PAA Monthly Newsletter - January 2013

PAA MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

January 2013

 

Programs/Staff News

In December the Supportive Services Department welcomed Katarzyna McDowell as a case manager for IFRP and SNAP. Katarzyna holds Master Degree in Rehabilitation Pedagogy and Associate Degree in Social Work. She works out of our South Side office Monday through Wednesday from 9 am – 5 pm and on Thursday from 9 am – 2 pm. Katarzyna  can be reached at ext. 203 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The Career Center is organizing a free FAFSA session on Monday, January 28 from 5 to 9 pm. The workshop will take place in the PAA computer lab located at 3815 N. Cicero. A representative from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will provide assistance with filing applications online. For more information please call Bianka.

We are still recruiting students for our winter/spring citizenship classes at both our locations. For the class schedule or to register please call Janina.

New American Initiative Program invites all eligible Permanent Residents to a free CITIZENSHIP WORKSHOP on Saturday, January 19. The workshop will take place at St. Hyacinth Basilica located at 3636 W. Wolfram Street in Chicago. Registration will be held from 9-10.30 am. For complete information please go to our website or call Grazyna, Teresa or Basia.

Our next cycle of the computer classes is starting now. We are still recruiting students for a paid Intermediate MS Word and Basic Excel class. For the class schedule or to register please call Bianka.

There are still few openings in the ESL and ABE classes. For more information please call: Kasia Koptilin, Mira Krolikowska, Magda Krzeminska, Agnieszka Sobczyk (North Side classes) AND Malgosia Bodyziak (South Side classes).

The registration for the CNA classes (both free and tuition) is ongoing. If you are interested, please contact Basia Gawronska or Jagoda.

The Learning Center continues searching for instructors to teach in our CNA Program. The candidates must be the Illinois licensed R.N. and meet the requirements of the Department of Public Health. This is a part time position. For more information contact Basia Gawronska.

 

Staff Birthdates and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday and Sto lat to all who are having their birthday in January:

Jolanta Anacka, Jan Arendarski, Malgorzata Batog, Wieslawa Bieniewska, Malgorzata Bodyziak, Elzbieta Chrzanowska, Marianna Dzis, Maryla Jaworska, Ewa Koziol, Elzbieta Makowiecka, Teresa Palac, Teresa Poznanski, Bozena Sajdak, Katarzyna Swigon, Maria Trzmielewska, Elzbieta Wierzchon

Best Birthday Wishes to you!

 

From Gary’s Desk

Welcome to the New Year. I hope everyone had meaningful and safe holidays.

In December, the report of the City of Chicago and the New Americans Plan was finally released. As you remember this was a project I worked on over the summer from the Office of New Americans of the Mayor’s Office. The lengthy report can be accessed HERE

Thank you to those staff that helped in the Unity Food Program held at St. Ferdinand’s Church before the holiday.

jewelDec12

 

A few things we are co-sponsoring of interest to our clients:

On Saturday January 12th together with The Cook County Board of Review we will present a seminar on How to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment at St. Hyacinth Basilica-Resurrection Hall at 3636 W. Wolfram St. in Chicago. A flyer will be posted shortly.

Of course there will be a Citizenship Workshop on Saturday, January 19 from 9-10.30 am at St. Hyacinth Basilica-Resurrection Hall at 3636 W. Wolfram Street, Chicago.  See the link HERE.
On Sunday February 10th, we will be holding our Sunday Family Dinner at the White Eagle at 3 pm. More details to follow.

On Saturday March 9th along with the City of Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Department we will be co-sponsoring a Polish American Small Business Fair at the Copernicus Foundation as well. More details on that to follow soon.

Stay warm and of course have a wonderful safe and joyous New Year.

 

Development News

In December, we received the following grants: $35,000 from the Bank of America Foundation for the homeless shelter, food pantry, and benefits outreach; $5,000 from “Anonymous”, and $2,000 from the Emil J. & Marie D. Kochton Foundation for general operating support.

The year- end appeal generated $3,480 to date. We are still accepting and processing gifts, as they arrive in our every day mail. In addition, our students/clients year-end giving totaled so far over $3,820. Thank you all who made this possible.

 

Reminders & Other

The dates for the 10 paid holidays in 2013 are:

January 1, Tuesday            New Year
March 4, Monday            Pulaski Day
March 29, Friday            Good Friday
May 27, Monday            Memorial Day
July 4, Thursday            Independence Day
September 2, Monday        Labor Day
November 28, Thursday        Thanksgiving
November 29, Friday            Day after Thanksgiving
December 24, Tuesday        Christmas Eve
December 25, Wednesday        Christmas Day

Be prompt in signing your timesheets! They need to be turned in to Basia NO LATER than by the 5th of the following month.

All December Travel Vouchers must be accompanied by a copy of valid Drivers License and unexpired Insurance Card and submitted to Esper by January 10.

 

Be inspired

Write it in your heart that every day is the best day in the year.