Earth Day 2017: Create a Habitat and Celebrate Nature

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (female, immature) feeding at our butterfly bush. They are attracted to colorful flowers, but it takes considerable patience waiting for the right moment to capture them in a photo.

April 22 is Earth Day 2017. It's a day to take action. It's a day to celebrate. It's a day to honor the movement that began in 1970 giving "voice to an emerging consciousness, channeling human energy toward environmental issues. " It's a matter of survival. Let's give thanks to all people around the world who do their part, big or small, in protecting our planet, and making it a better place to live for generations to come.

Preserving our environment is of paramount importance. It's an acknowledged fact that the Earth's climate is changing, it means we must take action to improve our world's quality of life for humans, plants, and animals alike by keeping clean the air we breath, the water we drink, and the soil that grows our crops. It takes commitment and perseverance to act responsibly, locally and globally. Even if our actions won't instantly reverse current trends, we must constantly pursue strategies that mitigate -- better yet solve -- the challenges, problems, and dangers we face ahead. Please take the time to learn the facts -- respect science -- and act responsibly.

To understand why preserving our environment is critically important, we need to take joy in what nature provides us every day. This year I'm celebrating nature in my "backyard nature preserve." It doesn't take much to set up your own nature preserve whether you live a rural, suburban, or urban area, and regardless if you own a plot of land or rent an apartment. It just takes imagination to attract and enjoy the flora and fauna, the biota, if you will, which is the animal and plant life indigenous to your surroundings.

My wife Peggy and I have lived on the same .6 acre plot of land in the same cozy cape for forty years in a typical old New England northern Connecticut town.  These days one might call it rural-suburban. We know we are very fortunate to have had the opportunity to live and raise our family here. That said, over the forty years we've lived here, we tried to make the most of what we have. We planted a variety of trees, shrubberies, and flower beds, plus a small vegetable garden, all to make the property our little nature preserve. It paid off. Now we have the good fortune of enjoying the trees and flowers, and the seasonal birds and butterflies they attract each year, with an occasional deer, bear or flock of wild turkeys, as well as the ubiquitous squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits.

So rather that write about the beauty of nature, and the importance of preserving our environment, which we cannot -- must not -- take for granted, I'm simply going to show a sampling of my photos illustrating the flora and fauna you can enjoy when you create your own backyard nature preserve; a preserve that, in its own small but vital way, helps preserve our precious environment.

Pileated Woodpecker

A Pileated Woodpecker and its mate paid us a quick visit to the giant White Ash tree in our back yard. I was fortunate to have my camera handy to capture pictures because they are very shy. Fortunately they didn't stay long, which was a good indicator that the tree offered no good source of insects on which to feed. A local arborist is working hard with root injected insecticide to keep the tree-killing Emerald Ash Borer away. 

A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk sitting on our split rail fence.

Beginning in the late fall and continuing to early spring, before the bears awake from winter torpor (if we're lucky - if not the bird feeders get destroyed) we keep the local birds well fed. We even have a window feeder, which is great entertainment, especially for our grandsons. We only use black oil sunflower seeds and suet. They are the surest ways to keep the flocks happy, and coming back. 

Downy Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

An Eastern Bluebird arrived on January 28

Northern Cardinal (Male)

Northern Cardinal (female) and Tufted Titmouse

Goldfinch (in its muted winter color) and White-breasted Nuthatch

Tufted Titmouse in the window feeder

A Wren house custom built by my good friend Vern

A sturdy, easy to maintain (note hinged bottom door for annual cleaning) bird house is an excellent way to keep small birds returning each spring to nest, year after year. If you have ever seen young chicks fledge their nest, you have witnessed the miraculous cycle of life continuing -- it's a leap of faith followed by a startling tumble to the ground where waiting parents lead an urgent flight into life.

Flowers attract all kinds of life -- especially bees, birds, butterflies, and admiring friends. Picking fresh flowers and arranging bouquets in vases allows you to bring nature directly into your home. Below are just a couple of flowers that spread color throughout our yard. If you are space constrained, try growing certain plants in appropriate sized planters or window boxes.

Daylily

Hollyhock at sunrise

Hollyhock with morning dew

If you're of my vintage, you may remember the 1972 movie romance/comedy Butterflies are Free with Goldie Hawn and Edward Albert. If not, that's okay; you're probably just too young. I digress. However, while we may think real butterflies are free, many are endangered species struggling to survive in our changing environment, especially the Monarch.

Plant More Milkweed is a blogpost I wrote last fall. I encourage you to read it, and create a welcoming environment wherever you can. Butterflies add a special beauty to our lives, and you and I can make a difference.

Monarch Butterfly

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly

And as I mentioned earlier, the occasional deer, bear, or flock of wild turkeys pass through our yard. This deer stared me down, but by keeping still I was able to take this photo before it bounded off into the nearby woods -- nature photography takes patience -- lots of patience.

White-tailed Deer

On our patio a hungry American Black Bear cub sniffs on a tree where a bird feeder recently was hanging.

"In wildness* is the preservation of the world. Every tree sends its fibres forth in search of the wild. The cities import it at any price. Men plow and sail for it. From the forests and wilderness come the tonics and barks which brace mankind." -- Henry David Thoreau,  Excursions

Let's all do our part to preserve and save our planet. Celebrate Earth Day every day!

Don Shaw, Jr.
Writer and Editor
RedTruckStonecatcher.com

*Thoreau wrote and meant "wildness." It is often misquoted as "wilderness." Think about it.

Photos by Don Shaw, Jr.

Jody Made a Difference

Mary Joellen "Jody" Putnam
August 17, 1942 -- March 2, 2017

"Think about yourself and what you do for your community. You are making a difference by helping one or two even if you cannot help the whole community. Just pick one at a time. Remember you are making a difference." -- Jody Putnam

Mary Joellen "Jody" Putnam's philosophy recalls the last line of The Starfish Story, "It made a difference to that one." The story is about saving lives, even if just one, against seemingly insurmountable odds. The Starfish Story was a favorite of Jody's who would tell it often when people became discouraged.

Saving just one life makes a difference. A difference of ultimate significance to the one saved and the one who saved the life. It's the profound difference that a single caring and committed person can make in just one person's life, but in Jody's case she made a difference in the lives of countless people in need. Jody saved lives. It was her purpose in life. Jody made a difference.

For more than twenty years Jody worked voluntarily and tirelessly with refugees who resettled in the Hartford area from Afghanistan, Bosnia, Burma, Iraq, Liberia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, among other countries. Her life's purpose was devoted to helping people in need, selflessly and unconditionally.

Jody died peacefully at age 74 on March 2, 2017, after suffering a stroke in February. Hartford will miss her leadership, and the contributions she made creating a better life for many of the vulnerable and victimized people among us. Asylum Hill Neighborhood leader Jennifer Cassidy expressed her hope "that Jody's legacy inspires others to follow her lead. It's a path more of us must walk."

On March 25, an estimated 300 refugees attended a multicultural memorial service for Jody at Asylum Hill's Cathedral of Saint Joseph. It was a special day for the refugees Jody served to share their everlasting gratitude and respect.

After a warm welcome by Fr. James A. Shanley, Rector of the Cathedral, and an opening prayer by Fr. Michal J. Dolan, several refugees celebrated Jody's life by speaking in honor of her generous and welcoming service to their communities. They praised the hours she spent helping them enroll their children in school, access health care, navigate the social service bureaucracy, and complete seemingly endless but necessary paperwork. Included were the following representatives from Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Liberia, Somalia, Syria, and Bosnia who spoke from deep within their hearts about Jody's service:

Tha Say Paw -- Karen/Burmese community
Padam Bharati -- Nepalese/Bhutanese community
Frederick Bohlen -- Liberian community
Ibrahim Abdule -- Somali Bantu community
Maryam Bitar -- Syrian Trinity College student volunteer
Gail BiscegliAis -- Community volunteer
Sabaha Alihodzic --Bosnian community 

As final speaker Sabaha Alihodzic concluded her tribute, she finished with the El-Fatiha, a fitting prayer from the Quran for the guidance, lordship and mercy of God.

Padam Bharati speaking on behalf of the Nepalese community

Karen Youth Community Chorus

Music by the Karen (Burma) Youth Community Choir filled the Cathedral with songs of peace and thanksgiving.

Jody's close friend and colleague Trinity professor Dr. Janet Bauer reminisced with me that "Jody was an extraordinary cultural navigator for so many Hartford families from different refugee groups in the post resettlement stage. They benefited from her philosophy that becoming self-sufficient sometimes required personal, one-on-one assistance, beyond the first several months, from other Hartford area residents like herself who were proficient in the language and culture."

Jody was an inspiration to many of Dr. Bauer's students as captured in the following excerpt from the tribute read by Maryam Bitar, a Trinity student volunteer from Syria:

"In addition to her impact on so many people from Hartford's refugee communities, Jody was also an inspiring mentor to many students who interned with her through Trinity College, as she provided support to refugee families. Jody embodied a philosophy of one-on-one support that meant students learned how to be compassionate and caring, to listen to what refugees said about their needs and in that way assisting them to become independent -- whether it took six months or three years. And beyond that, well, she remained a friend to everyone."

Maryam Bitar, Trinity College Class of 2016, reading her tribute to Jody

Other Trinity students shared their thoughts: 

"Jody's dedication to refugees in the greater Hartford area was profound and it left a mark on all of us as we carry her passion through our efforts to promote cultural competency..."  -- Daniela Santagelo Akaratovic, newly registered nurse working on refugee health issues, Hartford, CT

"Jody acknowledged every single person with a certain respect. Jody was so pure by heart and yet had strong opinions. Jody was unique. Just by observing her work and spending time with her for a couple of weeks I learned the biggest lesson in life. Acknowledge every person with all the respect in the world and help people without expecting gratitude. Be pure by heart no matter what you do or say..." -- Nina Pariahs Ziari, international student from Denmark, now working in refugee resettlement in Copenhagen.

"From Jody I learned that the world isn't always kind and that doing the right thing is often thankless. I will always admire her empathy and respect for refugees, and I will never forget the smiles she brought about when she visited people. I hope to one day have the effect on one person that Jody had on so many."   --  Jenna Carroll, now a law student at Fordham University perhaps one day doing immigration legal work.

After Jody's son Scott Ahlgren thanked everyone for attending the tribute for his mother and conveyed his family's gratitude, Lina Caswell, a former Hartford social services professional for whom Jody was a dear friend and mentor, presented Scott and Jody's other son, Steven, a City of Hartford Proclamation recognizing Jody's immeasurable contribution to improving the quality of life for the City's newest residents. Following Lina, Padam Bharati presented a certificate of gratitude from the Nepalese community honoring Jody's service.

Lina Caswell (l) presents the City of Hartford Proclamation to Scott and Steven Ahlgren. Padam Bharati (next to Lina) presented a certificate of gratitude from the Nepalese community honoring Jody's service.

In reflecting on the Jody's life, Lina told me that Jody's main motto throughout her work was to "treat people as friends, not clients, because when in need you go to your friends." In providing social services, the technique of being one's friend is unconventional, and not without risk, but "Jody always believed in meeting people on an equal footing." Her friendship approach was one of warm acceptance, fierce loyalty, and, when needed, frank honesty. As she reflected further on their years of service together, Lina said, "Jody did not romanticize refugees. She wanted to help them regain their dignity, not to be stigmatized by labels, to give them back their identity so that they may all be seen for who they truly are." Lina was impressed and fascinated that Jody always spoke first to strangers, never afraid to engage in small talk to help her see the stranger, the newcomer, as a new friend. "Jody's mission was to meet people where they are to help them move forward so that after a substantial initial investment of whatever was necessary to get them situated, coupled with positive experiences navigating the multitude of our society's systems, they ultimately would become independent and successful community members."

Sabaha Alihodzic delivering the EL-Fatiha prayer

After all the tributes and remembrances were shared on March 25, perhaps the most fitting tribute of all is that at least three refugee families have named a child Jody keeping her name alive in their communities.

Jody made a difference.

Donations may be made in Jody's remembrance to the International Rescue Committee: https://www.rescue.org or 1-855-9RESCUE.

Don Shaw, Jr.
Writer and Editor
RedTruckStonecatcher.com

Photos of Jody Putnam and The Starfish Story are from the memorial service program. The photos from the memorial service  are courtesy of Dr. Janet Bauer.

Making Kafar's Dream Come True

Kafar Hassan with mentor Dean Amadon

Ethiopian refugee Kafar Hassan's dream is coming true. Forced to leave his son Robel behind in Johannesburg, South Africa where they had found safe haven for several years, Kafar arrived in Hartford's Asylum Hill neighborhood in 2013 when resettled by local Catholic Charities Migration, Refugee and Immigration Services. In Asylum Hill he found welcoming support and eventually an opportunity to succeed.

A life saving network of Hartford organizations and individuals collaborating to focus Kafar's commitment to succeed led to his March 24, 2017 graduation from Manchester Community College's Precision Manufacturing Program. With a hard-earned career-advancing cerification in hand, coupled with a good paying highly technical manufacturing job starting March 27, Kafar's dream of reuniting with Robel is closer than ever.

Attending Kafar's graduation was an uplifting highlight for me and several other members of the Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association's (AHNA) Welcoming Committee there to cheer him on, and congratulate him for a job well done. Kafar's success and the team that cleared his path is featured in  guest blogger Tim Blonsky's article that follows. Tim is Advanced Manufacturing Coordinator at Capital Workforce Partners. His article highlights what can be accomplished when a community comes together to welcome a newcomer.

Be inspired. Be encouraged. Be energized.

Don Shaw, Jr
Writer and Editor
RedTruckStonecatcher.com

Kafar Hassan's Advanced Manufacturing Graduation

A Time for Dreams to Come True 

by Tim Blonsky
Advanced Manufacturing Coordinator 

Capital Workforce Partners   

Kafar's Opportunity: Capital Workforce Partners' Advanced Manufacturing Program

Capital Workforce Partners, working with partners from education and business, is pleased to announce the successful graduation of a number of previously under- and unemployed individuals who received certificates in Precision Manufacturing CPM/CAM 4 from Manchester Community College’s (MCC) Great Path Academy program on Friday, March 24, 2017.

Capital Workforce Partners’ Advanced Manufacturing Program, made possible by both federal and state grant investments, has led to ten participants successfully graduating on March 24 who will be placed in manufacturing jobs. This program is meeting one of the greatest challenges facing advanced manufacturing today -- a labor shortage of trained workers much needed to sustain growth. The current generation of incumbent workers nearing retirement is leading to the critical need for the next generation of well-trained, advanced manufacturing workers.

In response to the need to support both interested job seekers, as well as advanced manufacturing employers, Capital Workforce Partners, working with its education and training partners and 45 manufacturing companies, have helped over 220 adults to get manufacturing credentials and/or jobs in the Manufacturing Industry. This program also provides a great opportunity for low-income individuals to pursue job training as a ladder out of poverty which will have a huge impact on their lives and those of their families and communities.

One of the graduates is Kafar Hassan, a resident of Hartford and refugee from Ethiopia, who came to Hartford five years ago via South Africa with the goal of establishing himself before bringing his wife and son stateside.  “Kafar proved to be one of our more dedicated and committed students right from the start. He always showed up to class on time and his approach to the classroom and machining labs was always with a winning and positive attitude. Strong class participation, aptitude, preparation and excellent program results were rewarded with a successful interview and an excellent first step in a manufacturing career at EDAC Technologies in Newington,” said Dave Russell, Manufacturing Program Director at MCC.

Dave Russell, MCC Manufacturing Program Director (left) and Nelson Robles, MCC Manufacturing Instructor (right)
award Kafar his Precision Manufacturing CPM/CAM 4 certificate

Kafar's Journey

Kafar Hassan was born forty years ago in Jijiga, Ethiopia. He was raised by a single mother after his father was killed in ongoing tribal fighting. She and her family placed him in a seminary school in Nazareth, now known as Adama. There he completed high school and began his post-secondary education. However, because of continuing political strife and fighting, Kafar fled to Durban, South Africa in 1991. 

When Kafar arrived in Durban he volunteered with various human rights organizations eventually co-founding “International Refugees Services,” which was featured in a 2001 L.A.Times article. After seven years serving the needs of refugees, he was awarded a scholarship to the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in Durban. While pursuing his studies he encountered difficulties in Durban and moved to Johannesburg where he made the decision to seek asylum in the United States. The process took about seven years during which time he met and married his wife Benicia. Their son, Robel, was born in 2008. Resettlement to America became a reality in 2013 through Catholic Charities' Immigration and Refugee Resettlement Program though to meant leaving Benicia and Robel behind to follow him later once he was settled.

Kafar's relocation to the United States initially placed him in Hartford’s Asylum Hill neighborhood. Through Hartford Public Library's Cultural Navigator Program, which supports the transition of new arrival immigrants and refugees, Kafar was introduced to and welcomed by members of the Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association (AHNA), as well as matched with a dedicated volunteer mentor, Dean Amadon, from the Asylum Hill Congregational Church. Over the past few years, Kafar and Dean formed a partnership focused on supporting Kafar’s determination to move forward.

Nancy Caddigan from Hartford Public Library and Dean Amadon congratulate Kafar Hassan.
Nancy introduced Kafar to Dean who became Kafar's mentor

Heartbreakingly, Benicia became ill with cancer and passed away in 2015, leaving his son to be cared for by relief workers in South Africa. 

Until recently Kafar was earning an hourly wage of less than $10.50 at a small, local company -- not enough to allow saving for the fare to bring his son to the United States.  But a solution was in the works. Through an introduction orchestrated by Dean Amadon, Kafar was referred to Capital Workforce Partners where he was introduced to the Advanced Manufacturing Training program at MCC. The program provides entry level CNC Machining training, placement assistance, and an accredited certificate upon successful program completion. To support his participation in the training program, a number of individuals generously contributed to Kafar’s tuition and living costs. 

Kafar was a member of Friday's graduating class. His academic success enabled him to be hired by EDAC Technologies in Newington in a position with opportunity for growth.  With the good fortune of beginning his new career immediately upon graduation, Kafar now has the means to pay his son's way to the United States. His dream of having his family brought together again may be realized soon. A bright future is on the horizon for Kafar and Robel.

Celebrating Kafar's graduation.
L-R Tim Blonsky, Dean Amadon, Nancy Caddigan, Kafar Hassan,
Rio Comaduran, Jennifer Cassidy, and Don Shaw, Jr.
(Not pictured is Bernie Michel who took the photo)

Photos by Bernie Michel (#'s 1, 2 & 4) and Don Shaw, Jr. (#3)

The Path to a Kidney Transplant: Following Georges' Lead

Georges Annan Kingsley with son, Joseph, and wife, Marthe (R), and Bernie Michel (L) 

For people on the list to receive a kidney transplant the path is long and arduous, marked with anxiety and frustration. As one would expect for anyone with a serious chronic illness personal and family stress is high, often debilitating.

In January I wrote about Georges Annan Kingsley's desperate need for a kidney transplant, and his leadership in promoting the need for more people to become Living Donor Champions. My blog today features Bernie Michel's story as he follows Georges' lead to learn more about living donor programs, and the possibility of becoming a kidney donor. Like Georges, Bernie is an Asylum Hill resident. He is a long time community leader active in the Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association (AHNA).  

George Needs A Kidney

by Bernie Michel

For those of you who are regulars at AHNA meetings, or the Welcoming Committee, or who read the RedTruckStonecatcher.com blog, it is no secret that Georges Annan Kingsley, the refugee and artist from Ivory Coast who has been on dialysis for more than five years, needs a kidney transplant. His kidneys stopped functioning several years before he came to Hartford. Last month when he began explaining the process to me, I made a commitment to understand what really is involved in the process. Here's what I've done and what I've learned.

First, I had one very in depth conversation with Asamoah “Azzy” Anane, Living Donor Transplant Coordinator at Hartford Hospital, where Georges goes three days a week for dialysis.  Dialysis is the only reason Georges is still alive. The days when he receives the treatment are split between the hours of dialysis itself and the time spent recovering from the treatment.  As good as the technology is, it’s a poor substitute for a functioning kidney, so Georges’ truly productive life consists mainly of the days between dialysis.

Becoming an organ donor is an opportunity available to most of us just by checking a box on our driver’s license or signing up online. It's easy and certainly painless to do since you don’t part with any organs until you’re done using them. However, when it comes to kidneys there’s another option,  the opportunity to become a living donor, which is what I'm looking into for myself. Nearly everyone has two and can usually survive just fine on one. Giving a living part of oneself to someone else is a special kind of giving. It’s more than writing a check or even volunteering weekly or monthly. 

Of the more than 120,000 people in America waiting for an organ transplant, more than 80% need a kidney. From the medical point of view, a living donor is preferred by far. It may take several months to be sure that the kidney donor and the recipient are the best possible match, but it greatly improves the chances of everything going as planned for both the donor and the recipient. 

The financial burden of being a donor is covered either by the recipients insurance or the National Kidney Foundation, including all the testing needed to be sure the donor is healthy enough to safely provide a viable organ to the recipient. To be sure the process does take significant time. However, on the plus side you get a physical like no other at no cost. Blood tests for everything under the sun as well as all your other vital organs as well. Then, if everything is a go and you actually do donate a kidney (only about 10% of those who volunteer are accepted), then you can expect 4-8 weeks to recover. 

Going from two kidney’s to one is a bit of a shock to the system. For one thing, it requires volunteering to experience some temporary pain and discomfort. Medical science gets better every year, but they still haven’t eliminated pain and discomfort. Yet despite the short term personal physical distress, the whole process is absolutely worthwhile because the recipient goes from none to one and is usually feeling much better in a day or two, mostly because he or she hasn’t felt well in a while. 

At the end of my conversation with Azzy I asked what the next step would be. He said I need to begin with an application, which he emailed to me. Statistically I have about a 1 in 10 chance of being able to donate, and if I’m successful I’ll be at the upper age range of donors. Even if I’m not compatible with Georges, being willing to donate for him improves his chance of receiving a kidney by a lot. I’ll talk more about that next month in Asylum Hill News & Views. In the mean time, if you can’t wait until next month’s installment, you can reach out to Azzy at asamoah.anane@hhchealth.org.

Bernie Michel's article first appeared in AHNA's "Asylum Hill News & Views" March 2017 newsletter. It has been edited  for this blog. Photo provided by Bernie Michel  

Don Shaw, Jr.
Writer and Editor
RedTruckStonecatcher.com

Hartford Welcomes Immigrants and Refugees

Hartford Public Library's Toolkit for Welcoming and Supporting New Arrival Immigrants
(Hartford Public Library image)

Scared, scammed, stressed, and searching. That's how many of my immigrant and refugee friends feel. 

Scared because America's current political climate fosters fear of the stranger, and rejection of minorities.

Scammed because too often immigrants and refugees coming from authoritarian and repressive countries don't know whom to trust. They get ripped off by intimidating imposters posing as law enforcement agents, government officials, or legitimate businesses whose aim is to rob them of their money and possessions.  

Stressed because they feel alone, exposed, unprotected, and unwelcome, not knowing whom to turn to for assistance which ranges from where to shop, how to navigate transportation, where to receive medical treatment, how to find a job, or where to secure sound legal advice, among many others. 

Searching because they want answers, guidance, support, and much needed acceptance and encouragement from their local community.

So how do we answer these cries for help? 

Become a welcoming community, and follow Hartford Public Library's lead.

Hartford is a Welcoming City 

Having worked several years for the City of Hartford, as well as having worked with many non-profits in Hartford's neighborhoods, I've seen a lot, heard a lot, done a lot, and learned a lot about Hartford's new arrivals, especially in the city's Asylum Hill neighborhood. Hartford is a welcoming community. Mayor Luke Bronin and City of Hartford leadership have made that emphatically clear. Asylum Hill is representative of the city's many neighborhoods in extending its welcoming arms to immigrants and refugees. Most recently it opened its Asylum Hill Multicultural Resource Corner at Catholic Charities Asylum Hill Family Center to serve all neighborhood residents, particularly newcomers.

Yet, long before the current social and political turmoil one organization in particular, the Hartford Public Library, invested significant resources to become a leading light and steady hand in supporting Hartford's newcomers. Encouraged in recent years by innovative CEOs Louise Blalock, Matthew Poland, and currently Bridget Quinn-Carey, Hartford Public Library has achieved a national reputation for its immigration and citizenship programs. So much so that it enabled Homa Naficy, the library's Chief Adult Learning Officer and former Connecticut Immigrant of the Year Award recipient, and her team to implement Hartford Public Library's immigrant support initiatives. As a result of her leadership, she was chosen a 2013 Champion of Change by The White House.

Celebrating Immigrant Diversity and Cultural Contributions

Follow Hartford Public Library's Lead

As a guide to following Hartford Public Library's lead, the information offered below is excerpted from the Library's website. Please follow the links as cited for detailed information on the following points.

1. Build Networks of Trust (Link)

Strategy 1: Recruit and train volunteers to serve as Cultural Navigators. These mentors are integral to easing the transition of newly arrived immigrants into their home city, Hartford.

Strategy 2: Build coalitions among key stakeholders. The Immigrant Advisory Group (IAG) serves as a city-wide vehicle for stakeholders to communicate current immigration issues and share best practices with each other. It is also a forum for participants to learn about immigrant cultures and experiences. 

Strategy 3: Engage immigrants and the receiving community in Community Dialogues on topics of mutual concern. There are various approaches to this, but all lead to a plan of action. Hartford Public Library has piloted two approaches: City Wide and Neighborhood.

Strategy 4: Bridge cultures through facilitated book group discussions and films that portray the immigrant experience and its often complex cross-cultural dynamics. 

Strategy 5: Foster the value that regardless of where you come from, Hartford welcomes you. Follow the steps in We Belong Here, the library's toolkit for welcoming and supporting new arrival immigrants.

2. Raids & Enforcement Actions (Link)

1. ICE Detained Parent Rights English Spanish 

2. Nine Ways To Protect Yourself / Nueve maneras de protegerse

3. What to do if you are stopped by Police, Immigration Agents, or FBI Arabic English French Spanish

4. Know Your Rights English Spanish

5. American Library Association opposes new administration policies... Learn More

6. Hartford Public Schools Protect Immigrant Families Learn More

3. Legal Help (Link)

Hartford Public Library (HPL) Downtown Branch (500 Main Street) is recognized by the US Department of Justice, Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) to offer legal advice by its BIA accredited representatives. Only Attorneys or BIA Accredited Representatives can provide legal advice. Notary publics, businesses, immigration consultants are NOT able to give immigration legal advice. THE WRONG HELP CAN HURT!

Follow the Legal Help link above for more details.

4. Area Immigration Service Providers (Link)

5. Refugee Resettlement and Background Information (Link)

Foyer Mural Welcoming Hartford Public Library Patrons

Closing Thoughts

There are many agencies and organizations providing much needed support to immigrants and refugees, as well as support to advocates and volunteers who sponsor them. However, it is clear to me that America's current social and political environment makes it imperative to engage more people in understanding the plight of immigrants and refugees. It's critical to providing the necessary care essential to embrace them into our lives, our communities, and our country.

The inscription on the Statue of Liberty reads: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Let's live our American ideals. Let's welcome the stranger.  

Don Shaw, Jr.
Writer and Editor
RedTruckStonecatcher.com

Photos by Don Shaw, Jr. 

A Welcome Resource

Asylum Hill Multicultural Resource Corner Grand Opening January 26, 2017 at
Catholic Charities' Asylum Hill Family Center in Hartford, CT

"What a striking contrast between what we're doing in this city, and this neighborhood versus what's going on in Washington. Some people build walls. In this state and this community we embrace people," proclaimed Connecticut State Representative Matt Ritter at the Asylum Hill Multicultural Resource Corner ribbon cutting ceremony on January 26, 2017.

Ritter's comments captured the spirit behind the Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association (AHNA) Welcoming Committee's determined drive to establish a community resource to welcome and support all Asylum Hill residents, with a specific focus on new arrival immigrant and refugee families.

"The opening of the Resource Corner marks an important occasion for all neighborhood residents seeking information and assistance. By launching the Resource Corner, the Welcoming Committee has taken an important step toward establishing a multicultural center in Asylum Hill," said Jennifer Cassidy, Asylum Hill community leader and Multicultural Center Steering Committee chair.  Located at 60 Gillett Street in Hartford, the Resource Corner represents a true community collaboration between AHNA, the Library, Catholic Charities' Asylum Hill Family Center, and the UConn Graduate School of Social Work. 

 

       Jennifer Cassidy, Georges Annan-Kingsley, 

State Representative Matt Ritter and Moureen Bish (L-R) 

cut the ribbon opening the 

Asylum Hill Multicultural Resource Corner

In the summer of 2013, the Welcoming Committee was established through the combined efforts of AHNA and the Hartford Public Library to address the pressing need "to reach out to and welcome new arrival immigrant and refugee families living in Asylum Hill -- many of whom initially experience culture shock and feelings of isolation," according to Nancy Caddigan, Hartford Public Library's Intercultural Liaison, and Welcoming Committee chair. "This is vital because at least 30% of the Asylum Hill resident population is made up of immigrants and refugees hailing from such countries of origin as Nepal, Togo, Peru, Sri Lanka, the Ivory Coast, Iraq, the Republic of Congo, Burma, Somalia and Ethiopia." 

Caddigan further explained "One of the major unmet needs identified at early Welcoming Committee sponsored community activities and meetings was a lack of a designated meeting space for residents of Asylum Hill to come together to share and participate in civic, social, and cultural activities that would strengthen connections between neighbors, and make those new to the neighborhood feel welcome." 

Jennifer Cassidy (L), Georges Annan-Kingsley (third from right) and Liz Gustafson (R)
welcome Roger Rugina, James Rugina, and Benedict Muliro from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Benjamin Simpini from Togo.

In an immediate effort to more specifically identify Committee priorities, the Library sought and received a grant from the national organization Welcoming America. The grant  proved invaluable. It provided the opportunity to conduct a total of seven critical focus groups in fall 2014 in which almost 200 Asylum Hill residents and stakeholders participated, aided by interpreters. Participants shared their suggestions and ideas of what they envisioned taking place in a multicultural center which included such things as community meetings, weddings and celebrations, ethnic cooking classes,  foreign language instruction, and student tutoring, as well as a resource center for referrals to essential health, housing, legal and employment services. 

Recognizing that significant funding and sponsorship would be required to establish a full-scale multicultural center,  the committee set its sights on addressing the immediate needs of new arrivals. The idea of establishing a small resource facility to provide much needed support and referral services to assist families in acculturating to their new community germinated quickly. The immediate objective would be to ease families' struggles in getting their basic health, education and human services needs met. The agreed first step would be to pursue setting up a Multicultural Resource Corner staffed by an intern and volunteers from the Welcoming Committee. Soon the UConn Graduate School of Social Work, and Catholic Charities joined the effort as enthusiastic partners to make the Corner a reality.

The School of Social Work jumped at the opportunity when approached by Cassidy with the idea for a hands-on internship to help at the Resource Corner. Graduate student Liz Gustafson came on board immediately. Next, Cassidy and Welcoming Committee member Georges Annan-Kingsley scoured the neighborhood for another partner with a suitable location to house the Resource Corner. A willing and generous champion shortly emerged in Moureen Bish, director of Catholic Charities' Asylum Hill Family Center. Bish took the idea to her corporate leadership who fully embraced the proposal. The Family Center's location in the heart of Asylum Hill at 60 Gillett Street was an ideal fit.

Moureen Bish (R) welcoming the AHNA Multicultural Resource Corner to
its new office at Catholic Charities' Asylum Hill Family Center

At the Resource Corner dedication, Bish expressed a warm welcome to the AHNA initiative. "We are happy to have you. What we do here [at the Family Center] is work with families, enrich families' lives, and strengthen families; so to be able to provide this [additional] service to the newest families in the neighborhood, we are super, super happy." Bish continued saying she was "pleased with the effort that's gone into making this a reality. Our multiplicity of Family Center services are open to the Multicultural Resource Corner -- all our services are at their disposal."  

Georges Annan-Kingsley speaking at the Resource Corner dedication

Welcoming Committee member and Asylum Hill resident Georges Annan-Kingsley (a medical refugee from Côte d'Ivoire) spoke about the long-term need for a full fledged multicultural center. "When I came here, alone at first without my family, this neighborhood became my family. Through the work of the Welcoming Committee, we found out it [would be] good if we can have a place where those people coming from some place else can meet together as a family and keep [their] culture. This is what the framework is for creating a multicultural center where people can preserve and share their culture, and be proud of their culture -- and broaden American culture."

Jennifer Cassidy chats with Fouad Abbood a 2014 refugee from Iraq
and former security services interpreter

Lar Pwe Paw (Burma) and Nayomi Dasanayke (Sri Lanka)
share a moment at the Resource Corner Dedication   

With the launch of the Multicultural Resource Corner, the Asylum Hill Neighborhood Associations' Welcoming Committee has taken the vital first step toward its longterm goal of establishing a multicultural center open to all residents. Right now the focus is rightly where it should be -- providing residents with a guiding hand toward critical basic health, education and human services needed to succeed.    

Don Shaw, Jr.
Writer and Editor
RedTruckStonecatcher.com


Don Shaw, Jr. photos

Marching on Washington: A Voice from the Crowd

"Lifting up others as we rise."

An estimated 3.3 million people in cities across the United States marched on January 21, 2017 - - an impressive number to be sure. So it's a high probability you know of at least someone who did. I know many.

Kate Mason marched on Washington. Here's Kate's reflection about the Women's March on Washington.

Don Shaw, Jr.
Writer and Editor
RedTruckStonecatcher.com

Marching on Washington: A Voice from the Crowd

By Kate Mason

I've really enjoyed hearing and seeing about people's experiences at the Women's March yesterday, and wanted to share some of what I saw in Washington, DC.

My mom and I joined a group of people from Connecticut and took buses down to DC for the day; we left at 1 a.m. early Saturday and got back around 3 a.m. Sunday morning. Our bus parked at RFK Stadium…because Metro stations were already overwhelmed …we walked the three miles to the rally site.

L-R: Liz, Ginny (my mom), me

Most yards that we walked past had signs with MLK, Jr. quotations prominently displayed. We never got close enough to see the rally speakers—or even one of the Jumbotrons farther away from the stage—but we got to be part of the crowd.

Being in that crowd, I was touched by the multiple feminisms and messages I saw on display. Many signs were anti-Trump, but I didn't see one sign or hear one chant disparaging Trump voters. People's signs talked about immigrant rights, Black Lives Matter and anti-racism, reproductive rights, transgender rights, healthcare, environmental justice, and more. A huge number of signs explicitly referenced intersectionality. This wasn't only about self-empowerment; these signs and chants exemplified one of the core values of feminism: lifting up others as we rise. I can't think of a more loving message to share, or a more perfect rebuke to the spiteful, self-promoting rhetoric that the current president often uses.

I was touched by the patience and peacefulness of the protest. Conditions were often uncomfortable, and it was frustrating not to always know where we were going or who was speaking, but people handled it with grace. The most tension I ever saw was in the line for port-o-potties—people waiting an hour or more to pee can get a little grouchy—but even there was camaraderie and cooperation (people offering to hold each other's signs & bags so that they could get in and out of the bathroom as quickly as possible).

With my friend Caitlin (left)

Skeptics may look at the march and ask, "How do you expect this to accomplish anything? You need to come together around a single issue." I agree that targeting specific issues will be important in the months and years to come, but there was something incredibly powerful in seeing such a diverse coalition of people and goals come together in this one space. And I'd also like folks to remember that moments when social movements make progress—like the 1960s—often see progress on multiple fronts, made possible by different movement groups learning from and supporting one another (think of Civil Rights, Women's Liberation, Gay Liberation, and other movements of the 1960s and surrounding years). Being strategic and organized about our demands for social change is important, but the claim that we must coalesce around a single goal is a false choice.

Lastly, I was impressed by the work I saw people doing to build coalitions and be better allies. I saw men amplifying and deferring to women's voices; I saw white people carrying signs for racial justice; I saw citizens marching on behalf of immigrants and undocumented residents; etc. This isn't to say that everyone did this well, and it isn't to give privileged folks a "cookie" for being decent. And I've heard stories through my social networks about some people who really weren't good allies, and some folks of color who were excluded and/or talked over. I didn't personally witness that happening, but I absolutely believe that it did.

Feminism is a work in progress. Social justice is a work in progress. Allyship is a work in progress. Let's appreciate the good from yesterday, name and improve on what wasn't good, and remember that our work isn't done. The marches yesterday demonstrated some very fertile ground for social justice work, and I can't wait to see what we grow in it."

Kate Mason is an assistant professor of Sociology and Women's & Gender Studies at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. Her areas of scholarly teaching and research are gender, social inequality, health, and the body.

Walking the Interfaith Path with Sami Aziz

Imam Sami Abdul Aziz presenting his sermon at the
First Congregational Church of Granby CT Sunday service.

What's the difference between a Sunni and a Shia? What are Islam's principle beliefs and practices? Is it really a religion of peace? What is Ramadan, and why do Muslims fast? Is there really a chapter in the Quran about Mary? Is it true that Islam recognizes Jesus, Adam, Noah, Moses and Abraham as prophets?  

Want to know the answers to these and the multitude of other questions you may have about Islam? Imam Sami Abdul Aziz, founder of the Islamic consulting firm Common Ground Services, would welcome the opportunity to explain Islam, and answer any and all queries you have.

Passionate about educating others to fight ignorance, hatred, and fear of Muslims, Sami and his consulting team speak throughout Connecticut spreading the message of peace, which is at the core of Islam. Sami spread his message Sunday, January 22, 2017, partnering with his wife Vjosa Qerimi-Aziz, vice president of Common Services Consulting, when they participated in First Congregational Church of Granby CT's church service, and presented their introductory Islam 101 during the after service lunch.  Church members enthusiastically welcomed them.

Sami and Vjosa are on a mission -- a mission to ensure Muslims and Islam are understood and accepted, not merely tolerated (and certainly not rejected outright), as part of our diverse, multicultural United States.

Vjosa Qerimi-Aziz reading from the Quran 19:16-34.

Sami is an American. His background is extensive. He serves as Imam for three organizations: PrayerSpark.com, a global interfaith service, Lighthouse for Humanity, and the Bloomfield Muslim Community Center. Additionally, he is Muslim chaplain at Wesleyan and Quinnipiac universities. And to make sure he has no spare time, Sami is a Doctor of Ministry candidate in Islamic Studies at Hartford Seminary.

Rev. Ginny McDaniel  and Vjosa Qerimi-Aziz, with Imam Sami Aziz in the
background presenting Islam 101, at First Congregational Church of Granby CT

Their messages about Muslims and Islam, along with the their plea that "we are just like you, patriotic Americans wanting to live in peace and harmony," left us with greater understanding of our uniting similarities. 

Communication, collaboration and co-operation are the pillars of a strong, sustainable, peaceful community. Reach out to Sami. He'll answer your call.

Assalamu alaikum; peace be upon you.

Don Shaw, Jr.
Writer and Editor
RdTruckStonecatcher.com

My Friend Needs a Kidney Transplant

Georges Annan-Kingsley with one of his art works displayed at an Asylum Hill art show

Georges Annan-Kingsley is my friend. As a long persecuted political refugee from Côte d'Ivoire, Georges suffered chronic, stress-induced hypertension causing his kidneys to fail. After a long, courageous bureaucratic struggle to escape western Africa via Ghana, aided by the French consulate, Georges received medical refugee status in the United States. He arrived in near fatal condition. He was saved by immediate access to medical attention. 

His life is interrupted three times a week with grueling dialysis sessions necessary to keep him alive. With his disability he's barely able to muster the strength to help raise his family. Because his abilities are diminished he is limited in following career pursuits and engaging in community life. He's an accomplished artist (he has a painting on display at the White House), teacher, radio host, and Asylum Hill community leader championing the acculturation of arriving refugees and immigrants into this thriving Hartford, CT neighborhood. But for long-term survival Georges needs a kidney transplant. Despite his struggles, he keeps a positive, constantly smiling attitude. George has hope.

Georges Annan-Kingsley hosting his show on GhanaBeats Radio

Georges' way of life is the norm for all in need of a kidney transplant. Like many of our friends, family, colleagues, and the millions of people we will never know, kidney disease has a fierce grip on their lives. Its causes are many, ranging from genetic predisposition, diabetes, hypertension, and insulin resistance to lifestyle causes such as physical inactivity, poor diets, and obesity.

So what can we do about it?

We can follow Georges' lead. Georges is championing another cause, the urgent need for the healthy people among us to become Living Donor Champions.

"A Living Donor Champion is someone who helps spread the story of a loved one in need of a living kidney donor. The Champion helps share their story and raise awareness about kidney disease, transplantation, and living kidney donation. The goal is to find a potential living donor for their loved one." 

Please read the brochure below and consider making a life changing difference by becoming a Living Donor Champion. 

If you would like to talk with Georges directly, which he is willing to do, please reply to my blog with your contact information. I will forward it to him.

Thank you.

The Living Donor Champion Program

Photos by Don Shaw, Jr.
"Champions Needed" flyer provided by Georges Annan-Kingsley

Don Shaw, Jr.
Writer and Editor
RedTruckStonecatcher.com