:DWFK ,QF - Judicial Watch€¦ · AM : To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia -OPA : Subject: RE: CASA MD :...

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA

From: Bright, Cortney E - OSEC Sent: Thursday, May 31 , 201 2 9:26 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: RE: CASA MD

Sounds like i t was an awesome turnout, especial ly with such short notice. Great job !

- CEB

-----Original Message-----

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA

Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 3 :48 PM

To: Fi l l ichio, Carl - OPA; Alexander, El izabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA

Cc: Bright, Cortney E - OSEC

Subject: Re: CASA MD

+Totimex, Baltimore Latino newspaper, and La Red Hispana radio over the phone (which airs on 100+ radios stations

nationwide).

Did 1-ls with NPR, Univ, Telem, Hispan TV, and a gaggle with radio outlets.

----- Origina l Message -----

From: Pablo-Montano, Emil ia - OPA

Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 02:58 PM

To: Fi l l ichio, Carl - OPA; Alexander, El izabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA



Present:

CNN radio spanish

Univ national and loca l TV

Telemundo loca l TV

Washington Hispanic

Telesur TV

NPR

Hispan TV

Fox TV

Gazette

----- Original Message -----



To: Fi l l ichio, Carl - OPA; Alexander, El izabeth N - OPA; Barr, G . Stephen - OPA

Subject: CASA MD

Univision nation and loca l are here. They're going live from here. Fox is a lso here.

http://dolcontentdev .opadev. gov/dol/media/photos/slideshows/201 20530-solis-casa.

[mailto:[email protected]]

http://www.tlickr.com/photos/usdol/sets/72157629974676412/with/7304639656/


From: Botwin, Sharon - OPA Sent: Thursday, May 3 1 , 2012 9:43 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA Subject: Fw: Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis to tour and discuss job training CASA de Maryland in

Hyattsville, Md. -YES SLIDESHOW PLEASE

Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged

Emilia please edit and send captions. Tha nks Sharon

From: Enderson, Alan - OPA CTR Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 09:16 AM To: Botwin, Sharon - OPA; Mccarthy, Edward - OPA CTR; Bailey, Andy - OPA Subject: RE: Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis to tour and d iscuss job training CASA de Maryland in Hyattsvil le, Md. -YES SUDESHOW PLEASE

TH is is ready for captions: dol. htm

Alan Enderson

Office of Public Affairs

202-693-6574

From: Botwin, Sharon - OPA Se t: Wed 5/30/2012 7:38 PM To: Enderson, Alan - OPA CTR; Mccarthy, Edward - OPA CTR; Bailey, Andy - OPA Subject: FW: Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis to tour and d iscuss job training CASA de Maryland in Hyattsville, Md. -YES SUDESHOW PLEASE

-----Original Message-----From: Shawn Moore Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 6:50 PM To: Bailey, Andy- OPA ; Enderson, Alan - OPA CTR; Fabiano, Gary N- OPA CTR; Botwin, Sharon - OPA; Johnson, Treci -OPA; Moore, Shawn - OPA; Hankin, Stanley- OPA

Subject: Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis to tour and discuss job training CASA de Maryland in Hyattsville, Md. - a set on Flickr

1


From: Botwin, Sharon - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 7:50 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Cc: Barr, G. Stephen - OPA Subject: Newsletter articles

Emilia, I will send you the slideshow from the Casa event tomorrow morning for your editing and captioning.

Reminder - I have you down for the newsletter piece on the Casa event.

Fyi - the Farmworker award on Thursday the Sec. is receiving - Ernesto Archila agreed earlier in the week to write the

newsletter piece, but I saw there will now be a release now from you on the same thing. Do you want to also do the

newsletter write-up or leave it for Ernesto?

Thanks

1

http://bls.gov/iif pdf


From: Lawder, Jesse - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 201 2 5:33 PM To: Berkowitz, Deborah - OSHA; Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: RE: Latinos that die on the job

Don't thank me, thank BLS (and Josh Lamont for getting me a very large cup of coffee this afternoon!)

From: Berkowitz, Deborah - OSHA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 5:32 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA; Lawder, Jesse - OPA Subject: RE: Latinos that die on the job

I agree-Jessie Is great.

Deborah Berkowitz Chief of Staff Occupational Safety and Health Administration 202-693-2000

www.osha.aov

?rcvcnt1n3 Hc•l lllncs> In Ool


From: Claudia Uceda Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 201 2 5:30 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: Re: Estadisticas

Gravias

Sent from my iPhone

On May 30, 2012, at 5:08 PM, "Pablo-Montano, Emil ia - OPA" wrote:

> OSHA sabe que la mayoria de muertes son entre LATINOS ! ! Ya sea si nacieron aquf o no.

>

1





Subject: FW: Cifras

From: Tavara Santiago Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 5:11 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: Re: Cifras

oks! thanks!

On Wed, May 30, 2012 at 5:10 PM, Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA wrote:

Me mandas el link de tu historia?? Pis?

From: Tavara Santiago Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 4:58 PM

To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: Re: Cifras

Gracias ! ;) creo que la terminare la nota a las 5:30pm

On Wed, May 30, 2012 at 4:47 PM, Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA

Voy a ver ahora mismo. La oficina de OSHA me daria las cifras, voy a ver que tan rapido lo podria conseguir. Si, fue el gusto mio volverte a ver!

wrote:

Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 4:29 PM - OPA

From: Tavara Santiago

To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia Subject: Re: Correction: Today: Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis to discuss job training programs, tour CASA de Maryland's Prince George's Welcome Center in Hyattsville, Md.,

Hola Emilia, gusto verte hoy. Tienes las cifras sobre los latinos que mueren en sus centros de trabajo, la secretaria habl6 sobre trabajadores en la construcci6n. Mi deadline es a las 5pm,

Gracias!

http://social.dol.gov!

[email protected]

Santiago

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.

wrote:On Wed, May 30, 2012 at 10:13 AM, Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA

Connect with DOL at

Media Advisory

U.S. Department of Labor For Immediate Release May 29, 2012

Office of Public Affairs Contact: Emilia Pablo-Montano

Washington, D.C. Phone: 202-617-4645

Release Number: 12-1109-PHI Email:

Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis to discuss job training programs, tour CASA de Maryland's Prince George's Welcome Center in Hyattsville, Md., May 30

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis will join Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA de Maryland, for a roundtable discussion about job training programs at the organization's Prince George's Welcome Center in Hyattsville, Md., on Wednesday, May 30. The discussion also will include program graduates, current participants, county representatives, community college partners and Latino community leaders. The event is open to the news media and a press availability will follow the discussion.

Solis also will tour the center, which provides training programs related to the building and construction trades, child care, English as a Second Language and the requirements of the Labor Department's Occupational Health and Safety Administration. In 2010, CASA de Maryland was a recipient of a Susan Harwood grant from the Labor Department, which allowed the center to provide training for Latino workers in the construction, building and grounds maintenance, and agricultural and warehouse industries in Maryland.

WHO: Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis

CASA de Maryland Executive Director Gustavo Torres

WHAT/WHEN: Tour of CASA de Maryland's Prince George's Welcome Center: 2-2:20 p.m. EDT

2

(202) 693-4654 (202) 693-4660 (202) 617-4645

http: //www.dol.gov/dol/medja/majn.htm

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.Roundtable discussion: 2:20-2:50 p.m. EDT

Press availability: 2:50-3:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE: Prince George's Welcome Center

7978-B New Hampshire Ave.

Hyattsville, Md. 20783

Media interested in covering these events should notify Emilia Pablo-Montano in the Labor Department's Office of Public Affairs using the contact information above.

###

Emilia Pablo-Montano I Office of Public Affairs

U.S. Department of Labor I Office: Direct: I Cellular:

Santiago David Tavara 301 717 4357

3


Santiago David Tavara

301 717 4357

Santiago David Tavara

301 717 4357

4

English

Spanish

. ,


From: Young, Clarisse - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 201 2 4:56 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: RE: CASA de Maryland

Yay. N ice job!!

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 4:34 PM To: Fillichio, earl - OPA; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA; Young, Clarisse - OPA; Melendez, Sonia -OPA; Liesa, Adriano T - OPA Subject: CASA de Maryland

Dear OPA colleagues, Secretary Solis asked me to thank everyone for helping make this a great eventconsidering the short notice! She was very happy with the turnout. Thank you everyone! If you come across any news clips feel free to share them. Gracias! Below is a photo I took with my phone (some people had earphones because they needed translation).

Fyi, after the roundtable, the Secretary did 1-1s with NPR, Univ, Telem, Hispan TV, and a gaggle with radio outlets. The following press showed up:

outlets • NPR • Gazette • Fox TV

outlets • Totimex newswire • Baltimore Latino newspaper • Washington Hispanic newspaper • CNN radio Spanish • La Red Hispana - Secretary Solis did an interview over the phone (program airs on 100+ radios

stations nationwide) • Univision local TV (going live from CASA at 6:00pm today); Univision national using a sound-bite or

entire story • Telemundo local TV • TelesurTV • Hispan TV

. . Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.

--- Original Message --From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 02:58 PM To: Fillichio, Carl - OPA; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA Cc: Bright, Cortney E - OSEC Subject: Re: CASA MD

Present:

CNN radio spanish Univ national and local TV Telemundo local TV Washington Hispanic Telesur TV NPR Hispan TV Fox TV Gazette

---- Original Message --From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 01:53 PM To: Fillichio, Carl - OPA; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA Subject: CASA MD

Univision nation and local are here. They're going live from here. Fox is also here.

2



From: Claudia Uceda Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 201 2 4:56 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: Re: Estadisticas

Se sabe donde en que area labora l se mueren mas los latinos? Mi deadline es en 15 minutos pis no seas malita : )

Sent from my iPhone

On May 30, 2012, at 4:35 PM, "Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA" wrote:

> No, porque no te portas bien en los eventos. Hahaaa, no te creas. Deja

> veo, si lo puedo conseguir ahora mismo.

>

> -----Original Message-----> From: Claudia Uceda

> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 4:34 PM

> To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA

> Subject: Estadisticas

>

> Please me podrias dar estadisticas De los h ispanos muertos en el

> centro de trabajo ...

>

> Sent from my iPhone

1


From: Ma, Ana M. - OSEC


To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA

Cc: Maxwell, Mary Beth - OSEC

Subject: RE: CASA MD

Cool !

-----Original Message-----


Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 3 :59 PM

To: Ma, Ana M. - OSEC

Subject: Fw: CASA MD

Fyi. . . great event considering the short amount of time to put together. Everyone did great. Two OSHA reps showed up; it

was great ! More than 10 news outlets present.




To: Fi l l ichio, Carl - OPA; Alexander, E l izabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA



+Totimex, Baltimore Latino newspaper, and La Red Hispana radio over the phone (which airs on 100+ radios stations

nationwide).

Did 1-ls with NPR, Univ, Telem, Hispan TV, and a gaggle with radio outlets.


From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 02:58 PM




Present:

CNN radio spanish


Telemundo local TV

Washington Hispanic

Telesur TV

NPR

Hispan TV

Fox TV

Gazette

j Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.





Subject: CASA MD

Univision nation and loca l are here. They're going live from here. Fox i s a lso here.

2

English

Spanish

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.Pablo-Montano, Emilia - CPA

From: Kleiman, Eric D - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 201 2 4:36 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - O PA Subject: Re: CASA de Maryland

Wow lots of cameras. U go girl.

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 04:34 PM To: Fillichio, Carl - OPA; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA; Young, Clarisse - OPA; Melendez, Sonia -OPA; Llosa, Adriano T - OPA Subject: CASA de Maryland

Dear OPA colleagues, Secretary Solis asked me to thank everyone for helping make this a great eventconsidering the short notice! She was very happy with the turnout. Thank you everyone! ff you come across any news clips feel free to share them. Gracias! Below is a photo I took with my phone (some people had earphones because they needed translation).

Fyi, after the roundtable, the Secretary did 1-1s with NPR, Univ, Telem, Hispan TV, and a gaggle with radio outlets. The following press showed up:

outlets • NPR • Gazette • Fox TV

outlets • Totimex newswire • Baltimore Latino newspaper • Washington Hispanic newspaper • CNN radio Spanish • La Red Hispana - Secretary Solis did an interview over the phone (program airs on 100+ radios

stations nationwide) • Univision local TV (going live from CASA at 6:00pm today); Univision national using a sound-bite or

entire story • Telemundo local TV • Telesur TV • Hispan TV

1

. . . Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.

----- Original Message ----From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 02:58 PM To: Fillichio, Carl - OPA; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA Cc: Bright, Cortney E - OSEC Subject: Re: CASA MD

Present:

CNN radio spanish Univ national and local TV Telemundo local TV Washington Hispanic Telesur TV NPR Hispan TV Fox TV Gazette

----- Original Message ----From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 01 :53 PM To: Fillichio, Carl - OPA; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA Subject: CASA MD

Univision nation and local are here. They're going live from here. Fox is also here.

2


Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA

From: Mercy Padilla Cirino Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 201 2 3:27 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: RE: Entrevista

Emilia

Estan muy retrasados?

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

"Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OP A" wrote:

Okay!

From: Mercy Padilla Cirino [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 10:53 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: RE: Entrevista

Claro que si ... de una vez lo promocionamos. Gracias

Mercy Padilla

Director of Affiliate & Media Relations

La Red Hispana

1126 16th St NW Suite 350

Washington DC 20036

202-360-4112

410-903-1496 mobile

1

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/LaRedHispana

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaRedHispana

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA [mailto:[email protected]]

Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 10:52 AM

To: Mercy Padilla Cirino

Subject: RE: Entrevista

Ok, yo marcare a las 3:00pm, ya te avisare si vamos atrasados con la agenda. :-) Te podria hablar tantito de su visita a CASA Maryland tambien?

From: Mercy Padilla Cirino [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 10:42 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: RE: Entrevista

Perfecto. Me llamas al 202-721-9186 por favor. Gracias

Mercy Padilla


La Red Hispana


Washington DC 20036

202-360-4112

410-903-1496 mobile

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/LaRedHispana


2

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA [mailto:[email protected]]


To: Mercy Padilla Cirino

Subject: Entrevista

Voya a hacer todo lo posible por marcarte terminando las entrevistas, aprox a las 3:00pm. Si?

From: Mercy Padilla Cirino [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 10:38 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: RE: Today: Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis to discuss job training programs, tour CACA de Maryland's Prince George's Welcome Center in Hyattsville, Md.,

No puedo llegarme hoy alla. Tengo un reporte que entregar esta tarde y ayer me la pase en la WH todo el dia. Podemos hacerla por telefono?

Gracias

Mercy Padilla


La Red Hispana


Washington DC 20036

202-360-4112

410-903-1496 mobile

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/LaRedHispana


From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA [mailto:[email protected]]

3

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 10:00 AM Subject: Today: Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis to discuss job training programs, tour CACA de Maryland's Prince George's Welcome Center in Hyattsville, Md.,

Media Advisory

Connect with DOL at http://social.dol.gov !

U.S. Department of Labor For Immediate Release May 29, 2012

Office of Public Affairs Contact: Emilia Pablo-Montafio

Washington, D.C. Phone: 202-617-4645

Release Number: 12-1109-PHI Email: [email protected]

Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis to discuss job training programs, tour CACA de Maryland's Prince George's Welcome Center in Hyattsville, Md., May 30

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis will join Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA de Maryland, for a roundtable discussion about job training programs at the organization's Prince George's Welcome Center in Hyattsville, Md., on Wednesday, May 30. The discussion also will include program graduates, current participants, county representatives, community college partners and Latino community leaders. The event is open to the news media and a press availability will follow the discussion.

Solis also will tour the center, which provides training programs related to the building and construction trades, child care, English as a Second Language and the requirements of the Labor Department's Occupational Health and Safety Administration. In 2010, CASA de Maryland was a recipient of a Susan Harwood grant from the Labor Department, which allowed the center to provide training for Latino workers in the construction, building and grounds maintenance, and agricultural and warehouse industries in Maryland.

4

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.WHO: Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis

CASA de Maryland Executive Director Gustavo Torres

WHAT/WHEN: Tour of CASA de Maryland's Prince George's Welcome Center: 2-2:20 p.m. EDT

Roundtable discussion: 2:20-2:50 p.m. EDT

Press availability: 2:50-3:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE: Prince George's Welcome Center

7978-B New Hampshire Ave.

Hyattsville, Md. 20783

Media interested in covering these events should notify Emilia Pablo-Montano in the Labor Department's Office of Public Affairs using the contact information above.

###

Emilia Pablo-Montano I Office of Public Affairs

U.S. Department of Labor I Office: (202) 693-4654 Direct: (202) 693-4660 I Cellular: (202) 617-4645 http://www.dol.gov/dol/media/main.htm

5


From: Llosa, Adriano T - O PA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 3:20 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - O PA Subject: Tv azteca?

Did armando ever show u p?

1


From: Alexander, Elizabeth N - O PA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 1 :58 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - O PA Subject: Re: Farmworker O pportunities Award

In mtg w seth - can you ema i l

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 01:57 PM To: Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA Subject: Re: Farmworker Opportunities Award

Can I call you at your office or cell about this?

From: Roybal, Soledad - OSEC Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 01:37 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Cc: Bright, Cortney E - OSEC; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Fillichio, earl - OPA; Rodriguez, Jose A - OSEC Subject: RE: Farmworker O pportunities Award

Thank you, Emilia!

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 1:35 PM To: Roybal, Soledad - OSEC Cc: Bright, Cortney E - OSEC; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA Subject: Re: Farmworker O pportunities Award

Hi Soledad, I spoke with David Strauss over the phone .. . he informed me that he has not received press inquiries. They

are not planning to put out an advisory or release. With that said, our shop can make some calls today or I can ask the

reporters at the CASA event to see if there's any interest.

From: Roybal, Soledad - OSEC Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 12:49 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Cc: Bright, Cortney E - OSEC; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA Subject: Farmworker Opportunities Award

Emilia,

I hope that all is well on your way to Casa de Maryland . I don't mean to be a nudge, but I just wanted to check in one more time, per Cortney, to see if there was any media interest in this award that H L S is receiving tomorrow.

Thanks, So ledad

Soledad Roybal Scheduler and S pecial Assistant

[email protected]

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.(202) 693-6093

Office of the Secretary U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 202 1 0

2



From: Alexander, Elizabeth N - CPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30 , 2012 3:15 PM To: Llosa, Adriano T - CPA; Melendez, Sonia - CPA; Young, Clarisse - CPA; Pablo-Montano,

Emilia - CPA

Subject: FW: CASA MD

Thanks for your work pitching this event.

-----Origina l Message-----






Present:

CNN radio spanish


Telemundo loca l TV

Washington H ispanic

TelesurTV

NPR

Hispan TV

Fox TV

Gazette




To: Fi l l ichio, Carl - OPA; Alexander, E lizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G . Stephen - OPA

Subject: CASA MD

Univision nation and loca l are here. They're going live from here. Fox is a lso here.

[email protected]>



From: Susana Flores Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 201 2 1 :33 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: Re: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

Sure I'm here

Susana Flores

On May 30, 2012 1 :30 PM, "Susana Flores"

Sure

Susana Flores

> > On May 30, 2012 1:09 PM, "Pablo-Montano, Emilia- OPA"

> I'm on my way to your office. Can I ask for you when I get there? > > > From: Susana Flores [ma ...

> > > Oh great > > > > I have more: > > > > WAMU 88.5 > > The Gazette > > Somos Baltimore Latino ...


Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.Pablo-Montano, Emilia - CPA

From: Melendez, Sonia - O PA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 201 2 1 2:38 PM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - O PA; Llosa, Adriano T - O PA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

FYI - here are the names of the reporter and photographer attending the event.

From: Mitzi Macias Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 12:33 PM To: Melendez, Sonia - OPA Subject: Re: La Secretaria Solls presentara una subvenci6n para trabajadores Latinos en la Casa de Maryland el miercoles a las 2 PM

Sonia gracias

Por supuesto que lo vamos a cubrir va ir el senor Victor Caycho y el fot6grafo Alvaro Ortiz Mitzi

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:49 AM To: Melendez, Sonia - OPA; Llosa, Adriano T - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

Ok. Thanks for the info Sonia.

From: Melendez, Sonia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:48 AM To: Llosa, Adriano T - OPA; Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

I talked to Claudia Uceda from Telemundo's local affiliate and she's planning to attend.

From: Llosa, Adriano T - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:46 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA; Melendez, Sonia - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

I could not get a hold of local telemundo nor national telemundo. I can try again right now

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:26 AM To: Melendez, Sonia - OPA; Llosa, Adriano T - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

Adriano, did you talk to local or national telemundo?

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.From: Melendez, Sonia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:25 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

I only talked to Telemundo's local affiliate. Adriano talked to Univision.

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:24 AM To: Melendez, Sonia - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

The Univision & Telemundo folks you spoke with - were from the local or national station?

From: Melendez, Sonia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:06 AM To: Young, Clarisse - OPA; Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA; Fillichio, earl - OPA; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA; Llosa, Adriano T - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

Do you know if this is near a metro? Hispanic Link is interested in going but would have to rely on the metro.

From: Young, Clarisse - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:05 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA; Fillichio, earl - OPA; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA; Melendez, Sonia - OPA; Llosa, Adriano T - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

Washington Post is sending someone from their Metro section to cover.

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 10:50 AM To: Fillichio, earl - OPA; Alexander, El izabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA; Young, Clarisse - OPA; Melendez, Sonia -OPA; Llosa, Adriano T - OPA Subject: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

Below is the latest update on news outlets planning to cover today's event. Any word from the Washington Post or any

other outlet?

ENGLISH MEDIA RSVPs

CNN Radio

Pool-LNS (TV: CBS, NBC, FOX)

The Machinists News Network

SPANISH MEDIA RSVPs

Tiempo Latino newspaper

Washington Hispanic newspaper

E l pregonero newspaper

Notimex

La Nueva Radio

La Mera Mera Radio

2

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.La Red H ispana Radio

Telemundo TV (probably wil l be there at 2) Univsion TV Azteca America TV

Tele Sur TV Hispan TV

3


From: Llosa, Adriano T - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 20 12 11:50 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

It was Armando Guzman, the guy on the media list

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:49 AM To: Llosa, Adriano T - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

Who confirmed with you? Name of person you spoke with pis?

From: Llosa, Adriano T - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:49 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

Yes, I Azteca is going

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:47 AM To: Llosa, Adriano T - OPA; Melendez, Sonia - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

Yes, pis call them. Gracias. And who did you speak with ... at Azteca pis?

From: Llosa, Adriano T - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:46 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA; Melendez, Sonia - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

I could not get a hold of loca l telemundo nor national telemundo. I can try again right now

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:26 AM To: Melendez, Sonia - OPA; Llosa, Adriano T OPA-Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

Adriano, did you talk to local or national telemundo?

From: Melendez, Sonia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:25 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

I on ly talked to Telemundo's local affiliate. Adriano talked to Univision.

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:24 AM

To: Melendez, Sonia - OPA

Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

The Univision & Telemundo folks you spoke with-were from the local or national station?

From: Melendez, Sonia - OPA


To: Young, Clarisse - OPA; Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA; Fillichio, earl - OPA; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G.

Stephen - OPA; Llosa, Adriano T - OPA

Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

Do you know if this is near a metro? Hispanic L ink is interested in going but would have to rely on the metro.

From: Young, Clarisse - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:05 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA; Fillichio, earl - OPA; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA; Melendez, Sonia - OPA; Llosa, Adriano T OPA -Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today


From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 10:50 AM To: Fillichio, earl - OPA; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA; Young, Clarisse - OPA; Melendez, Sonia -OPA; Llosa, Adriano T - OPA Subject: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today


other outlet?

ENGLISH MEDIA RSVPs

CNN Radio



SPANISH MEDIA RSVPs



El pregonero newspaper

Notimex

La Nueva Radio

La Mera Mera Radio

La Red H ispana Radio

Telemundo TV (probably will be there at 2)

Univsion lV

Azteca America lV

Tele SurlV

H ispan lV

2

www.casademaryland.org

[mailto:Pablo-Montano.Emil [email protected]]


From: Susana Flores Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 201 2 1 1 : 1 7 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today


Oh great

I have more:

WAMU 88.5

The Gazette

Somos Baltimore Latino

Univision national

CNN radio is in Spanish

Susana Flores Communication Specialist

CASA de Maryland

Communincations & Politica l Action Office

Multicultural Center

8151 15th Avenue.

Hyattsvil le, MD 20783.

Office: 240-491-5745

cell: 240-7062624

Fax: 301 408 4123

From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:18 AM To: Susana Flores Subject: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today

I combined your updates with ours and this is what we have (the CNN radio is English right?):

ENGLISH MEDIA RSVPs Washington Post (metro section) CNN Radio Pool-LNS (TV: CBS, NBC, FOX) The Machinists News Network TV

SPANISH MEDIA RSVPs Tiempo Latino newspaper Washington Hispanic newspaper El pregonero newspaper

, . Notimex

La Nueva Radio La Mera Mera Radio La Red Hispana Radio (phone call; reaching 100+ radio outlets nationwide)


Telemundo TV (probably will be there at 2) Univsion TV Azteca America TV Tele Sur TV Hispan TV

2



From: Young, Clarisse - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:05 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA; Fillichio, Carl - OPA; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G.

Stephen - OPA; Melendez, Sonia - OPA; Llosa, Adriano T - OPA Subject: RE: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today


From: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 10:50 AM To: Fillichio, Carl - OPA; Alexander, Elizabeth N - OPA; Barr, G. Stephen - OPA; Young, Clarisse - OPA; Melendez, Sonia OPA; Liesa, Adriano T - OPA Subject: Press update for CASA de Maryland event today


other outlet?

ENGLISH MEDIA RSVPs

CNN Radio



SPANISH MEDIA RSVPs



El pregonero newspaper

Notimex

La Nueva Radio

La Mera Mera Radio

La Red Hispana Radio

Telemundo TV (probably will be there at 2 )

Univsion TV

Azteca America TV

Tele Sur TV

Hispan TV

1


From: Tom, Philip - OSEC Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 9:45 AM To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia OPA Subject: RE: Details for Casa de Maryland visit

Good morning Emilia . I hope you got a good night rest. I have been dropped from the Secretary's visit with CASA today.

So I wil l not be able to give you a ride to CASA. Have a good day.

Phil

-----Original Message----


Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 7:28 PM

To: Tom, Philip - OSEC

Subject: Re: Details for Casa de Maryland visit

Oh how nice to offer! Yes, let's talk tomorrow. Thank you Phil. : )

----- Origina l Message ----From: Tom, Philip - OSEC


To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA

Subject: RE: Details for Casa de Maryland visit

Emil ia, if you want to ride with Ben and me, you're welcome to do so. We were thinking about grabbing lunch before

the event. We can talk about this tomorrow morning.

Have a good evening.

Phil



Sent: Tue 5/29/2012 6:22 PM

To: Tom, Philip - OSEC; Bright, Cortney E - OSEC; Roybal, Soledad - OSEC; Soberanis, Roberto - OSEC; Suiter, Carrianna

OCIA; Rodriguez, Jose A - OSEC; McKinney, Nikki - OCIA

Subject: Re: Deta ils for Casa de Maryland visit

I suggest al lowing the press to tour the facility, it's helping us entice them to cover with such short notice. I was planning

on taking a cab.

----- Original Message ----From: Tom, Phil ip - OSEC


Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.To: Bright, Cortney E - OSEC; Royba l, Soledad - OSEC; Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA; Soberanis, Roberto - OSEC; Suiter, Carrianna - OCIA; Rodriguez, Jose A - OSEC; McKinney, Nikki - OCIA


Courtney,

We should have the list of Roundtable participants from Virginia very soon. She is stil l contacting some workers.

forwarded your items for clarification to Virginia .

Gustavo will welcome the Secretary. The fol lowing persons will accompany the Secretary on the tour - Gustavo Torres,

Virginia Kase, Casa's WFD Manager, Tona Cravioto and Jerome Countee who is the Director of Workforce Development

at Prince George's Community Col lege. There will several students present on the tour since they are on break right now

but they expect 10-15 students/workers at the Roundtable. They will not a l l be participating in the Roundtable.

As we discussed earlier today, I requested that Gustavo participate in the press conference with the Secretary.

I plan to drive to the event since Ben Seigel may join us since he has been working with Tona Cravioto at Casa.

Call me if you need to. I 'm up til l midnight !

-----Origina I Message----

From: Bright, Cortney E - OSEC

Sent: Tue 5/29/2012 5:58 PM

To:Tom, Philip - OSEC; Roybal, Soledad -


From: Tom, Phil ip - OSEC

Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 1 :07 PM

To: Bright, Cortney E - OSEC; Roybal, Soledad - OSEC; Pablo-Montano, Emi lia - OPA; Soberanis, Roberto - OSEC; Suiter,

Carrianna - OCIA; Rodriguez, Jose A - OSEC

Subject: Deta ils for Casa de Maryland visit

Greetings,

I just talked with Virginia Kase, D irector of Welcome Centers and Education for Casa. Here is the agenda she worked out

with Gustavo Torres, the Director of Casa.

Location and advance - The location for the Secretary's visit is at Casa's Prince George Welcome Center at 7978-B New

Hampshire Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20783. It is located in a shopping center and it is the site of the largest corner for day

laborers. Roberto, please call Virginia at her cell phone at 240-646-6097 to work out the advance details.

What Secretary Solis will see on the tour -The Prince George Welcome Center houses their tra ining programs for

build ing and construction trade and for child care providers. This Center a lso provides ESL classes and the OSHA tra ining

classes.

Roundtable - Gustavo Torres will moderate the roundtable. They are inviting several students including a recent grad

who is now employed and representatives from Prince George and Montgomery County Community Colleges.

Carrianna, they have already reached out to the two County Executives to attend this event.

Press - I have connected Emil ia with Casa's communication staff person - Suzanna Flores who will be handling the press

from their end. They will be issuing a press release about this event.

What additional information do you need from Casa?

Phil Tom

Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

3

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.U.S. Department of Labor

202-693-6030 (office)

202-281-8029 (mobile)

[email protected]

www.dol.gov/CFBNP

4


From: McKinney, Nikki - OCIA Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 9: 1 8 AM To: Tom, Philip - OSEC; Bright, Cortney E - OSEC; Roybal, Soledad - OSEC; Pablo-Montano,

Emilia - OPA; Soberanis, Roberto - OSEC; Suiter, Carrianna - OCIA; Rodriguez, Jose A -OSEC



As an FYI, the fol lowing Congressional staffers wil l attend today's roundtable. I have let Virginia know.

Jobina C. Brown

Prince George's County Outreach Director Office of Congressman Chris Van Hol len

N ichelle Schoultz

Special Assistant

Office of Senator Mikulski

Nikki McKinney

Office of Congressional & Intergovernmental Affa irs

202-693-4600


From: Tom, Phil ip - OSEC


To: McKinney, Nikki - OCIA; Bright, Cortney E - OSEC; Roybal, Soledad - OSEC; Pablo-Montano, Emi l ia - OPA; Soberanis,

Roberto - OSEC; Suiter, Carrianna - OCIA; Rodriguez, Jose A - OSEC

Subject: Re: Deta ils for Casa de Maryland visit

Nikki, it might be good to let Virginia Kase know since she is organizing the tour and Roundtable. Her cel l # is 240-646

6097.

----- Original Message ----

From: McKinney, Nikki - OCIA


To: Tom, Phil ip - OSEC; Bright, Cortney E - OSEC; Roybal, Soledad - OSEC; Pablo-Montano, Emil ia - OPA; Soberanis,

Roberto - OSEC; Suiter, Carrianna - OCIA; Rodriguez, Jose A - OSEC

Subject: Re: Details for Casa de "".laryland visit Congressional notifications are done. Van Hollen's office asked if a member of his staff could attend the tour or

roundtable . . . . I am inclined to say no on the tour but ok for the roundtable. Does anyone have any thoughts? Phil:

should we check with the fo lks at Casa?

----- Origina l Message ----

From: Tom, Philip - OSEC


To: Bright, Cortney E - OSEC; Roybal, Soledad - OSEC; Pablo-Montano, Emil ia - OPA; Soberanis, Roberto - OSEC; Suiter,

Carrianna - OCIA; Rodriguez, Jose A - OSEC; McKinney, Nikki - OCIA

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.Subject: RE: Details for Casa de Maryland visit

Courtney,

We should have the list of Roundtab le participants from Virginia very soon. She is sti l l contacting some workers.

forwarded your items for clarification to Virginia.

Gustavo will welcome the Secretary. The fo llowing persons will accompany the Secretary on the tour - Gustavo Torres,

Virginia Kase, Casa's WFD Manager, Tona Cravioto and Jerome Countee who is the Director of Workforce Development

at Prince George's Community Col lege. There wil l several students present on the tour since they are on break right now

but they expect 10-15 students/workers at the Roundtable. They will not a l l be participating in the Roundtable.

As we discussed earlier today, I requested that Gustavo participate in the press conference with the Secretary.

I plan to drive to the event since Ben Seigel may join us since he has been working with Tona Cravioto at Casa.

Ca l l me if you need to. I'm up til l midnight !


From: Bright, Cortney E - OSEC

Sent: Tue 5/29/2012 5 :58 PM

To: Tom, Philip - OSEC; Roybal, Soledad - OSEC; Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA; Soberanis, Roberto - OSEC; Suiter,

Carrianna - OCIA; Rodriguez, Jose A - OSEC; McKinney, Nikki - OCIA


Phil - Kick a** job putting this together on such short notice. Great job !

Few items which still need to be clarified are:

Roundtable participants - Name, Title, Organization.

o Would be good to know which are bi-lingual if possible

Additional people in the audience?

Will media fol low her on the whole tour or are they choosing just one spot to highlight?

Will Torres greet her? Led tour? Participate in the press avail?

Emilia I Phil - How are you guys getting there?

Carrianna I Nikki - Notifications good to go? Anyone expected we should highlight to her?

- CEB

2

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.From: Tom, Phil ip - OSEC

Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 1 :07 PM

To: Bright, Cortney E - OSEC; Roybal, Soledad - OSEC; Pablo-Montano, Emil ia - OPA; Soberanis, Roberto - OSEC; Suiter,

Carrianna - OCIA; Rodriguez, Jose A - OSEC

Subject: Deta ils for Casa de Maryland visit

Greetings,

I just talked with Virginia Kase, Director of Welcome Centers and Education for Casa. Here is the agenda she worked out

with Gustavo Torres, the Director of Casa.

Location and advance - The location for the Secretary's visit is at Casa's Prince George Welcome Center at 7978-B New

Hampshire Ave, Hyattsvil le, MD 20783. It is located in a shopping center and it is the site of the largest corner for day

laborers. Roberto, please ca l l Virginia at her cell phone at 240-646-6097 to work out the advance deta i ls.

What Secretary Solis wil l see on the tour -The Prince George Welcome Center houses their tra ining programs for

building and construction trade and for child care providers. This Center a lso provides ESL classes and the OSHA tra ining

classes.

Roundtable - Gustavo Torres wil l moderate the roundtable. They are inviting several students includ ing a recent grad

who is now employed and representatives from Prince George and Montgomery County Community Colleges.

Carrianna, they have already reached out to the two County Executives to attend this event.

Press - I have connected Emil ia with Casa's communication staff person - Suzanna Flores who wil l be handl ing the press

from their end. They wil l be issuing a press release about this event.

What additional information do you need from Casa?

Phil Tom

Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

U .S. Department of Labor

3

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.202-693-6030 (office)

202-281-8029 (mobile)

[email protected]

www.dol.gov/CFBNP

4


From: Rodriguez, Jose A - OSEC Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 201 2 7: 1 6 PM To: Soberanis, Roberto - OSEC; Pablo-Montano, Emilia - OPA Cc: Tom, Philip - OSEC; Garza, l rasema T. - OSEC Subject: Tour/Roundtable/Press Availability Attachments: 2.a CARDS English Talking Points_Casa Maryland.doc; 3. Spanish Talking Points_Casa

Maryland.doc; 3.a CARDS Spanish Talking Points_Casa Maryland.doc; 1 . 2012 05 30 TOUR ROU N DTABLE - Casa De Maryland.docx; 2. English Talking Points_Casa Maryland.doc

Al l :

Attached are the materia ls i ncluded in the Secretary's Book tonight re: Casa de Maryland. Thank you al l .

Jose

1

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

30,

CASA MARYLAND

PRINCE GEORGE WELCOME CENTER

MAY 201 2

• National unemployment rate : 8.1 °/o (Apri l 20 1 2)

• National u nemployment rate : 1 0°/o (Oct . 2009)

1

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

• U nemployment rate in MD : 6.7°/o (Apri l 20 1 2)

• H ighest unemployment rate in MD : 8 .0% (Early 20 1 0)

• Latino unemployment rate : 1 0 .3°/o (Apri l

20 1 2

2

• •

0 ...-... _J N

en _J -


0>.

z ............

Q).....,ro

s....

.....,c:

Q)E

-0 c.

0 0N............

c0

· --· E

Lt) .....Cl)>0

:J c.

c:0· -.....,ro

000 0

.... 0 -q-

s....Q)>0

0..

0Nc:· -c.0c.0 .--'

c. ...-... . "' ....., oo :J ro c. EQ)c:

:J

c: 0 c.

+:iro o o c: o ro B

•

$1 3

•

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

MD Latino pop in 2000 : over 200 ,000 (4 .3% of tota l pop) .

• The 201 0 purchasing power of Latinos in Maryland totals b i l l ion !

4

construction. bu i ld i ng grounds maintenance, agricu ltu ral,

Maryland .

CASA DE MARYLAN D • Casa de Maryland is a 20 1 0 Susan

Harwood Grant recipient. This g rant a l lows Casa De Maryland to provide train ing for h igh-risk Latino workers i n the

and and warehouse

i ndustries i n

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

5

• Train ing offered th roug h local commun ity

col leges and employment centers . Tra in ing

includes a train-the-trainer modu le. The

tra in ing and/or materia ls wi l l be offered in

Engl ish and Spanish .

• Casa is provid ing OSHA tra in ing at th is

Welcome Center.

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

6

agencies DOL

• There are more than 20 with in the U .S . Labor Department-such as , the Occupational Safety & Health Admin istration (OSHA) , the Wage & Hour D ivision (WH O) , and Employment Tra in ing Admin istration {ETA) .

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

7

commerce, un ions, employer groups, boards,

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

• Each of these agencies works closely with chambers of

state workforce and local leaders to ach ieve a synergy bf efforts to spur economic g rowth and assist the people fi nd ing a job or tra in ing/retra in ing .

8

mayors major

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

RESOURCES : JOB TRAINING • Since January of th is year, more than 1 20

Summer Jobs+ partners have committed nearly 300 ,000 jobs and other opportun ities for young people th rough th is in itiative . We have hosted web chats and news conferences with of cities to

9

get the word out about our summer job

bank.

• The Employment and Train i ng Admin istration has worked with the National

Association of Workforce Boards to promote more than 30 job fairs across

the country.

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

10

• We have launched a new social jobs partnership to connect 1 32 mi l l ion people

to ou r job placement resources through Facebook.

• We have a website cal led MySki l lsMyFuture.org that helps d islocated workers and people looking to

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

1 1

change careers . It can help part-t ime workers find fu l l-t ime jobs and lower-paid

workers find h ig her-paying jobs .

• MyNextMove.org helps new entrants into the workforce figu re out the job that's right for them . And it's especial ly helpfu l for young people , for those with l im ited Eng l ish

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

1 2

http://www . jobcorps .gov/centers .aspx

proficiency and for those without any post

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

secondary education . It asks users to fi l l out

a questionnaire l isti ng your i nterests and abi l ities .

• Job Corp: 1 26 centers around the country (find a location by cl icking on the map:

13

straight months,

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

(800) 733-JOBS or (800) 733-5627 o Virg i n ia : 3 locations o Maryl ind : 2 locations o DC: 1 location

EMPLOYMENT SITUATION • For 26 we have added

private-sector jobs .

14

gains-62,000 jobs-were

• I n Apri l , our largest new i n good-paying business and

professional services careers , mean ing more arch itects , eng ineers , computer programmers and consu ltants are find ing jobs .

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

1 5

1 9,000 manufacturing jobs

485,000 manufacturing

• We added another in Apri l . After losing m i l l ions of good

manufacturing jobs in the years before and duri ng the deep recession , the economy

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

has added jobs i n the past 26 months .

1 6

·

(.)

c 0

· --· -E N

•

c

..... (I) ....

..c: '-Q)

'-- '-- c: 0 0

•


ca en·

0 -cE §

.c

-c2ro ..co

en

u

•

·

Q)

0 Q) en c: I en· Q)Q) c:·-ro> ID . ;:::

roS C.

Spanish 30,

PRINCE GEORGE WELCOME CENTER

MAY 201 2

CASA MARYLAND

• Desempleo a n ivel naciona l : 8.1 °/o (Abri l 20 1 2)

• Desempleo a n ivel naciona l : 1 0% (Oct. 2009)

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

1

• Desempleo actual en MD : : 6.7°/o (Abri l

20 1 2)

• Desempleo mas alto en MD : 8 .0o/o (pri ncipio del 20 1 0)

• Desempleo nacional entre latinos: 1 0 .3°/o (Abri l 20 1 2)

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

2

• Desempleo nacional entre latinos : 1 3 .2% (Nov. 20 1 0)

• Poblaci6n de MD : mas de 5 mi l lones (20 1 0 tenso)

•

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

Latinos en MD , 20 1 0 : mas de 400 ,000 (8 .2°/o)

• Latino en MD , 2000 : mas de 200,000 (4 .3%)

3


Q) c -c (I)en tn .o G> roc: c .,. _

- .2

-

-e 8·

c:

= Q)o E ro0 M

-

N ro CO -cc: :JQ) 0Ci)

ro +-'en o +-' 1.- >...c: ro ro

s.-

:J enro w0 C) •

CASA DE MARYLAN D • Casa de Maryland ha recibido

fondos/becas para ayudar a latinos a entrenar en a lgun oficio .

• El entrenamiento es posib le a traves de los coleg ios comun itarios , o centres de trabajo . Hay cursos en i ng les y espaiiol .

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

5

• Casa ofrece entrenamientos de OSHA.

DOL • Hay mas de 20 agencias dentro del

Departamento de Trabajo , par ejemplo OSHA, y WHO ; nuestras agencias ayudan a personas en todo e l pais con cuestiones labora les .

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

6

pal organ izaciones, iglesias,

• DOL: 1 -866-487-2365

• Cada una de nuestras agencias trabaja de cerca con s ind icatos , consu lados de d iferentes ses , con Hderes comun itarios y mas . . . para ayudar a la gente a encontrar empleo o entrenar en a lgun oficio .

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

7

RECU RSOS: ENTRENAMIENTO PARA EMPLEO

• Summer Jobs+ ; Trabajos de verano 201 2

es u na colaboraci6n con empresas para que juntas ayudemos a crear miles de trabajos para los j6venes este verano . Nos hemos reun ido con a lcaldes de varias

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

8

·

· -

"'O Cl)


c::Cl)

c:: 0Cl) ro0 .c roc:: '-

::J · Cl)'-ro "'O

· enro .c ro· -ro '-'-

ro'- 0"'Oro c::c.. Cl)en

, _ > ro 0 c.. E - .0Cl) '- en ."'O C.. '-ro roen en c..Cl) E o _"'O Cl) E Cl)ro ::J

ro 0 "'Oen o· - en u Cl) w •

• Nos hemos un ido con Facebook para ayudar a la gente a conectarse y encontrar trabajo .

• MySki l lsMyFuture.org ayuda a las personas que han perd ido su empleo y qu ieren cambiar de industria de trabajo .

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

1 0

Podrfa ayudar a trabajadores a encontrar empleo de tiempo completo (fu l l time) .

• MyNextMove.org te gu f a en l a industria de trabajo que posib lemente qu ieras entrar. Esta pag ina podrf a ayudar a las j6venes que van i n iciando sus carreras y qu ienes hablen un ing les basico .

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

1 1

><

o

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.N-

en -., _

co c..

-Q)0

en r-...CO N• U)

Lt)Q) I......, M C MQ) r-...(.) .---. -- o> o0

. en .....o en _g mo O

c.. · · 7._ M 0 zc ::::::: .---. .c co . . 0 O -q- O-, N ..c

"'C

0

......,

cQ) en0 .....

......,cQ)0

(0

co .._0

•

meses ,

arqu itectu ra, ingenieria , computaci6n

EMPLOYMENT SITUATION • Durante los u ltimas 26 se han

creado empleos en sector privado!

• En abri l , se abrieron mas de sesenta mi l (+60k) empleos en :

. . .

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

1 3

• •

-

_

·-

· - ro ID co g c.. ro · - en "'O - :J Q)

Q) Q) :J Q) ·- a. -g :J .c E ·- C""

Q) T""9 0 Q) :J

"'O 0 t5

Q)

w Q)

"

admin istraci6n del Presidente Barack

Obama.

• Los latinos estan tomando los trabajos en la rama de salud :

o Abri l 2000: Latinos trabajando en e l sector de sa lud 7 .3%

Obtained via FO

IA by Judicial W

atch, Inc.

1 5


\,J

'° -

Q)cQ)0

'"C c ro

. __,ro

Z

30, 2012

construction, building grounds maintenance, agricultural,

Maryland.

1


CASA MARYLAND PRINCE GEORGE WELCOME CENTER

MAY

• National unemployment rate : 8.1 o/o (April 20 12) • National unemployment rate: 1 0% (Oct. 2009)

• Unemployment rate in MD: 6.7% (April 20 1 2) • Highest unemployment rate in MD : 8 .0% (Early 20 1 0)

• Latino unemployment rate : 10.3°/o (April 20 12 • Latino unemployment rate: 1 3 .2% (Nov. 20 1 0)

• MD population: over 5 million (20 1 0 census) • MD Latino pop in 20 1 0: over 400,000 (8.2 % of total pop). • MD Latino pop in 2000 : over 200,000 (4.3% of total pop).

• The 2010 purchasing power of Latinos in Maryland totals $13 billion!

CASA DE MARYLAND • Casa de Maryland is a 20 1 0 Susan Harwood Grant

recipient. This grant allows Casa De Maryland to provide training for high-risk Latino workers in the

and and warehouse industries in

1

agencies

commerce, unions, employer groups, boards,

mayors major

2


• Training offered through local community colleges and employment centers. Training includes a train-the-trainer module. The training and/or materials will be offered in English and Spanish.

• Casa is providing OSHA training at this Welcome Center.

DOL • There are more than 20 within the U.S . Labor

Department-such as, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the Wage & Hour Division (WHD), and Employment Training Administration (ETA).

• Each of these agencies works closely with chambers of state workforce

and local leaders to achieve a synergy of efforts to spur economic growth and assist the people finding a job or training/retraining.

RESOURCES: JOB TRAINING • Since January of this year, more than 120 Summer Jobs+

partners have committed nearly 300,000 jobs and other opportunities for young people through this initiative. We have hosted web chats and news conferences with of cities to get the word out about our summer job bank.

2

http://www.jobcorps.gov/centers.aspx

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.3

• The Employment and Training Administration has worked with the National Association of Workforce Boards to promote more than 30 job fairs across the country.

• We have launched a new social jobs partnership to connect 1 32 million people to our job placement resources through Facebook.

• We have a website called MySkillsMyFuture.org that helps dislocated workers and people looking to change careers. It can help part-time workers find full-time jobs and lower-paid workers find higher-paying jobs.

• MyNextMove.org helps new entrants into the workforce figure out the job that's right for them. And it' s especially helpful for young people, for those with limited English proficiency and for those without any post-secondary education. It asks users to fill out a questionnaire listing your interests and abilities.

• Job Corp: 1 26 centers around the country (find a location by clicking on the map:

(800) 733-JOBS or (800) 733-5627 o Virginia: 3 locations o Marylind: 2 locations o DC: 1 location

3

straight months,

gains-{)2,000 jobs-were

19,000 manufacturing jobs

485,000 manufacturing


EMPLOYMENT SITUATION

• In April, our largest good-paying business and professional services careers, meaning more architects, engineers, computer programmers and consultants are finding jobs.

• We added another After losing millions of good manufacturing jobs in the years before and during the deep recession, the economy has added jobs in the past 26 months.

• We've now created more than 4.2 million private-sector jobs under this administration.

• For 26 we have added private-sector jobs.

new in

in April .

4

MAY 30,

compras.

l

PRINCE GEORGE WELCOME CENTER SPANISH

2012

Desempleo a nivel nacional: 1 0% (Oct. 2009)


• Desempleo a nivel nacional: 8. 1°/o (Abril 20 1 2) •

• Desempleo actual en MD:: 6.7°/o (Abril 20 1 2) • Desempleo mas alto en MD: 8.0% (principio del 20 1 0)

• Desempleo nacional entre latinos: 10.3% (Abril 20 1 2) • Desempleo nacional entre latinos: 1 3 .2% (Nov. 20 1 0)

• Poblaci6n de MD : mas de 5 millones (20 1 0 censo) • Latinos en MD, 20 1 0: mas de 400,000 (8 .2%) • Latino en MD, 2000 : mas de 200,000 (4.3%)

• Durante el 20 1 0, los latinos de Maryland gastaron $13 mil Eso ayuda a la economia.

CASA MARYLAND

millones en

CASA DE MARYLAND • Casa de Maryland ha recibido fondos/becas para ayudar a

latinos a entrenar en algun oficio.

• El entrenamiento es posible a traves de los colegios comunitarios, o centros de trabajo. Hay cursos en ingles y espafiol.

• Casa ofrece entrenamientos de OSHA.

paises, organizaciones, iglesias,

2


DOL • Hay mas de 20 agencias dentro del Departamento de

Trabajo, por ejemplo OSHA, y WHD; nuestras agencias ayudan a personas en todo el pais con cuestiones laborales.

• DOL: 1 -866-487-2365

• Cada una de nuestras agencias trabaja de cerca con

sindicatos, consulados de diferentes

con Ii deres comunitarios y mas . . . para ayudar a la gente a encontrar empleo o entrenar en algun oficio.

RECURSOS: ENTRENAMIENTO PARA EMPLEO • Summer Jobs+; Trabajos de verano 2012 es una

colaboraci6n con empresas para que juntos ayudemos a crear miles de trabajos para los j6venes este verano. Nos hemos reunido con alcaldes de varias ciudades del pais para trabajar junto en este tema.

• Estamos promoviendo ferias de trabajo en todo el pais.

• Nos hemos unido con Facebook para ayudar a la gente a conectarse y encontrar trabajo.

• MySkillsMyFuture.org ayuda a las personas que han perdido su empleo y quieren cambiar de industria de trabajo. Podria ayudar a trabajadores a encontrar empleo de tiempo completo (full time).

• MyNextMove.org te guia en la industria de trabajo que posiblemente quieras entrar. Esta pagina podria ayudar a

http://www.jobcorps.gov/centers.aspx

meses,

arquitectura, ingenieria, coniputaci6n


los j6venes que van iniciando sus carreras y quienes hablen un ingles basico.

• Job Corp: 1 26 centros en todo el pais ( 1 6-24 afios)

(800) 733-JOBS or (800) 733-5627

EMPLOYMENT SITUATION • Durante los ultimos 26 se han creado empleos en

sector privado !

• En abril, se abrieron mas de sesenta mil ( +60k) empleos en: . . .

• Se han abierto mas de diecinueve mil (+ 1 9k) empleos en el mes pasado de abril. Hoy esta industria aumenta empleos mientras que antes se perdian empleos aqui.

• En total, se creado mas de 4 millones de empleos en el sector privado bajo la administraci6n del Presidente Barack Obama.

• Los latinos estan tomando los trabajos en la rama de salud:

o Abril 2000 : Latinos trabajando en el sector de salud

Abril 20 1 2 : Latinos trabajando en el sector de salud 7.3%

o

1 0.6%

Purpose/Background:

1


MEMO for the Secretary

From: Emilia Pablo-Montano, Special Assistant, OPA CC: Phil Tom, Director, FBCINP

RE: TOUR & ROUNDTABLE - Casa De Maryland

Date: May 29, 20 12

Introduction: • On Wednesday, May 30, 2012 from 2:00 - 3 :00 pm, you are scheduled to

tour the Casa de Maryland's Welcome Center and participate in a stakeholder roundtable. Gustavo Torres, Executive Director will moderate the roundtable.

• Upon the conclusion of your tour and stakeholder roundtable you will participate in an informal press availability.

• You will tour the Prince George's Welcome Center and see their training programs for building and construction trades and for child care providers.

• This Welcome Center also provides ESL classes and the OSHA training classes. The OSHA training class is an outcome of the Susan Harwood grant to provide training for their students.

• For your roundtable discussion, Casa de Maryland is inviting several students including a recent grad who is now employed and representatives from Prince George and Montgomery County Community Colleges.

• Casa de Maryland is a community organization that was founded in 1 985 by Central American refugees and North Americans. Casa was created in response to the human needs of the thousands of Central Americans arriving to the D.C. area after fleeing wars and civil strife in their countries of origin. There are eight Welcome Centers throughout Maryland.

• Casa's vision is for strong, economically and ethnically diverse communities in which all people - especially women, low-income people, and workers can participate and fully benefit, regardless of their immigration status.

Participants:

Agenda:

2 Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.

• YOU

• Gustavo Torres, Executive Director, Casa De Maryland

A detailed list of participants for the roundtable is attached.

2:00 - 2:20 pm Welcome Center Tour

Welcome Center and training programs:

• Building and Construction Trades • Child care providers

2 :20 - 2:50 pm Roundtable - will be moderated by Gustavo Torres Program graduates, current participants, county representatives, and community college partners will participate.

2:50 - 3 :00 pm Press Availability

Issues of Note: • Casa de Maryland is a 20 1 0 Susan Harwood Grant recipient. This grant

allows Casa De Maryland to provide training for high-risk Latino workers in the construction, building and grounds maintenance, agricultural, and warehouse industries in Maryland. Training will be offered through local community colleges and employment centers. Training will include a trainthe-trainer module. The training and/or materials will be offered in English and Spanish.

Placeffime: • This tour and roundtable will take place at the Casa de Maryland, Prince

George Welcome Center (7978-B) from 2:00 - 3:00pm.

• Irasema Garza will staff you. Roberto Soberanis will provide advance. Emilia Pablo-Montano and Philip Tom will be on site as well.

• Handouts on ground will include: o Heat Campaign materials provided by OSHA o DOL Contact Sheet and Know Your Rights booklet provided by

WHD


• Posters on ground include Cesar Chavez Day & Worker Memorial posters.

Press: • This event is open to the press. English and Spanish media are expected to

attend. A DOL photographer will be present.

Audience: • The roundtable discussion will consist of 7- 1 0 program graduates, current

participants, county representatives and community college partners.

Attachments: 1 . Talking Points in English and Spanish (in standard letter and card format) -

provided by OPA(in green/older)

2. Biography: Gustavo Torres

3 . Washington Post Magazine News Clip

4. List of Roundtable Participants


BIOGRAPHIES -

Gustavo Torres is the Executive Director of Casa de Maryland. Torres has been recognized nationally and internationally for his leadership and vision in the immigrant rights movement in the United States. Originally a union leader from Colombia, Torres came to the U.S. to avoid political persecution.

Under his direction, Casa has received numerous awards and national recognition, including : the National Council of La Raza Affiliate of the Year Award in 2004, which recognized one of over 300 Hispanic-serving organizations for their excellence in serving the Latino community; the LetelierMoffit Domestic Human Rights Awards, presented to Casa by the Institute for Policy Studies in 2003 ; among others.

He was the subject of a Washington Post Magazine Feature article: "Head of Casa is a man with a plan," which was the cover of the July 1 7, 20 1 1 issue. (see attached)

Montgomery,


NEWS CLIP -

Head of CASA is a man with a plan

By David Published: July 14, 2011 , Washington Post Magazine.

Gustavo Torres is everywhere and nowhere, like air, an essential quality for a movement man. Tonight, it also makes him the perfect anxious host, dressed in a plain suit and tie that help him disappear. He chats up this cluster of guests here, reappears by that new clump of visitors there, then surfaces again in another room altogether - until everyone feels at home in one of the great mansions of suburban Washington.

"Welcome to CASA; this is your house !" he says, opening his arms as wide as Jay Gatsby beckoning friends into a dream come true.

This is not a Gatsby crowd, however, nibbling spanakopita after crossing the Ionic portico - even if the three-story red brick Georgian Revival pile was built by swells in the Jazz Age.

These are swaggering honchos of Big Labor, mingling with like-minded politicians, soft-spoken clergy, cunning idealists who hard-bargain on behalf of night cleaners, and simple residents of the teeming garden apartments visible outside every window of the mansion - which is set like a mirage on a hill in the heart of the struggling immigrant barrio that got its name from the mansion: Langley Park.

They have been summoned on this winter evening to the new home of CASA of 'Maryland, where Torres is executive director. CASA's previous casa was a construction trailer, until Torres drove the $ 1 3 .8 million rehab of the abandoned estate.

"This has got to be the snazziest office of any immigrant-rights organization in the country," says Eliseo Medina, secretary-treasurer of the Service Employees International Union. "The people who started this plantation, if only they had known it would become the People's home."

The guests move from the dark wood-paneled grand salon to an equally elegant reception room.

6


The ostensible purpose of the evening is to honor Medina, along with SEID President Mary Kay Henry. But in their remarks, the speakers can't help paying homage to Torres and CASA.

"I'd like to say I'm here for Mary Kay and Eliseo, but when Gustavo Torres calls, I generally get in my car and go over and ask him what he wants," says Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot.

There's a subtext of anticipation for the Maryland legislative session, when Torres will help lead a coalition pushing to allow undocumented Maryland high school graduates to pay in-state college tuition. But why stop there?

"I've started to lobby Gustavo," Medina says. "Are you just a CASA of Maryland? How about a CASA of the East? A CASA of the United States?"

Torres squints bashfully. As a matter of fact, he has been thinking along similar lines. His own immigrant journey is not over yet. At the peak of his influence, he is on the cusp of his greatest legislative victory - albeit one that is being diluted by a populist backlash.

Suddenly a giddy band of mariachis bursts into the salon. The halls of old Langley Park brim with the brassy, sassy sound of Mexico.

* * *

Torres's admirers can sound fawning, but there's an equally fervid crowd convinced that he is an evil genius. Republican state Del. Pat McDonough could be a spokesman.

When McDonough, a businessman and talk radio host, won a seat to the House of Delegates in 2002 from Baltimore County, immigration wasn't on his radar. Then, he got to Annapolis, where he discovered Torres and CASA everywhere: engaged and getting stronger.

"What the heck is this all about?" McDonough said to himself.

Since then, McDonough has become a leading foe. Chief among critics' concerns is that nearly half of CASA's $6 million budget comes from local, state and federal appropriations, and that CASA uses a significant portion of that money to help illegal immigrants. The renovation of the mansion, where CASA provides services

7


to many of the 20,000 low-income immigrants it assists annually, was also partly funded with public money.

"Gustavo has created a sanctuary state," McDonough says. "The governor does his bidding. The politicians who control power in the State of Maryland do his bidding . . . . And his success has caused financial and personal heartbreak for the State of Maryland."

McDonough is just warming up.

"Gustavo Torres is more than just a Maryland figure," he says. "They are a globally significant organization."

It is true that in the two decades since he arrived in the United States, Torres, 50, has transformed himself into a regional political power and a nationally pivotal character in the endless passion play over immigration. He is hardly a global player, however.

What's remarkable is the degree to which one man - especially someone so outwardly self-effacing- inspires such hyperbolic reactions.

He is no rival for Che Guevara on a T-shirt. His features are soft and round, his manner mild. Married, with no children, he sings sentimental karaoke tangos and plays soccer with a bunch of other over-40 guys.

Sure, he can deliver a fiery speech. But his magnetism appears even more effective on subtler frequencies.

"I've known Gustavo for about I 0 years, and in the early days of our relationship, there was a little bit of tension," says Gregg Clickstein, president of Sawyer Realty Holdings, which owns apartment units in Maryland and used to own the Langley Park mansion.

Torres and CASA organized Sawyer's tenants in Langley Park to rally in protest of apartment conditions.

"So, Gustavo and I end up over a bowl of pickles at the Parkway Deli," Clickstein says. "He starts talking about his vision for CASA. What was interesting to me was, Gustavo was really talking about America. This nation of immigrants . . . and this new wave of immigrants, and having the opportunity to assimilate and be great Americans. And it really just touched me."

8


Tenant-landlord relations improved, and Sawyer sold the run-down mansion to CASA for $ 1 .

* * *

Every May 1 in Medellin, Colombia, Antonio Torres, a carpenter, led his family to watch the worker-solidarity parades. Thousands promenaded from across the city to rally in el Parque Berrio. Gustavo, the second-youngest son of 1 5 brothers and sisters, would never forget the exhilaration.

To help make ends meet, Ilumina Yotagria would rise before dawn to cook empanadas that Gustavo and his siblings would hawk in the streets.

Just being alive in Medellin in the 1 970s and 1 980s was a political education. Liberal and leftist activists decried poverty and inequality. Conservatives in power had little patience for even nonviolent protest. Pablo Escobar' s flourishing cocaine empire added another layer of instability.

After high school, Gustavo enrolled in an accounting apprenticeship program, which sent him to work in a bank, where he became a union organizer.

"Even back then, the phrase he used to say was, 'We all have rights in the community, but also, we all have duties in the community, ' " says his older sister Martha Torres.

He earned enough at the bank to pay for university and to join a friend in opening a small taverna, called Mama Vieja, or Old Mama, which became a hangout for student activists.

In 1 987, things turned savage. Students, professors and union organizers were murdered or disappeared.

Torres and his friends heard that their names were on "la lista negra," though they never saw the notorious death list.

Torres, then 26, and a fellow student and union leader, Guillermo Useche, decided to get out of town. Torres gave Mama Vieja to his younger brother, Gabriel Jaime, a university student who volunteered in poor barrios.

Several weeks later, as Gabriel Jaime was opening the taverna, strangers arrived.

9


Is Gustavo here? Is Gabriel Jaime here?

I'm Gabriel Jaime.

They shot him multiple times. He died on the way to the hospital. Nobody was arrested.

* * *

Torres and Useche lit out for Nicaragua. The pair got jobs with El Tayacan, a weekly newspaper that supported the Sandinista revolution. Torres also worked on a European-funded study of Sandinista land reform, which sent him into rural areas to interview campesinos.

"He was so simple and sweet, he knew how to talk to all kinds of people and immediately they liked him," Useche says.

The campesinos made a deep impression when they grumbled that the revolutionary planners should have consulted them before ordering them to grow rice, instead of more practical coffee or beans.

By the time the Sandinistas were voted out of power in 1 990, Torres says he was in love with an American, Lois Wessel, who was working on a public health project in Managua. Wessel suggested they move to the United States so she could pursue a nursing degree.

Torres and Wessel came to Washington in 1 99 1 and got married. Torres arrived on a tourist visa, then applied for work authorization and a green card.

His marriage smoothed his path to citizenship in 1 995, he says. He and Wessel were divorced in late 1 996, but both say they remain on good terms.

"This is the country I chose to live in," he says. "But I didn't choose to be quiet, and to not push for changes.

"If l did these kinds of things in Colombia, I'd have been killed a long time ago."

Torres's first job in the United States was painting houses. Controversy was boiling in Langley Park. As many as 1 50 day laborers congregated daily at the comer of University Boulevard and Piney Branch Road to seek work.

1 0


Lael Parish, executive director of what was then called Central American Solidarity and Assistance, CASA for short, hired Torres in 1 99 1 to help organize the day laborers.

"He was just an amazing personality, charismatic, energetic, and somebody who clearly just had this real-life organizing experience," says Parish, who suggested Torres as her successor in 1 994. "He's a big-picture thinker, and organizers aren't always."

* * *

Today's English lesson is how to order food. About two dozen laborers painstakingly enunciate their favorite dishes. Chicken, pizza, Burger King.

The early morning class in a Shady Grove construction trailer is drawing to a close when Torres bounds in.

"Shall I talk in English?" he teases.

The effort to pass the in-state tuition bill - informally known as the Maryland

Dream Act - has reached a critical stage. Torres wants to enlist workers for a

lobby blitz.

"Who's coming to Annapolis?" he asks in Spanish.

Everybody!

"Who knows what 'to lobby' means?"

Nobody.

A civics lesson ensues.

"The Republicans want to make Maryland like Arizona," he says. "We need to

show that Maryland is different from other states."

Torres's over-simple portrayal of Republicans as enemies and Democrats as friends on immigration prompts a worker to raise his hand.

"I see the president is a Democrat, and now is when we immigrants have felt the most oppression," the man says.

1 1


"Excellent point," Torres replies. "There are more deportations under this administration than under Bush. "

Later, he marvels at the worker's political acumen.

"I was protecting the president a little bit, and the worker confronts me and says, Go to hell !" Torres says.

During a White House meeting in March 20 1 0, Torres urged President Obama to focus more on deporting criminals. Now, Torres detects disenchantment with Obama going viral among Latinos, and the activist is mulling a plan for mass arrests in front of the White House later this month.

The scene in Shady Grove crystallizes Torres's crusade. Transforming poor immigrants into job holders into English students into advocates on their own behalf- that's what it's all about.

It wasn't an obvious goal. When he became director, CASA's budget was less than $500,000, the staff numbered five, the office was a church basement.

Torres launched excursions to Ann!lpolis. Poor immigrants treading the marble corridors was unprecedented.

"He instills courage," says Herminia Servat, a grandmother from Peru who came to CASA in 1 999 for help finding a job. She got a construction position and joined the first lobbying trips to Annapolis. "I felt important. I was transformed."

Sometimes Torres stumbled. A decade ago, he was presenting his legislative agenda at a sweltering community meeting in Takoma Park. He was as full of high ideas as those know-it-all leaders of the Sandinista revolution. Affordable housing! Health care!

"One of the workers said, 'With all due respect, this is not a priority for us, ' " Torres recalls. "I thought, health care, housing, not a priority! ?"

No, said the worker. "Our priority is a driver's license."

So basic, and Torres had missed it. CASA turned its focus to the issue of obtaining . and keeping driver's licenses; under a later compromise, undocumented immigrants who had licenses as of 2009 can keep them until 20 1 5 .

1 2


Like a bodybuilder, Torres methodically bulked up both sets of CASA's muscles: services and advocacy. Immigrant-rights marches in Washington were anemic affairs until 2006, when Torres and labor allies started turning out hundreds of thousands of local residents on the Mall.

Now CASA's budget is $6 million; the staff numbers 65 , plus 30 part-time English teachers; and CASA has 1 0,000 members who pay $25 annual dues. Its five centers in Prince George's and Montgomery counties and Baltimore City filled 1 8,989 temporary jobs and 248 permanent ones last year, according to CASA. Those workers earned $2.6 million in the last six months. CASA lawyers closed 1 , 1 08 cases.

Torres also created a parallel nonprofit, CASA in Action, to do direct political work and e

:DWFK ,QF - Judicial Watch€¦ · AM : To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia -OPA : Subject: RE: CASA MD :...

Documents

Transcript of :DWFK ,QF - Judicial Watch€¦ · AM : To: Pablo-Montano, Emilia -OPA : Subject: RE: CASA MD :...