Center for Immigrant Services Launched in Asbury Park

The grand opening of the Nosotros Center for Immigrant Services (CIS) will take place on Thursday, April 29 at 6 p.m. at 808 Main Street, Asbury Park.  Offering reliable on-site professional services for New Jersey's immigrant community, CIS is a collaborative undertaking between Monmouth University's  Leon Hess Business School Center for Entrepreneurship, Cecilia Reynolds, editor and publisher of Nosotros Newspaper and M. Juliana David M Ed, founder and co-chair of the Latino Outreach of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, a networking group of services providers. Initially, CIS is working to build business relationships with the non-profit and for profit sector in Monmouth and Ocean County to provide a wide array of services for the local immigrant population.
 
The CIS will offer immigrant consumers the tools and information they need to successfully access the public and private sector resources available to them.  Working to build trust and foster opportunities within this community, the CIS will provide individual and group consultation and seminars in the following areas:

• Legal Services - personal injury, criminal law, family law and immigration.

• Economic Development and Financial Services - ITIN # applications/income tax preparation, loan programs, debt counseling and mortgage advice.

• International Government and Consulate Services - passports and ID's, birth certificates, travel authorization for minor children, and home country election registration.

• Translation and Credentialing Services - translation and interpretation services in Spanish, Portuguese and Creole for consumers and businesses, information on credentialing services for professionals and paraprofessionals to facilitate job placements and academic opportunities.

• Health Services - triage and case management for health and mental health issues.

• Educational, Arts and Cultural Services - ESL classes, dance and music, arts and crafts, cooking and other courses designed to promote assimilation to mainstream culture.

 
According to Professor John Buzza, director of Monmouth University's Leon Hess Business School Center for Entrepreneurship, "Monmouth University is proud to be a part of the The Nosotros Center for Immigrant Services. Through their day-to-day involvement with CIS, students will learn how to navigate in the business environment by applying their skills and classroom education to this worthwhile program."

Cecilia Reynolds, editor of Nosotros Newspaper shared, "The possibility of establishing a Center for Immigrant Services during these difficult times represents change and hope for a brighter future for our community. Through successful collaborations with faith based organizations, the public and private sector, our Center will help improve the quality of life for immigrant families across the state."
 
Juliana David, co-chair of the Latino Outreach of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and executive director of CIS said, "This is a dream come true. As a Latino mental health professional, I am eager to help our immigrant community find resources, learn how to adapt to mainstream culture and contribute to this great nation."
 
The Nosotros CIS will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and twice a month on Saturday mornings. Walk-ins are welcome. To schedule an appointment, call 732-361-8923.
 
About the Monmouth University Leon Hess Business School Center for Entrepreneurship

The mission of the Monmouth University Leon Hess Business School Center for Entrepreneurship is to nurture entrepreneurial thinking though a community of business partners committed to achieving social and economic progress. Engaging partnerships and cooperation among students, faculty, lenders, and prospective entrepreneurs, the center seeks to develop lasting affiliations between the University and private sector in advancing imagination and leadership for business value creation. Established in Spring 2008, a unique feature of the Center is application of a micro-credit framework-based on the Nobel Peace Prize winning work of Mohammad Yunus-to small businesses in the surrounding communities of the University. Coupled with the established successes of the entrepreneurship and small business classes of the Leon Hess Business School, the center is making a difference in the community and business education.

Source: Petra Ludwig