VOL. 1 NO.6 FREE PUBLICATION

THE CONSUMER ADVOCATEAn NNRA Publication. Visit www.myiqinc.com

BY BRIAN FIGEROUX, ESQ.FOUNDER/CHAIRMAN & CEO, NACC

Start your business today!Call 718-222-3155 for a FREE Small

BusinessConsultation

Brian Figeroux, Esq.

continued on page 2

Money for YourBusiness: TheEB5 Program

NACC Launches 2013 MulticulturalBusiness & Minority Franchise Expo

Knee Deep In Debt ...see page 4

Finding Health Insurance...see page 8

Your Money Has A Lifespan, Too...see page 14

Communicating During AnArgument

...see page 17

continued on page 5

The Obama Administration recentlyannounced that 10 public-privatepartnerships across America will

receive $20 million in total awards tohelp revitalize American manufacturingand encourage companies to invest in theUnited States.

The 10 partnerships were selectedthrough the Advanced ManufacturingJobs and Innovation AcceleratorChallenge, which is a competitive multi-agency grant process announced in May2012 to support initiatives that strength-en advanced manufacturing at the local

$20 Million for 10Public-PrivatePartnerships

continued on page 12

For FREE Passes to the NACC Multicultural Business & MinorityFranchise Expo

Text MYNACCto 41411

Brooklyn, NY: The NewAmerican Chamber ofCommerce (NACC), a member-

ship organization established inOctober 2005, with the mission ofadvancing, promoting and facilitatingthe success of minority businesses ispleased to announce its AnnualMulticultural Business & MinorityFranchise Expo on Thursday, June 202013, at the New York Marriott at theBrooklyn Bridge, 333 Adams Street,downtown Brooklyn. All businesses,chambers, entrepreneurs, budding andcurrent of all ages, professionals, non-

BY MARILYN SILVERMAN

The New American Chamber ofCommerce (NACC), the AfricanAmerican International Chamber of

Commerce (AAICC) and the New YorkStatewide Coalition of Hispanic Chambersof Commerce (NYSHCC), invite business

owners or potential business owners witha business plan to a discussion on fund-ing/ capitalizing your business throughEB5 investments or building a businessrelationships with foreign investorsthrough the E-2 Investor Program. Thisdiscussion, seminar, will be held onTuesday, December 11, 2012, at 5pm, at26 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY, Suite701. The seminar will also include infor-mation about the Chamber’s upcomingtrip(s) to China.Like many countries, the United States

provides a means of entry for investors tothe U.S., through EB5 and E2 invest-ments programs. (See the Immigrationand Nationality Act, at I.N.A. §203(b)(5),8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(5).) Listedat the State Department as the employ-ment Fifth Preference or EB-5 immi-grant visa, it allows temporary resi-dence immediately upon entry to theU.S. However, applicants for a U.S.

Why you should join NACC ... see page 16

IN THE NEWS 2

Small businesses help drive the U.S.economy, but because of their sizethey are also appealing cyber tar-

gets. The reality is that small businessesrepresent more than 90 percent of all themerchant data breach compromises thatVISA investigates. As part of NationalCyber Security Awareness month, VISAis hosting a webinar on small merchantdata security to help arm merchants withthe knowledge they need to better protectthemselves from online and other threats.

In this webinar, we will cover datacompromise trends and simple strategiessmall businesses can employ to help pro-tect their data. Just like insurance, financ-ing and a well-trained staff, data securityis essential to helping your business growand succeed. l

When: Tuesday, October 30, 10 am PT/1pm ET.Register at www.mynacc.org

October is National CyberSecurity Awareness Month

SecureCommerceWebinar forSmallBusinesses

green card based on investment must notonly invest between $500,000 and $1mil-lion in a U.S. business, and hire tenAmericans, they must take an active role inthat business, though they don’t need tocontrol it. Green cards for investors are limited in

number, to 10,000 per year. Of these, 3,000are reserved for investors in rural areas orareas of high unemployment. If more than10,000 people were to apply per year, youwould be placed on a waiting list based onyour Priority Date, the day you filed thefirst portion of your application.

Here are some of the advantages andlimitations to an investment-based greencard for the investor:nUSCIS rejects many more applicationsthan it accepts in this category. That is part-ly because the eligibility requirements arenarrow, and partly because of the catego-ry’s history of fraud and misuse. Somelawyers counsel their clients to use theirwealth to fit themselves into another cate-gory with a greater chance of success. Forexample, by investing in a company out-side the United States that has a U.S. affil-iate, the person might qualify to immigrateas a transferring executive or manager (pri-ority worker, in category EB-1).

nAs long as you have money to invest andcan demonstrate that you are in the processof investing it in a for-profit business, you

yourself do not need to have any particularbusiness training or experience. Nor doesthe law restrict entry to applicants fromcertain countries, although the immigrationauthorities are more suspicious when deal-ing with applicants from countries thathave exhibited a pattern of fraudulentapplications.

nYou can choose to invest your money ina business anywhere in the U.S., so long asyou maintain your investment for at leastthree years and are actively engaged withthe company you invest in.

nAfter approximately the first three years,you can work for another company or notwork at all.

nYou must actually live in the UnitedStates — you may not use the green cardonly for work and travel purposes.

nYour spouse and unmarried childrenunder the age of 21 can get green cards asaccompanying relatives.

nYour green card will initially be onlyconditional—that is, it will expire in twoyears, after which you will need to apply torenew it and make it permanent.

As with all green cards, yours can betaken away if you misuse it.

If you want to a build a relationshipwith an EB5 investor, issues you shouldbe aware of:

nGreen cards through investment areavailable to someone who invests a mini-mum of $1 million in creating a new U.S.

business or restructuring or expanding onethat already exists.

nWhere you got the money in the firstplace does not matter. Gifts and inheri-tances, for example, are fine. The key isthat you obtained the money lawfully.

nThe required dollar amount of the invest-ment may be reduced to $500,000 undercertain circumstances. USCIS also has theauthority to require a greater amount ofinvestment than $1million. This may occurwhen the investor chooses to locate thebusiness in an area that’s doing well eco-nomically, with low unemployment. Atpresent, USCIS policy is to not raise dollarinvestment requirements on this basis.

nThe business in which you invest mustemploy at least ten full-time workers (notcounting independent contractors), pro-duce a service or product, and benefit theU.S. economy. Full-time employment isdefined as requiring at least 35 hours ofservice per week.

nThe investor, his or her spouse, and anychildren may not be counted among the tenemployees. Other family members may becounted, however. The ten workers do notnecessarily have to be U.S. citizens, butthey must have more than a temporary(nonimmigrant) U.S. visa. Green cardholders and any other foreign nationalswho have the legal right to indefinitely liveand work in the U.S. can all be countedtoward the required ten.

It’s also important to realize that you won’tbe able to send the money, sit back, andawait your green card. The investor mustbe actively engaged in the company, eitherin a managerial or a policy-forming role.(See the Code of Federal Regulations at 8C.F.R. § 204.6(j)(5).) Passive investmentsdo not ordinarily qualify you for a greencard in this category. The investment mustbe made in a new commercial enterprise.You can either create an original business,buy a business that was established afterNovember 29, 1990, or buy a business andrestructure or reorganize it so that a newbusiness entity is formed.There are two exceptions to the rule that

the investment must be in a “new” com-mercial enterprise. The first exception isthat you can buy an existing business andexpand it. You would need to increaseeither the number of employees or the networth of the business by at least 40%. Youwould also need to make the full requiredinvestment ($1 million or $500,000depending on location) and you would stillneed to show that your investment createdat least ten full-time jobs for U.S. workers.The second exception to the “new” com-

mercial enterprise rule is that you can buya troubled business and save it from goingunder. To do this, you would need to showthat the business has been around for atleast two years and has had an annual lossof 20% of the company’s net worth at somepoint over the 24 months leading up to thepurchase. You must still invest the fullrequired amount, but you are not requiredto show that you created ten jobs. Instead,you would need to show that for two yearsfrom the date of purchase, you employed atleast as many people as were employed atthe time of the investment. l

For more information visit:www.mynacc.org

Money for YourBusiness: The EB5Programcontinued from page 1

President ObamaNeeds Your Help!

Volunteer to ensure his re-election

Visit

www.barackobama.com

to sign up and get more

information on how you can help.

The time for actionis NOW!

ARE YOU IN?

ABOUT US 3

THE CONSUMERADVOCATE TEAM

PublisherI.Q. INC.

Editor-in-ChiefPearl Phillip

ContributorsBrian Figeroux, EsqMarilyn SilvermanHeather PalenschatWinston WeiWalter EwingJennine EstesBen WinogradM. Starita Boyce AnsariMargo Carmichael Lester

Legal AdvisorBrian Figeroux, Esq.

Graphic & Website DesignersPraim SamsoondarSamantha RoseroLana Delgadillo

Marketing ExecutivesMarilyn SilvermanRuth McSweenBeverly Whint

Corporate Office26 Court Street, Suite 701Brooklyn, NY 11242Tel: 718-771-0988Fax: 718-222-3153Email: cariaweekly@aol.comWebsite: www.mynacc.org

The Consumer Advocate is a publicationof the New American Chamber ofCommerce (NACC), a 501 (c)(6) organ-ization established to promote, advanceand facilitate the success of NewAmerican businesses. While every efforthas been made to ensure the accuracy ofthis publication, it is not intended to pro-vide legal advice as individual situationswill differ and should be discussed with

CONFERENCEROOM RENTAL

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Prime Downtown Brooklyn Space

Visit www.mynacc.org

Call 718-771-0988

ext 112!

FORECLOSURE & BANKRUPTCY 4

Having trouble paying your bills?Getting dunning notices from credi-tors? Are your accounts being turned

over to debt collectors? Are you worriedabout losing your home or your car? You'renot alone. Many people face a financial crisissometime in their lives. Whether the crisis iscaused by personal or family illness, the lossof a job, or overspending, it can seem over-whelming. But often, it can be overcome.Your financial situation doesn't have to gofrom bad to worse.

If you or someone you know is in finan-cial hot water, consider these options: realis-tic budgeting, credit counseling from a rep-utable organization, debt consolidation, orbankruptcy. Debt settlement is yet anotheroption. How do you know which will workbest for you? It depends on your level ofdebt, your level of discipline, and yourprospects for the future.

Self-Help1. Developing a Budget: The first steptoward taking control of your financial situa-tion is to do a realistic assessment of howmuch money you take in and how muchmoney you spend. Start by listing yourincome from all sources. Then, list your"fixed" expenses — those that are the sameeach month — like mortgage payments orrent, car payments, and insurance premiums.Next, list the expenses that vary — likeentertainment, recreation, and clothing.Writing down all your expenses, even thosethat seem insignificant, is a helpful way totrack your spending patterns, identify neces-sary expenses, and prioritize the rest. Thegoal is to make sure you can make ends meeton the basics: housing, food, health care,

insurance, and education.2. Contacting Your Creditors: Contactyour creditors immediately if you're havingtrouble making ends meet. Tell them why it'sdifficult for you, and try to work out a modi-fied payment plan that reduces your pay-ments to a more manageable level. Don'twait until your accounts have been turnedover to a debt collector. At that point, yourcreditors have given up on you.3. Dealing with Debt Collectors: The FairDebt Collection Practices Act is the federallaw that dictates how and when a debt collec-tor may contact you. A debt collector maynot call you before 8 a.m., after 9 p.m., orwhile you're at work if the collector knowsthat your employer doesn't approve of thecalls. Collectors may not harass you, lie, oruse unfair practices when they try to collect adebt. And they must honor a written requestfrom you to stop further contact.4. Managing Your Auto and HomeLoans: Your debts can be unsecured orsecured. Secured debts usually are tied to anasset, like your car for a car loan, or yourhouse for a mortgage. If you stop makingpayments, lenders can repossess your car orforeclose on your house. Unsecured debts arenot tied to any asset, and include most creditcard debt, bills for medical care, signatureloans, and debts for other types of services.

Most automobile financing agreementsallow a creditor to repossess your car anytime you're in default. No notice is required.If your car is repossessed, you may have topay the balance due on the loan, as well astowing and storage costs, to get it back. Ifyou can't do this, the creditor may sell thecar. If you see default approaching, youmay be better off selling the car yourself and

paying off the debt: You'll avoid the addedcosts of repossession and a negative entry onyour credit report.

If you fall behind on your mortgage, con-tact your lender immediately to avoid fore-closure. Most lenders are willing to workwith you if they believe you're acting in goodfaith and the situation is temporary. Somelenders may reduce or suspend your pay-ments for a short time. When you resumeregular payments, though, you may have topay an additional amount toward the past duetotal. Other lenders may agree to change theterms of the mortgage by extending therepayment period to reduce the monthlydebt. Ask whether additional fees wouldbe assessed for these changes, and calculatehow much they total in the long term.

Debt Relief ServicesCredit Counseling: If you're not disci-

plined enough to create a workable budgetand stick to it, can't work out a repaymentplan with your creditors, or can't keep trackof mounting bills, consider contacting a cred-it counseling organization. Many creditcounseling organizations are nonprofit andwork with you to solve your financial prob-lems. But be aware that, just because anorganization says it's "nonprofit," there's noguarantee that its services are free, afford-able, or even legitimate. In fact, some creditcounseling organizations charge high fees,which may be hidden, or urge consumers tomake "voluntary" contributions that cancause more debt.

Debt Management PlansIf your financial problems stem from too

much debt or your inability to repay yourdebts, a credit counseling agency may rec-ommend that you enroll in a debt manage-ment plan (DMP). A DMP alone is not cred-

it counseling, and DMPs are not for every-one. You should sign up for one of theseplans only after a certified credit counselorhas spent time thoroughly reviewing yourfinancial situation, and has offered you cus-tomized advice on managing your money.Even if a DMP is appropriate for you, a rep-utable credit counseling organization still canhelp you create a budget and teach youmoney management skills.

Tax ConsequencesDepending on your financial condition,

the amount of any savings you obtain fromdebt relief services can be considered incomeand taxable. Credit card companies and oth-ers may report settled debt to the IRS, and theIRS considers it income, unless you are"insolvent." You are insolvent when yourtotal debts are more than the fair marketvalue of your total assets. Insolvency can befairly complex to determine — please talk toa tax professional if are not sure whether youqualify for this exception.

Protect Yourself Be wary of any debt relief organization that: < charges any fees before it settles yourdebts< pressures you to make "voluntary contri-butions," another name for fees< touts a "new government program" tobail out personal credit card debt < guarantees it can make your unsecureddebt go away < tells you to stop communicating withyour creditors < tells you it can stop all debt collectioncalls and lawsuits < guarantees that your unsecured debts canbe paid off for just pennies on the dollar.

Knee Deep in Debt

FREE BANKRUPTCY CONSULTATION

Documents Required:*List of debts*Your most recent tax returns*Correspondence from creditors*Lawsuit documents*Social Security and ID*List of assets

Collection Harassment:*Profane or Abusive Language*Threats/Yelling*Family or Neighbors Called?

Save Your:*Home*Business*Car*Health*Peace of Mind/Health*Marriage/Relationship

Filing a Chapter 7, 11or 13 bankruptcy maybe your only choice!

STOPCreditors’Harassment!

STOPLawsuits!

STOPForeclosures!

Get the legal help you need NOW! Call 718-834-0190!

For a FREE CONSULTATION call the Law Offices of Figeroux & Associates

Visit www.figeroux.com

26 Court Street, Suite 701Brooklyn, NY 11242Tel: 718-834-0190

1105 Nostrand AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11225Tel: 718-363-7788

continued on page 8

RECESSION & JOBS 5

profit organizations and youth accompa-nied by their parents or an adult are invitedto this one-day, business-to-business-event.

The day starts off at 8:00am with aWelcome VIP Breakfast where minoritybusiness owners, professionals and aspir-ing entrepreneurs will be inspired torelease their entrepreneur brilliance. Thosewho seek knowledge and empowermentcan take advantage of the 20+ educationalseminars covering the gamut, for example,small business boot camp (starting yourbusiness, finance, marketing, legal, tax andaccounting issues and minority certifica-tion), social media, inspiring business andwealth building authors, franchising andmore. The highlight of the day will be theMinority Franchise Luncheon. Of course,the Expo will be incomplete without themyriad of businesses displaying their prod-ucts and services. It’s going to be a day ofexcitement and opportunity. Of course,attendees are encouraged to take advantageof the tremendous networking opportuni-ties to establish new contacts and growtheir client base.Success will start on Thursday, June 20,

2013. It’s one day, one location, endlessopportunities. What you will learn issecrets and strategies for success. You canand will realize your entrepreneurialdreams, and grow and take your businessto new heights. Don’t miss this opportuni-ty. Don’t miss out on this event. Register toattend at www.mynacc.org or textMYNACC to 41411. It’s FREE.Sponsorship and exhibiting opportunitiesare available. Call 718-722-9217 ext 112or visit www.mynacc.org/expo2013.l

NACC Launches...continued from page 1Eight Tips for Job Hunting

During the Recession

The global credit crisis and flat-liningdomestic economy have turned thisinto one of the most challenging times

to be looking for a job in recent history. To bea successful job seeker in this climate, youhave to be calm, patient and proactive — andtry any (or all) of these tips.

Pick and Choose Your Targets When Jack Hinson was laid off in mid-2008from his job at a large Internet content compa-ny in Austin, he prioritized his search. “It’simportant to put your time and energy intoopportunities that you’re the most interested inand that have the best chance of coming tofruition,” he says. “Pick a few companiesyou’re interested in and pursue them, whetherthey have current openings or not.”

Concentrate on Growth IndustriesBrent Berger, a Las Vegas-based scenarioplanning and strategy consultant, suggestsfocusing on growth industries and areas.“Look at energy,” he says. “With oil costswhere they are, the need for cheap fuel andcheap heat is ever-mounting. And any job thatalleviates pain is recession-proof. Similarly,the National Guard, Border Patrol, homelandsecurity and the defense industry in generalwill continue to thrive as the next stage in thewar on terror continues.”

Work Your Network Hinson’s new gig came from an old connec-tion. “I’d spoken to the company’s founders

about a year ago and stayed in touch,” hesays. “Then I ran into one of them at a net-working function.” So flip through yourRolodex or business social media contacts andlet them know you’re looking.

Sell Yourself San Francisco PR account executiveSamantha Rubenstein launched a job searchjust as the economy began to flag. After threemonths, she got a great offer from Atomic PR.She attributes her success to doing more thanlearning about the company. “Preparation[includes] learning how to talk about yourselfin a meaningful and powerful way,” she says.“I created a list of potential interview ques-tions and typed up bulleted answers to createspeaking points.”

Consider FreelancingRuss Carr, a designer and writer in St. Louis,has twice had a line on a job only to see it slipaway when the emplo-yer lost a key accountor decided to distribute the duties among cur-rent employees. To keep some money comingin, Carr started freelancing. “I haven’t stoppedtrying to shop myself for a full-time gig again,but freelancing certainly has kept food on thetable,” he says. “If you’re in a field that sup-ports it, don’t think twice —just do it.”

Take a Temporary Position If freelancing isn’t practical, try temping.“Consider interim staffing to fill a temporaryslot for work that needs to be done despite theeconomy,” advises Ronald Torch, presidentand CEO of the Torch Group, a marketingstaffing firm in Cleveland. Or temp with a

company that interests you. “Many of theseoptions pay well and can carry the burden ofbill-paying until a permanent position comesalong,” he says.

Sweat the Small Stuff “Don’t forget the personal touches,” counselsFelicia Miller, assistant director of career serv-ices at the Art Institute of Las Vegas. “Don’tuse a template cover letter — make sure eachletter addresses specific skills or qualities thecompany is looking for. And always send athank-you note or email after the interview.Use this correspondence as an opportunity torevisit weak areas of your interview.”

Stay Positive The most important thing when searching fora job in tough economic times is to retain apositive attitude, says Carol Vecchio, founderand executive director of Centerpoint Institutefor Life and Career Renewal in Seattle. “Evenin a job market with 10 percent unemploy-ment, there’s 90 percent employment,” shesays. “There is an average of over 3 millionjobs available in the US per month — andeach job seeker is looking for one. Those arepretty good odds.” Struggling to find a great job in a bad econ-

omy can be a drag, but undertaking even a fewof these tips will improve your chances oflanding a gig. “Remember it doesn’t matterhow many jobs are or aren’t out there,”Vecchio says. “You’re just looking for one —the right one for you.” l

Visit www.mynacc.org for Monster Job Boardto help you in your job search.

BY MARGOT CARMICHAEL LESTERMONSTER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

NAME OF PAGE HERE # KNOW YOUR RIGHTS 6

Identity Theft: What to Know, What to DoIdentity theft is a serious crime. It can

disrupt your finances, credit history,and reputation, and take time, money,

and patience to resolve. Identity thefthappens when someone steals your per-sonal information and uses it withoutyour permission.

Identity thieves might:• go through trash cans and dumpsters,stealing bills and documents that havesensitive information.• work for businesses, medical offices, orgovernment agencies, and steal personalinformation on the job.• misuse the name of a legitimate busi-ness, and call or send emails that trickyou into revealing personal information.• pretend to offer a job, a loan, or anapartment, and ask you to send personalinformation to “qualify.”• steal your wallet, purse, backpack, ormail, and remove your credit cards, dri-ver’s license, passport, health insurancecard, and other items that show personalinformation.

How to Protect Your Information• Read your credit reports. You have aright to a free credit report every 12months from each of the three nationwidecredit reporting companies. Order allthree reports at once, or order one reportevery four months. To order, go to annu-alcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.

• Read your bank, credit card, andaccount statements, and the explanationof medical benefits from your health plan.If a statement has mistakes or doesn’tcome on time, contact the business.• Shred all documents that show personal,financial, and medical information beforeyou throw them away.• Don’t respond to email, text, and phonemessages that ask for personal informa-tion. Legitimate companies don’t ask forinformation this way. Delete the mes-sages.• Create passwords that mix letters, num-bers, and special characters. Don’t use thesame password for more than oneaccount.• If you shop or bank online, use websitesthat protect your financial informationwith encryption. An encrypted site has“https” at the beginning of the webaddress; “s” is for secure.

• If you use a public wireless network,don’t send information to any websitethat isn’t fully encrypted.• Use anti-virus and anti-spyware soft-ware, and a firewall on your computer.• Set your computer’s operating system,web browser, and security system toupdate automatically.

Red Flags of Identity Theft• mistakes on your bank, credit card, orother account statements• mistakes on the explanation of medicalbenefits from your health plan• your regular bills and account state-ments don’t arrive on time• bills or collection notices for products orservices you never received• calls from debt collectors about debtsthat don’t belong to you• a notice from the IRS that someone usedyour Social Security number• mail, email, or calls about accounts orjobs in your minor child’s name• unwarranted collection notices on yourcredit report• businesses turn down your checks• you are turned down unexpectedly for aloan or job

If Your Identity is Stolen...Flag Your Credit ReportsCall one of the nationwide credit report-ing companies, and ask for a fraud alerton your credit report. The company youcall must contact the other two so they

can put fraud alerts on your files. An ini-tial fraud alert is good for 90 days.Equifax 1‑800‑525‑6285Experian 1‑888‑397‑3742TransUnion 1‑800‑680‑7289

Order Your Credit ReportsEach company’s credit report about youis slightly different, so order a report fromeach company. When you order, you mustanswer some questions to prove youridentity. Read your reports carefully tosee if the information is correct. If yousee mistakes or signs of fraud, contact thecredit reporting company.

Create an Identity Theft ReportAn Identity Theft Report can help you getfraudulent information removed fromyour credit report, stop a company fromcollecting debts caused by identity theft,and get information about accounts athief opened in your name. To create anIdentity Theft Report:• file a complaint with the FTC atftc.gov/complaint or 1-877-438-4338;TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Your completedcomplaint is called an FTC Affidavit.• take your FTC Affidavit to your localpolice, or to the police where the theftoccurred, and file a police report. Get acopy of the police report.

Source: Federal Trade Commission

NAME OF PAGE HERE # HEALTH ISSUES 8

As part of the NACC’sEmpowerment Series, the Office ofCitywide Health Insurance Access

(OCHIA) presented a live demonstration ofNYC Health Insurance Link (NYC HILink), an online health insurance decisionsupport tool for small businesses, sole pro-prietors and residents. On October 11,2012, at the New American Chamber ofCommerce’s offices in downtownBrooklyn, OCHIA staff showed attendeeshow they could use NYC HI Link to:< Search for and compare private healthplans from insurance carriers in New YorkCity.< Use an online calculator to see how toshare the cost of coverage with employees.< Find information on Healthy NY plansfor employers newly offering health insur-ance.< Understand the impact of federal healthcare reform on small businesses, includingnew reporting requirements and tax credits.

Attendees also learned where on thesite they could learn about health insurancebasics, how to choose a plan, what theirconsumer protections are and how toaccess other affordable health care options

in New York City. The presentation high-lighted NYC HI Link’s section on federalhealth care reform and provided examplesof how these changes affect small business-es.

During a Q&A session after the demon-stration, attendees learned about the newlyestablished NY Health Benefit Exchange,where they can go for consumer assistancewith health insurance and related concerns,and how to prepare for federal health carereform changes both now and in the future.

This program will be repeated in thenear future. Those interested should visitwww.mynacc.org for more details. l

Finding HealthInsurance & theAffordable Care Act

< won't send you free information aboutthe services it provides without requiring youto provide personal financial information,such as credit card account numbers, and bal-ances.< tries to enroll you in a debt relief pro-gram without spending time reviewing yourfinancial situation.< offers to enroll you in a DMP withoutteaching you budgeting and money manage-ment skills.< demands that you make payments into aDMP before your creditors have acceptedyou into the program.

Debt ConsolidationYou may be able to lower your cost of

credit by consolidating your debt through asecond mortgage or a home equity line ofcredit. Remember that these loans requireyou to put up your home as collateral. If youcan't make the payments — or if your pay-ments are late — you could lose your home.

What's more, the costs of consolidationloans can add up. In addition to interest onthe loans, you may have to pay "points," withone point equal to one percent of the amountyou borrow. Still, these loans may providecertain tax advantages that are not availablewith other kinds of credit.

BankruptcyPersonal bankruptcy generally is consid-

ered the debt management option of lastresort because the results are long-lasting andfar reaching. People who follow the bank-ruptcy rules receive a discharge — a courtorder that says they don't have to repay cer-

tain debts. However, bankruptcy information(both the date of your filing and the later dateof discharge) stay on your credit report for 10years, and can make it difficult to obtaincredit, buy a home, get life insurance, orsometimes get a job. Still, bankruptcy is alegal procedure that offers a fresh start forpeople who have gotten into financial diffi-culty and can't satisfy their debts.

There are two primary types of personalbankruptcy: Chapter 13 and Chapter 7. Eachmust be filed in federal bankruptcy court.

Both types of bankruptcy may get rid ofunsecured debts and stop foreclosures, repos-sessions, garnishments and utility shut-offs,and debt collection activities. Both also pro-vide exemptions that allow people to keepcertain assets, although exemption amountsvary by state. Note that personal bankruptcyusually does not erase child support, alimo-ny, fines, taxes, and some student loan obli-gations. And, unless you have an acceptableplan to catch up on your debt under Chapter13, bankruptcy usually does not allow you tokeep property when your creditor has anunpaid mortgage or security lien on it.

You must get credit counseling from agovernment-approved organization withinsix months before you file for any bankrupt-cy relief.

Damage ControlIf you're thinking about getting help to

stabilize your financial situation, do somehomework first. Find out what services abusiness provides and what it costs, and don'trely on verbal promises. Get everything inwriting, and read your contracts carefully. l

Knee Deep in Debtcontinued from page 4

BY HEATHER PALENSCHAT

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NAME OF PAGE HERE # OBAMA ADMINISTRATION 12

level. These public-private partnershipsconsist of small and large businesses, col-leges, nonprofits and other local stake-holders that “cluster” in a particular area.The funds will help the winning clusterssupport local efforts to spur job creationthrough a variety of projects, includinginitiatives that connect innovative smallsuppliers with large companies, linkresearch with the start-ups that can com-mercialize new ideas, and train workerswith skills that firms need to capitalize onbusiness opportunities.

The Advanced Manufacturing Jobsand Innovation Accelerator Challenge is apartnership between the U.S. Departmentof Commerce’s Economic DevelopmentAdministration and the National Instituteof Standards and Technology, the U.S.Department of Energy, the U.S.Department of Labor’s Employment andTraining Administration, the U.S. SmallBusiness Administration, and theNational Science Foundation.

In order to create an economy built tolast, America needs to make more thingsthe rest of the world wants to buy. Afterlosing millions of good manufacturingjobs in the years before and during thedeep recession, the economy has addednearly 500,000 manufacturing jobs sinceFebruary 2010 — the strongest period ofsustained job growth since the 1990s.While there’s more work to be done, stepslike today’s announcement build on this

momentum.“A strong manufacturing base in

America is critical to the health of theU.S. economy, and these awards furtherdemonstrate the Obama administration’scommitment to keeping this country onthe cutting edge of innovation in manu-facturing,” said Acting Secretary ofCommerce Rebecca Blank. “This invest-ment will help accelerate and unleash themost promising ideas in advanced manu-facturing, and bring those ideas to mar-ket. This will lead to good jobs forAmerican workers, increase the nation’scompetitiveness, and strengthen an econ-omy that’s built to last.”

“By partnering across the federalgovernment, these grants will help usleverage resources and ensure that train-ing programs for advanced manufactur-ing careers provide the skills, certifica-tions and credentials that employers wantto see from day one,” Secretary of LaborHilda L. Solis said.

The awards will help regional clustersgrow by strengthening their connectionsto regional economic developmentopportunities and advanced manufactur-ing assets, helping develop a skilled anddiverse advanced manufacturing work-force, increasing exports, encouragingthe development of small businesses, andaccelerating innovation in technology.The 10 winning initiatives — based inArizona, California, Michigan, New

$20 Million for 10 Public-Private Partnerships continued from page 1York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,Tennessee, and Washington — will eachreceive approximately $2 million to fundprojects that are expected to train a totalof 1,000 workers and help nearly 650companies leverage a cluster’s resourcesin their regions and create jobs across thecountry.

“As part of President Obama’s blue-print for an economy built to last, theEnergy Department is investing in inno-vative, public-private initiatives like theAdvanced Manufacturing Jobs andInnovation Accelerator Challenge thatsupport the pillars of American energy,American manufacturing and skills forAmerican workers,” said U.S. EnergySecretary Steven Chu. “These invest-ments are helping America strengthenour competitive edge and leadership inthe global manufacturing sector.”

“The SBA pioneered the federal gov-ernment’s first regional cluster strategytwo years ago and we’ve already seen thetangible benefits of these investmentsincluding job creation, innovation andincreased competitiveness,” said SBAAdministrator Karen Mills. “These tennew Advanced Manufacturing Jobs andInnovation Accelerators are proof thatwe can continue to build on –— and com-plement — the success that we’vealready achieved and support strongecosystems of small businesses in target-ed regions throughout the country and

across key industries. Additionally, bysupporting our small innovative manu-facturing companies, we are fostering thegrowth of the American supply chain andcreating an economy built to last.”

As part of President Obama's com-mitment to creating an economy built tolast, the Administration has investedmore than $200 million promotingregional innovation clusters. TheAdministration created an interagencytask force, known as the Taskforce for theAdvancement of Regional InnovationClusters, to develop and administer inter-agency grant competitions. This is thethird round of the Jobs and InnovationAccelerator Challenge and, in addition tothe six partnering agencies, this initiativealso leverages technical assistance fromup to eight other federal agencies.

The New York winners are:< New York: A Proposal to AccelerateInnovations in Advanced Manufacturingof Thermal and Environmental ControlSystems, a project of SyracuseUniversity, NYSTAR, the StateUniversity of New York’s College ofEnvironmental Science and Forestry, andOnondaga Community College.($1,889,890)< New York: Rochester RegionalOptics, Photonics, and ImagingAccelerator, a project of the University ofRochester, NYSTAR, and High TechRochester Inc. ($1,889,936) l

NAME OF PAGE HERE # IMMIGRATION 13

ALL IMMIGRATION MATTERS

LAW OFFICES OF FIGEROUX & ASSOCIATES

CALL 718-834-019026 Court Street, Suite 701

Brooklyn, NY 11242

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Recently, the Supreme Court heardarguments in a complicated immi-gration case involving how courts

should determine whether a crime quali-fies as an “aggravated felony.” Once thelegal clutter is set aside, however, thecase provides a clear example of how ournation’s immigration laws often fail toaccount for the most basic considerationsof fairness and proportionality. If theJustices rule in the government’s favor, alawful permanent resident with two U.S.citizen children could be deported fromthe country—and permanently barredfrom returning—for possessing less than$30 worth of marijuana.

The immigrant facing deportation,Adrian Moncrieffe, was legally admittedto the United States nearly thirty yearsago when he entered with his family atage 3. In 2008, he was pulled over by aGeorgia police officer and arrested forpossessing 1.3 grams of marijuana, theequivalent of two to three joints.Moncrieffe pled guilty and was placed onprobation—and, had he been a U.S. citi-zen, would have suffered no further pun-ishment for his crime. But becauseMoncrieffe never naturalized,Immigration and Customs Enforcement

(ICE) commenced removal proceedingsagainst him in 2010, alleging that he hadbeen convicted of a “drug trafficking”crime under the immigration laws.

Why? Despite the small amount ofmarijuana involved, Moncrieffe wascharged under Georgia law with posses-sion with intent to distribute—an offensewritten so broadly as to apply both topeople who freely share small quantitieswith others and to those who distributeup to ten pounds of illicit narcotics.Although no evidence was ever presentedthat Moncrieffe intended to sell the mari-juana found in his possession, the govern-ment argued—and the U.S. Court ofAppeals for the Fifth Circuit agreed—thathe should be considered a drug traffickerunder the immigration laws unless heaffirmatively proved to the contrary.

While the issue before the Justicesinvolves complicated questions over bur-dens of proof in removal proceedings, thecase highlights the simple lack of com-mon sense—and common decency—embedded in many provisions of theimmigration laws. As discussed in aWashington Post story last week, lawful-ly present immigrants may be deportedfrom the United States for committingminor, non-violent crimes that Congresshappened to label as aggravated felonies.

Regardless of the hardshiptheir deportation wouldcause to themselves or U.S.citizen family members,immigrants alleged to havecommitted such crimes areineligible to apply for mostforms of relief fromremoval—such as asy-lum—and, once they aredeported, to return to theUnited States.

The case also demon-strates how immigrantswho are treated as “priori-ties” by Immigration andCustoms Enforcement often pose little tono danger to the public at large. Under amemo issued by ICE director JohnMorton in 2011, for example, any immi-grant convicted of an aggravated felony isconsidered a “Level 1” offender—mean-ing they are placed first in line for depor-tation and will rarely, if ever, benefit froma favorable exercise of prosecutorial dis-cretion. Even if the Supreme Court holdsthat Moncrieffe meets the definition of anaggravated felon under the immigrationlaws, it is difficult to see what benefit isgained from society at large by deportinghim from the country and never allowinghim to return.

When pro-immigrant advocates speakof the need for comprehensive immigra-tion reform, their calls generally relate tothe creation of a program to allow undoc-umented individuals to come out of theshadows. Yet also important is the need toreview the growing list of aggravatedfelonies that make lawfully present immi-gration subject to virtually automaticremoval from the country. If the goal ofany justice system is for the punishmentto fit the crime, our nation’s immigrationlaws require serious re-examination. l

Supreme Court Case Highlights CruelIntersection of Immigration and Drug Laws BY BEN WINOGRAD

For more information visit:www.figeroux.com

NAME OF PAGE HERE # FINANCE PLANNING 14

Ever tried to calculate how long youmight live? How much you'll needto save for retirement? If you retire

at age 65, are you financially prepared tolive 30 more years? Or, will you outliveyour money?

These are important questions to ask,as Americans are living longer than everbefore. In fact, for couples aged 65, thereis a 50 percent likelihood the husband orwife will live to age 94, according to theSociety of Actuaries. This can mean moreyears to enjoy retirement — if yourmoney lives as long as you do.

A recent study took a look atAmericans' financial planning (and sav-ing) habits. The data reveals that manyfeel financially unprepared to live longer.Only 56 percent of Americans surveyedsay they feel financially prepared to liveto age 75. Less than half (46 percent)indicate they feel prepared to live to age85. And only 36 percent say they feel pre-pared to live to age 95.

The research also shows that half ofAmericans take an informal approach tofinancial planning — if they have a planat all. Moreover, most feel their planningneeds improvement.

"While Americans see the value in set-ting financial goals, not everyone hasplans to achieve them," says GregOberland, a financial planning executivevice president. "Developing a plan toreach your goals provides confidence that

you won't outlive your savings."On the bright side, respondents say

they're taking positive steps to pay downtheir debt, develop a budget, save a por-tion of their paycheck regularly, build upan emergency fund and organize financialdocuments.

"These are good first steps to enhanceone's current financial well-being," saysOberland. "But looking at these steps inthe context of a comprehensive plan (thatoffers flexibility as circumstances changeover time) can help provide long-termfinancial security."

In other words, planning can help youmanage how long your money lasts.Keep in mind, a prudent plan should workno matter how long you live in retire-ment.

Here are a few ideas that may help yousolidify your financial plans:

1. Consider Your Own Longevity.Longevity calculators can help you

understand how long you may need yourmoney to last.

Your Money Has a Lifespan, Too2. Reflect on Your Current State ofFinancial Security.

Ask yourself, "Do I feel financiallyprepared to live a long life?" Then, putyour answer into perspective by playingthe "Get Your Financial Security Score,"game. The free mobile game (also avail-able on Facebook) awards users with cus-tomized financial tips based on responsesto a variety of personal finance-relatedstatements.

3. Help Your Kids Develop Good"Saving" Habits Early.

Endorsed by the American LibraryAssociation as "a great web site for kids,"TheMint.org offers games, activities anduseful information for kids, as well asmeaningful content for parents and teach-ers. By teaching your children the valueof money early on, you reduce the oddsthey'll need your financial assistance laterin life. That means you can focus on put-ting more money towards your retire-ment.

4. Start Talking about Your PersonalFinances.

Meet with an experienced financialprofessional who can help tailor a plan toaccumulate and protect your financialresources. Consider how your financialplan today can help you build financialsecurity for future life events. (ARA) l

ESTATE PLANNING 15

As the last quarterof 2012a p p r o a c h s ,

being in the financialservices business for 34years, one of the mainareas we prepared withour small businessowner clients and pro-fessional clients is tomake sure they are wellprepared to take advan-tage of any opportunityfor tax relief and benefitrelief with the UnitedStates FederalGovernment of the Stateof New York and City ofNew York.

The end of the year is usually a hectictime for everyone as business owners tryto wrap up their business and start plan-ning for 2013, as they try to completetheir goals for their company and withuncertainty still in our economy, the mostimportant time is now, to sit down with aprofessional team that is objective, andcan listen to your needs and concerns forthe short-term and the long-term for yourbusiness and family.

Our process is a professional

approach, we get to understand each otherfirst, by providing our experience andknowledge in our field and do a cleardefined discovery data-gathering basedon your circumstances for a short-termand long-term period, and based on yourinput, we will create several models ofrecommendations to see which fits yourneeds, goals and budget-cash flow.

Our commitment is to make sure youhave the best solutions for your concernsand we address different options. At theend, you need to feel comfortable with usand the process in our approach. l

Are You Ready for 2012Year-end Planning?BY WINSTON WEI

NAME OF PAGE HERE # SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS 16

Why You Should Join NACC What is a chamber of commerce

and why should you join? Achamber of commerce is a volun-

tary organization of the business communi-ty. It unites business and professional indi-viduals and firms, thus creating a centralagency which lends itself to improvingbusiness and building a better community.A chamber of commerce is people andalthough these are predominantly the mem-bers of the business community, there is aplace in the chamber for all who share thedesire to improve the community. The saying goes that, "if you've seen one

Chamber of Commerce, you've seen themall." While many communities throughoutAmerica, and even around the world, havea chamber of commerce, each one is uniquein both the services that they offer and thebusinesses they represent. It is in your bestinterest to join as many chambers as possi-ble to help you achieve your goals. Here aresome good reasons to join NACC.

The New American Chamber ofCommerce (NACC) means business…andmore money for your business! NACC pro-motes progress through unity. Your invest-ment in the Chamber of Commerce willbenefit your business by providing:

Your Business Listed: When you join theChamber, you get your business listed onour website, mobile website, MBRDDirectory and Smart Phone Apps. Thus,referring countless potential customers toYOU!

Networking opportunities: Participate in Chamberseminars, our Annual Multicultural Business &Minority Franchise Expo, Free Paralegal CertificateProgram, committee meetings, and quarterlyChamber After Hours events.

Advertising Opportunities: Through the Chamberyou may choose to put your name out to the commu-nity through ads in our online newsletter inserts, website sponsorships, our radio programs or our month-ly publication, the Consumer Advocate, at Chamberrates.

Committees of Interest:Chamber members may choose tolend their skills to a committee ortwo that puts their talents to use.

Educational Opportunities:Stay informed on timely topics byhearing from our luncheonspeakers or attending Chambersponsored seminars, workshops,and committee meetings.

Web Site Link Availability:Prior to moving, many peopleconsult the Chamber ofCommerce. Make your businessfamiliar to future, as well as cur-rent residents by linking to theChamber Web Site. Links arecomplimentary to all members,while Web Site sponsorships areavailable at a nominal fee.

Discounted Rates: Chambermembers are able to receive spe-cial coupons that are distributedto Chamber members at Chambermeetings. (Macy’s, F&A, etc.)

Strength in Numbers: In becom-ing a member of the Chamber,you are not only a part of the col-lective body, but an integral pieceof the machinery. You have achoice and a voice in the situa-tions surrounding your business

needs. One voice raised in defense of aright, or one person or business taking on aproject is often weak and ineffectual. Whenmany voices are raised and many peoplework together in community affairs, muchis achieved. Working together works foryou!

Community Updates: Keep your finger onthe pulse of the local business communitythrough the online Chamber newsletter, theConsumer Advocate.

Chamber After Hours Opportunities:Chamber members are given the opportuni-ty to host this quarterly social event thatallows the business community a relaxedlook at our membership. Refreshments areserved, door prizes are awarded and a funtime is had by all.

Opportunities to Make a Difference:Through membership in the Chamber ofCommerce, you will participate in pro-grams and projects which improve the qual-ity of life in our community. The Chamberunifies the public spirit of Brooklyn anddirects it to useful and constructive chan-nels. Promoting progress throughunity…that’s our New American Chamberof Commerce. Join the Chamber today.Visit www.mynacc.orgl

NAME OF PAGE HERE # FAMILY MATTERS 17

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Uncontested Divorces

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Agreements

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Evaluations

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The lawyer you hire does make a difference!Has your spouse disappeared?

We can find your spouse!

nDIVORCE nSEPARATION nSUPPORT nCUSTODY

NEW YORK IS NOW A NO-FAULT DIVORCE STATE

How to Communicate During an Argument: 7Quick Rules

As a relationship and couples coun-selor, I frequently run into cou-ples who argue often. I never rec-

ommend arguing... ever. Instead, I rec-ommend that couples reach for oneanother and resolve the issue in a lovingdiscussion. If you have found yourselfcaught in an ongoing cycle of arguing,back and back bickering, and sometimeseven yelling, you can take a proactivestance and try to decrease the battles.Here are some quick tips to decrease thedamage that emotional blows can do tothe relationship.

Avoid Bringing Up the PastWhen your partner comes to you with

a concern or is upset, avoid bringing inthe past as an example, to prove yourpoint, or in an attempt to resolve theissue. If the past is brought up, the argu-ment just has more fuel to keep it burn-ing. Bringing in other issues can ignite avariety of emotions and the discussioncan get off track. Make a mental note ofyour concern and bring it up later in anew discussion. Stay on topic to resolvethe specific issue at hand before address-ing other unresolved issues.

Use Positive Pointing LanguageThe way couples phrase their words

during an argument can impact howeither partner reacts. Pointing language islanguage specifically directed at yourpartner, and often uses phrases such as'You never, "You should," or "Youalways." When pointing language isused, partners can become defensive andtend to automatically tune out what isbeing said. This may lead to a continuedcycle where each partner does not feellike he or she is being heard. Instead, usepositive language that targets yourself,not your partner (for example, "In myexperience" or "I feel"). By expressing toyour partner how you feel, instead of howhe or she is, your partner will be less reac-tive.

Become a "We"Arguments are a you vs. me battle and

almost always have the goal of one partic-ipant winning and the other losing.Relationships, however, are not built onopposition. Meaningful relationshipsconsist of two players who are on thesame team and should work toward acommon goal. Try to make the goal beachieving resolution, rather than winning.Resolution cannot be accomplished with-out active participation of both partners,so do not forget your partner's desires.Think to yourself, How can we solve thisso that we will both be happy?

Claim Your Own Role in the ProblemNo one is perfect, yet no one likes to

admit when he or she is wrong. Do not beafraid to admit, both to yourself and yourpartner, when you have made a mistake.By acknowledging your role and claim-ing your involvement in the argument,

you show your partner you are willing towork with him or her. Remember, It takestwo to tango.

Calm Your NervesIf your arguments seem to get out-of-

hand and escalates rapidly, calm yourown nerves so it won't rub off on yourpartner. Calm your nerves by deepbreathing, slowing down how you talk,and lower your tone. Reassure your part-ner that you care about them and that youare working on calming down. The moreyour partner knows you are working tohelp improve the relationship, it will helpcalm him down as well.

Don't LeaveMost couples try to leave to avoid

conflict and many counselors will suggestto do so if the conflict begins to get heat-ed. The problem with leaving is that itcan create more panic in your partnerbecause feels as if you don't care, andthey have no idea when you are going toreturn. Leaving, or simply shutting downand being quiet, leaves the relationshipwith an unresolved wound. Instead,express to your partner that you reallywant to resolve the conflict and that youfeel stuck when you get overwhelmed.Avoid leaving (as long as there is no vio-lence in the relationship...if there is vio-

lence, absolutely LEAVE and seek safe-ty) and reassure your partner that you aregoing to stick around and that they mat-ter.

Bring Down the WallMany couples distance themselves,

put up a wall, and sleep in differentrooms after a long drawn out fight. Thedistance in the bond lingers around andboth patiently wait for the other to makethe first move or to reach out and connect

BROOKLYN: 26 Court Street, Suite 701. Tel: 718-834-0190 n 1105 Nostrand Avenue. Tel: 718-363-7788

BY JENNINE ESTES

the bond. Instead of waiting for your part-ner or sleeping with the distance, recon-nect the bond by giving your partner ahug, say sorry, or acknowledge the pain.The quicker you bring down the wall, theless discomfort you will have to sitthrough. l

Jennine Estes is a Licensed Marriage andFamily Therapist in San Diego,California. Please visit her website atwww.estestherapy.com

NAME OF PAGE HERE # THOUGHTS 18

There is no doubt that immigrantsare a force to be reckoned with inthis year’s presidential race. After

all, the Obama administration unveiled itsDeferred Action for Childhood Arrivals(DACA) program in June, just a couple ofmonths before the official start of thecampaign. And Republican presidentialnominee Mitt Romney has said that, ifelected, he will not deport DACA benefi-ciaries (although he says he will discon-tinue the program). In other words, bothcandidates are going out of their way towoo immigrant voters—that is, natural-ized U.S. citizens who are eligible tovote—as well as those second and thirdgeneration Americans for whom immi-gration is still a highly personal issue.This is smart politics. Given that the pres-idential election could be decided by themost razor-thin of margins, the ballotscast by naturalized citizens could provedecisive, especially in the handful ofswing states upon which the election willprobably hinge.

Given that the presidential electioncould be decided by the most razor-thinof margins, the ballots cast by naturalizedcitizens could prove decisive, especiallyin the handful of swing states upon whichthe election will probably hinge.

This conclusion is borne out by new

data and analysis from Manuel Pastor andJared Sanchez of the Center for the Studyof Immigrant Integration at theUniversity of Southern California. In areport entitled Rock the (Naturalized)Vote: The Size and Location of theRecently Naturalized Voting Age CitizenPopulation, Pastor and Sanchez start withthe 8.1% of voting-age citizens in theUnited States who are naturalized immi-grants. But then they narrow their focusfurther and look just at the 3.6% of thevoting-age population consisting of natu-ralized immigrants who became citizensover the past decade. The reason for thisdegree of specificity “is partly becauseevidence suggests that the recently natu-ralized may be the most motivated aroundimmigration issues and partly becausetheir registration rates may have the mostroom for improvement.”

As the report explains, naturalized cit-izens generally register to vote at lowerrates than native-born citizens, but—oncethey are registered—they are just as like-ly to vote as the native-born. Moreover,naturalized citizens are more likely to bepolitically mobilized (to register and tovote) if they acquired their citizenship ata time when the public debate over immi-gration was running hot. This appears tohave been the case in 2008, when voterregistration rates went up among therecently naturalized at a time when immi-

gration was a high-profile and inflamma-tory issue in the presidential campaign.

The immigration debate in this year’spresidential race might have a similarmobilizing effect on recently naturalizedcitizens, spurring them to register and tocast ballots. And, according to the analy-sis by Pastor and Sanchez, the votes ofrecently naturalized citizens could provepivotal in swing states if the election isclose:

“In the 2004 presidential election—the most recent with an incumbent run-ning for reelection—several key stateswere decided by low margins of victory.For example, the margin of victory in thatyear was only 2.6 percent in Nevada—astate where 5.1 percent of the voting agecitizen population now consists of recent-ly naturalized immigrants. The marginsof victory in Florida and Colorado werearound 5 percent—and the recently natu-ralized comprise 6 percent of the votingage citizen population in Florida and 2.1percent in Colorado.”

As more and more recently natural-ized citizens register and vote—as theirelectoral clout continues to grow—Pastorand Sanchez foresee the rise of a morerational public debate about immigration.

As they write, the rise of the natural-ized voter may “help contribute to a morecivil and balanced conversation aboutimmigration—one in which political

leaders and parties propose realisticsolutions on immigration policy so thatboth voters and political leaders can con-centrate on other important issues suchas the economy and healthcare.”

Put differently, fewer and fewer vehe-mently anti-immigrant politicians willwin elections, thereby depriving them oftheir public platform to spew misinforma-tion and hate. l

Naturalized Citizens Have the Power to SwingElections BY WALTER EWING

NAME OF PAGE HERE # CIVIL RIGHTS 19

In This Tough Election, We Must Not Lose Sightof Social Justice and Interdependence

Fifty years ago, Americans fromcommunity after community cametogether and committed to a vision

for justice and equality. People fought.People died. People transcended the smallinterests of their own needs, as Blacks,Jews, women, gays and lesbians, tookreal risks to advocate for change andcommon cause. Many communities ofAmerican people came together todeclare War on Injustice while our ownfederal government declared War onPoverty. But today, the victories won in acommon struggle are being squandered.Before it's too late, let us not forget whatcommon cause can achieve.

Among the strongest reminders ofcommon cause are the many examples ofthe Black and Jewish communities com-ing together. Let us be inspired by theway these communities laid the founda-tion for Civil Rights:< In 1909, Henry Moscowitz joinedW.E.B. DuBois and other civil rightsleaders to found the NAACP.< In the first half of the previous centu-ry, more than 2,000 primary and second-ary schools and 20 black colleges wereestablished in whole or in part by contri-butions from the Jewish philanthropistJulius Rosenwald.< Jews made up half of the young peo-ple who participated in the MississippiFreedom Summer in 1964.< Prominent leaders of the Jewish com-munity, including Rabbi Abraham JoshuaHeschel, marched arm-in-arm with Dr.King in his 1965 March on Selma.

Now, my point is not to focus onBlacks and Jews per se, or to recapturethe haze of nostalgia for our activist past.The world and times have changed. Butthe meaning of justice has not. We can'tgo back in time, but we can go back tovalues. In the work I do with philanthro-pists and advocates today, the reflexseems to be to stay within a silo, to focuson a single issue. Results matter, but with"big" action and "big" advocacy out offashion, we've lost our interdependentway. Before it's too late, let us not forgetthat all of our victories won may one daysoon be battles lost if we do not cometogether to take on the true heart oftoday's inequality: the face of economicinjustice.

It is no coincidence that gender, raceand poverty remain systemic problems inAmerica — they are at the core of thedeepest divide in circumstances and prin-ciples that our nation has faced since theCivil War. We must respond to themtogether in order to make this nation abetter place for all, to take on the "institu-tion" of poverty as we did the institutionof Jim Crow.

Is poverty an institution? It is, whenan entire system is designed to foster andpropagate it. The false choices betweenone group's agenda and another's,between the 1% and the 99%, all seem tolose the forest for the trees. We lose sightof the vast potential of human capital, of

the power of granting equal access to all,and we get lost in a thicket of -isms andaccusations. The Civil Rights Movementwent far enough to give the U.S. a Blackpresident in some 50 years. But, still, amajority of Blacks, Hispanics and womenin this county feel the brunt of inequality.The tough realities are:< Weekly earnings for full-time profes-sional/management positions average$941 for women and $1,269 for men.< Record numbers of public school chil-dren qualify for free three meals program.< People of color represent 36% of theU.S. population, but 60% of the prisonpopulation. The prison population grew700% from 1976 to 2005, a rate that out-paced crime.< Black households, more likely thanany other household, live in inadequateand unhealthy housing.< Blacks are four times more likely toexperience police brutality.< Hispanic seniors are more likely to befood insecure than any other Americans.

In the face of such heart-wrenchingdata, I am calling on you as I call on thephilanthropists and advocates that I workwith: "Let us not forget!" Let us not for-get our interdependence and commoncause. All of our children are preciousgifts to the world. Rev. Dr. Martin LutherKing, Jr. taught us that faith in oneself isthe most powerful weapon against sup-pression and oppression. So, we musthave faith in our ability and will to cometogether, again, to ensure that all of ushave access to quality education systemsand economic security in order for ournation to succeed. We must do this for oursons and daughters, our brothers and sis-ters, our nephews, nieces and cousins,and our fathers and mothers.

Let us not forget! Like the Jewish sis-ters and brothers who made commoncause with Blacks during the Civil RightsMovement, the motto must be "Neveragain," before it's too late. I call on eachof you to embrace our interdependence,before it's too late to build on humanpotential.< "Never again" should any Americanbe denied access to quality health, educa-tion, economic and social systems.< "Never again" should women bear thebrunt of economic inequality as they do intoday's ongoing labor market.< "Never again" should young gays andlesbians fear for their dignities and theirlives on a daily basis at schools and inpublic.< "Never again" should a person be per-secuted because of their religious princi-ples.< "Never again" should infants die, notbecause it was inevitable, but because ourcity budgets defunded critical programsfor distressed and impoverished urbancommunities.And let us not forget to bring the call forcommon cause to our youth. Before it'stoo late, may philanthropists of everycreed commit to empowering our youthto donate their time, talents and treasuresfor equity, opportunity and justice for all.

The definition of philanthropy cannotremain within the rarified circles of bigdonors and big events. The gifts of allmust be celebrated. And, it will take thewill of all in order to move our nation for-ward.Like our Jewish sisters and brothers, I

am calling on Buddhists, Christians,Hindus, Muslims, and people of everycreed to practice Tzedakah, the righteous-ness of doing what is right and fair andjust for all.

Let us not forget, before it's too late!l

Dr. M. Starita Boyce Ansari is ascholar, trainer and speaker in the field ofphilanthropy, recognized by The FordFoundation and The W. K. KelloggFoundation for her research in the field.Dr. Boyce Ansari has helped institutionsgrow and revitalize while becoming morestable and more effective in their commu-nity impact. She is a champion for socialjustice, committed to equal access tohealth care, education and economicopportunity. She is currently Presidentand Chief Change Officer atMSBphilanthropy Advisors, LLC.

BY M. STARITA BOYCE ANSARI, PH.D.