Franklin County provides more funding for refugee employability services

In continuation of efforts geared towards helping refugees to find and keep employment the Franklin County commissioners will on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 9am be asked to approve a resolution brought forth by the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services, Columbus, Ohio that would provide a total of $654,000 to four community partners for employability services under the Refugee Social Services and Targeted Assistance Grant Programs.

Under the terms of their sub-award agreements, Jewish Family Services ($228,000), Community Refugee and Immigration Services ($195,000), Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services ($195,000), and US Together ($36,000) will work with clients to address the challenges and barriers to employment that are unique to recently settled refugees, such as language, education, and transferable work skills.

This grant allocation will assist eligible refugees that reside in the following seven counties: Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union.

To date, the four partners have provided employment services and/or English instruction to approximately 1,700 refugees. While some program participants enrolled into school or relocated again, more than 1,000 were placed into employment. The current average wage is $12.75 per hour, which exceeds the goal set by the State.

The collaboration between the commissioners and their partners has also resulted in many beneficial ancillary projects, such as job fairs, and hiring events for program participants and professional development presentations for staff.

The most recent project is a free, monthly, fresh produce market located along the Morse Road corridor within walking distance of several refugee communities. Fresh produce is supplied by the Mid-Ohio Food bank and distributed by staff and volunteers of the partner agencies.

NAIC holds meeting/interactive session June 21/23

The New African Immigrants Commission (NAIC) will on Saturday, June 23, 2018 hold listening event in Columbus, Ohio with community leaders, stakeholders, state agencies, NAIC Standing Committee members, and Sub-Saharan Africans in Central Ohio at Ashland University Columbus Center. Time for the event is fixed for 3:30PM to 5:30PM.

The chairperson of NAIC, Dr. Rosaire Ifedi said, “the public can attend this meeting at Ashland University-Columbus Center 1900 East Dublin Granville Road Columbus, Ohio 43229,” adding that “the meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities while free parking is available.”

Also the regular meeting of the commission will hold on Thursday, June 21, 2018 at Vern Riffe Building 77 South High Street Room West B&C, 31st Floor Columbus, Ohio. Time for the meeting is 1:00PM – 3:00PM.

Items on the agenda will include committee announcements, action from Dayton Meeting, Columbus Listening Event on Saturday, June 23, internship opportunities with NAIC, and upcoming events in Cleveland and Cincinnati.

It is also open to members of the public.

Nnewi USA holds Annual Convention in Houston July 5-8

Nnewi USA, a south east Nigeria Diaspora group will hold its 23^rd Annual Convention at the Marriott Sugar Land Town Square, Houston, Texas from July 5 to 8.

The 2018 Convention tagged “Nnewi the Golden Land: Diaspora Connections, Building Partnership…Together”, will also treat topics such as “Leadership Diaspora Partnership Forum; Mobile Finance, eCommerce, Nnewi Smart City Future; and Tech Education and Innovation zone.”

Expected at the event are Dr Cletus Ibeto, Dr Innocent Chukwuma, Dr Cosmas Maduka, Dr Chuka Okafor and Prof. Kingsley Moghalu.