Young Mee
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There were about 800 people from different countries in the
auditorium including Salvadorans, Dominicans, Russians, Vietnamese,
Chinese, Haitians, etc... We, from the Cambridge Community Learning
Center, sat at one corner of the auditorium. A MIRA representative asked
translators to help people using different languages. She also
introduced the different nationalities present and we clapped for each
group. Young Mee |
| Our class went to the State House on
Immigrants' Day. Our students - people from different countries -
decided to go there to give some information about our needs in the USA
as aliens. We wrote a letter to Rep. Alice Wolf, because we knew her as
a civil servant in Cambridge. We also knew her as a kind and helpful
person. As we weren't sure, that Rep. Alice Wolf would have time to talk
to us we decided to give her our letter during the welcoming assembly. I
approached her and introduced myself. This woman is so sensitive and
attentive. She likes people. I felt that me and my needs are important
to her. Rep. Alice Wolf mentioned in her speech that she came to America
as a 5-year old girl with her parents from Austria amd she wants to help
people to get the same support as her family had. I think that's true.
Lubov |
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In this picture I'm with our ESL teacher Priscilla and her little girl, Caia. This photograph was taken on the side of the State House on March 30, the day of immigrants and refugees. This nice little kid was attentively looking at and touching my medals. I got them during War World II. On this day some other Russian veterans came here to present their interests concerning the budget for 1999. Some State representatives and senators promised in their speeches to keep in mind all needs of immigrants and refugees. Igor |
Over 800 legal immigrants and their advocates attended Immigrants' Day at the State House on March 30, '98, to call on lawmakers to approve of $15 million for food stamps and other benefits that were cut by the federal government's Welfare Reform actions. Immigrants from around the world packed into Gardner auditorium at the State House. This photo showssome students of the Community Learning Center standing outside Gardner auditorium just minutes after the function.
Kelsang
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The first person that we met with was Representative Tim Toomey. This photo was taken in Tim Toomeyâs office. One of our group members from Haiti, Jean, asked Representative Toomey about the concerns that we had discussed in our class a week before the visit. We also gave him a folder from MIRA (Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy group) detailing other requests (funding for the restoration of food stamps and for the continuation of citizenship education classes). Janeth |
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We, the ESL 5 morning class, went to the State House to see Representative
Tim Toomey regarding our concerns. In this picture, some of us are inside
Rep. Toomey's office. I was the speaker for the class. The rest of the
people were listening. Please take a look at the picture. I am in the
center. To tell you the truth, I was panicked. Why? I wasn't looking at
the paper (detailing our concerns) I had in my hands. So I was very nervous
because of so many people so close and staring at me. Many times when
I try to say something, I lose my thoughts because I get very intimidated.
So please forgive me, class, for my nervousness at that moment, I promise
that will never happen again. Jean |