re Picking Up the Slack." For this article, I had the privilege to talk to some of the amazing leaders and organizations in the resettlement space in the Washington, DC area who are stepping up to welcome refugees and immigrants into the community. The article illustrates how it is time for the government to recognize that the community must have a more significant role in welcoming their new neighbors, as they are closer to what is happening on the ground and care for the wellbeing of their community. I hope you are inspired by these organizations and the work they do in welcoming people, who are seeking safety, into the community. Thank you to One Community Social Services, Homes Not Borders, Immigrant & Refugee Outreach Center, Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid, and tomeetarefugee. https://lnkd.in/eYh9wEyM

Me siento muy excited to share that I have been named one of The Daily Record’s 2024 Leading Women Under 40. It is truly an honor to advocate alongside talented, passionate, and driven colleagues at CASA and allies across Maryland to build power and improve the quality of life of working-class Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. I share this recognition with all my wonderful colleagues who have supported me as a young Latina professional in this field. I cannot wait to see the legislative victories that are in store for 2025 from housing to healthcare to climate to social and economic justice! Sí, se puede! Oui, nous pouvons! “This year’s Leading Women Under 40 are an elite group of young women leaders, working hard every day to make positive change happen in Maryland and beyond. Their impact on their professions and in the community at such a young age is inspiring,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/The Daily Record. “We at The Daily Record are proud to recognize them for their achievements and look forward to what the future holds for them.” #TDREVENTS The Daily Record

VIRGINIA: Join us this Saturday for CASA & VILLA's FREE Spring Celebration of Community and Wellness! Enjoy a day filled with essential item giveaways, free haircuts, fun activities, food vendors, and more. Help us spread the word and don't miss out!