July Programs

I hope that you are all keeping well and enjoying a quiet and restful summer. 

A few brief notes to highlight regarding the IDC.    

At the moment the office has reopened but is strictly by appointment only. We are limiting the traffic to ensure that everyone remains safe.  

Please note that the passport office in Dublin has yet to resume regular services so there are long delays with passport and citizenship applications. If you are eligible to renew your Irish passport online, that is the most efficient way to process the document. 

Consultations for the legal clinic still remain virtual and our volunteer attorneys stand ready to answer your immigration questions.  Take a look at our social media feeds for up-to-date information about the recent executive orders related to immigration. 

We are pleased to announce our first, monthly will  US Citizenship Day! Appointments can be scheduled for July 31 in the office to complete your application for the N-400 form requesting citizenship.  If you are debating whether now is the right time, be aware that fees are rising significantly in the fall.

All of our other programs will remain virtual for the time being. We have a two-part study group starting this month and genealogy continues over Zoom. 

For our teenagers, we have a fantastic Leadership for Life program (module 1) starting on Thursday over Zoom.  This will run twice a week until September. Students are eligible to receive a certificate from NUI, Galway on completion of the third module of Leadership for Life. This program is free but you need to get your application in by July 14 at 6 pm.

We are monitoring the current local COVID-19 recommendations and as circumstances change we will modify our programs. If there are any programs or seminars that you would like to see the IDC offer, please reach out to me at emily@idcphila.org.  

Please continue to stay safe and we hope to see you all again soon!

Emily Ashinhurst
Executive Director

Monday, July 20 from 2:30 PM  -  5:00 PM via Zoom video conferencing or phone.
Do you need some immigration advice? We are now offering our free immigration clinic through Zoom video conferencing. Every Monday we have one of our Immigration Lawyers available to answer any of your immigration questions or concerns. All are welcome. Our appointments are confidential and can be booked via our website using the butting below. For those of you who are unable to access Zoom, we can also do phone consultations.

Book Consultation

Leadership for Life. July 16 - September 3 
***A few places left. Sign up now ***
Sign up for Foróige's free virtual summer program - Leadership for Life today. Graduate with a Foundation Certificate in Youth Leadership and Community Action, which is accredited at NFQ Level 6 (National University Ireland, Galway). All are welcome

Module 1 Dates: July 16 - September 3
When: Every Tuesday and Thursday (3 PM - 4 PM over Zoom)

Learn more here

The history of An Gorta Mor and the Dust Bowl - Study group.   
Tue, Jul 28 and Tue, Aug 4, 7:00 PM  -  8:30 PM
Join facilitator, Bill McCray, for the first in our new study group series. This series encourages participants to work together to create an interactive Zoom session.

Each topic is a two-part program. The participants need to register in advance. They will receive instructions one week prior to commencing. Each lesson contains a brief summary of the event, questions to direct research and stimulate discussion, and a list of recommended resources including history, arts, and culture.

The first topic comparing and contrasting An Gorta Mor (the Great Hunger, Ireland), and the Dust Bowl (US). Each participant will receive a certificate for completion.

Please register for this group by July 17 by emailing Nicola at nicola@idcphila.org.

Irish County Genealogy Resources - Evening Genealogy Group
Thursday, July 30, 7:00 PM  8:30 PM
Join Genealogist, Lori Lander Murphy, as she discusses the different county resources available for Irish genealogy research. She will discuss some of the most popular tools available and how to access them to further your own research.
To sign up for this group please contact Nicola at nicola@idcphila.org. This meeting will be held over Zoom.

USA Citizenship Day - Friday, July 31, 2020, 10:00 AM  5:00 PM
Do you need some help with completing your U.S. citizenship paperwork? With U.S.C.I.S. fees about to increase in the fall perhaps now is the time. Book your appointment now at our free legal clinic to complete your documents and speak with an immigration lawyer.

Sign up here

COVID-19 Support and Virtual Programming

These are different times in which we are living! A world overwhelmed by so much at one time – illness, financial concerns, loneliness – and yet, everywhere I turn, messages of hope are in abundance! Families, while certainly stressed with the change in routine, have come together to create, talk, and play. Friends, normally too busy to connect, have found moments to call each other or use video ability to connect. Individuals who so often run from meeting to meeting, are now taking time to check in on neighbors they haven’t met. I am moved by the outpouring of people reaching out to the IDC to see how they can help our community. The Irish Community is strong and I draw so much comfort from that strength!

While social distancing and cocooning have become a part of our regular vocabulary in the past few weeks, you and your family are being thought of frequently and missed by the staff at the IDC. We miss seeing all your faces and spending time laughing and learning with you. As we are adapting to a virtual world, we have been working hard to modify our programs and services to meet the needs of the current climate. 

Our Immigration Clinic has moved to Zoom video and telephone conferencing. We have availability every Monday afternoon so please book your appointment through our website.  This is a great time to gather documents and get questions answered while your home and possibly looking for projects. See the link below for documents need for US Citizenship, Irish Citizenship and passport renewals.

We also have a number of virtual programs that include children's storytelling, a recipe exchange, genealogy and a book club. This afternoon we will have a Zoom hangout with our former Executive Director, Leslie Alcock. Please be sure to join us on Zoom and if you aren’t sure how, call or email Nicola for a quick tutorial. There are also some great videos online that show you how to “Zoom.”

As I said above, many from within this Irish Community have reached out to help. We are happy to take them up on these offers! To start the ball rolling we are pleased to offer several new resources:

1. HR specialist volunteer, Bill McCray will be offering assistance with how to obtain benefits for those that have lost their primary source of income. An appointment can be booked below.
2. Criminal Lawyer, Tom Ivory, is ready to answer any questions that you may have regarding legal worries relating to criminal backgrounds. This is especially helpful for those looking to go for US Citizenship.
3. A team of buddies are ready to help with shopping, drive people to medical appointments, or just pay a porch visit for those who need to see a human face at this time (maintaining an appropriate distance of course!). Please call Nicola on 610-789 6355 ext. 3202 for more information.

We will be revealing a larger community-driven relief effort later this week. Please stay connected to our online media for the details. Stay safe everyone. 

Emily Norton Ashinhurst
Executive Director
 

Get Unemployment Advice

Free Legal Clinic - Every Monday from 2:30 pm  -  5:00 pm via Zoom video conferencing.
Do you need some immigration advice? We are now offering our free immigration clinic through Zoom video conferencing. Every Monday we have one of our Immigration Lawyers available to answer any of your immigration questions or concerns. All are welcome. Our appointments are confidential and can be booked via our website using the butting below. For those of you who are unable to access Zoom, we can also do phone consultations.

Virtual Recipe Exchange  - Wednesdays at 3 pm via Zoom video conferencing 
Join us for some relaxation and ideas in our Virtual Recipe Exchange. Over Zoom, we will share recipe tips and tricks, from the quick and easy to the more advanced.  All are welcome and participation is encouraged.

Zoom Meeting sign-in
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/533532476?pwd=VnFObDJUM2RZc3pKNjQ0Rlo5UTZRZz09

Meeting ID: 533 532 476
Password: 614613

Irish American Genealogy Group - Identify your Ancestors
Thursday, April 2 at 3 pm - Facebook Live on the Irish Diaspora Center Facebook Page 
Do you have old family photos lying around your house which you can’t identify the individuals? Now is a great time to get organized and do some detective work. Irish Philadelphia's Lori Lander Murphy will give her first-ever Genealogy Facebook Live session for the Irish Diaspora Center which can help you solve some mysteries! Lori will give you contextual clues, identifying marks, details on clothing and photographers studios to help you get closer to their identity.

Virtual Storytime and Craft Session
Friday, April 3 at 2 pm- Facebook Live on the Irish Diaspora Center Facebook Page 
Tune into our virtual storytelling every Friday at 2 pm direct from Ireland to keep the young ones in your family entertained. Every week we will have a different story and craft-making activity. This is suitable for children up to 9 years old.