Sounds of Upper Darby

“Sounds of Upper Darby”

International Mother Language Day

January 31, 2014 – Upper Darby, PA. Upper Darby Township and Upper Darby Multicultural Commission will Present International Mother Language Day 2014.

On February 22, 2014 Upper Darby Township and the Upper Darby Multicultural Commission (UDMCC) will host International Mother Language Day at Beverly Hills Middle School.  Beverly Hills Middle School is located at 1400 Garrett Road, Upper Darby, PA.  The school has ample parking and is accessible by public transportation.

Last year, Mayor Thomas Micozzie proclaimed February 21, 2013 as International Mother’s Language Day.  He remarked that:

“Upper Darby Township is proud of the diversity of culture and the rich traditions that so vitally enhance our community. It is key to protect linguistic diversity in our township cultural acceptance. International Mother Language Day endorses the fact that languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. It is important to note the Upper Darby Township and School District incorporates over 62 languages and dialects in this very proud and diverse community.

Language is fundamental to communication of all kinds, and it is communication that makes change and development possible in human society. There is growing awareness that languages play a vital role in development, in ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, but also in strengthening collaboration and attaining quality education for all.”

In November 1999, the General conference of the United Nations educational, Scientific and Cultural organization proclaimed the 21^st day of February of every year as International Mother Language Day. The date represents the day in 1952 when students demonstrating for recognition of their language, Bangla, as one of the two national languages of the then Pakistan, were shot and killed by police in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. This is an event in world history where citizens of a country gave their lives in a non-violent protest movement to retain the right to use their mother language.

The event on February 22 will celebrate cultural diversity and multilingualism.  There are fun activities for children and families.  Everyone is invited. The event is free and open to all.

For additional information, call Raya Fagg at 610.734.7784 or email rfagg@upperdarby.org.  

The Upper Darby Multicultural Commission was developed in October 2013 by Mayor Thomas N. Micozzie and Former Councilman Reverend Nate Goodson to cultivate the growing diversity in Upper Darby Township.  The UDMCC will provide information for diversity models for policy recommendations on crime, housing, education, nutrition, and economic development. 

Notario Fraud Project

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Raya Fagg

Upper Darby Township Welcome Center

(610).734.7784 or rfagg@upperdarby.org

“The Wrong Help Can Hurt”

The Notario Fraud Project

January 2, 2014 – Upper Darby, PA. The Upper Darby Township Welcome Center has partnered with Vanessa Stine of the Notario Fraud Project to present an information session about fraud in the immigrant community.  The one hour session will be held at The Welcome Center on Monday, January 27, 2014, from 10 AM to 11 AM with time for questions. 

In many Spanish speaking countries, a notario, which is a public notary in the U.S., is a lawyer.  There is an issue with individuals advertising legal services as notarios, and thus confusing immigrants and tricking them into paying thousands for the "expertise."  On top of that, not all lawyers are good lawyers - there are some lawyers who willfully mislead clients and cheat them out of thousands by telling them they have a way to get papers when in reality there is no legal path for them.  Stand up and say enough is enough - help combat notario and immigration fraud in the Philadelphia area.  

The Notario Fraud Project was started by Vanessa Stine, a Villanova University Law Student, to raise awareness about the issue.  Stine has a mission to educate about the legal remedies available to victims of fraud.  The project has conducted research, interviews, and identified possible solutions for residents who have been deceived through illegal practices. 

The Upper Darby Township Welcome Center is dedicated to assisting residents new to the country.  The center is located at 7000 Walnut Street and open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. 

The event is free and open to all, however, space is limited. Please reserve your seat by calling Raya Fagg at 610.734.7784 or emailing rfagg@upperdarby.org.   

The Upper Darby Township Welcome Center and its programs are sponsored by Upper Darby Township, Thomas N. Micozzie, Mayor

Good Things Come to The Goodwill!

Happy New Year!! 

Several new classes will be offered at the Job Resource Center in Lansdowne this month:

Note: All classes will be held at the Upper Darby Goodwill located at 201 E Baltimore Avenue

Free GED Classes

The Job Resource Center is partnering with Pathways PA to offer free GED classes in the Job Resource Center classroom.  Classes will begin on Tuesday, January 7^th and will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m.  – 12:00 p.m.  Classes will operate on an open enrollment system (interested individuals can join at any time) and typically last 10 weeks.  To enroll, call Britney Gaines at (610) 543-5022 ext. 261, or email bgaines@pathwayspa.org.  Getting your GED is a great first step in making yourself more marketable to potential employers!

Free Budgeting & Financial Literacy Classes

The Job Resource Center is partnering with Clarifi to offer a series of free financial literacy workshops in the Job Resource Center classroom.  Classes will begin on Tuesday, January 14^th and will be held in the afternoons from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.  These workshops are designed to help participants establish a budget, save more money, improve credit, and reduce debt.  Sign up for one workshop or all three!

-          Tuesday, January 14^th: Saving for your Goals

-          Tuesday, January 21^st: Show Me My Money! A Lesson about Budgeting

-          Tuesday, January 28^th: Understanding your Credit Report

To register, stop by the Job Resource Center or give us a call at (610) 623-2973.  While class attendance is free, childcare will not be provided. 

Free Job Search & Employability Skills Classes

Finally, we will be hosting a new round of Job Search & Employability Skills classes in the Job Resource Center classroom on Thursday mornings and afternoons during the month of January.

-          Thursday, January 9^th:      Computer Job Search for Beginners (9:00 – 11:00 a.m.)

-          Thursday, January 16^th:    Computer Job Search for Beginners (9:00 – 11:00 a.m.)

                                                  Basic Microsoft Word (1:00 – 3:00 p.m.)

-          Thursday, January 23^rd:   Computer Job Search for Beginners (9:00 – 11:00 a.m.)

                                                  Interviewing Skills (1:00 – 3:00 p.m.)

-          Thursday, January 30^th:    Computer Job Search for Beginners (9:00 – 11:00 a.m.)

                                                                  Mock Interviews (1:00 – 3:00 p.m., by appointment)

To register, stop by the Job Resource Center or give us a call at (610) 623-2973.  Pre-registration is required, as class space is limited.

January is National Blood Donor Month

Blood is usually in short supply during the winter months due to the holidays, travel schedules, bad weather and illness. January, in particular, is a difficult month for blood centers to collect donations. Poor turnouts can put our nation’s blood supply at a critical low. The AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks), along with America’s Blood Centers, is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the importance of voluntary blood donation. Every day in the United State, blood is needed in hospitals to care for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident and trauma victims. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.


Facts About Blood: 

• More than 38,000 blood donations are needed each day.
• Blood can be separated into at least three components: red blood cells, plasma, and platelets.
• Just one blood donation can help save up to three lives.
• 60% of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, but only 5 % actually donate.
• Blood and blood products are perishable. Donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection

A blood donation truly is a “gift of life” that a healthy individual can give to others who are sick or injured.

Continue your holiday giving and donate now!

To learn more about blood donation visit www.aabb.org. To find areas in your community where you can donate blood, visit https://www.membersforlife.org/pennj/schedule/bdc_zip.php to search by zip code.

PRESTIGIOUS GRAMMY CAMP®

Two Upper Darby High School students have been selected along with 30 other talented teens, to perform in the 2014 Grammy Camp Jazz Session.  The students, Immanuel Wilkins and Yesseh Furaha-Ali, play the saxophone.

GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session has been fostering the next generation of music and its makers since 1993, and the results have been truly impressive," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy^®. "Not only do these young people have a once-in-a-lifetime experience during GRAMMY Week playing with their peers as well as with GRAMMY-nominated and GRAMMY-winning artists at a range of events, but many of them go on to enjoy thriving performance careers, including singer/pianist Peter Cincotti, three-time GRAMMY-nominated jazz pianist Gerald Clayton, New York Philharmonic bassist David J. Grossman, GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter Brandon Heath, saxophonist Grace Kelly, and pianist Aaron Parks, among others."

The selected students will perform at various GRAMMY Week events including — for the fifth year— an appearance at GRAMMY In The Schools Live! — A Celebration Of Music & Education, sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund. This special evening, which is open to the public, will showcase the selectees, along with special guest artists, on Jan. 22, 2014, at the University of Southern California. The group will offer another public performance at Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment with a special guest artist on Jan. 23. GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session members will also attend the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 26 as guests of The Recording Academy and will perform at theGRAMMY Celebration® after-party.

On Jan. 23–25, the young musicians will again record at the legendary Capitol Studios & Mastering in Hollywood, Calif., courtesy of the EMI Music Group. GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session albums from 2007–2013 are available for purchase at online music outlets such as Amazon, iTunes, Napster, and Rhapsody.

The GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session selectees are eligible for more than $2 million in college scholarships made possible through the GRAMMY Foundation's college partners: Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and USC Thornton School of Music. In addition, each selectee's school will receive a professional cymbal courtesy of the Zildjian Company.

Check out the two in the below video taken during an appearance in Memphis.