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Turning Hope into Action: Addressing the Migrant Crisis in NYC - An Open Letter to Mayor Eric Adams

(updated 9/4/2023) August 11, 2023 Dear Mayor Eric Adams, I am deeply grateful for your unwavering leadership in addressing the migrant crisis in our city. I offer the following thoughts and suggestions to further enhance our response and allow New York City to remain a beacon of hope for those seeking a better life, consistent with the status as a sanctuary city. The Right to Shelter mandate, which dates back to the 1970s, was created to house homeless New Yorkers, American citizens. However, as winter approaches, we must protect the lives of all New Yorkers, including undocumented migrants. This country is a country that welcomes immigrants, but we are also a country that respects laws in order to create order. 1. **Urging National Emergency Declaration:** I recommend continuing your efforts to encourage President Biden to officially declare the migrant crisis a national emergency. This designation would unlock crucial resources and support, enabling us to address the challenges more
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Critical Consciousness and Critical Race Theory as Tools for Minoritized, Racialized, and Immigrant Families

In memory of our immigrant fathers, the late  John Kunle Awokoya and Taverekere "Kanti" Srikantaiah. Navigating your journey: Critical tools and resources for immigrant families is a two-part blog series , dedicated by Dr. Janet Awokoya and Dr. Deepa Srikantaiah to their first-generation immigrant fathers.   The blogs highlight how racism and xenophobia remain a cause of concern for immigrants in the United States, particularly in terms of financial security and access to resources and opportunities.  The blog also mentions specific examples of violence and discrimination faced by immigrants of color, and emphasizes the ongoing nature of this problem, illustrating how systemic racism affects the lives of immigrants. The series intends to explore different perspectives and resources for immigrant families to navigate their journey in the U.S. The blog also gives parents important critical tools to help them deal with racism and xenophobia in the US. Part I:  Navi
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PART II - NAVIGATING YOUR JOURNEY: Critical tools and resources for immigrant families

In this blog, we want to continue our tribute to our fathers for their dedication to providing better opportunities for their families. As daughters of immigrants who grew up in the US, we strongly advocate for immigrants, especially those of color, to have a comprehensive understanding of how racism operates in our country, both historically and currently. We also recognize that our nation still faces significant challenges in addressing racism. In this blog, we aim to provide practical tools and actionable steps that parents and co-conspirators can use to combat racism across different settings, including the family, school, community, and the media. Dr. Awokoya, while she was a graduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park, was introduced to Critical Race Theory (CRT) by her professors, Dr. Marvin Lynn and Dr. Christine Clark. CRT provided her with the foundation to understand and challenge the anti-immigrant sentiment and racism she and her siblings faced in the US
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PART I - NAVIGATING YOUR JOURNEY: Critical tools and resources for immigrant families

Are you aware of the ongoing problem of racism in the United States, particularly as it relates to immigrants?   The Migration Policy Institute reports that 14% of immigrants in the United States live at or below the poverty line, meaning that their family income is below the official poverty threshold of $27,500 for a family of four with two children in 2021. In comparison, 13% of people born in the US live in poverty.  The numbers don't lie - poverty rates among immigrants in the US are off the charts, and it's not just a coincidence.  In Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States of America, the federal poverty threshold for a family of four as of 2023, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services , is only $30,000 which breaks down to around $7,500 per person in the family, per year. But that's just the beginning of the problem. Immigrants often get stuck at the bottom rung of the economic ladder, held back by systemic racism and xenophobia. It&#
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