News & Views

Weekly Wins Round-up: February 2022

Dear HIAS PA Supporter,

We are devastated about the war in Ukraine, and all of the tragedy striking Kyiv and spreading rapidly throughout the rest of Ukraine in these moments. On top of everything that is happening, the Russian army bombed the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial, which honored the memory of the 34,000 Jewish Ukrainians who were slaughtered by Nazis over a two-day period in 1941. We are, however, bolstered by the Ukrainians who continue to put on a brave face in the fight for freedom against Putin and his army. Please read our statement on what is happening in Ukraine and find out how to advocate for Ukrainians. We are keeping all of the citizens of Ukraine in our hearts.

While terrible things are happening throughout the world, there are glimmers of hope all around us. As an agency, our daily successes, big and small, remind us to find joy in each new day. I am, as always, delighted and proud to be able to once again share our HIAS PA wins with you. Please join me in celebrating our successes!


School is back in session!

Every school year, HIAS PA’s Youth Team goes into 4 Philly high schools to give Know Your Rights (KYR) presentations to the newcomer youth, the majority of whom are from Central America and in need of immigration legal assistance. We partner with La Puerta Abierta, an organization who runs newcomer youth support groups at the schools.

We teach the students about their rights (i.e. the right to feel safe and not be bullied, the right to an education, etc.), we discuss what to do if students or their families encounter Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), explain immigration court, explain different types of immigration benefits such as Special Immigrant Juvenile Visa Status (SIJS) and asylum, and we end with a discussion about how to fund higher education as an undocumented student. We offer free consultations after each presentation, and we are ultimately able to take on some of the kids’ cases.

Last year we were totally virtual due to the pandemic, and it was difficult to engage with the students as many newcomer youth felt isolated and unengaged with school. This past month, however, we were able to return to giving in-person presentations for the first time in over a year, and we provided close to 100 newcomer students with valuable KYR information and resources! It was great for the entire team to finally get some face time with the kiddos, and we were ecstatic as always to provide this critical information to them about their rights as immigrant youths!

-Stephanie Lubert, Immigrant Youth Advocacy Managing Attorney


Wellness Wednesday cooks up success!

Every Wednesday, the Immigrant Health and Wellness Team partners with the Education team to provide wellness activities to our English as a Second Language (ESL) students. One Wellness Wednesday per month, we partner with the Free Library of Philadelphia to host a free cooking class. With the help of volunteers, we drop off ingredients the day before to our clients so that they can cook along – this week, we cooked pancakes! Cooking week is one of my favorites because of the way we can all unite over food!

-Anna Shaffer, Immigrant Wellness Case Manager


Husband and wife are one step closer to getting driver’s licenses

With today’s mail challenges, it can be a difficult process to ensure that clients get the documentation and information they need in order to apply for and obtain their driver’s licenses and/or state identification. After months of delays and a confirmation letter that never arrived, the Legal Presence Manager at PennDOT was able to help one of my clients obtain his State ID!

At the same time, we were having trouble obtaining a document for another client from the Social Security office. We were able to reach a representative who helped us obtain that document and went the extra mile to mail it not only to me at the office, but to the client’s home address as well. After a long wait, we are now only steps away from this client and her husband being able to apply for a state ID and/or driver’s license. Kind acts like that have made this week sweeter not just for the client, but for me as well!

-Michelle Nava, Immigrant Victims of Crime Case Manager


Thank you for your continued support of HIAS Pennsylvania. I hope that these Weekly Wins from HIAS PA staff give you a lift, as they do me. Look out for more wins at the beginning of next month—and we hope to see you at the 2022 Golden Door Awards!

In health,

Cathryn Miller-Wilson

TONIGHT (4/20) - Join us ONLINE at the 2023 Golden Door Awards!

Join us ONLINE at 6:45PM TONIGHT, Thursday, April 20th, for HIAS PA's 2023 Golden Door Awards: United for Immigrants!

Happy Passover from HIAS Pennsylvania!HIAS PA is closed in observance of the Jewish holiday of Passover

HIAS Pennsylvania will be closed in observance of the Jewish holiday of Passover from 1PM on Wednesday, April 5th through Friday, April 7th, and on Wednesday, April 12th and Thursday, April 13th.

Join us at the 2023 Golden Door Awards!United for Immigrants

The Golden Door Awards is HIAS Pennsylvania's annual fundraiser. Your generous support helps us serve low-income immigrants from all over the world as they build new lives in our community.

Building closed until further noticeHIAS PA remains open!

HIAS PA’s physical offices at 600 Chestnut Street are CLOSED until further notice due to a burst pipe in the building.

Our organization remains open, and HIAS PA staff continue to work remotely at this time.

Please call (215) 832-0900 with any questions.

Building closed until further noticeHIAS PA remains open!

HIAS PA’s physical offices at 600 Chestnut Street are CLOSED until further notice due to a burst pipe in the building.

Our organization remains open, and HIAS PA staff continue to work remotely at this time.

Please call (215) 832-0900 with any questions.

TONIGHT: Join us at the table!Join us for Thankful Together!

Thankful Together, formerly known as Refugee Thanksgiving, is happening TONIGHT at 6PM!

Register here to join us tonight: https://hiaspa1.wpengine.com/event/thankful-together-2021/

Celebrate our volunteers who make this all possible!Click here at 11:45AM to join our Annual Meeting!

Click here to join our virtual Annual Meeting!

The Annual Meeting starts at noon, but join us at 11:45AM for an informal chat before the event!

POSTPONED! Speed Advocacy: Afghanistan

Today's Speed Advocacy: Afghanistan Facebook Live event has been postponed due to a worldwide Facebook outage. We will update you as soon as possible about rescheduling the event.