Environmental Justice: Stop Dumping on Us!
Communities consisting of the poor and people of color are often disproportionately affected by environmental hazards such as toxic waste and air pollution. Language access plays a major role in ensuring that all members of a community have an equal voice and are properly informed. This workshop will highlight organizing efforts in Brentwood around the dumping of asbestos- laden materials in Roberto Clemente Park, and Roosevelt, where community members have organized to oppose the brownfields. This participatory workshop will provide a legal foundation to challenge these inequities and present ways to become involved in grassroots efforts that promote environmental justice.
Daniel Altschuler, Make the Road NY
Jacob Dixon, Choice for All
Legislator Monica Martinez, Suffolk County Ninth District
Moderator: Lishayne King, MSW Intern, Empire Justice Center
Communities consisting of the poor and people of color are often disproportionately affected by environmental hazards such as toxic waste and air pollution. Language access plays a major role in ensuring that all members of a community have an equal voice and are properly informed. This workshop will highlight organizing efforts in Brentwood around the dumping of asbestos- laden materials in Roberto Clemente Park, and Roosevelt, where community members have organized to oppose the brownfields. This participatory workshop will provide a legal foundation to challenge these inequities and present ways to become involved in grassroots efforts that promote environmental justice.
Daniel Altschuler, Make the Road NY
Jacob Dixon, Choice for All
Legislator Monica Martinez, Suffolk County Ninth District
Moderator: Lishayne King, MSW Intern, Empire Justice Center
Easing the Transition for Newly Arrived Immigrant Children
Long Island has recently seen a large number of newly arrived immigrant children arrive here from Mexico and Central America. Upon arrival, these children are confronted with a myriad of issues and barriers in accessing critical services. The presenters, ranging from communications/media, legal, and faith sectors will discuss who these children are, where they are coming from, why they are coming here and the barriers they face in terms of language access when trying to acquire education, mental health, and other services. The workshop will also highlight the transition that the children face when released from shelters and the challenges they encounter integrating into new communities.
MaryAnn Slutsky, Long Island Wins
Sister Margaret Smyth, North Fork Hispanic Apostolate
Jason Starr, Esq., New York Civil Liberties Union
Moderator: Gaby Castillo, ,SEPA Mujer
Long Island has recently seen a large number of newly arrived immigrant children arrive here from Mexico and Central America. Upon arrival, these children are confronted with a myriad of issues and barriers in accessing critical services. The presenters, ranging from communications/media, legal, and faith sectors will discuss who these children are, where they are coming from, why they are coming here and the barriers they face in terms of language access when trying to acquire education, mental health, and other services. The workshop will also highlight the transition that the children face when released from shelters and the challenges they encounter integrating into new communities.
MaryAnn Slutsky, Long Island Wins
Sister Margaret Smyth, North Fork Hispanic Apostolate
Jason Starr, Esq., New York Civil Liberties Union
Moderator: Gaby Castillo, ,SEPA Mujer
| newly_arriving_central_american_children_ppt.pptx |
Improving Social Security Access for Seniors and People with Disabilities
This workshop will focus on the language rights of Limited English Proficient claimants who are elderly and/or disabled and trying to apply for or maintain Social Security benefits. Speakers will discuss, Social Security’s language access plan and the legal right to receive interpretation services and translated notices from the Social Security Administration field offices. Advocates will present the results of a language survey conducted at over 30 Social Security offices in NYC . Barriers encountered by individuals, particularly the elderly Haitian population, will also be highlighted.
Tanya Douglas, Manhattan Legal Services
Ginette Rows, YAM Community Resource, Inc.
Moderator: Sonia Palacio Grottola, National Association of Puerto Rican and Hispanic Social Workers
This workshop will focus on the language rights of Limited English Proficient claimants who are elderly and/or disabled and trying to apply for or maintain Social Security benefits. Speakers will discuss, Social Security’s language access plan and the legal right to receive interpretation services and translated notices from the Social Security Administration field offices. Advocates will present the results of a language survey conducted at over 30 Social Security offices in NYC . Barriers encountered by individuals, particularly the elderly Haitian population, will also be highlighted.
Tanya Douglas, Manhattan Legal Services
Ginette Rows, YAM Community Resource, Inc.
Moderator: Sonia Palacio Grottola, National Association of Puerto Rican and Hispanic Social Workers
| social_security_ppt308.pptx |
Beyond Interpretation: Building the Bridge between Language Access and Cultural Competence
Speaking different languages is only one of many possible cross cultural barriers we may encounter in our personal and professional lives.This workshop will share the principles of language access and cultural competence and the legal and moral imperatives for overcoming our differences. Participants will be challenged to improve their skills so that they can better communicate with a diversity of populations. Information regarding the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services(CLAS) standards in healthcare will also be provided.
Lillian Moy, Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York
Celina Ramsey, Staten Island University Hospital
Moderator: Cheryl Keshner, Empire Justice Center
Workshop B:11:40-12:40
Speaking different languages is only one of many possible cross cultural barriers we may encounter in our personal and professional lives.This workshop will share the principles of language access and cultural competence and the legal and moral imperatives for overcoming our differences. Participants will be challenged to improve their skills so that they can better communicate with a diversity of populations. Information regarding the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services(CLAS) standards in healthcare will also be provided.
Lillian Moy, Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York
Celina Ramsey, Staten Island University Hospital
Moderator: Cheryl Keshner, Empire Justice Center
Workshop B:11:40-12:40
| language_access_and_cultural_competence.pptx |
| nonverbalcrossculturalcommunication.pdf |
| classtandards.pdf |
Ensuring a Quality Education for All
This workshop will discuss the legal requirements for schools and school programs to ensure that all children, regardless of English proficiency, receive a quality education. Topics will include the barriers that children who are English Language Learners (ELL) and their families face when dealing with school districts, best practices for ESL, distinguishing between students who are ELL or those who have disabilities to determine appropriate placements, and where families can turn for help. Resources for individuals and schools to become more culturally competent will be distributed.
Presenters: Justin Deabler, Esq. Office of the NY State Attorney General. Civil Rights Division
Susanne Marcus, NY State Teachers of English as a Second Language
Moderator: Maria Studer, NY State Intergenerational Network, LI Chapter
This workshop will discuss the legal requirements for schools and school programs to ensure that all children, regardless of English proficiency, receive a quality education. Topics will include the barriers that children who are English Language Learners (ELL) and their families face when dealing with school districts, best practices for ESL, distinguishing between students who are ELL or those who have disabilities to determine appropriate placements, and where families can turn for help. Resources for individuals and schools to become more culturally competent will be distributed.
Presenters: Justin Deabler, Esq. Office of the NY State Attorney General. Civil Rights Division
Susanne Marcus, NY State Teachers of English as a Second Language
Moderator: Maria Studer, NY State Intergenerational Network, LI Chapter
| lilaceducation_workshop.pptx |
Protecting the Rights of Immigrant Workers
Presenters: Teodoro Talbot, NY Committee on Occupational Safety and Health
Nadia Marin Molina, National Day Laborer Organizing Network
Liz O’Shaughnessy, Freeport Trailer
Moderator: Anita Halasz, Executive Director, Jobs with Justice
In this workshop, immigrant worker advocates and activists will reflect on the barriers and challenges immigrant workers face in the absence of language access services. Presenters will touch upon issues of workers benefits and rights, health and safety and interactions with public enforcement and social services. Workshop participants will learn about opportunities for advocacy and involvement.
Presenters: Teodoro Talbot, NY Committee on Occupational Safety and Health
Nadia Marin Molina, National Day Laborer Organizing Network
Liz O’Shaughnessy, Freeport Trailer
Moderator: Anita Halasz, Executive Director, Jobs with Justice
In this workshop, immigrant worker advocates and activists will reflect on the barriers and challenges immigrant workers face in the absence of language access services. Presenters will touch upon issues of workers benefits and rights, health and safety and interactions with public enforcement and social services. Workshop participants will learn about opportunities for advocacy and involvement.
Arrested, Incarcerated, and Limited English Proficient
Individuals who are not proficient in English can be particularly vulnerable when coming into contact with the criminal justice system. From a routine traffic stop to trying to file a criminal complaint, to a possible arrest leading to incarceration, the failure to provide language access services may result in disastrous consequences for immigrants. The presenters will address how language and cultural barriers have played a role in relations with law enforcement; discuss the federal, state, and local protections around language access and how they sometimes differ from one jurisdiction to another, as well some of the deficiencies observed in jails throughout New York State.
Dr.Luis Valenzuela, Long Island Immigrant Alliance
Amol Sinha, Esq. , New York Civil Liberties Union
Serena Liguori, Herstory Writers Workshop
Moderator: Jackie Saavedra, Empire Justice Center
Individuals who are not proficient in English can be particularly vulnerable when coming into contact with the criminal justice system. From a routine traffic stop to trying to file a criminal complaint, to a possible arrest leading to incarceration, the failure to provide language access services may result in disastrous consequences for immigrants. The presenters will address how language and cultural barriers have played a role in relations with law enforcement; discuss the federal, state, and local protections around language access and how they sometimes differ from one jurisdiction to another, as well some of the deficiencies observed in jails throughout New York State.
Dr.Luis Valenzuela, Long Island Immigrant Alliance
Amol Sinha, Esq. , New York Civil Liberties Union
Serena Liguori, Herstory Writers Workshop
Moderator: Jackie Saavedra, Empire Justice Center
Filling In the Gaps In Mental Health Services
There is a critical need for linguistically and culturally competent mental health services in our communities, but few available services. Presenters will provide an overview of the current process for psychiatric evaluation and referral and discuss the challenges limited English proficient patients face and how it affects their treatment. Best practices where language and culture are an essential component of treatment and community outreach will be highlighted.
Claudia Boyle, MS, Hispanic Counseling Center
Dr. Stephen Masiar, Chief of Psychiatry, Southside Hospital
Moderator: Vinny Aguilar, Southside Hospital
There is a critical need for linguistically and culturally competent mental health services in our communities, but few available services. Presenters will provide an overview of the current process for psychiatric evaluation and referral and discuss the challenges limited English proficient patients face and how it affects their treatment. Best practices where language and culture are an essential component of treatment and community outreach will be highlighted.
Claudia Boyle, MS, Hispanic Counseling Center
Dr. Stephen Masiar, Chief of Psychiatry, Southside Hospital
Moderator: Vinny Aguilar, Southside Hospital
| lilac_health_workshop.pptx |
