Program areas at Proyecto Faro
Legal empowerment clinic -- we provide free legal services and education to rockland county immigrants in-person and virtually. We support immigrants to fill out applications and prepare for pro se cases so they can represent themselves in immigration court. We partner with volunteer attorneys to run a monthly legal clinic that provides guidance for cases after the completion of initial paperwork. We provide education to demystify the immigration process so our clients, their families and friends can take control of their cases, understand when and why they might require an attorney, and be empowered to choose an affordable attorney who will not take advantage of them. When necessary, we make references to our network of pro-bono and low-cost attorneys.
Every child counts: every child counts program responds to needs and develops leadership among immigrant students and parents who, because of racism and classism, have little power in school decisions. We facilitate a stakeholders alliance, provide training for grassroots leaders, and work in coalition to make tangible improvements in school conditions.
Food sovereignty / mutual aid food distribution: this program organizes immigrants alongside supportive individuals, businesses, and organizations to build networks of food-sharing to respond to pressing food insecurity in the immigrant communities of rockland county, ny. It was initiated during the first wave of the covid19 pandemic when food insecurity was acute and has grown from there. Initiatives within this program now include two large monthly food distributions at community sites throughout the county, one smaller weekly food distribution at our office/community center, special distributions responding to acute needs, the management of a community refrigerator program, and the cultivation of a community garden.
Other programs include: legal clinic free store / community center outreach-excluded workers outreach-health education