(Utica, NY – May 2013) The Office for New Americans (ONA) Opportunity Center invites community members to come to the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees (MVRCR), 309 Genesee St. on June 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and learn about having a voice in the community.
Conducted by the ONA Opportunity Center in conjunction with the Mohawk Valley Latino Association, NAACP Utica/Oneida County Branch, the League of Women Voters, and the Oneida County Board of Elections, the event will provide an opportunity for community members to connect with advocates and leaders and learn about opportunities to become full and active members within their community.
In addition to highlighting the ONA Opportunity Center, which offers immigrants and refugees a variety of services and classes, the event will provide an opportunity to meet representatives from local ethnic and civic organizations dedicated to helping individuals take an active role in their community.
Dana Hubbard, Project Coordinator for the Opportunity Center, states, “There are many individuals, including immigrants and refugees, who are unable or unwilling to participate in local events and activities due to language, cultural, and educational barriers. It is our hope that through events such as “Have a Voice in Your Community” these populations will gain the tools and confidence needed to participate in the community.”
Also featured during the event is a mock election sponsored by the Oneida County Board of Elections. The Oneida County Election Commissioners are providing voting machines to the even because, “there are many populations within Utica who are able to vote, but fail to do so because of a fear of the process and a lack of voter education. As many of the participants will be ineligible to vote due to age or immigration requirements, the hope is that this event will help build a foundation for future voters.”