CSBG/T&TA
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NEWS LETTER: July 31, 2009
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THE PACKER July 10, 2009
Administration may ditch no - match rule
In a move hailed by produce industry groups, the Department of Homeland Security is dropping the no-match rule, which would have made employers liable for hiring workers whose Social Security Numbers are suspect. Department Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the decision July 8 as senators considered the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010.A day later, however, senators in a voice vote approved an amendment that reinstates the rule. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., introduced the amendment. Frank Gasperini, executive vice president of the National Council of Agricultural Employers, said he thought that, because the amendment was passed on a voice vote, ways remain for Homeland Security to work around rule and rescind it. "It's only an amendment to a bill that's still in progress," Gasperini said. "It'll have to pass both houses. And then, there can still be conference in committee to reconcile both versions." The Bush administration approved the no-match rule in August 2007, but it was never implemented, and a coalition of business and labor groups successfully sued for a court injunction. The regulation said any employer that didn't follow guidelines would be susceptible to an I-9 violation and possible fines in the event of a workplace raid or audit. The Department of Homeland Security is backing the E-Verify system, in which employers must use the Internet to check on Social Security numbers of employees to see if they're documented. Mandatory E-Verify regulations are planned to go into effect Sept. 8, awarding government contracts only to companies who have used the system. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has introduced an amendment that would allow employers who use E-Verify to verify all existing employees, not just new hires, another move opposed by the agriculture industry. In a release issued by Homeland Security, Napolitano said E-Verify was the smart, simple and effective way to go in documenting immigrant laborers."Requiring those who seek federal contracts to use this system will create a more reliable and legal work force," Napolitano said in the release.
"Right now, the E-Verify requirement is only going to extend to federal contractors and sub-contractors," said Jasper Hempel, executive vice president of Western Growers, Irvine, Calif. "We have produce companies in our association that sell to the federal government, but my guess is that will be a very small group." Hempel said he hopes comprehensive immigration reform becomes reality this year. "It's not on (Congress') short-term agenda, but I hope in the fall it will get to them," he said. "Getting AgJobs passed, or AgJobs rolled into comprehensive immigration reform … that will go a huge way in solving our labor issues." Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said July 8 he believes an immigration bill can be done by Labor Day, Sept. 7. He told The Associated Press that the way to get a bill through was to be more generous to highly skilled immigrant workers but very tough on future waves of illegal immigration.
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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND WORKFORCE EDUCATION
ADULT MIGRANT PROGRAM AND SERVICES
Linda Grisham, Senior Educational Program Director - Linda.Grisham@fldoe.org
LaWayne Wyatt, Program Specialist III – LaWayne.Wyatt@fldoe.org
Robert Guy, Program Specialist III – Robert.Guy@fldoe.org
Shirley Caban-Tellez, Program Specialist III – Shirley.Caban-Tellez@fldoe.org
Alice Bello, Secretary Specialist – Alice.Bello@fldoe.org
8402 Laurel Fair Circle, Suite 212 Tampa Florida 33610
(813) 744-6303 Suncom 512-1156 FAX (813) 744-6296 or Suncom 512-1153
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LIST OF PROJECT SITES FOR: 16 project Sites for Adults and Youth Ages 16 up
Collier County Includes Hendry County
Project Coordinator
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Project Address
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Project Supervisor
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Finance Officer
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Diane Christianson
(239) 377-9906
(239) 377-9912 (Fax)
christdi@collier.k12.fl.us
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Immokalee Technical Center
508 N. Ninth Street
Immokalee, Florida 34142
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Dorin Oxender, Principal
Immokalee Technical Center
(239) 377-9904
oxendedo@collier.k12.fl.us
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Wendy Seitzinger
Ph. (239) 377-0048
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Maribel Perez, Case Manager
(863) 612-9863
(863) 612-9864 (Fax)
perezm@collier.k12.fl.us
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485 E. Cowboy Way Suite 1
LaBelle, Florida 33935
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Diane Christianson
(239) 377-9906
christdi@collier.k12.fl.us
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Wendy Seitzinger
(239) 377-0048
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Miami Dade County
Vashti Kelly (Ti Kelly)
(305) 245-7738, Ext. 229
(305) 247-2619 (Fax)
tkelly@centrocampesino.org
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Centro Campesino
P.O. Box 343449
Florida City, Florida 33034
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Diane Cantor
Executive Director
(305) 245-7738, Ext. 228
dcantor@centrocampesino.org
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Richard Chester
(305) 245-7738, ext. 242
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Maria Garza
(305) 245-5865
(305) 242-7997 (Fax)
garzam@miamidade.gov
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South Dade Skills Center
28300 SW 152 Avenue
Leisure City, Florida 33033
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Lisa Skirving, Bureau Chief
Targeted Services Bureau
2525 NW 62nd St. 4th floor
Miami, Florida 33147
(305) 514-6099 (Direct)
(305) 514-6000 (Main)
lskirvn@miamidade.gov
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Andrea Peterkin
Ph.(305) 514-6097
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Hardee County
Daune Neidig,
(863) 784-7386
(863) 784-7367 (Fax)
neidigd@southflorida.edu
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South Florida Community College
600 West College Drive
Avon Park, Florida 33825
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Kevin Brown
Dean of Sciences & Technologies
600 W. College Drive
Avon Park, Florida 33825
(863) 784-7424
(893) 784-7355 (Fax)
brownk@southflorida.edu
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Evelyn Butcher
(863) 784-7321
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Hillsborough County
Richard Harrison
(813) 757-9480
(813) 757-9548 (Fax)
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The Family Learning Center
Hillsborough County Schools
3218 San Jose Mission Drive
Dover, Florida 33527
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Karine Miller Johns, Supervisor of Instruction, Adult & Community Ed.
5103 N. 40th Street
Tampa, Florida 33610
(813) 276-5654, Ext. 400
(813-233-2746 (Fax)
karine.johns@sdhc.k12.fl.us
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JoAnn Cotarelo
(813) 272-4375
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Indian River County
Daniel Bird
(772) 462-4716
(772) 462-4727 (Fax)
dbird@irsc.edu
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Indian River State College
3209 Virginia Avenue
Fort Pierce, Florida 34981
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Andrew Hawkins, Dean of
Northwest Center & Blackburn
Educational Building
(772) 462-7100
(772) 462-7099 (Fax)
ahawkins@irsc.edu
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Theresa Canoy
(772) 462-7351
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Manatee County Also Sarasota County
Esperanza Gamboa
(941) 751-7900, Ext. 2168
(941) 751-7951 (Fax)
gamboae@manateeschools.net
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Manatee County School District
Manatee Technical Center
5603 - 34th Street, West
Bradenton, Florida 34210
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Dr. Mary Cantrell
Director of Manatee Technical Institute
5603-34th Street, West
Bradenton, Florida 34210
(941) 751-7900 Ext. 2013
(941) 751-7927 (Fax)
cantrellm@manateeschools.net
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Frances Tamayo
(941) 751-7900
Ext. 2244
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Orange County Also Lake County
Carol Heard
(407) 905-2095
(407) 656-0783 (Fax)
heardc@ocps.net
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Orange County School District
Westside Technical Center
955 East Story Road
Winter Garden, Florida 34787
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Addie Brann, Senior Director
Westside Technical Center
955 East Story Road
Winter Garden, Florida 34787
(407) 905-2000 Ext. 2011
(407) 656-3970 (Fax)
branna@ocps.net
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Jan Thackston
Orange County Schools
445 W. Amelia Street
Orlando, Florida 32801
(407) 317-3200
Ext. 2883
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Palm Beach County
Minerva Acosta
(561) 355-4793
(561) 355-9900 (Fax)
macosta@pbcgov.org
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810 Datura Street
W. Palm Beach, Florida 33401
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Channell Wilkins
Director Community Services
810 Datura Street
W. Palm Beach, Florida 33401
(561) 355-4702
(561) 355-3863 (Fax)
cwilkins@pbcgov.org
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Rebecca Webb
(561) 355-4716
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Pasco County
Carmen Meza
(352) 524-9038)
SPDL 025
cmeza@pasco.k12.fl.us.
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Moore-Mickens Education Center
38301 Martin Luther King
Dade City, Florida 33525
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Carolyn Allen
Supervisor of Adult & Comm. Edu.
District School Board of Pasco County
7227 Land o’ Lakes
Florida 34639
(813) 794-2206
callen@pasco.k12.fl.us
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Ivonne Caraballo
SC 597-2284
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Polk County
Wanda Morales
(863) 968-5658 or 5659
(863) 968-5660 (Fax)
Wanda.Morales@polk-fl.ne
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Polk County School District
300 E. Bridgers Ave.
Auburndale, Florida 33823
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John Small, Director
Workforce Education
1909 S. Floral Ave.
Bartow, Florida 33831
(863) 519-8437
(863) 534-0788 (Fax)
john.small@polk-fl.net
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Linda Robinson
(863) 519-7981
(863) 534-0809 (Fax)
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Putnam County
Linda Osborne
Lucia Robles
(386) 698-4710
(386) 698-1548 (Fax)
osborne_l@firn.edu
robles_l@firn.edu
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Putnam County School District
1020 Huntington Road
Crescent City, Florida 32112
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Mary Beth Hedstrom
Director Federal Programs
200 S. 7th Street
Palatka, Florida 32177
(386) 329-0543 (386) 329-0643 (Fax)
mhedstrom@putnamschools.org
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Rhonda Odom
(386) 329-0513
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Seminole County
Sheila Dixon
(407) 708-2670
(407) 708-2128 (Fax)
dixons@scc-fl.edu
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Seminole Community College
100 Weldon Boulevard
Sanford, Florida 32771
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Robert Ledford, Dean of Adult Ed
Seminole Community College
100 Weldon Boulevard
Sanford, Florida 32771
(407) 708-2126
ledfordr@scc.fl.edu
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Lynn Powers
(407) 708-2138
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Volusia County
Pahoua Yee- Lang
(386) 624-6912
(386) 624-6917 (Fax)
Plee-yang@alpi.org
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1326 East International Speedway, D6
Deland, Florida 32724
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Deloris Johnson
Executive Director
The Agricultural & Labor Program
P.O. Box 3126
Winter Haven, Florida 33885
(863) 956-3491
Djohnson@alpi.org
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Norris Ann Roland
(863) 956-3491
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State Wide
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
Supportive Services
Agricultural and Labor Program
300 Lynchburg Road
Lake Alfred, Florida 33850-2576
(863) 956-3357 (Fax)
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Deloris Johnson
Executive Director
The Agricultural & Labor Program
P.O. Box 3126
Winter Haven, Florida 33885
Djohnson@alpi.org
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Norris Ann Roland
(863) 956-3491
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Farewell to a Friend
Pedro Narezo, Monitor Advocate, has announced that this will be his last year as a government employee and will be retiring at the end of this year.
Pedro is a non- typical government employee, who gives rather than takes and doesn't complain about it. An individual who has been in the middle of positive change for farm workers and the rural poor.
During his 35 years of employment with Florida State Government; 10 of which were in the Executive Office of the Governor; Pedro Narezo has always been willing to help and to work with everyone. Dressed in regular jeans, and boots, you would find him talking to families affected by any disasters. He made sure to bring them food, pampers for their babies and insuring they had water and ice; you name it he was there to help. His friendly attitude and colorful personality routinely open doors of cooperation. I'm sure all will agree that Pedro has enriched our lives and helped to improve conditions. For those, who haven't met Pedro, here are a few facts about him.
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| Pedro Narezo, III |
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He is considered a friend of workers and valuable resource for workers and Community Based Organizations. Pedro served as member of the National Council of La Raza board of Director for six years, has been Vice Chair of the Immokalee Multicultural Multipurpose Community action agency in Immokalee, has served on COFFO’s Board of Directors 10 years , has served as Chairperson and is presently the Vice Chairperson.
Pedro’s retirement as the Florida State Monitor Advocate opens the door to us to ensure that a good replacement is identified and hired. Federal Regulations 20 CFR 653.108 ''mandates'' the state to have a State Monitor Advocate Position. This position was created to insure that farmworkers received equal treatment under the Department of Labor’s regulations. The regulations also require the state to advertise the position to the general public.
"Let’s not let just anyone be assigned or placed in this position. We must identify a good replacement" Get a copy of the job description and encourage good candidates to apply. If you get a chance to say good bye and wish Pedro the best, I'm sure he would appreciate hearing your thoughts. Email him at; pedro.narezo@awi.state.fl.us
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Florida Food Stamp Program - SUNCAP
The SUNCAP Program is a special Food Stamp Program for individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It helps low-income individuals and families buy the food they need for good health. A special debit card is issued that can be used like an ATM card at most grocery stores, certain senior centers, and non-profit meal delivery services (such as Meals on Wheels). The amount of the benefit depends on income, family size, and where the applicant lives. Applicants may be eligible for this program if there is limited income and resources (not including home, car, and certain retirement accounts such as IRA, 401K and Keogh). Citizens and certain legal immigrants who meet the
eligibility guidelines, may be eligible for this program. Eligible non-citizens may include: immigrants who have legally lived in the United States for at least 5 years or more; immigrants currently receiving disability-related assistance or benefits, regardless of entry date, or any immigrant child, regardless of entry date.
For more information about this program, call the State Hotline at (866) 762- 2237 (option 4) or visit www.benefitscheckup.org.
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About Our Stimulus Package
To find out more about the economic stimulus package and projects planned throughout the United States, visit
www.Recovery.gov.
The Web site offers details on plans for the development and modernization of thousands of public housing units for lower-income residents, including the elderly and disabled, as a result of
approximately $1 billion in grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Most of the grant money will be devoted to making the units more energy efficient, thus decreasing utility costs to the residents.
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