citizens Archives - Good News!

Cristiana Pegoraro Performs to celebrate her March 28th Westchester, NY Honor for her Day

Austin Tang — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:00:59 +0000

Listen to “Cristiana Pegoraro Performs to celebrate her March 28th Westchester, NY Honor for her Day Part 1/2” on Spreaker.

Listen to “Cristiana Pegoraro Performs to celebrate her March 28th Westchester, NY Honor for her Day Part 2/2” on Spreaker.

#CristianaPegoraro

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A Poetic Look at Love & Romance after Age 65 – the Power, Pleasure & Pain of Life as a Senior

Austin Tang — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:25:30 +0000

Listen to “A Poetic Look at Love & Romance after Age 65 – the Power, Pleasure & Pain of Life as a Senior” on Spreaker.

“This book explores the joys of newfound love in old age, the miraculous blossoming that can occur when two lovers find each other after a lifetime of searching…The crystalline poems in The Kama Sutra for Senior Citizens are shot through with a gentle melancholy leavened by wit and eros.”

— Alison Luterman, Catamaran Poetry Prize Winner

“I love this book for its reassuring frankness, subtlety, and genial intelligence.… a mind so inventive, so alive to possibility, always at the heart of loving and delight… This book isn’t just for seniors, it’s for anyone who wants to feel what it is to be fully alive.”

— Tess Gallagher, Author of Midnight Lantern: New and Selected Poems

“These poems come to grips with the melancholy of aging set against the backdrop of love and sex, community and loneliness, laughter and tears.”

— Joseph Millar, Guggenheim and NEA Fellowship Recipient

What does love look like in life’s later chapters? In this tender, mischievous new collection of poetry, Zack Rogow answers with the hard-won wisdom of a man newly single in his senior years.

“After being with the same person for over three decades, I found my life upside down, dating again after the age of 65,” says Rogow, a teacher, playwright, poet, and translator. “I went on over 75 first dates and tried every-which-way to meet someone that I could feel a loving connection with. Luckily, I did, but it was not easy.” Rogow adds: “I didn’t succeed in finding a long-term partner by dating online. I finally met my current partner through our mutual interest in French literature. In an interview, he will share the following:

How he survived 75 first-time dates until he found a second chance at deep intimacy

The challenges and rewards of aging

What he discovered on the singles scene after not dating for 35 years

Why the three-time Pushcart Prize for Poetry nominee writes about love

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Zack Rogow is the author, editor or translator of more than 20 books and plays. Nominated three times for the Pushcart Prize for Poetry, his previous nine collections of poetry include Irreverent Litanies, Talking with the Radio: poems inspired by jazz and popular music, and The Number Before Infinity. His memoir, Hugging My Father’s Ghost, was released in 2024. Zack’s co-authored play, Colette Uncensored, had its first staged reading at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and later ran in London, Indonesia, Catalonia, San Francisco, and Portland. His blog, Advice for Writers, features more than 300 posts. He has received the PEN/Book-of-the-Month Club Translation Prize, the Northern California Book Reviewers Award in Translation, and the Celestine Award for Poetry. He also edited the anthology The Face of Poetry (University of California Press).

Additional career highlights include:

Bay Area Book Reviewers Association Award for translation of Horace by George Sand

Lili Fabilli-Eric Hoffer Essay Prize, UC Berkeley

Co-authored play Colette Uncensored, nominated for outstanding solo show by Theatre Bay Area, and co-authored play Groucho for President selected for JETFest, festival of new plays; staged reading

Taught at University of Anchorage and California College of the Arts

Contributing editor for Catamaran Literary Reader

Served as managing director of The Poetry Center at San Francisco State University

Wrote lyrics for several jazz songs, one of which was recorded by the chanteuse Carrie Wicks. Listen here: https://originarts.com/oa2/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=22175

His dad, Lee Rogow, was a widely published writer and man-about-town in Manhattan in the 1950s, before dying tragically in an airplane crash when he was three years old. Zack writes about this in his memoir, Hugging My Father’s Ghost.

Rogow earned his Master of Arts in English from City College and BA in English from Yale University, graduating Cum Laude. He resides in Northern California. For more information, visit www.zackrogow.com.

Social Media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackrogow

X: @ZackRogow

Bluesky: Zackrogow.bsky.social

His blog is here: https://zackrogow.blogspot.com/

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Babylon Citizens Counsel on the Arts (BACCA), Elizabeth (Liz) Mirarchi, BACCA’s executive director shares their Good News

Austin Tang — Thu, 30 May 2024 14:57:45 +0000

Listen to “Babylon Citizens Counsel on the Arts (BACCA), Elizabeth (Liz) Mirarchi, BACCA’s executive director shares their Good News” on Spreaker.

The Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts (BACCA) is celebrating 50 years of bridging communities through art and culture. To commemorate BACCA’s continued service to the community through the arts there are a number of special events happening throughout 2024. Some of these events include:

Recycled and Found: International Mixed Media Virtual Arts Exchange and Exhibition
https://www.babylonarts.org/recycled-found-exhibition

Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts (BACCA) and Sognare Insieme Viaggi travel agency are proud to announce their partnership in presenting this exhibit.This virtual showcase brings together artists from Calabria, Italy, and Long Island, New York and the Greater New York Metro area, inviting them to redefine artistic boundaries by crafting mixed media
artworks from unconventional found materials. Calabria, Italy and Long Island, New York, both have vibrant artistic communities eager to foster connections and champion environmental stewardship. Participating artists were encouraged to utilize a variety of discarded materials including, but not limited to, plastic waste, reclaimed metal, and paper
within their work. The exhibition aims to challenge viewers to reconsider the value of everyday items while promoting sustainable practices through art. Featured artists from Long Island include Bri Sander (UpSculpt), Gregory Rapp, Tom Brydelsky, Sarah Vitale, and Scott Schneider (Toxic/Nature Studios). Featured artists from Italy include Curator Luigi Impieri, Stefano Ricci, Antonio Froio, Delio Piccioni, Alfredo Granata, and Antonio De Pietro.

The Long Island Public Arts Festival https://www.babylonarts.org/public-arts-festival

About Our Program:
BACCA (Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts), Harper Bella, and Jose Tutiven – the Artists Create Change project and partnership through CRNY – present the Long Island Public Arts Festival – a vibrant celebration of creativity transforming Phelps Lane Park in North Babylon, NY into an immersive public arts exhibition.

Opening Celebration: Thursday, June 6th from 3:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Opening Celebration Rain Date: Thursday, June 13th from 3:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Installation Open: from June 6th – August 31st, 2024
Town of Babylon Phelps Lane Park – 281 Phelps Ln, North Babylon, NY 11703
The Festival will Feature
 Visual Artists, Large-scale Art Installations
 Music
 Workshops: Full calendar of events will be available at the BACCA website.

Some current and upcoming events

Recycled and Found
BACCA celebrates its 50^thyear of service to the community through the arts. This virtual showcase brings together artists from Calabria, Italy, and Long Island, New York and the Greater New York Metro area, inviting them to redefine artistic boundaries by crafting mixed media artworks from unconventional found materials.

The Long Island BlueGrass and Roots Festival
For 22 years, BACCA has been teaming with the Bluegrass Club of Long Island to bring this genre of American roots music that developed in the 1940s.

Paumanauke Pow Wow
Now in its 42nd year, the Paumanauke Pow Wow celebrates the history and culture of the Paumanauke tribe. Admission helps support the Native American Scholarship Fund.

#bacca #babyloncitizenscouncelonthearts #elizabethmirarchi #lizmirarchi #babylon

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Violintine’s Day Concert – Tune-in Tomorrow, Friday Feb. 19th! ❤️

Austin Tang — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 18:05:01 +0000

Media Contact

Mary Wagner

member@daisyjoplingfoundation.org

(732) 856-4300

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Renowned Violinist Daisy Jopling Launches Symphony of World Citizens to Help Children Keep Their Music-Making Dreams Alive
Performs Fundraising Violintine’s Day Concert on February 14, 2021

Peekskill, NY- February 5, 2021 – On February 14th from 5:30 – 8 PM EST, join world renowned classical and rock violinist, Daisy Jopling and her band for an evening of stunning music to fill your heart, ease your mind, and welcome in the new year. The concert will be live streamed from the gorgeous five-star Dramatic Hall Theater in Peekskill, NY. Virtually toast and chat with the musicians at 5:30 PM, take a break to cook a delicious meal from curated recipes, then join at 7:00 pm for a concert to remember.

“Sublimely gifted musician.” — Time Out Magazine

“Daisy Jopling plays classical music with the energy and spontaneity of a rock musician. She has a lyrical intensity that seems to reach inside you with each stroke of the bow.” — Tom Morris, Tony Award-Winning Director

Ms. Jopling, founder of the Daisy Jopling Music Mentorship Foundation (DJMMF), will also be unveiling Symphony of World Citizens. This Member’s Circle offers fans and patrons the opportunity to support the foundation’s youth programs. In turn, they will receive monthly invitations to VIP concerts with Daisy and special guests, on demand streaming performances and documentaries, band merchandise & music, and complimentary tickets to incredible live streamed performances taking place across the globe–from the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater to the ancient wonders of the Taj Mahal and Great Pyramids. Best yet…members can share these gifts with an aspiring musician, favorite music mentor, or fellow arts lover.

The ultimate goal is to help cultivate the next generation of musical artists through cross-cultural collaboration, world class mentorship and performance opportunities. These experiences can transform children’s lives and bring communities together as citizens of the world.

When asked why the Daisy Jopling Music Mentorship Foundation’s work and this Member’s Circle is so important to her, Daisy stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted just about every person, from every walk of life, in this country. In times like these, many people have to cut costs. That’s why Symphony of World Citizens is so important to me. Nobody should be forced to give up on their dreams, especially not a child. I’m hopeful that our programs can continue providing solace and joy, and that through our Member’s Circle, we can grow a vibrant community of stewards whose support will indeed launch our aspiring young musicians’ dreams.

DJMMF brings the power of world class music making into community performances that transform people’s lives through three core initiatives:

• Mentorship by world class musicians for youth to study and perform with them on major stages

Removing barriers such as cost for youth to attend world class concerts
Supporting low cost and tuition free high quality music programs for children bydonating fundsTo date, Daisy’s foundation has given almost 1,000 children from all backgrounds the opportunity to participate in a mentorship program. It has given almost 7,000 children, and over 1,000 residents from underserved areas, the opportunity to attend a performance by the foundation’s world class artists, free of charge.To RSVP for the event, visit: http://bit.ly/BeMyViolintine. To learn more about the foundation and Member’s Circle visit: www.daisyjoplingfoundation.org and bit.ly/SymphonyofWorldCitizens

About

Daisy Jopling

Biography

Classical/rock violinist Daisy Jopling was born in London, and now lives in NY. She has toured the world with her own band, the Daisy Jopling Band and with the creative string trio Triology. She has recorded 9 CDS, 2 with BMG RCA Victor. Her last album Who’s Who was released worldwide on September 10, 2019. Produced by Felipe Souza with Tea 4 2 Productions, this album consists of original violin arrangements of great songs by The Who.

Her Solo work has included playing a concerto at the Royal Albert Hall in London at the age of 14, playing twice before 30,000 people at the opening of the Vienna Festival, touring with her band to 53 stunning concert halls in China, and performing her own Awakening Concert at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on August 27th 2017.

She has collaborated with superstars worldwide, including Bobby McFerrin and Rob Evan from the US, Hollywood’s Hans Zimmer, India’s Shubha Mudgal, Cuba’s Omara Portuondo, Africa’s Oliver Mtukutsi, Austria’s Joe Zawinul, Wolfgang Muthspiel and Julian Rachlin, The Netherland’s Janine Jansen, Russia’s Boris Grebenshikov and London’s Tony Award Winning director Tom Morris.

Daisy has composed music for various ensembles which has been performed in major concert halls throughout the world, and for the last 6 years she has performed her own shows The String Pulse Experience and Awakening for her Band, orchestra, solo singers, dancers, and youth choir, enhanced by custom made lighting design and projections. Both shows give opportunities to young instrumentalists, singers and dancers to perform on great stages alongside world class musicians. Music Magic: The String Pulse Experience documentary film by Diana C. Frank has aired on Mountain Lake PBS.

“Sublimely gifted musician.” — Time Out Magazine

Mary Wagner

Symphony of World Citizens Member Coordinator

Daisy Jopling Music Mentorship Foundation

www.daisyjoplingfoundation.org

member@daisyjoplingfoundation.org

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Leah Zveglich, Founder, Aster Impact, Project Phoenix, Covid-19

Austin Tang — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 21:36:24 +0000

http://goodnewsplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/leah_zveglich_1.mp3
Where Covid19 continues to take lives and medical professionals and every day citizens alike continue to lack access to the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) they need, Aster Impact is bringing transparency, trust, and access to a volatile market. Led by Executive Director and Founder Leah Zveglich, Aster Impact is a social enterprise incubator dedicated to social impact. Their largest project centers on fair and legal migration for workers from countries experiencing poverty and crisis around the world in an effort to end human trafficking and forced or bonded labor. In February, when the Aster Impact team saw the failure of the free market to secure necessary PPE for all, they knew they had to do something and; Project Phoenix was born. At a time when most PPE is being purchased by the ultra wealthy to flip stocks and gain more wealth, Project Phoenix exists to help school districts, nursing homes, local governments, and small hospitals purchase the PPE they need. The Project Phoenix team takes Purchase Orders for orders as small as 10,000 nitrile gloves and as large as 1 billion masks.

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Concerned Citizen B. Tina Ebey shares her solutions for the Fires in California.

admin — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 19:56:51 +0000

http://goodnewsplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/tina_ebey_1.mp3
Tina Ebey share many thoughts for a bill to help deal with the fire problem in California.

ORIGIN of the Bill:

1. B. Tina Ebey – citizen of San Jose, California

2. To my knowledge no similar bill has been introduced in any previous session.

1. PROPOSAL SUMMARY.

The proposal will authorize bonds to fund live feed satellite coverage into every fire station in the state to cut the response time of our honorable firefighters and increase speed and accuracy of advance warning to affected citizens.

2. PROBLEM.

At present most firefighters are on call. Based on research, firefighters too frequently lack access to the latest data regarding fire movements. This results in unnecessary delays for the firefighters to reach critical areas. It also results in firefighters not being able to alert citizens in a timely and efficient manner.

3. SOLUTION.

This proposal addresses the need for immediate live feed coverage into every station so that the firemen can carefully monitor their geographic area. Surveillance will include computer signaling of potential trouble spots to be investigated. In response multiple approaches can be initiated including surveillance drones, alerts through smartphone apps or live crews for additional protection.

4. COST.

TBD

5. ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT.

Firefighters

Silicon Valley Technology Leaders

US Government Weather Satellites

Citizens

Medical Professionals

Teachers

6. ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT.

Global warming is increasing the potential for longer, hotter summers, droughts and more fires in California, putting firefighters and citizens at greater risk. The proposal would:

1. Employ use of existing technology used to protect our State, the people and the firefighters.

2. Enhance the effectiveness of current methods of fighting fires with comprehensive live feed coverage.

3. Gives the firefighters the ability to respond more efficiently by being deployed to target an fight fires in their geographic area.

7. ORGANIZATIONAL OPPOSITION.

None at present.

8. ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION.

1. We have enough fire protection in the State.

2. The State can not afford any more expenditures.

3. Fires have become a fire hazard we have to learn to live with.

9. BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

Notes enclosed below.

10. CONTACT.

B. Tina Ebey

408-216-0278 home office

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Israel Film Festival 2017

admin — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 21:40:14 +0000

Listen to “Israel Film Festival 2017” on Spreaker.

http://www.jccmanhattan.org/film/
Join us for premieres and previews, meet filmmakers, and engage in conversations about topics central to our community.

SCREENING SCHEDULE
OTHER ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL
REELABILITIES FILM FESTIVAL
ISRAEL FILM CENTER FESTIVAL
ISRAEL FILM CENTER STREAM
ISRAEL FILM CENTER
MEET THE STAFF

CINEMATTERS: FILM @ THE JCC
JCC Manhattan’s film program showcases films that promote change and reflect on pertinent themes. Featuring previews and special engagements, CINEMATTERS emphasizes films on social justice, social action, and matters crucial to our New York community and society at large. Presenting movies from around the world, our screenings include special guest speakers, filmmakers, actors, and other interactive opportunities to further engage with the themes in our award-winning films. We believe films move and impact audiences and are one of the most compelling ways to effect change. We invite you to be inspired, join the conversation, and begin to change our world.

OTHER ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL: NOVEMBER 2-9

The Other Israel Film Festival uses film to foster social awareness and cultural understanding. The Festival presents dramatic and documentary films, as well as engaging panels about history, culture, and identity on the topic of minority populations in Israel with a focus on Arab citizens. Join us for a week-long festival of award-winning international films as well as engaging conversations on hot topics that illuminate the diversity of Israeli society. Participate in panel discussions with filmmakers and other special guests, gala events, and more.

#premieres #previews #filmmakers #engage #conversations #topics #central #community #jcc #israel #film #festival #history #culture #identity #focus #arab #citizens

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Worldfund Gala – Thank You For a Wonderful Evening!

admin — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 14:18:29 +0000

Dear Friends of Worldfund,

Over the last 15 years, Worldfund has become an influential international network of committed global citizens who believe in the power of education.

On Thursday, June 8th, we were proud to share our accomplishments at the 2017 Education Leadership Award Dinner: 8,000 educators and nearly 4.4 million students impacted by our three programs: IAPE, LISTO and STEM.

Improving the quality of education in Latin America is not an individual task. Our gratitude for those who have been so important in supporting our programs was symbolized by honoring two outstanding individuals for their remarkable contributions to education in their countries:
Agustín Coppel Luken makes education a priority in his leadership at Grupo Coppel in Mexico.

Fábio Colletti Barbosa seeks to bring educational values to the forefront of the Brazilian national discussion.
Worldfund is thankful for the 350 friends in the room who joined us in applauding our honorees. We invite you to continue sharing your enthusiasm for Worldfund. Please take this opportunity to forward this email to a friend. It takes all of us to keep inspiring teachers to create the leaders of tomorrow.

Kelly Maurice
Executive Director
Donate

The Education Leadership Award was presented to Fábio Colletti Barbosa by Carlos Guimarães.

The Education Leadership Award was presented to Agustín Coppel Luken by Claudio X. González Guajardo.

In addition to the award ceremony, another highlight of the evening was undoubtedly getting to know Worldfund-trained STEM Brasil teacher, Paulo Henrique do Nascimento.

Click below to learn more about
Professor Paulo Henrique do Nascimento and STEM Brasil:

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USCIS to Welcome 144 New Citizens…

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 15:01:51 +0000

in Honor of Veterans Day at USCIS New York Office

NEW YORK — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) New York District Director Phyllis Coven will administer the Oath of Allegiance to America’s newest citizens during a special naturalization ceremony at the NY District Office in Manhattan as part of USCIS’s annual celebration of Veterans Day.

The 144 citizenship candidates originate from the following 52 countries: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kosovo, Liberia, Mexico, Montenegro, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Serbia, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, St. Kitts-Nevis, The Gambia, Togo, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam and Yemen. Of those naturalizing, two are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

This year, USCIS will welcome more than 10,000 new citizens in nearly 130 naturalization ceremonies between Nov. 7 and 13. Of those being naturalized, more than 250 are veterans, service members and military spouses. USCIS is asking new citizens and their families and friends to share the experience and photos at their ceremonies via Twitter using the hashtag #newUScitizen.

WHO:
USCIS New York District Director Phyllis Coven

WHEN:

Friday, November 13, 9 a.m. (media will be escorted in starting at 8:30 a.m.)
WHERE:
USCIS NY District Office
26 Federal Plaza (please use the entrance on Duane Street between Broadway and Lafayette)

CONTACT:
Katie Tichacek, USCIS Public Affairs Officer, 212-264-5098, 202-420-9581 (cell) katherine.tichacek@uscis.dhs.gov

NOTE:
Media interested in participating, please RSVP to Katie Tichacek (contact info above) no later than 9:00 am EST on November 13.

– USCIS –

News Release Nov. 9, 2015

USCIS Will Host Naturalization Ceremonies to Honor Veterans and their Families

WASHINGTON—Veterans, service members and military spouses across the country will become U.S. citizens this week as they take the Oath of Allegiance at special Veterans Day naturalization ceremonies. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will highlight the sacrifices that military members and their families have made while serving our country. From Nov. 7-13, USCIS will welcome more than 10,000 new citizens in nearly 130 naturalization ceremonies across the country and around the world. Of those being naturalized, more than 255 are veterans, service members and military spouses.

Many current and former military members and their families are eligible for citizenship, including expedited screening and overseas processing, under special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Since Oct. 1, 2001, when data collection on military naturalizations began, more than 109,000 service members have become U.S. citizens, including individuals serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, Germany, Japan and elsewhere. In 2015 alone, USCIS hosted nearly 175 naturalization ceremonies at military installations in the U.S. and abroad.

“On Veterans Day, we salute the men and women who have so courageously served our country and defended the freedoms that it was built upon. Among our brave veterans are thousands of immigrants, many of whom vowed to defend their new home even before they were citizens,” USCIS Director León Rodríguez said. “It is because of their extraordinary sacrifices, and those of their families, that we can enjoy the rights and liberties of living in this great country.”

USCIS has a robust military outreach program that provides information about immigration and naturalization to service members and veterans at military installations, Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, universities and various military organizations. USCIS also has offices on multiple military installations, including Fort Benning, Georgia; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. These offices identify recruits who may be eligible for naturalization.

USCIS’ Veterans Day activities this year will feature a naturalization ceremony at the USS Torsk and USS Constellation, located at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, on Nov. 11. During this event, Dan Renaud, USCIS associate director for the Field Operations Directorate, will administer the Oath of Allegiance, and Sgt. Maj. Mercy A. Diez of the U.S. Army Band will be recognized as an Outstanding American by Choice.

Other ceremonies include events at:
· American Heroes Air Show in Orlando, Florida, on Nov. 7.
· Cullman Performance Hall of Tryon Palace in New Bern, North Carolina, on Nov. 11.
· Joint Base Lewis McChord in Seattle, Washington, on Nov. 13.

In addition, 12 recruits will become new citizens at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California, through the Naturalization at Basic Training Initiative. Developed with the Department of Defense, this program allows enlisted service members to complete the naturalization process during basic training.

USCIS invites new citizens, and their families and friends, to share their experiences from the ceremonies through Twitter and other social media using the hashtag #newUScitizen.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook(/uscis), and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

– USCIS –

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Dan Weber, The Association of Mature American Citizens

admin — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 19:05:44 +0000

SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES DENIED 1% COST OF LIVING INCREASE
The following is a statement by AMAC on the topic of Seniors on fixed incomes being denied a 1% Cost of Living Increase. Interviews upon request. www.amac.us and www.amacfoundation.com
“Fixed income seniors suffer while the Obama administration offers unemployment payments for up to six full months even though it is a clear cut disincentive for job seekers. The administration, it seems, is unwilling to give the jobless the motivation they need to start seeking jobs by cutting back on the government’s unemployment largesse. Yet, hapless retirees and other fixed income Americans may be denied a paltry 1% COLA increase yet again,” according to Dan Weber, president of AMAC (Association of Mature American Citizens).
“Unemployment benefits, indeed, constitute a safety net for those who are temporarily out of work. But a policy of providing automatic payouts that last as long as six months is nothing short of a disincentive for job seekers in an economic climate where part-time work is fast becoming the norm.”
When the states of North and South Carolina and Georgia reduced the length of time individuals could receive unemployment payments an amazing thing happened, Weber said. Those states limited unemployment payments to as little a period as 12 weeks and quickly saw unemployment rates drop to new lows.
“So, when the incentive not to work is replaced by an incentive to work people found jobs within a matter of three months. It’s about time we started to focus on policies that work. We need to stop bankrolling subjectively generous policies that sap the natural urge of American workers to find jobs. They are part and parcel of failed economic schemes that have also had a negative impact on the nation’s productivity, Gross Domestic Product, job creation efforts and taxpayer revenue.”
If President Obama would adopt a similar strategy as those established in the Carolinas and Georgia, he might actually accomplish two important things. He would give those who’ve dropped out of the workforce a reason to go out and look for work. He would also free up funds to help those who really need help – older Americans on fixed incomes.”
“Let’s stop the 26-week employment disincentive and get back to common sense,” Weber wrote in a recent OpEd article posted at Townhall.Com.
In the article, Weber railed against the government’s insistence that a longer term unemployment payment schedule for the jobless is a good policy. He noted that some 92.9 million Americans are no longer in the labor force, no longer looking for work, and that the 62.7 percent labor participation rate is acceptable notwithstanding the fact that it is at its lowest level in four decades.
The OpEd article challenged the president who contends that unemployment is no longer a problem. If it is no longer a problem, Weber asserted, Mr. Obama might want to refocus his attention on that segment of the population that needs help, older Americans on fixed income.
“Within weeks, President Obama will announce that national inflation is so low this year that, like 2009 and 2010, those on fixed federal incomes – including Social Security recipients – will get a zero Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), under the current formula. While he could change this, the COLA for seniors is headed for zero.”
Weber urged the president to put a shorter time limit on unemployment benefits. “Let’s use the billions of dollars saved to offset a simple, one-time, one-percent COLA for all older Americans – many of whom served in the military, paid a lifetime into the Social Security system and deserve enough benefits from those services to pay for their groceries, rents and medicine. Save the rest of the unemployment entitlement checks for a tax cut for average Americans. It is about time, isn’t it?”
ABOUT AMAC
The Association of Mature American Citizens [http://www.amac.us] is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members.

AMAC acts and speaks on behalf of its members, protecting their interests and offering a practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today. AMAC’s advice to Seniors: Live long and make a difference! More information is available about AMAC at: http://amac.us

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