Civic Engagement Archives - Kurtis Edwards

Public Charge and You

March 11, 2019 No Comments

Public charge is a term used in immigration law to refer to a person who is dependent on the government for support. When a person wants to enter the US or change their status to become a lawful citizen, they have to pass the public charge test or get a public charge waiver. A public charge test is done by looking at things like age, health, education and financial status. In October 2018, the federal government proposed changes to the public charge requirements that could negatively affect the immigrant population in Washtenaw County. Below is a look at current and proposed guidelines.

Current guidelines:

Cash assistance programs from state or local programs
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
General assistance or local cash assistance programs
Long-term institutional care programs

Proposed guidelines:

Additional state and local programs added, including health care, food, and housing programs
Low-income levels negatively affect public charge determinations
Applies to extending a nonimmigrant visa and changing the status of a nonimmigrant visa
Low English-speaking skills, physical or mental health conditions
negatively affect public charge decisions
If an immigrant is likely to become a public charge, they may be required to purchase a public charge bond for a minimum of $10,000. And they might also lose that money if they use government programs.

These changes are complex and could affect a lot of people, but there are a few important points to remember.

The changes are still only a proposal
The proposal will only apply to programs you use after the rules take effect
The changes do not apply to all immigrants
Your personal informations privacy is protected by law
There is still time

Proposed “Public Charge” Rule Change Forces Families to Make Impossible Choices

Civic and local engagement

Your Block, Your Neighborhood

March 11, 2019 No Comments

Being active in your neighborhood is called community engagement. In community engagement, there is a wide range of groups from block parties on up to big charitable organizations and government. For this piece, engagement is cooperating with our neighbors, city, or area to make things better.

Your block is a great place to start being a part of your neighborhood. You can start with something as easy as getting to know the people around you. Lots of people suggest merely hanging out on your front porch. Being outside and seen goes a long way. It can lead to other involvement activities likes scheduled playground days, dog park days, and maybe even lifelong family friends.

Welcoming new neighbors is a tried and true tradition. Welcoming a neighbor is as simple as saying hello and having a small conversation. You might even help them with local places, trash and recycling days, or when the mail arrives.

Another great activity that also introduces neighborhood-wide activities is celebrating National Good Neighbor Day on September 28. Throwing a small gathering or party does not have to expensive. The point is to keep the community close rather than throwing a large party.

Organizing neighborhood activities might seem like a big job, but it does not have to be big or time-consuming. Book clubs, HAM radio clubs, neighborhood sporting groups, or free little library groups are a couple of easy groups that come to mind. Little free libraries are homes or containers in a neighborhood that hold donated books for the community to use free of charge. Some communities erect containers that look like old newspaper vending machines.

A neighborhood watch program not only engages the community, but it also provides an extra level of security. Creating a watch group will take a bit of planning. Checking local government for rules is a good start. The National Crime Prevention Council offers a lot of information on starting your own watch group.

Neighborhood gardens are a time-tested way to engage your community. Many neighborhoods have areas or home lots that are unused and can be repurposed into gardens. Gardening keeps the neighborhood active and can provide needed food to neighbors who have low resources. It teaches self-empowerment to adults and children and also teaches how to be sustainable. Community engagement with your neighbors does not have to be complicated or expensive. Trying things like sitting on your front-porch or gardening can invite in people. Taking it up a level, holding book clubs or free libraries are a little more involved. If an organization is wanted, starting a community garden or neighborhood watch will bring real, touchable results to your neighborhood. It’s good to remember that neighborhoods need many different things and what you can offer is unlimited.

Civic and local engagement

Let’s go, let’s give, let’s volunteer

March 11, 2019 No Comments

Volunteering connects you to people in your community. It can be good for the mind and body. It gives a sense of fun and fulfillment. It can also help your job skills and career. You get the benefit of all those things and more while helping your community prosper.

When you volunteer you’ll be around other volunteers who come from many different backgrounds. Many people feel a need to give back. They need to have a sense of purpose. They want the activity. Some people crave the learning experience.

When you volunteer, you are helping make a difference in people’s lives. Charitable places and churches often cannot help their communities without volunteers. In times of emergency, a city might need more help than the government can give. Low-resourced and disadvantaged people might need more than just school and services. An African saying, “it takes a village to raise a child,” means we all can use and give support.

A great place to start volunteering is your local school. Children need a lot of attention and support. You can help out in after-school programs or out on the playground. You can help in youth sports leagues or in scout groups. You can even help with easier things like reading to children or monitoring field trips. A school bulletin board or community room is a great place to find who to call.

A hospital or local health clinic might also need the help of volunteers. Volunteers provide comfort, companionship, and support to patients, families, and visitors. Volunteers often do tasks like food service. They even help push patients in wheelchairs. Call or email your hospital’s community outreach or volunteer manager to get started.

Another wonderful way to volunteer is helping the homeless and hungry. Churches, food banks, and soup kitchens are always looking for volunteers to help. Many of those places cannot feed the hungry and house the homeless without volunteers. Finding churches and nonprofits to volunteer with is as easy as looking through the phone-book or a google search.

Giving your time and energy helps your community a lot. The saying, “it takes a village to raise a child,” helps us remember our communities need volunteers. Local volunteering can be done in many places like a school, hospital or church. Once you get started volunteering, you will be off on a journey you will remember forever.

Civic and local engagement

Nice Yard, Nice Block

March 11, 2019 No Comments

An important part of the community is living in and around other people. Keeping your home and neighborhood tidy helps people feel a sense of comfort. It starts with you leading by example. People will notice, and it might make them change too. None of the examples in this article cost a lot of money, but they do take a little bit of time.

Keeping your front yard clear and tidy is an easy way to lead by example. Plants and shrubs are cheap and go a long way at making your yard look neat. Most cities make you take care of the sidewalks around your house. In the summer this means keeping weeds cleared away. In the winter this means to keep snow cleared away as soon as possible. A tidy and stain free driveway also looks good.

Seasonal jobs around the house can be important too. In the summer, keeping your lawn mowed and the weeds in control goes a long way. Fall time means raking leaves. In the winter safety comes into play. It is very important to clear snow from sidewalks and driveways as soon as you are able. People can slip and fall. Springtime doesn’t need much, but you will want to make sure mud and puddles aren’t making slippery conditions.

Sometimes picking up outside of your yard can help lead by example. Keeping after your pets in your yard and on walks keeps neighbors happy. Save plastic grocery bags and take two with you. One to cover your hand and one as a waste bag. It is not just pets, picking up trash along a nightly walk or keeping storm drains clear will go a long way at cleaning your neighborhood. Sometimes a senior neighbor might need some help picking up litter too.

Neighborhood clean-ups are a great way to connect with neighbors and make the block shine. You will want to talk with your neighbors and local government to start. Adopting a local highway or expressway is another great networking and clean-up event. Many organizations like churches, scout groups, and school adopt roadways to pick up waste.

Reporting of areas that need cleaned-up can help spread the word. Maybe officials are not aware of the problem or people have not made enough of a fuss. Reporting graffiti might create a chance for street art to go up. Being active in community planning is a way to stay self-empowered and build a comfortable community.

A tidy home helps make a welcoming community. It starts with you leading by example. It might take a while to see the results, but it will not go unnoticed. Luckily, none of these ideas cost a lot of money and might even be fun.

Public Charge and You

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Your Block, Your Neighborhood

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Let’s go, let’s give, let’s volunteer

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Nice Yard, Nice Block

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