CALENDAR

Monday, April 16, 2010, Friday, 5:00pm - 9:00pm, Newark, NJ
Beyond Haiti: Restoring Our Land, Restoring Our People
We will be showcasing expert panelists discussing the relationship between the Immigration Laws, Rights of Immigrants and the Effects of Immigration on a Global Scale. Your attendance would be valuable in promoting lasting and sustainable change in Newark’s academic and civic communities. As an exhibitor, your services and products will also be displayed to benefit our international audience within the greater Newark area. Among the issues to be discussed will be:
 · Temporary Protected Status
 · Globalization in the Urban Economy
 · Immigration Policy
Productive dialogue between and advice from ethnic, cultural, academic, and legal channels is needed to develop conducive objectives and attainable solutions. Your participation as an attendee of this event will influence decisions regarding the specific urban and international issues plaguing the functionality of our communities and disrupting the educational stability of our students.
The Urban Issues Institute will be sponsoring the event.
Friday, April 16, 2010 at 5:00 pm , Essex County College, Newark, NJ.

RECENT EVENTS

Monday, March 22, 2010, 4:00pm, New York, NY
Emergency Rally at US Red Cross Headquarters - Haiti Needs Shelter Now!
The Friday Haiti Relief Coalition is sponsoring an Emergency Mass Rally at the Headquarters of the American Red Cross on the United Nations International Day against Racism. The American Red Cross has collected over $250 million in donations from US citizens who expect their contributions to help the people of Haiti at this critical time. A crisis situation is developing in Haiti as the rainy season draws near. In less than one month torrential floods and mud slides are expected and millions of Haitians are without shelter from the storms. The only "relief" the United States and the United Nations have delivered in large numbers are armed soldiers. Haitian people will surely struggle to find shelter anywhere they can. The armed forces are not there to protect the Haitian people. They are there to protect property and goods that the people urgently need. We must demand shelter for our people immediately. THE BURNING QUESTION IS WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING? THE HAITIAN PEOPLE NEED SHELTER NOW! For more information call (718) 398-1766.
Monday, March 22, 2010 at 4:00 PM , 429 West 49th St (between 10th & 11th Aves), NYC.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 4:30-7:00 pm, New York, NY
"Haiti: What's Next? Looking to Social Innovation for a Sustainable Future"
A Social Innovation Symposium co-hosted by LSEA in partnership with social enterprise organizations at Stern and Wagner. The discussion panel and networking reception will explore long-term, creative perspectives on how Haiti should proceed in rebuilding following the recent devastation. How can the business sector be motivated to invest in Haiti? How can promoting social entrepreneurship support long-term development? What are examples of successful social enterprises that may work in Haiti?
Panelists will include:
* Julian Schroeder of Fonkoze- largest microfinance and alternative banking institution providing financial services in Haiti
* Dr. Carolle Charles of DWA FANM- a community-based organization working to end violence, discrimination and other injustices against women and girls in NYC and Haiti. Dr. Charles is a professor at Baruch College
* Dr. Jean Bernard Poulard of the Association for Haitian Physicians Abroad- an organization dedicated to the advancement of medicine and the betterment of public health in Haiti
* Bazelais Jean Baptiste, President of Bassin Zim Educational Development Fund- a grassroots organization utilizing innovative solutions to re-create Haiti's sustainable agricultural economy.
Event: 4:30 - 7:00 pm, Cantor Board Room, NYU's Kaufman Management Center (Room 11-75)
Networking and cocktail reception with Law, Business and Public Policy students and alumni to follow event
RSVP

Wednesday February 24, 2:45pm, New York, NY
"Mobilizing for Haiti Rebuilding: Diaspora-Driven Partnership Conference"
Organized in the scant weeks since the earthquake, the goal of the conference is to provide accurate updates on conditions in Haiti, and to identify powerful new partnerships. The event will serve as a catalyst – matching organizations on the ground with others in a position to accelerate good ideas beyond the "talk" stage.
In addition to panels of key individuals with experience partnering and working on the ground in Haiti, the expertise in the audience includes healthcare, community development, education, infrastructure, finance, and the arts. “The talent that will be assembled is world-changing”, said Dupiton.
Event: 2:45-6:20 pm at the United Nations
Reception/music at the Turkish Mission from 6:30-9pm (for preregistrations only due to space)
For more information, please visit UNA-Haiti
Press Release

Saturday, February 12-13, 2010
CLINIC Haitian temporary protected status training
Catholic Charities is pleased to announce several weekend workshops to assist Haitian nationals in applying for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). 
A webinar by CLINIC will take place on Friday, February 12th from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. If interested, register here.
Our second workshop will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 1621 Park Road NW Washington, DC 20010. We encourage volunteers who have already responded to arrive at 9:00 am for orientation before the workshop commences. Please contact Heruy Mebrahtu at heruy.mebrahtu@catholiccharitiesdc.org. No additional volunteers are needed at this time. To volunteer for future TPS workshops and trainings, please contact Debi Sanders at Debi.Sanders@CatholicCharitiesDC.org 

February 12, 2010 - 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PST
TPS and Other Options for Haitians
This webinar will detail the new Haitian TPS program: the eligibility requirements, the application process, and the supporting documentation. Waivers of inadmissibility and appeals will also be covered. Legal remedies for non TPS Haitians will also be described. Confirmed Speakers are: Callan Garcia, Supervising Attorney, Catholic Charities Legal Services of Miami, and Peggy Gleason, CLINIC Attorney. Attorney Heruy Mehbrahtu of Catholic Charities D.C.will also contribute.
Register here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information on joining the webinar.  Cost: Free

Monday February 08 , 2010, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Washington, DC
Responding to Haitian TPS: Training for Pro Bono Lawyers
Catholic Charities and Miller & Chevalier will cosponsor a Training on Representing Haitians in Applications for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Trainers: Peggy Gleason of Catholic Charities
To RSVP: Please email Kathleen Wach, Pro Bono Counsel at kwach@milchev.com 
Miller & Chevalier 655 15th Street NW, Suite 900 Washington, DC

Thursday, February 4th, 3pm to 4pm, Washington, DC
After the Earthquake: Haitian Migration and the U.S. Response
Since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has taken several actions to improve U.S. migration for Haitians, including granting temporary protected status to Haitians currently in the U.S., granting humanitarian parole for Haitian orphans, and expedited processing of immigrant visa petitions for Haitians with family members in the U.S. This briefing will explain additional steps that can and should be taken including ensuring access to asylum screenings for interdicted Haitians with protection concerns, extending humanitarian parole to Haitians waiting in the family visa backlog, and considering other options for Haitian migration to the United States.
Speakers:
Mark Hetfield, Senior Vice President Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)
Eleanor Acer, Director Refugee Protection Program Human Rights First
Leslie E. Vélez, Director for Access to Justice Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)
RSVP to liza.lieberman@hias.org or 202-212-6026.
2237 Rayburn, Capitol Hill  

Saturday February 06 , 2010, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Hartford, Norwich, New Haven, Bridgeport and Stamford, CT
Haitian TPS Pro Bono Clinics
Connecticut Lawyers for Haiti will be providing pro bono assistance completing TPS applications for eligible Haitians in Hartford, Norwich, New Haven, Bridgeport and Stamford. CHBA expects that this will be an all day event, from 8am to 5pm. We are asking for volunteers for the day - AILA attorneys, paralegals, secretaries, etc. to help with the intake, form completion, and legal review.
Hartford Clinic: HARTFORD CITY HALL 550 Main Street, Hartford, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Norwich Clinic: NORWICH CITY HALL 100 Broadway, Norwich, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
New Haven Clinic: Southern Conn. State University Main Academic Building, Engleman Hall, Room B121 501 Crescent Street, New Haven 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Stamford Clinic: Stamford Campus of UCONN One University Place (corner of Washington Blvd. and Broad St), Stamford, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Bridgeport Clinic: City Hall Annex 999 Broad Street Bridgeport, 9:00am - 4:00pm 

Wednesday, February 3, 5:30 - 7:30 pm, Brooklyn, NY
Haitian Immigration Legal Assistance Program (HILAP) Volunteer Attorney Legal Clinic
The Volunteer Lawyers Project is pleased to be partnering with Brooklyn Defender Services, the Brooklyn Bar Association and the Brooklyn Women's Bar to provide legal assistance to Haitian immigrants who may be eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Thousands of Haitian immigrants currently live in Brooklyn. In the wake of last month's devastating earthquake, Haitian immigrants living in the US on the date of the earthquake were granted the right to apply for TPS. Volunteer lawyers are needed to staff temporary legal clinics at which they will give advice about TPS and assist in filling out applications. For more information about the training or to register for the program, please download the registration flyer.
Brooklyn Bar Association Auditorium, 123 Remsen Street, 1st Floor Brooklyn, New York 11201

Wednesday February 03 , 2010, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Stakeholder Teleconference on Temporary Protected Status for Haiti
by USCIS
Join this teleconference to discuss the process of registering for Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals. It will review the most frequently asked questions and then take additional questions from participants. USCIS would like to ensure that this information is shared with groups and organizations that are most engaged in the Haitian community and encourage you to forward this invitation to any other stakeholders that are active in this community.
Number: 1-888-946-4308, Passcode: HAITI
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Suzie Clarke, USCIS, at suzanne.clarke@dhs.gov or call on 202.272.1279. 

Tuesday, Feb 2nd, New York, NY
Session 1 - 10am - 12pm
Session 2 - 6pm - 8pm
TPS informational workshop for Haitan Nationals
The Northern Manhattan Coalition For Immigrant Rights (NMCIR) with The Family Welcome Center (a board of ed initiative that provides ESL classes to immigrant adults) will be hosting a TPS informational workshop for Haitian nationals in Harlem.
Mid Manhattan Center 212 West 120th Street
RSVP to Ms. Carrion at 212-666-1920 Ext 1022

“STAND WITH HAITI” - worldwide
24 cities and communities in solidarity with Haiti during Haiti Emergency Earthquake International Solidarity Week. More information at the Latin American and Caribbean Community Center

New York City – Friday, January, 29th, 4pm
“Stand with Haiti” Mass March across the Brooklyn Bridge. Sponsored by New York’s Haitian community. Gather at 4 pm at Cadman Plaza Federal Building in Brooklyn, and march across the bridge to the Federal Bldg at Foley Square in Manhattan.

Atlanta, GA - Saturday, January 30th, 6:30 to 9:00 pm,
Students, professors, and concerned citizens at Emory University will host an important event to raise awareness and encourage critical discussion about the plight of Haiti. The event, titled "Haiti Relief: A Film Screening and Teach-In", will consist of a viewing of the 2004 documentary The Agronomist, the celebrated film about Haiti's struggle for democracy. Following the screening, a panel of Haitian American scholars will talk about Haiti's history of occupation and resistance, American foreign policy toward Haiti, and the urgency of Haitian relief.
The event will take place on the main campus of Emory University, in Cannon Chapel’s Brooks Commons. Free and open to the public.
Panelists:
Cécile Accilien, Columbus State University
Regine Jackson, The Graduate Institute of Liberal Arts, Emory University,
Guirdex Massé, Department of English, Emory University
Lovia Mondésir, Department of French and Italian, Emory University
Moderator: Valérie Loichot, Department of French and Italian, Emory University.
Contact HaitiAtEmory@gmail.com for more details or directions. 

Thursday, January 28th, 5 - 9 pm, New York, NY
Applying for Temporary Protected Status in U.S. pro bono Clinic
The NYCIAI, an outreach project organized by AILA-NY and the City Bar Justice Center, will be sponsoring a pro bono clinic at the City Bar (located at 42 W. 44th St. in Manhattan) to assist Haitians in preparing TPS applications and exploring any other immigration relief that may be available to them. Clinic volunteers will be responsible for screening applicants, consulting on complex cases, and reviewing applications prepared pro se.
If you are interested in participating in the Clinic, please RSVP to Kiera LoBreglio at klobreglio@nycbar.org as soon as possible.

Fridays, beginning January 29th, Washington, DC
CARECEN will be providing assistance in filing for TPS at no cost for Haitians that are low-income and reside in D.C. French and Creole-speaking staff will be available from 11am - 4pm.

Wednesday January 27 , 2010, 1pm - 2pm, New York, NY
Crisis in Haiti: Addressing the Legal Issues Briefing
The Practising Law Institute offers a free one-hour briefing on Temporary Protected Status applications and disaster-related pro bono legal/non-legal assistance to minimize the risk of catastrophic loss of life and infrastructure.

January 25, 2010, 3 pm - 4 pm, EST, Live Webcast
Haiti Crisis Update: Current & Emerging Legal Issues 
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of State have made significant policy announcements that will impact Haitian nationals currently in the U.S., U.S. Permanent Residents stranded in Haiti, and Haitian orphans who are in the process of being adopted by U.S. citizens. The panel of speakers will detail those policies and procedures to ensure you are in the best position possible to assist those in need of immigration advice. Register at Charles Houston Bar Association

Friday, January 22 and Saturday, January 23 from 10:00 to 5:00
The Haitian Multi Service Center on Columbia Road in Dorchester, MA will have a free TPS application clinic sponsored by Catholic Charities. Catholic Charities has also set up a hotline for individuals seeking more information about the clinic – the phone number is 617 464 8004.

Friday, January 22 at 3pm
Applying for Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in U.S. webinar
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) invites you to join this free webinar, which will discuss the announcement by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano (see right column) allowing for Haitians currently in the U.S. to apply for Temporary Protected Status in response to the earthquake on Tuesday. This free training will cover the following:
* Determining who is eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
* Analyzing who is ineligible due to inadmissibility grounds including criminal convictions
* Procedures for filing the TPS application, including the fees involved and strategies for filing fee waivers
* Application Process for Haitians in immigration detention
* Identifying important issues to be mindful of with ability to travel, unlawful presence, work authorization, and limits to confidentiality of information given to the government
Confirmed presenters include Callan Garcia, Managing Attorney, Catholic Legal Services, Archdiocese of Miami; Leslie E. Velez, Legal Director, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. More details to come as webinar panelists are confirmed.
Register for this free webinar

Other law-related Haiti initiatives

TPS Clinics in NYC Need Help
Lutheran Social Services of New York (LSSNY) is in need of volunteer lawyers or law students with TPS experience to volunteer at their weekly clinics on Thursday nights from 3-6pm. The clinics are held in Flatbush at the end of the 2/5 line in Brooklyn. Volunteers who are interested can email Ana Pottratz at apottratz@lssny.org for details 

The Disability Rights Group seeks immediate legal research assistance from lawyers, law firm associates, and/or upper-level students, as part of the effort to address the needs of the disabled population following the earthquake in Haiti. Memos are due on March 13, 2010.
If you are interested in conducting research on a topic or two, contact Rodelyn Alcidonis, Esq. at attorney@alcidonislaw.com, or (215) 305-8085.
More guidance/direction will be given at time of assignments. The following research memos are requested:
1. Overview of existing Haitian laws and services for people with disabilities from 1990 to current.
2. Overview of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and related international laws.
3. Overview of the jurisprudence of the American with Disabilities Act as it relates to public access/travel/education for individuals with disabilities.
4. Overview of the mechanics of the current AIDE distributions in Haiti 

Fully-funded TPS internships
The Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School will provide Fordham Law students with stipends to work on TPS issues arising out of the Haiti earthquake disaster for ten weeks over the summer. Details of our funded internship program are available here. Please contact Katherine Hughes, Crowley Fellow in International Human Rights, at khughes@law.fordham.edu to indicate your interest in hosting such interns.

Pro Bono Action Alert
Pro bono clients in need of representation
If you can help, please contact Debi Sanders:
Debi.Sanders@CatholicCharitiesDC.org
202 772 4351

Legal Research Assistance Needed for Haiti Aid Accountability Coalition
A coalition of groups working on aid accountability and a rights-based response to the earthquake in Haiti[1] seeks immediate legal research assistance. We seek help from lawyers, law firm associates, or advanced law students. Familiarity with human rights law required. Memos and research compilations due February 26. To volunteer, please contact Prof. Meg Satterthwaite at satterth@exchange.law.nyu.edu stating time available between now and February 26, level of familiarity with human rights legal research, and preferred topics. She will be in touch with specifics. 
Read more

Mission Opportunities in Haiti with the Canadian Red Cross Society
Duration: 6 months to 1 Year
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Start: ASAP
o 1 Business Services Unit (BSU) Manager (Port au Prince, Haiti)
o 2 Communications Delegate (Port au Prince, Haiti)
o 3 Country Representative (Port au Prince, Haiti)
o 4 Finance Delegate (Port au Prince, Haiti)
o 5 Health Delegate (Port au Prince, Haiti)
o 6 Human Resources Delegate (Port au Prince, Haiti)
o 7 Program, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Delegate, (Port au Prince, Haiti)
o 8 Reconstruction Program Manager (Port au Prince, Haiti)
o 9 Recovery Program Coordinator (Port au Prince, Haiti)
o 10 Logistics Delegate (Port au Prince, Haiti)  

Miami advocates and law schools have created a centralized way for law students to sign-up to help Haitians in Miami apply for TPS. 
Interested law students can contact either Rebecca Sharpless, rsharpless@the-beach.net or Troy Elder of Florida International University’s Carlos A. Costa Immigration & Human Rights Clinic, eldert@fiu.edu.  Because the aim of the project is to help as many people as possible, students should plan on spending their entire spring break in Miami.  We encourage students to arrange to be in Miami for at least part of both weekends of their spring break, as many of the larger TPS drives happen on the weekend.  Troy and Rebecca will take responsibility for matching students with appropriate TPS work being done in the community. The work may take many forms, including staffing a TPS drive at a community organization or legal services organization or reviewing applications that have already been completed.  Students will be expected to be flexible and go to the place where help is needed most.  We will train all students on TPS, including on advanced issues. There is also the possibility that some law students will go to Immokalee (a rural town just under two hours away from Miami) for part of their stay.  There are many people there who need our help.  UM Law’s Health and Elder Law Clinic is organizing additional TPS drives to help people with a connection to our public hospital, Jackson Hospital.  They may need help as well. Students are expected to find their own housing and to use public transportation if they are not renting cars.   

USCIS fact sheet and update warns Haitians applying for TPS to be aware of immigration scams and offers guidance and tips to help individuals to avoid becoming victims of fraud. (English, français, kreyòl).

The American Bar Association is seeking to fill the following Haiti Rapid Response Personnel positions
o 1. Haiti, Justice Institution Volunteers (Port Au Prince, Haiti)
o 2. Haiti, Justice Institution Specialists (Port Au Prince, Haiti)
o 3. Haiti, Program Director (Port Au Prince, Haiti)
o 4. Haiti, Logistics Manager (Washington, DC)
o 5. Haiti, Haitian Creole and French Translators (Port Au Prince, Haiti)

On January 21, 2010, the DHS published a notice announcing the designation of Haiti for temporary protected status (TPS) for a period of 18 months. The 180-day registration period for eligible individuals to submit their TPS applications begins January 21, 2010, and will remain in effect until July 20, 2010. 
TPS filing tips.
Initial Relief Efforts memo
Humanitarian Parole Policy for Certain Haitian Orphans: On January 18, 2010, DHS, in coordination with DOS, announced a humanitarian parole policy allowing orphaned children from Haiti to enter the U.S. temporarily on an individual basis as part of the U.S. government's support of earthquake recovery efforts. A Fact Sheet follows this press release. 

The Lawyer Earthquake Response Network (LERN) is hosted by the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH). Men anpil, chay pa lou! LERN is a national network of lawyers dedicated to formulating a long-term legal response to the recent earthquakes in Haiti based on human rights principles to advance the cause of social justice in affected communities.

The US State Department's 2010 Earthquake in Haiti Page
Including a person-finder and information on donations and assistance.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Announces Temporary Protected Status Designation for Haitians Who Were Present in the U.S. as of 01/12/2010: Statement from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

Temporary Protected Status - Haiti
Statut de Protection Temporaire pour Haïti (français)
Statut de Protection Temporaire pour Haïti (créole)

Haitian Relief Measures: Questions and Answers
Mesures destinées à secourir Haïti Question et réponses

BigLaw Stepping Up on Haiti Aid