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A new beacon of liberty

SUNY Sullivan, TCFD to assist asylum seekers

By Derek Kirk
Posted 3/10/23

NEW YORK CITY – As the humanitarian crisis continues in NYC with tens of thousands of asylum seekers arriving, Mayor Eric Adams announced his remedic comprehensive plan in which two Sullivan …

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A new beacon of liberty

SUNY Sullivan, TCFD to assist asylum seekers

Posted

NEW YORK CITY – As the humanitarian crisis continues in NYC with tens of thousands of asylum seekers arriving, Mayor Eric Adams announced his remedic comprehensive plan in which two Sullivan Counties entities will play a role.

According to Mayor Adams’ comprehensive plan, the migrant workforce training pilot of the newly created Office of Asylum Seeker Operations (OASO) will oversee SUNY Sullivan and The Center for Discovery (TCFD) providing 100 people seeking asylum with educational opportunities and job force training. 

Asylum seekers will be offered the opportunity to relocate to Sullivan County, attend college, and live on campus at SUNY Sullivan. The workforce training offered at TCFD will focus on the health care, human services, hospitality, culinary, and agricultural sectors.

“We are proud to have collaborated with the mayor on this visionary pilot program,” said TCFD President, Dr. Terry Hamlin, and SUNY Sullivan President, Jay Quaintance, in a joint statement.

“The Center for Discovery will offer the chance for migrants to learn about health care in a groundbreaking program in a beautiful setting. It will offer the opportunity to study on the campus of the renowned SUNY Sullivan, as community colleges are the gateway to affordable higher education in this country.”

“This program represents the very best of what New Yorkers and Americans are about: learning, opportunity and empathy,” they said.

In a press release put out by Mayor Adams’ Office, it notes that “the blueprint also outlines new strategies the city will pilot to train asylum seekers for employment, including a program with houses of worship to provide them with a place to stay and connection to services,” in addition to the other developing partnerships.

One of the goals of the plan is to establish a blueprint for others around the State to follow the model. Mayor Adams’ full plan, “The Road Forward: Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” can be found at www.nyc.gov.

District 2 Legislator Nadia Rajsz, a first-generation Ukrainian-American,  stated her readiness to share Sullivan County with those in crisis.  She added that she is eager to help Ukrainians any way she can, and looks forward to welcoming them through the program.

She noted that she has already pledged to assist them in assimilating into the county and towns. 

“These immigrants were forced to leave by the ongoing war in their home country, and some may one day return,” said Rajsz. “Till then, I plan to be a part of making their lives easier and better than what they left behind.” 

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  • .

    I wonder how many current American citizens would benefit from this opportunity?

    Friday, March 10, 2023 Report this