CHICAGO- More than three dozen advocates of different persuasions gathered at a community reflection, conversation, and celebration last Sunday, December 18th at Oakton Community Center in Skokie, Illinois. The reflection revolved around local and global events including among other things, the citizenship campaign for FilAm green card holders, youth involvement, community health education, and the Spring Uprising in Egypt.
Hopeful seniors
The seniors in the crowd shared their encouraging experience with the Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment (AFIRE). A widow expressed her appreciation of the help extended to her by Sally Velasco, an AFIRE volunteer. With very soft voice, the widow said, “When the Social Security Administration turned down my claim due to my husband’s lack of required work credits; Sally did not stop researching for possible benefits due me. She helped me deal with SSA until I got my Supplemental Security Income.”
Another senior highlighted the empowering health training and education conducted by AFIRE last year. “I am inspired by the participation of the youth. I remember Ms. Lori Bernardino of Northwestern University when she was video taping our CPR class and she even published her news coverage of our health training and education to the Northwestern Medill newsletter. The young generation is very helpful and proactive. I am hopeful that the current young FilAms will bring more dynamism to the community in 2012.”