Multicultural Community Resource Center

03/23/2021

Remember!!

03/22/2021

In 1964, Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink, a third-generation Asian-American born in Hawaii, was the very first woman of color to enter U.S. Congress. Not one to shy away from upsetting the status quo, Mink was the first Japanese-American woman to practice law in Hawaii before entering office, and she also became the first Asian-American woman to run for president in the Democratic primary in 1972.

While in office, much of Mink's policy work focused on helping immigrants, women, and children, and she was a key and vocal advocate for the Title IX laws that ensure gender equality in American educational institutions today. Although she died of pneumonia in September 2002, Patsy Mink's name remained on the ballot for re-election in November, and she won by a wide margin, highlighting the lasting impact of her legacy championing equality for all.

"I have been guided by a single principle: That everyone—rich or poor, powerful or weak—should get fair and equal treatment from government" (Patsy Mink, 1977).

03/20/2021

Today is the spring equinox! 🌷 We hope you have a happy spring!

03/17/2021

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀 Did you know that Irish immigrants are largely responsible for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations we know and love today?

St. Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland, a man who was born in Roman Britain but kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. After his escape, he returned to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christianity, establishing churches, monasteries, and schools. He became the source of legends in Ireland, many of which contributed to our current observation of the holiday.

Still, it was not until large numbers of Irish immigrants in major U.S. cities began observing the day with massive celebrations, feasts, and parades that it began to take on its current shape. The first St. Patrick's Day parade was held in Boston in 1737, with light blue decorations to match ancient Irish flags. It was not until 1798, during the Irish Rebellion, that shamrocks and the color green became a symbol of nationalism and appeared first on uniforms before taking over celebrations of St. Patrick's Day worldwide.

03/15/2021

Born in India, Kalpana Chawla came to the U.S. as an international student to earn her M.A. and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. She became a U.S. citizen and, shortly after, she was admitted into NASA's astronaut program, becoming the first Indian-born woman in space! 🚀

More than anything, Kalpana Chawla loved to fly. She first learned to fly small aircraft in childhood, joining a local flying club in India. Many of her most loved quotes come from her responses to fans. Her advice was always kind and filled with encouragement, often focusing on the importance of enjoying the process of working toward your dreams as much as you yearn for the end goal. Her words, her kindness, and her achievements as an astronaut have inspired countless young immigrants to pursue their own dreams. 🌠

Chawla was known for being passionate about her work and skillful in executing it, but her time as an astronaut was tragically cut short. During her second mission, upon reentry, the Columbia space shuttle disintegrated, killing the entire crew. Despite leaving us far too young, Chawla's legacy continues to live on. She is remembered in memorials, missions, spacecraft names, and in Chawla Hill, one of seven peaks in a row of hills on Mars that are named after the astronauts lost in the Columbia disaster.

♀️

03/12/2021

Did you know? 🤔

Female immigration in the U.S. is higher than anywhere else in the world, largely because U.S. immigration policy prioritizes the reunification of families. As a result, there are more than 23 million female immigrants in the US today, which is more than half of our total immigrant population. Still, immigrant women in the United States are often overlooked, despite their significant presence and contributions to community, culture, and career.

Notably, more than 11 million workers in the U.S. are immigrant women, making up 16% of female workers and 6% of all workers in the U.S. Regardless of their work history and achievements, however, female immigrants continue to earn less than any other demographic.

Female immigrants are more likely than their male counterparts to be naturalized citizens or legal permanent residents (53% of immigrant women vs. 48% of immigrant men). Furthermore, in 2018, 55% of all newly naturalized citizens were women, and 53% of all new legal permanent residents were women as well.

Ultimately, female immigrants are an extremely active part of the U.S., in almost every way. They have been weaved into the fabric of our country for years, but they get so little credit for all the ways that they brighten and build our world. So, make sure you give some love to the immigrant women in your life today!

For more details on female immigration in the U.S., check out these articles!
1. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/immigrant-women-and-girls-united-states-2018
2. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/immigrant-women-and-girls-united-states

03/10/2021

03/10/2021

Ilhan Omar is one of the first two Muslim women to ever serve in US Congress, as well as the first Somali American, woman of color, and African-born citizen elected to represent Minnesota. Her choice to continue wearing a hijab after the election, while reasonable, was also a revolutionary one, making her the first member of Congress in US history to wear one (and forcing the House of Representatives to modify their ban on head coverings in the chamber).

Omar's family fled civil war in Somalia more than two decades ago, and she grew passionate about US politics while raising her three children and working first as a college nutrition educator and then as a child nutrition outreach coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Health. Her mission since taking her first office in 2017 has been to amplify marginalized voices and fight for those who are unable to fight for themselves, particularly for immigrants whose contributions are often overlooked in political conversations.

For a more thorough profile on Ilhan Omar, check out this article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/07/06/ilhan-omar-is-unlike-anyone-who-has-served-congress-this-is-her-complicated-american-story/?arc404=true

03/08/2021

Today is ! ♀️

Each year, March 8th is an opportunity to highlight women's history and achievement, whether social, political, cultural, economic, or otherwise. The theme of this year's IWD is , highlighting the importance of continuing the advancement of women by challenging ourselves and others to facilitate change, promote equality, call out gender biases, and create a more inclusive world.

Today is also a great opportunity for us to say thank you to all of the incredible women in our own lives for their strength and their sacrifice. From mothers and daughters to coworkers and friends, we all have women in our lives who deserve recognition today and every day.

So, who will you be thanking this Women's Day? 😉

Curious about how women around the world are celebrating today?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2021/mar/08/international-womens-day-around-the-world-in-pictures

03/05/2021

Today is Employee Appreciation Day, and we could not be more thankful for the incredible team we have had working with us at MCRC over the past year! 🤗

2020 brought many challenges, and all of those working at MCRC rose to those challenges and adapted to new circumstances to continue serving the Erie community. We could not be more proud or grateful for their perseverance, dedication, compassion, and hard work. THANK YOU to all of our staff members for helping us get through an unprecedented year. We look forward to continuing to learn and grow with you as we move forward.

Now, get back to work! 😂 And have a wonderful weekend.

03/04/2021

MCRC'S Elder Program had a virtual paint party with local artist Connie Bootz of Lucky Crane Studio. She taught them one of Monet's "Water Lillies". The uniqueness of everyone's piece is incredible. Due to COVID, the Elders have not been able to be in person with their teacher, Carol Hofmann. They had an opportunity to visit with her via Zoom. Hopefully soon they can safely return to MCRC as they wish to start their garden in our back lot. They truly enjoyed this time together tonight. 🕉