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2011 SOL Summer Learning Academy with
Ferris State University – Click here to see how local youth are stemming summer learning loss.
The Hispanic Voice
Providing Opportunities to Be Heard. Local “rising 9th graders” in the Supporting Our Leaders (SOL) Program this summer worked with journalist, Federico Martinez, to develop, write, edit and publish stories of importance to them on an online website as part of the Believe 2 Become initiative of the Douglas and Maria DeVos Foundation to stop summer learning loss. Click here to read their stories
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Current Direct Client Services
Our Immigrant Rights Program offers basic services and support for individuals and families with immigration related concerns. We currently provide direct support for clients needing assistance with the following:
• Translation and copies of primary documents
• Copies of primary documents (birth/marriage/divorce/death certificates, etc.) from U.S. government entities and those in other countries
• General immigration process inquiries
• Inquiries on the status of pending applications and petitions • Inquiries regarding passport applications
• Advocacy for access to local emergency support services • Communication with Foreign Consulates
• Communication with relevant State and Federal Agencies
• Statewide partner agency referrals and follow-up
• Referrals for non-profit and private legal representation
• Notary fraud issues
• Inquiries regarding Emergency/Humanitarian Visitor Visas
• Human Trafficking Concerns
• Deportation & Detention Inquiries
• Assistance finding missing adults and children in the U.S. and abroad
• Funeral Arrangements in foreign countries
Assistance with these issues is primarily provided by our Immigration Case Manager Maria Meneses, but highly complex cases require the invaluable support of our Family Support Services team, Youth Program staff, Language Services Department, and a group of highly trained volunteers.
For more information regarding our current services, please contact Case Manager Maria Meneses at (616) 742-0198 mmeneses@hispanic-center.org. For volunteer opportunities with our program, please contact Annette Aranda at (616) 742-0895 aaranda@hispanic-center.org.
Community Advocacy & Education
The Center hosts immigration clinics with partner agencies and immigration law experts throughout the year. We also work closely with Foreign Consulates whenever possible to host Mobile Consulate events in our region of the state. Please call our office at (616) 742-0200 for information regarding upcoming clinic times, Mobile Consulate activities, service eligibility, and volunteer opportunities.
The Center staff also organizes and participates in community education forums regarding critical immigration issues throughout the year. If our staff is unavailable to participate in the upcoming event you may be planning for your church, community, or workplace we are more than happy to help you connect with a member of our statewide community of immigration law and immigrant rights experts.
Staff Contact: Martha Gonzalez-Cortes at (616) 742-0221 mcortes@hispanic-center.org.
On-site Legal Clinic and Referrals
Volunteers from Cooley Law School and the Legal Assistance Center hold consultations for clients at the Hispanic Center once a week. They answer basic questions for our clients and help them understand the basic structure of the U.S. legal system. The volunteers in this program are an important partner for Hispanic Center staff working with clients in need of immediate consultation and referrals to appropriate legal representation.
For more information regarding Clinic dates and times, contact us at (616) 742-0200.