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Staff's Latest Posts
COVID-19 Wish List for New Refugee Families
During the spring 2020 season of physical distancing», distance learning, and economic downturn, newcomer families in San Diego County need support more than ever. NSDI ( Nile Sisters Development Initiative ) is working diligently through the COVID-19 crisis to provide essential services and emergency relief» Current efforts include all the following:
- Guiding 22 CalNEW» students and families through the logistics of receiving Chromebooks for distance learning from SDUSD ( San Diego Unified School District )»
- Assisting students and parents who want to receive installation of free Wi-Fi internet connection through Cox Connect2Compete» and Spectrum Internet.»
- Notifying SDUSD when families are in need of hotspot internet access
- Providing families with resource lists» translated into five languages. Lists include locations of food banks and free meals for students, COVID-19 safety measures, and school-closure updates.
- Helping students to navigate internet conferencing tools, ensuring that they have access to distance-learning websites, and providing one-on-one distance-learning assistance
- Conducting quality check-ins with parents, teachers, and counselors to address concerns of LEP ( Limited English Proficiency ) students and families engaging in distance learning
CalNEW Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4 through 8 marks Teacher Appreciation Week», an annual tribute to educators who teach and guide millions of students nationally. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis», teachers have helped and supported students as they navigate distance learning, an often unfamiliar and uncomfortable concept to refugee students and their families.
NSDI ( Nile Sisters Development Initiative ) salutes teachers for their dedication to students learning under extraordinary cicrumstances. Through CalNEW» ( California Newcomer Education and Well-Being ), NSDI supports refugees and other eligible school-age students by facilitating educator and parent meetings, which are especially critical during periods of enforced distance learning. Between 2018 and 2019, CalNEW services impacted 39 newly arrived students from six different countries ( Burundi, Congo, Haiti, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda ). Fifty-one percent ( 51% ) of these students were enrollees at middle schools located in the Crawford, Hoover, and Kearny clusters.
Reset, Recharge, Reinvent! A Virtual Youth Summit
NSDI ( Nile Sisters Development Initiative ) has teamed up with two tobacco-control programs to create Reset, Recharge, Reinvent, a virtual two-day summit to support youth and local communities amidst the COVID–19 crisis. Working to mitigate tobacco-induced illnesses and mortalities in Southern California communities of color are two groups:
- FULSToP ( Families Uniting Locally to Solve Tobacco Proliferation ) in San Diego
- KOLS ( Keeping Our Lungs Safe ) in Los Angeles
These groups, in partnership with the lead African American Statewide Coordinating Center—known as AMPLIFY!—will provide culturally relevant information and resources to youth across the state of California in a virtual event. Reset, Recharge, Reinvent calls for a reimagining of youth advocacy and will provide useful tools to encourage a new wave of youth leaders in tobacco-control efforts. Both event days will offer a unique series of workshops and activities focused on youth leadership, empowerment, and maintenance of physical and mental well-being.
Earth Day 2020 Virtual Art Contest
In recognition of Earth Day 2020, NSDI ( Nile Sisters Development Initiative ) collaborated with organizations across Los Angeles County to host a Virtual Art Contest. In artistic submissions, participating community members expressed the ways in which tobacco has negatively influenced their own health and that of their environment. Artists chose among three different themes to illustrate the reality behind tobacco use, waste, and secondhand smoke:
- #SharetheAir
- #TobaccoWasteisToxicWaste
- #NoFlavorsNecessary
With help from the African Communities Public Health Coalition, Antelope Valley Partners for Health, Dignity Health–St. Mary’s Medical Center, the G.R.E.E.N. Foundation, and the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, NSDI collected contest submissions from Antelope Valley, San Gabriel Valley, and South Bay regions of Los Angeles County.
COVID-19 Office Closures
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, also known as coronavirus, NSDI will be taking precautionary measures for the overall health and wellness of our staff and the communities in which we serve. Effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, NSDI will close our physical offices in San Diego and Los Angeles Counties temporarily. Our staff will continue to work remotely. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.
NSDI San Diego County Inquiries: info@nilesisters.org»
NSDI Los Angeles County Inquiries: info.la@nilesisters.org»
Federal COVID-19 Information
US Health and Human Services»
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention»
State COVID-19 Information
California Department of Public Health»
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services»
Los Angeles County COVID-19 Information
County of Los Angeles Public Health»
City of San Diego COVID-19 Information
City of San Diego»
FULSToP Advocacy Leads to Menthol Ban in San Diego County
On Tuesday, January 14, 2020, the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors voted three-to-two in favor of a ban on flavored tobacco, including menthol. Leading to the vote, FULSToP» ( Families Uniting Locally to Solve Tobacco Proliferation ) provided legislative staff with informational resources relating to mentholated tobacco products.
The vote follows a unanimous decision to ban flavored tobacco products, including menthol, made by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors. The inclusion of menthol by both the County of San Diego and the County of Los Angeles is a progressive and more encompassing approach in the field of tobacco control.
Learn more about the ban.»
Learn more about FULSToP.»
Photo Caption: Tobacco-control advocates at the County Board of Supervisors’ meeting to vote on flavored-tobacco ban.
NSDI to Host Tobacco-Control Webinar, March 2020
Los Angeles tobacco-control program Keeping Our Lungs Safe will present a March 20 training webinar to be hosted by NSDI Los Angeles», in collaboration with The LOOP», a California Tobacco-Control Program» technical assistance provider. The webinar, named Tobacco Control: Understanding the Legislative Process, will be free to participants, provide in-depth discussion of local legislative processes, define the lines between education and lobbying, cover current tobacco-control issues, and offer techniques for strengthening the voices of tobacco-control advocates. The intended webinar audience includes tobacco-control competitive grantees, statewide grantees, coalition members, Local Lead Agencies, faith-based leaders, community-based organizations, and community leaders.
Your Participation in the 2020 Census Helps San Diego Refugees and Asylees
Why the Census Is Important to Everyone
Every 10 years, the United States Census Bureau administers an official national census» in order to gather and record a count of all individuals residing in all 50 states and five inhabited territories. The results of the spring 2020 census» will determine how the government will distribute $675 billion among US hospitals, paramedics, roads, schools, firefighters, schools, transportation, housing, and childcare during the next 10 years.
2020 Mission Fundraiser: Hands that Shape Our World
Join NSDI» (Nile Sisters Development Initiative) on Sunday afternoon, October 6, 2019, for our 2020 mission fundraiser, Hands that Shape Our World. All proceeds will support vital NSDI programs and services». Since 2001, NSDI has supported refugees and immigrants in San Diego through essential services such as employment facilitation, family advocacy and education, and emergency relief. Browse our success stories.»
View your invitation.»
Register to attend.»
Make a donation, instead.»
FULSToP CAB Completes Successful First Year of Advocacy
Photo Caption: The G.R.E.E.N. Foundation Executive Director Ernesta Wright, FULSToP CAB members, and Councilmember Jose F. Moreno
California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez», County of San Diego Supervisor Nathan Fletcher», and City of San Diego Council President Georgette Gómez» recognized the 2018–19 FULSToP CAB» (community advocacy board) members for completing their first year of tobacco non-proliferation advocacy. For the past year, CAB members representing both San Diego and Orange counties have participated in several state and national tobacco-control activities and training sessions including . . .
- CYAN (California Youth Advocacy Youth Network) YouthQuest in Sacramento
- CYAN Statewide Youth Advocacy Conference»
- Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids» Youth Advocacy Training Symposium in Washington, DC
