The Akron Legal News

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Upcoming CLE seminar to address Ohio immigrant issues

SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter

Published: August 30, 2017

As the debate continues over U.S. immigration policies and reform efforts, educators and administrators at The University of Akron and Akron Law are joining hands with the Akron Bar Association, local attorneys and other professionals to provide a continuing legal education seminar on current laws and challenges that affect immigrants in Ohio and across the country.

The daylong event entitled, “The Ohio Immigrant Family Experience,” takes place on Sept. 14 at Quaker Station and features a wide variety of speakers tackling everything from custody/guardianship to social services and educational issues.

Gary Rosen, a partner at Goldman & Rosen, together with Pamela Schulze, a professor at The University of Akron organized the program.

“Professor Schulze and I have been coordinating Families and Communities seminars for the last ten years,” said Rosen, who is also the moderator of “The Ohio Immigrant Family Experience.”

Rosen said the CLE is meant to be an interdisciplinary seminar for professionals in varied fields.

“The topic is very timely and significant to our region,” said Rosen. “In northeast Ohio and specifically in Akron we have had different waves of immigration over the years. We are still experiencing a wave of immigration, particularly in our North Hill neighborhood.

“The seminar is designed to help us be a more welcoming community and to better understand the problems facing immigrant families once they arrive in our area.”

Elizabeth Knowles, assistant clinical professor of law and director of the Immigration & Human Rights Clinic at The University of Akron School of Law, said the hope is that the information provided can be used “to create a positive community agenda in the Akron area that seeks to better address the needs of immigrants and their families.

“The program will address the unique challenges immigrant families face, as well as highlight the many ways they infuse their communities with diversity and vitality,” said Knowles.

“This is an opportunity to bring together professionals across multiple disciplines to raise awareness and engage in a dialogue about how we can be a welcoming community to immigrants.”

The event gets underway with a brief address by The University of Akron President Matthew J. Wilson.

“The University of Akron is proud to participate in this important conference which will provide very useful information for the participants as well as help continue the dialogue about immigration policies and support services,” Wilson said in an emailed statement. “Akron is a welcoming community for immigrants and this conference will help us strengthen our outreach and connections with the world.”

Knowles and Cuyahoga Falls immigration attorney Farhad Sethna will present the first session of the morning, “Immigration 101 – Understanding Current Immigration Law.”

“Professor Knowles and I will provide a brief overview of immigration law as it pertains to families, businesses, asylum and court-related issues,” said Sethna. “Afterwards we will open it up for questions.

“The biggest misconception that I see and hear in the U.S. is that people believe immigration is as easy as showing up and getting citizenship and benefits,” he said. “I want to inform attendees about the realities of the process, which is laden with procedures, applications, onerous fees and a variety of exclusions for anyone who has stepped out of line.

“Under the current administration these rules are enforced even more vigorously.”

Other morning sessions will address issues like “Parenting in Immigrant Families” and those in attendance will also hear personal stories from immigrants and refugees in the Akron area.

“We hope that attendees will come to understand the many benefits that immigrants bring to Northeast Ohio,” said Sethna. “Immigrants can breathe new life into neighborhoods that are declining and improve the value of property in an area.

“For example, in North Hill the Nepalese community is opening restaurants and stores that showcase their unique culture.”

There will also be several different breakout sessions presented by attorneys, court members and other professionals, such as “Justice for Immigrants,” moderated by Madhu Sharma, director of immigration services at the International Institute of Akron.

The afternoon portion will feature more stories from immigrants and refugees moderated by The University of Akron School of Law Dean Christopher J. (C.J.) Peters.

“America is a nation built on immigration and this event is a valuable reminder of how closely the lives of immigrants are intertwined with the history and culture of the United States,” said Peters.

Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan will kick off the discussion entitled “The Global Cleveland Experience,” with featured speaker Joe Cimperman, president of Global Cleveland.

Horrigan’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Annie McFadden, stated in an email that the mayor is “fully committed to Akron continuing to be a welcoming city. Our immigrant and refugee populations are important parts of our urban fabric and are a welcomed boost to our local school enrollment and economic development.”

“The Ohio Immigrant Family Experience,” runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 at Quaker Station, located at 135 S. Broadway St. in Akron.

Anyone interested in attending is asked to register by Sept. 1 at uakron.edu/law or by sending an email to manovac@uakron.edu or calling 330-972-6363.

The cost is $210 for Akron Bar Association (ABA) members and Akron Law alumni, $255 for non-ABA members and $75 for other professionals earning CEUs, PDUs or MCEs.

Students pay $12 and non-students will be charged $50.

Attorneys are eligible to receive 6.5 CLE hours.

Community members are also being encouraged to attend the Sept. 15 Constitution Day celebration, which starts at 4 p.m. at the Akron-Summit County Public Library at 60 S. High St. in Akron. It will include patriotic songs and swearing-in ceremonies for new U.S. citizens.

For more information contact Farhad Sethna at fsethna@immigration-america.com.


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