Upcoming Events

Visit our website for additional information on the following events or the mark your calendar section in this newsletter: 

• Annual Public Library Luncheon April 21st
• Just Us Jump Off April 28th 
• Concert at Riverside church in NYC on April 22nd
• Lobby Day in Albany on May 2nd to stop trafficking of persons  
• Justice For All speakers forum May 20th
• Rural Sunday June 3rd

Sister Organization Links
 
Farmworker Legal Services of NY
NYS Labor-Religion Coalition
Justice For All
 
Contact Us
 
Email: hope@ruralmigrantministry.org

Address:
P.O. Box 4757
Poughkeepsie, NY12602

Phone: (845) 485-8627
Fax: (845) 485-1963

• We give thanks to Fishkill and New Hackensack Reformed Churches for celebrating their paternship with RMM through their Easter Offering!
  
• We are pleased that Senator John Flanagan and Assemblywoman Cathering Nolan once again submitted bills in their respected houses that would remive all exclusions that deny farmworker equal rights.
  
• The Youth Arts Group (YAG) was pleased to participate in the Presbytery of the Hudson River's Multi-Cultural Gathering in Bedford.  YAG also gives thanks for the opportunity to give presentations at the Calvary Presbyterian Church in Newburgh, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in NYC and Marble Collegiate Church, also in NYC
  
• We are honored that Chakera MacIntosh one of the co-founders of the Youth Arts Group will be the featured speaker at the Just Us Jump OFF (a gathering for youth see below) Chakera has received degress from the American University in Paris and the University of London.  She has helped start a radio station in Senegal and non works for a children's advocacy organization in London
  
• Below you will  find a picture from the 40 hour fast of the NYS Labor Religion for social justice held in BrockPort, NY.  RMM was a co-sponsor for this event.
    

Pictures by Mike Crupi, Photographer of Catholic Couier                                         

• It is with unbridled joy the the staff gather to celebrate the birthday of Nydia Medina at our RMM.  Nydia is an inspiration in the office and bright light in our lives.  Happy Birthday to a great woman!  

• On Saturday April 14, 2007 RMM cosponsored an Immigration Rally at the Christ Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie.  Rev. Blake Rider welcomed the group and Pastor Max Faircloth delivered the invocation for this interfaith gathering.  The RMM Youth Arts Group was on had to perform their a series of monologues on the lives of farmworkers in NYS.  Additionally YAG members gave personal testimonials and preformed original songs and spoken word selections. 
  

Rev. Blake Rider and Pastor Max Faircloth

RMM Youth Arts Group

• This event consisted of a series of panel discussions and workshops titled the Spanish Language Outreach.  The three workshops in Sullivan Orange and Ulster County drew over 90 librarians from the community and schools district libraries.  RMM salutes the librarians of the Mid Hudson and Catskill area for their work ensuring that their service is inclusive and welcoming to the Latino and newer emerging communities moving into their neighborhoods and school districts.   
  

Pictured with Sandy Cuellar Oxford, Education Coordinator of RMM is Leslie Riley[on left],Public Services Consultant and Outreach Coordinator for the Ramapo Catskill Library System and Sullivan County Librarian, Mary Paige [on right]

ACTION STEPS 

Help farmworkers get equal rights.

Let your State Senator know that you want New York State Labor law to stop excluding farmworkers from human basic rights afforded others (including a day of rest, overtime pay and protections when bargaining collectively) Send an email or better yet, a letter to your State Senator (you can get their contact info, by going to: State Senator Information. 

Help us spread the word.

A frightening emergency is underway for April in NY. The US Immigration Agency is mounting a statewide, and possibly nation-wide, crackdown on "illegal" families. Communication with Homeland Security the first week of April confirmed that the NYS Federal Office is being ordered to round up "no fewer than 1,000 illegals"--this kind of quota apparently is ok.  This month was particularly difficult with numerous raids in the Capitol District and Long Island, very similar to the Northern New York raids in 2006. 

The following is from an allie's email on Thursday April 5, 2007.  "We have eye witness accounts from members of our own task force that are pouring in over the last week: Dozens of immigrants with no crime outside their documented status are being rounded up in the Capital Region--wakened at 5:30 am, stopped in their cars, rounded up in apartment complexes, arrested at their pizza parlor job. Unmarked vehicles trail suspects, enlist Albany police, state troopers, and other law enforcement entities and are frightening people. One man was ripped naked from the arms of his fiancé and shipped to Buffalo detention center."  There have been well over 45 arrests and detentions in the month of April in the Capitol Region.

Please help us get the word out to faith communities, peace and justice groups, students, workers and allies to ensure the prospect of comprehensive immigration reform in Congress.

UPCOMING LOBBY DAY 

Upcoming lobby day in Albany to advocate for strong anti-human trafficking legislation on May 2nd.  RSVP to Claire Regan at 718-549-9235 or email cregan@scny.org.  Please include the following information in your email name, address, phone, assembly member and State Senator. 
 
 
MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

The fourth annual JUST US JUMP OFF - a gathering for youth and youth leaders, will take place on Saturday April 28th at Webb Horton. This day long event will feature exciting work shops, an open mike and great activities for middle school and high schools students. For more information Please review the Just Us Flier and Registration Form. The gathering is put together and led by the members of the Youth Arts Group of RMM.

Saturday April 21st at 9:00 am 6th Annual Public Policy Luncheon "Fear of The Other Working Toward a Just Immigration Policy", St Michaels 23 Main St. Geneseo, NY.  For more information contact Marilyn Wienk at marirose@frontiernet.net or Scarlett Emerson semerson@frontiernet.net.  
 
 
A concert featuring Ecumenical choir "Cantico Nuevo" at Riverside Church on 91 Claremont Ave between 120 and 122st New York, NY 10025.  This event will be held on April 22nd at 4pm.  Suggested donation is $10.00.
 
Justice For All speakers forum will be held on May 20th at 4pm at Pleasant Plains Presbyterian Church, 2 Fiddler's Bridge Road Staatsburg, NY 12580.  Chung Wha-Hong presents "The Current State of Immigration Reform?" 
 
Thanks to the leadership of the wonderful folk at Cornwall Presbyterian Church, we will be joining folks in eastern Orange County for a celebration of Rural Sunday on June 3rd. If you would like to join in, let us know and we will get you the information.
 
 
This year Farmworker Advocacy Day will be a virtual day!  We are putting together a complete farmworker advocacy day via the web!  You can join in and save time and money since you won't have to actually go to Albany.  It will work like this: You can join hundreds of others and listen to testimonies, songs and chants on line and you can even visit your legislator!  As soon as we get this set up, we will let you know!  Our goal is to have the virtual FAD sometime in May.
 

SUPPORT US 

We are beginning to put together the summer camps and other programs for our youth. this year we are pleased to announce a new day camp in Pine Plains that will serve northern Dutchess and southern Columbia county. Unfortunately the costs of offering a great summer camp are going up. If you would like to make a donation to support the children please call us at (845) 485-8627 or you can make your donation by mail P.O. Box 4757 Poughkeepsie, NY 12602.

Do you know a College student who is looking for a great internship? Applications for Summer Internships are now being accepted. 

WE SURE COULD USE YOUR HELP:

• Volunteers to help out part time in the office
  
• Drivers for our Youth Program (to ensure safety for everybody - we do background checks)
  
• Help with our Internet newsletter
  
• Journalists
  
• Donation of a relatively new vehicle with low mileage and in good working condition
  
  

Give Janaira a call in the office - if you are able to join us!
845-485-8627