Progreso Latino Citizenship Program Funding Awarded

Progreso Latino provides local assistance to permanent residents in Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Cranston and East Providence, in the form of wellness care and immigration programs.

If you need the assistance of an Immigration Attorney in RI, contact Rui P. Alves at (401) 942-3100 or use the contact form HERE for more information.

RI's Progreso Latino gets $200,000 for citizenship program

Donita Naylor
September 21, 2011
CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. -- The community organization Progreso Latino has received a $200,000 federal Citizenship and Integration Grant grant to help its citizenship and integration program, federal officials announced Wednesday.

The grant is part of $9 million awarded by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said its director, Alejandro Mayorkas, said Wednesday in announcing the grants going to 42 organizations from 27 states and the District of Columbia, a news release said.

Progreso Latino has worked more than 30 years providing health, early childhood education and immigration programs. It will continue leading the Rhode Island Citizenship Consortium that is using a similar grant from 2009 to provide citizenship preparation services to low-income permanent residents in Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Cranston and East Providence.

Domestic Violence Can Escalate to the Workplace

A recent shooting at a Lowe’s store in NC that was linked to a domestic violence issue between a husband and wife, highlights the need for more control over workplaces and employees who may be victims of or dealing with domestic violence at home.

If you have been involved in domestic violence in RI of any kind, contact Alves Law at (401) 942-3100 or use the contact form HERE for more information.

Local employers to learn how to prevent domestic violence in the workplace

Melissa Hankins
September 21, 2011

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - A stunning display of how domestic violence can spill over into the workplace occurred locally Monday night, leaving Lowe's employees devastated.

A woman was working the register when her husband came in and shot her to death. Then, he killed himself.

"Oh, it was just absolutely heartbreaking. But it really highlights the reason we've been planning the summit for months now," says Kelly Coyne.

Coyne works with United Family Services. The Charlotte non-profit will host a conference October 7th and 8th, designed to help businesses prevent tragedy.

"What's really important for employers to know is that they have domestic violence victims that are already there," Coyne says. "This isn't something that happens to those people that work at those types companies. It is really prevalent at all companies."

"Telling Amy's Story" is a movie to be screened at the summit, and it tells the story of a woman murdered during her shift at Verizon. Her death inspired managers there to make huge changes.

"They have a fabulous domestic violence in the workplace policy and have really put their money and their training where their mouth is," Coyne says.

Verizon gives employees time off to get restraining orders and other help, it provides conference rooms for conversations that can't be held at home.

The company relocates workers if they need to move - the lists goes on, and it all benefits both victims and the company.

"If the compelling reason to save lives isn't enough for an employer, it really impacts the bottom line. The Department of Labor estimate $5 billion dollars per year is lost to due to domestic violence," Coyne says.