AFC Blog

On the second Tuesday of the month, the Banyan Tree Project @ Asian Human Services in Chicago will be hosting walk-in services for persons interested in getting an anonymous, free and empowering HIV test.

Contact:

William Baciles Tutol, M.A.

HIV/AIDS Prevention Project Coordinator

Asian Human Services

2838 W. Peterson

Chicago, IL 60659

wtutol@ahschicago.org

direct: 773.564.4958

fax: 773.338.7946

Asians and Friends Chicago Members:

We received the following letter. Feel free to respond …

I am writing from the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) in Chicago. I am the outreach coordinator for our National Asylum Partnership on Sexual Minorities (NAPSM), our project that deals with LGBT immigration issues. I wrote to you a couple of weeks ago about an event we are planning, and I wanted to follow up.

Just to remind you, I wrote before because NIJC, in partnership with the Strength in Unity Coalition and the Center on Halsted are planning a forum on February 16, focusing on mobilization of the LGBT community in support of CIR and building a progressive coalition between the LGBT and immigrant communities. We have also added a second forum date of February 23, at the Rudy Lozano Library in Pilsen. I think it would be wonderful to have a representative (or several!) from Asians and Friends at one or both forum dates.

To be a little more specific, we are planning to discuss the common ground and the benefits of partnership between the LGBT and immigrant communities, and then move on to the major issues facing these communities and areas where large scale mobilization can and will be key in the upcoming months. Finally, we’re hoping to talk about short and long term goals and strategies for advocacy and grassroots level outreach. If all goes well, this will hopefully jump start a coalition of the groups involved that will have some real power. The event will be pretty low-key and informal, but hopefully will generate a lot of great ideas, strategies, and aims.

We would be delighted to have you there, and please let me know if you have any questions.

Best,

Hannah Rapp
National Immigrant Justice Center
A Heartland Alliance Partner
208 S. LaSalle St., Suite 1818
Chicago, IL 60604
312-660-1306 (direct)
312-660-1505 (fax)
www.immigrantjustice.org

If you are thinking of helping with the crisis in Haiti, consider giving a donation to UNICEF (which has been in Haiti since 1948). Request you use http://unicefusa.org/aa. Simply find someone who is a registered American Airlines frequent flyer (it could be you) and type in their name and frequent flyer number. It will earn miles, but more importantly help those who are devastated. It needs to be done by the 15th to earn miles, and the sooner the better to get first aid supplies and food and water to Haiti.

Banyan Tree Project at Asian Human Services will show “Saving Face” on Tues. Dec. 15, early evening. The complimentary event will be at 4753 N. Broadway in Chicago, the first floor conference room. Call Will: (773) 293-8480.