Information Session and Legal Clinic: DACA Renewal Following the Announcement of the Program’s Termination

On Monday, September 18th, Ceiba and Esperanza Immigration Legal Services will organize an information session to update the community on DACA following the announcement of its termination earlier this month.

The event will take place in Ceiba’s new office, located at 174 W Diamond St Philadelphia PA 19122 (on the corner of Diamond and Hancock).

“It is important to fully understand what the termination of DACA could mean for you. For example, those whose DACA expires between September 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018 have until October 5, 2017 to complete the renewal process,” said Mary Clark, Esq., the Executive Director of Esperanza Immigration Legal Services. There will be immigration lawyers at the Information Session to answer questions and help with renewal applications.

“Staying informed of the status of DACA under the current reality is not only important for those who qualify for renewal. This information helps everyone avoid being a victim of fraud. There are scammers who would take advantage of sad moments, such as this, to scam our friends and family,” expressed Diego Tapia, Ceiba Program Director.  

The session will also provide information regarding financial assistance to cover the costs of renewal.

For more details about the Information Session, call 215-634-4846 or visit facebook.com/ceibaphiladelphia or www.ceibaphiladelphia.org/es

Newsworks.org: Translation help at the polls

Newsworks.org spoke with Ceiba's Executive Director, Will Gonzalez, about translation and interpretation assistance at the polls. Read the complete article here.

The article poses the question of what kind of translation and interpretation help is required at the polls and notes that the requirements vary across counties and polling places. 

"Reasonable and effective," says Will Gonzalez, who heads Philadelphia-based Latino coalition Ceiba. "Those are the two subjective terms by which you judge compliance [with the Voting Rights Act.]...[It comes down to] balancing the need of limited English proficient citizens in a particular precinct relative to the resources available."

Cesar Liriano attends a poll watchers training with the Lebanon County Democrats at Hoss’s Restaurant.  (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

Univision covers Ceiba/Esperanza Info Session about ITINs and DACA

Ceiba and Esperanza Immigration Legal Services (EILS) organized an event to bring the Latino community up to date on the status fo DACA in light of the recent US Supreme Court decision - and to introduce the new rules requiring ITIN holders to renew their numbers. The June 30, 2016 informational session was covered by Univision and the complete news clip can be viewed in Spanish here.

Diego Tapia talks to 69 News about the ITIN

Diego Tapia, Program Director at Ceiba, spoke to 69 News about the economic contributions of immigrants to the economy - and about how the ITIN helps immigrants participate in the economy more fully.

According to a report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), more than 50% of undocumented people pay taxes using an ITIN number. Diego Tapia informed viewers about the benefits that an ITIN can provide, above and beyond being able to present a tax return and claim applicable refunds and credits: 

"In the future, if [immigrants] want to buy a house, if they want to get a car, credit cards, the ITIN provides that opportunity as well," said Diego Tapia to 69 News.

For more details, read the complete article (both in Spanish).

Telemundo: Ceiba's Executive Director urges the Latino community to vote!

In an interview with Telemundo 62, Will Gonzalez, Executive Director of Ceiba, urged the Latino community to participate in the upcoming elections - both in April and November. 

"We ask that people vote. Those that can't, due to their legal status, should encourage friends, spouses, and family members who can," said Gonzalez. 

Read the complete interview or watch the video (in Spanish).

And if you, a friend or a family members is still not registered to vote, prepare now for the November elections by registering online today at www.votespa.com.

Press Release: Ceiba and NCLR Announce Special Panel Event

On March 30, 2016 at 4pm Ceiba and NCLR will lead a panel of invited guests in a discussion of recent changes to low income tax credits and the ITIN number. Join Ceiba and NCLR to learn about these important changes and their impact on immigrants. Read the press release below or view the event flyer for complete details. 

Ceiba takes 3rd Place in Anti Poverty Solutions Competition

On December 1, 2015, Ceiba's Unauthorized Immigrant Asset Building project was voted the 3rd Best Anti Poverty Solution at a forum hosted by the Philadelphia Social Innovations Lab and its literary counterpart, the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal. Ceiba's project uses free tax return preparation for unauthorized immigrants as a gateway to asset building.  

The competition was rigorous and lasted a year. More than 60 organizations entered the contest. Fifteen of them passed to the semifinal round where they received:

• 12 weeks of instruction at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
• Consultations with experienced social innovation entrepreneurs to enhance core comptencies.
• The opportunity to participate in a Business Plan Pitch Competition at the forum. 

Ceiba secured its 3rd place finish with its pitch before members of Philadelphia's philanthropic and social innovations community. 

For more details on Ceiba's participation in this competition, visit the Social Innovations Lab webpage or read the letter below.

Ceiba and NCLR call on Congress to Support the EITC and CTC Tax Credits

This video collaboration with NCLR features Ceiba's Executive Director Will Gonzalez talking about the importance and value of income tax credits for working families and their communities.

The Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit are keys to financial stability for families and economic development for local communities. Ceiba joins NCLR in urging Congress to support these credits.

Al Día: Ceiba advocates to protect tax credits for working families

Ceiba joined Concilio, Juntos and NCLR in advocating to protect tax credits for working families currently scheduled to expire at the end of 2017. The event was covered by the Al Día newspaper and the article about the event can be found online on the Al Día website.

El Sol: Ceiba calls on HUD and PHA to increase Latino access to affordable housing

On October 2, 2015 El Sol Latino newspaper published this article on Ceiba's call to increase Latino access to public housing. 

The article highlights Ceiba's efforts to increase awareness of public housing disparity and it's call to remedy Latino underrepresentation in public housing. 

"Latinos are underrepresented in the tenant rolls of PHA. The 2013 American Community Survey revealed that Latinos comprise 22.5% of the people eligible for PHA housing, yet according to PHA, Latinos represent only 7.2 percent of their tenant population."

"We believe that it is time to bring HUD into the conversation. Latino underrepresentation in PHA housing has gone on for too long and we need to find new ways to end the disparate impact on our community," said Will Gonzalez, the Executive Director of Ceiba. Read more...

Ceiba's project selected as a winner at Anti-Poverty Solutions Summit

Ceiba's Unauthorized Immigrant Asset-Building Project was among the winners at the Anti-Poverty Solutions Summit held by the Philadelphia Social Innovations Lab. 

As a winner, Ceiba has been invited to participate in the Fall 2015 Social Innovations Lab Cohort. The Philadelphia Social Innovations Lab is an outgrowth of the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal. 

Ceiba's collaborative voter ID work highlighted in new book

Ceiba's collaborative efforts with The Latino Voter ID Work Group have been highlighted in a new book titled "Partnerships for Health and Human Service Nonprofits."

The book is "the first comprehensive guide and toolkit for creating meaningful and successful nonprofit partnerships." Ceiba's work is profiled in the section titled "The Latino Voter ID Work Group: A Case Study of Collaborative Leadership in Philadelphia's Barrio." The case study can also be found online in the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal.

Al Día Announces Ceiba's June 15, 2015 Workshop

Ceiba's June 15 financial workshop for immigrants was announced by the Al Día newspaper in an article in the June 14-20 edition. The workshop, in Spanish, will cover mortgages for ITIN holders, efforts to allow unauthorized immigrants to obtain driver's licenses, and the latest information about immigration policies. Join Ceiba on June 15 at 6pm at 147 W. Susquehanna Ave.

Al Día publishes Ceiba's voting rights guide

The Al Día newspaper has published a voting rights guide created by The Committee of Seventy, Congreso and Ceiba. The guide is available in English and Spanish. Read it today - May 19 - for important tips before going to the polls!

Telemundo interviews Ceiba Executive Director about Voting Rights

Know your voting rights! Get ready to vote on May 19 by watching this Telemundo interview with Ceiba Executive Director Will Gonzalez.

The interview (in Spanish) brings you useful and up-to-date information about your rights as a voter. In this additional interview, Will Gonzalez, speaks further about voting rights and Philadelphia's commitment to prevent voter fraud. 

International Business Times quotes Ceiba's Executive Director on Health & Taxes

An April 14, 2015 International Business Times article about tax penalties for people without health insurance quoted Ceiba Executive director Will Gonzalez: 

"I don't think the fine has been the nudge factor that it was designed to be," said Will Gonzalez, executive director of Ceiba, a coalition of Latino community organizations in Philadelphia that offers free tax preparation as part of its services. "I still think that there's a need to help people understand the [enrollment] process more." 

The article, including additional comments by Will Gonzalez, can be read in its entirety on the International Business Times website

Philadelphia Inquirer & KYW News Radio Highlight Ceiba's Health and Taxes Days

The government announced a special time period to enroll in health insurance while filing taxes and Ceiba responded by offering additional days where clients can take advantage of free of two-in-one services. The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW News Radio highlighted Ceiba's efforts.

Complete text of the Inquirer article is available on Philly.com. 

Visit KYW News Radio for their full article or click to listen to the radio version.

"When nonprofit executive Will Gonzalez heard about the special enrollment period allowing people to buy health insurance when they file their income tax returs, he knew what he had to do. 'We're planning for more health and taxes days,' said Gonzalez, executive director Ceiba... On Feb. 20, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that from March 15 to April 30, uninsured people can buy a plan on the Affordable Care Act marketplace - www.healthcare.gov - when they file their tax returns." 

Ceiba will offer three additional tax preparation sessions with the opportunity to enroll in health insurance on March 19 and 26 and April 2. The sessions will take place at Concilio. Call (215) 627-3100 for an appointment. 

Al Día asks, "Plastic or Cash?" Ceiba responds...

Will Gonzalez, Executive Director, and Diego Tapia, Program Director, give commentary on the credit and debt in this Al Día newspaper article. Full text (in Spanish) available here. (January 11-17, 2015 edition.) 

Ceiba & HBA Organize Successful Expungement Clinic

More than 150 people came to the Norris Square Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, to participate in a free legal Expungement Clinic to clear their criminal records. The event was organized by Ceiba and the Hispanic Bar Association of PA (HBAPA) with the support from the Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (PLSE). Univision covered the event and the news clip (in Spanish) is available here. 

Expungement is the process by which some criminal records are sealed and destroyed. This applies mostly to arrests where there are no convictions and to summary offense convictions such as disorderly conduct, reckless driving, and some retail theft offenses that are usually punishable only by a fine. A 2009 law permits people to clear their record of convictions for summary offenses if they have been free of arrest or prosecution for at least five years. The goal of the clinic was to provide information to community residents about the Expungement Process, screen people for pro bono representation, and assign pro bono cases to volunteer attorneys

Eleven volunteer attorneys and 10 law students prepared 110 intakes for people interested in pro bono representation to expunge their criminal record. The next steps of the process will be to: 

• Review the intakes and determine which applicants can be offered pro bono representation

• Distribute the accepted applications among the volunteer attorneys

• Draft the Expungement petitions

• Represent clients at petition hearing

Thanks to Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (PLSE), clients whose income falls below 200% of the poverty line are eligible to have their court filing fees waived. 

People accepted for pro bono representation will be contacted by the end of November. The drafting of Expungement petitions will take place in December and January. Petition hearings are expected to take place in February and March. 

Contact PLSE (www.plsephilly.org) or (215) 995-1230 for information about additional Expungement Clinics in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Eagles Honor Ceiba

Ceiba was honored with the 2014 Eagles Hispanic Leadership Award.

The award recognized the "positive impact... made to our local Hispanic community, while exhibiting outstanding leadership characteristics and success in elevating and empowering the local Hispanic community."  Will accepted the award on September 21, 2014 on the field before the Eagles football game