Category Archives: Immigration Clinic

LUM Immigration Clinic Needs Volunteers

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Staff an Information Table at an Upcoming Event
The LUM Immigration Clinic needs volunteers to attend and staff an information table, answer questions and share information with attendees. The upcoming events are as follows:
  • OUTfest, Saturday, August 17, 3:30 – 9:30 p.m. (2.5 hour shifts)
  • Hanna Fest, Monday, September 2 (Labor Day), 12:30 – 5:30 p.m. (2.5 hour shifts)
  • Rainbow Callout, Wednesday, September 11, 5:50 p.m. – 8 p.m. (1-1.5 hour shifts)
  • Latino Festival, Saturday, September 14, 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (2 hour shifts)
  • Global Fest, Saturday, September 21, 11:15 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (2 hour shifts)
Please consider volunteering at one or more of these events and supporting the LUM Immigration Clinic. Please share with others.
 
For more information or to sign up online, please click HERE.
 

LUM-LARA Offers Citizenship Classes

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{Pictured above from Left to right: (top row) Brenda Weiner, Arturo, Ambrose Ringor; (second row) Jim Beaver, Susan Brouillette, Pam Ringor, Cindy Rice, (third row) Lupita Leon, Yi “Elaine” Ling, Beata Ribeiro.}

Since 2015, the LUM Immigration Clinic and LARA (Lafayette Adult Resource Academy) have offered free naturalization classes. The LUM-LARA Citizenship Classes also receive technical and material support from the Ackerman Center for Democracy at Purdue University. The Ackerman Center has provided textbooks and other resources for the classroom in addition to providing volunteer teachers with additional learning tools.
 
During the five week session, students learn about U.S history and government in preparation for their naturalization exam. All of the students who took the Spring class have either filed for naturalization or expressed they will be applying within the next six months.
 
Volunteers Karen Countryman and Scott Frankenberger coordinate the LUM/LARA Citizenship classes and are assisted by volunteer teachers Jim Beaver, Beata Ribeiro, Eileen Arthur, Michael Brouillette, Jim Altepeter, Kris Tiffany, Charlene Watson, Pat Garrott, Laura Farkas, and Andrea Wallpe. In addition, students are welcomed by many volunteers who assist teachers and provide refreshments.
 
Summer citizenship classes will continue through August 15. Classes meet at LARA on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon till 2:30 p.m. We still need volunteers to sign up to bring refreshments as well as assist teachers. Click HERE to view the sign up sheet.
 
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LUM Immigration Clinic Needs YOU!

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LUM Immigration Clinic is now looking for volunteers. Volunteer opportunities include legal administrative assistants, translators, fundraising and special projects volunteers, and social media correspondents. We also need teaching assistants and refreshment hosts for our citizenship classes.
 
Accredited representative Mary Tilden shared the following about her reasons for volunteering with the LUM Immigration Clinic:
 
“Volunteering with the immigration clinic is rewarding because I see the relief and happiness that results from changed lives. LUM Immigration Clinic is the only agency to provide these services at affordable rates in our area.” 
 
Please contact Susan Brouillette at sbrouillette@lumserve.org for more information. Please be sure to include your contact information and indicate what opportunities interest you.
 
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Volunteers and Staff Attend National Legal Immigration Conference

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“Honing Our Skills”
{Pictured from left to right: Margaret Hass, Susan Brouillette, Joy Grow, Beata Ribeiro, Adelia Sorge, Tom Busch, Aparna Puri, and Pravina Ravi.}
 
In May, LUM Immigration Clinic volunteers and staff attended the 2019 Catholic Legal Immigration Clinic Convening in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The LUM Immigration team joined 500 other legal immigration practitioners at the 3 day continuing education event.
 
Breakout sessions included: Fundamentals of Family-Based Immigration, Hot Topics in Immigration Law, and Top 10 Issues in Immigration Program Management, among others. Workshops helped volunteers sharpen their interview and research skills as well provided tools on how to expand outreach and advocacy efforts in immigrant communities.
 
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Director Receives Award

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{Pictured above: LUM Immigration Clinic Director, Susan Brouillette is pictured with other CLINIC service award recipients.}

In May, LUM Immigration Clinic Director, Susan Brouillette received the Catholic Legal Immigration Network five-year service award. Susan was nominated based on her achievements since starting the LUM Immigration Clinic in 2014.
 
Susan was cited for accomplishments in the areas of volunteer recruitment, effective
partnering, and fundraising. LUM Executive Director Joe Micon stated in his nomination, “The success of the LUM Immigration Clinic is the result of Susan’s initiative and resolve. Despite the adversarial climate regarding the United States immigration system, the LUM Immigration Clinic
has managed to grow and at the same time provide quality immigration services. “
 
Areas of Growth
Under Susan’s leadership the clinic has grown in the services it offers. Not only does it help clients navigate an often complex immigration system, but it has partnered with LARA and the James Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship to offer citizenship classes to help permanent residents prepare for their naturalization interview. Other partnerships that Susan has cultivated include Greater Lafayette Immigrant Allies, Greater Lafayette YWCA, and the Lafayette Catholic Diocese. Susan has also been fundamental in meeting the clinic’s fundraising
goals by helping to raise over $85,000 in the last three years. The funds raised enable the clinic to continue to provide high quality legal immigration services for low income clients.
 
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LUM Immigration Clinic Expands Capacity

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“Team Work is Critical”
{Pictured from Left to Right: Aparna Puri, Margaret Hass, Tom Busch, Adelia Sorge, and Joy Grow.}
 
Attorneys
The LUM Immigration Clinic team is extremely fortunate to have 3 attorneys who provide invaluable expertise and expand the services that the clinic is able to offer. The three attorneys are Tom Busch, Erin Brewster, and Joy Grow. Joy also serves as the clinic’s legal advisor.
 
Additional Accredited Representatives
When the LUM Immigration Clinic opened its doors in 2014, director Susan Brouillette was the only accredited representative. However, this past spring five longtime volunteers: Mary Tilden, Margaret Hass, Aparna Puri, Beata Ribeiro, and Adelia Sorge, received accreditation by the U.S Department of Justice. Now these 5 volunteers are able to assist immigration clients directly. Like attorneys, accredited individuals have authorization to provide immigration advice, fill out immigration forms and draft legal documents.
 
Having more than doubled its capacity, the LUM Immigration Clinic is able to assist twice as many people with their immigration cases. In order to receive accreditation, volunteers took a Comprehensive Immigration Law (COIL) class equivalent to 80 hours of work. Reflecting on the process, Beata Riberio commented “I feel stronger and better prepared to assist immigration clinic clients. She added “client cases are often complicated but working together as a team increases the overall competency and the ability of the organization to provide quality immigration services. “
 
Elisha Hollandbeck and Brook Perez, both paralegals with Gutwein Law, completed the COIL course in March and are accruing the practical training necessary to submit their applications for accreditation to the Department of Justice.
 
To view more quotes from the LUM Immigration Clinic legal team about their
experiences and motivation for volunteering, please click HERE.
 
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Meet Manuel – LUM Immigration Client

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{Pictured above: Manuel Rodriguez holding a picture of his family.}

The LUM Immigration Clinic helped Manuel Rodriguez file immigrant visa applications for his wife, Irene, and their five children. Irene and the children had visa interviews on June 10.

Manuel is incredibly excited to have his family back together. His oldest son has already joined him working at Wabash National Corporation and the younger siblings are starting school this fall. All of this happened with your support!

Manuel reflected on his experience with the Clinic and said the process was so easy for him, and everyone at the clinic has been welcoming and friendly. He added:

“Without LUM, my family and I would still be separated.”

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NEWS from the LUM Immigration Clinic

Immigration Clinic,
Dear Friends, 
 
We are rolling out our first e-letter to showcase areas of growth as well provide an inside look at the LUM Immigration Clinic. It is affirming to know our volunteer staff has grown to over 50 people and we were able to raise over $50,000 at the Port of Hope fundraiser last fall. Your support has contributed directly to our growth and helps position the Immigration Clinic as a sustainable program.
 
Your contributions helped clients reunite with their spouses and children, and provided legal immigration services to asylum seekers in addition to protection for victims of violent crime and other vulnerable persons. Immigration policy is continuously changing, so it’s crucial all immigrants in this community have competent legal representation regardless of income.  
 
Please plan to attend Port of Hope 2019 on November 7. You won’t want to miss an evening full of great food, one of a kind experiences, and supporters who are passionate about our mission. Tickets can be purchased by going to the Port of Hope page.
 
Thank you, gracias, merci beaucoup, and hvala ti from the bottom of my heart for the ongoing support you give to the LUM Immigration Clinic and our clients.
The Rev. Susan Brouillette  
LUM Immigration Clinic Director
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Volunteers Needed – LUM Citizenship Classes

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Volunteers Needed – LUM Citizenship Classes
The LUM Immigration Clinic in collaboration with Lafayette Adult Resource Academy offers free Citizenship Classes for persons interested in learning more about US history and government. Summer session classes begin on July 16, and are held twice a week until August 15.
 
This program could not be offered without a team of talented volunteer teachers. Volunteers are also needed to assist the teachers and to bring refreshments. Spanish speaking volunteers are especially needed. For more information about how to volunteer this summer, click HERE.
 
The James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship at Purdue University donated textbooks, maps & teacher’s manuals and also assists with developing the framework for the lesson plans. LUM is grateful for the partnership with LARA and the Ackerman Center. If you wish to donate to support these classes, click HERE.
 
To sign up to VOLUNTEER with the LUM Citizenship Classes, click HERE.

“Never Again Is Now” Rally – Powerful Event

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LUM Immigration Clinic Participates in Rally

Last Sunday, the LUM Immigration Clinic staff members attended and participated in the “Never Again Is Now Rally” organized by the Interfaith Leaders of Greater Lafayette.

ILGL members planned the rally at St. John’s Episcopal Church, stating that the members are “horrified at the conditions in the detention centers on our borders, wherein children are abused, denied medicine, refused soap and toiletries, and are forced to sleep in freezing temperatures on concrete floors. This dehumanization is immoral!”

Lafayette Urban Ministry was one of the event sponsors, and the Rev. Susan Brouillette, the LUM Immigration Clinic director, was an invited speaker (pictured above). Other speakers included the Rabbi Michael Harvey from Temple Israel representing the Interfaith Leaders of Greater Lafayette, Purdue Professor Jay McCann representing the Greater Lafayette Immigrant Allies and Annabel Prokopy, 10th grade student at West Lafayette High School (and daughter of LUM program director, Josh Prokopy). Each speaker was well received, and the rally drew more than 300 participants and local media. The overarching message throughout the rally was that,

“Our community will not stand for these violations of human rights.”

For more information, please email interfaithleadersgl@gmail.com.

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