June MIMA Monthly COVID-19 Update

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MIMA Monthly Update

June 11, 2021

To read this update in other languages, visit MIMA's website 
Para leer este reporte en español, visite la página web de MIMA
Pour lire cette mise à jour en Français, visitez le Site Web de MIMA
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Keeping you Informed

As MIMA continues to support the city’s response to COVID-19, MIMA is providing monthly updates of information related to public services and resources available for our communities!


Happy Immigrant Heritage Month!

Join MIMA this month as we celebrate the history and legacy of immigrants in Baltimore. 

Census Data Tools Webinar Wednesday, June 16th 9:30am, Join the webinar: https://tinyurl.com/MIMAcensus

Happy Caribbean-American Heritage Month!

“Happy Caribbean American Heritage Month! Sending love to our neighbors as we celebrate and honor generations of Caribbean heritage in Baltimore.” - Mayor Brandon M. Scott

Happy Caribbean American Heritage Month

COVID-19 Updates

MIMA has been working in collaboration with the Baltimore City Health Department, CASA, Esperanza Center, and International Rescue Committee (IRC) to facilitate call centers for speakers of languages other than English, canvass high-risk neighborhoods, and facilitate vaccination for our most vulnerable immigrant communities. 

The below image is available in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean and Arabic!

Multilingual Call Center numbers

COVID-19 Vaccines

All Baltimore City residents age 12 and up can pre-register for a vaccine appointment! To register for the vaccine, visit covax.baltimorecity.gov, available in English & Spanish. If you are unable to register through that website, you can also call 443-984-8650 to make an appointment! Spanish speakers can call and/or leave a voicemail with the Esperanza Center (667-600-2314) to sign up for a vaccine appointment. If you leave a voicemail, you will get a call back within 24-48 hours. Speakers of all other languages can text or leave a voicemail with the International Rescue Committee (571-412-1202).

All Marylanders age 12 and up can register for a vaccine appointment with the State by visiting covidvax.maryland.gov or calling 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829) to allow them to contact you when vaccine appointments are available.

Residents 60 years or older can call Maryland Access Point hotline at 410-396-2273 to sign up. Telephonic interpretation should be available. Visit Baltimore City’s COVID vaccine website for more information and updates. The state has created a tool to help you find vaccines as they become available via the state’s website

Have questions about the vaccine? Check out Vaccine FAQs in English, Spanish, French, Korean and Arabic on our Facebook page. Recordings of COVID-19 vaccine information sessions in English and Spanish, and a town hall for immigrant youth are on our Facebook page! 

*NEW* Small grants to support vaccination outreach efforts 

Are you a community organizer or community organization that could support COVID-19 vaccination and education efforts in Baltimore City? You may be eligible for a small grant from $500 to $5,000 from Baltimore City Health Department and Civic Works! Several geographic areas with low vaccination rates and populations experiencing barriers to vaccination (including Latinx community members, immigrants, older adults, and pregnant and lactating women) will be given priority for funding. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis until all available funds have been distributed.

The Conversation/La Conversación 

Get answers to your COVID-19 vaccine questions straight from medical professionals! The Conversation/La Conversación is home to dozens of videos in English and Spanish featuring doctors answering common questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Upcoming Vaccination Clinics

The following are upcoming clinics for the month of June. Other vaccination sites are shared weekly on the Baltimore City Health Department's Facebook page. While language assistance should be available at any vaccination site, the below clinics were planned with particular attention to the needs of immigrant & Latino communities in Baltimore City. 

  • Graceland Elementary School
    6300 O'Donnell Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
    June 11, 2 - 5pm
    Vaccine available: Pfizer
  • Ben Franklin High School
    1201 Cambria Street, Baltimore, MD 21225

    June 11, 11 - 2pm
    Vaccine available: Pfizer
  • Mount Clare Community Council, Faith Center
    351 S. Woodyear Street, Baltimore, MD 21223
    June 14, June 21 & June 28 from 4pm - 6pm
    Pre-registration preferred, check the Mount Clare Community Council’s Facebook page for each week’s registration form.
    Vaccines available: Pfizer (6/14 & 6/28) and Moderna (6/21)
  • John Ruhrah Elementary Middle School
    701 Rappolla Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
    Wednesday, June 16 & 23 from 10am - 2pm
    Pre-register here
    Vaccine available: Pfizer 
  • Access Art
    2446 Washington Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21230
    Thursday, June 17 from 12pm - 3pm
    Vaccines available: Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson
  • Our Lady of Pompeii Church
    3600 Claremont St, Baltimore, MD 21224
    Wednesday, June 23 from 12pm - 4pm
    Vaccine available: Pfizer

COVID-19 Testing

Check MIMA’s Facebook page every Monday for the upcoming week’s testing schedule.


What’s New This Month?

"Our Home Too: A Forum in Support of the AAPI Community" recording available now

Thank you to all who participated in Baltimore Sister Cities, MIMA, and Towson University Asian Arts and Culture Center’s webinar last week. The event featured speakers from the Maryland State Assembly, Governor’s Commission on Asian Affairs, and the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Equity and Civil Rights. Check out the recording of the webinar and a comprehensive AAPI toolkit, which includes a digital communication and messaging guide, ways to take action for social justice, anti-discrimination laws and reporting, mental health resources, legal resources, and much more.

Guaranteed Income Survey

Guaranteed income pilot program survey and focus groups

Guaranteed income is the distribution of cash payments with no strings attached and no work requirements. It is meant to supplement, not replace, existing forms of food, housing and medical assistance. This fall, Baltimore will launch a pilot to see how it can help Baltimore residents reach financial security. But first, we need to hear from you! Complete the survey or sign up to participate in a focus group at bmorechildren.com/survey. Surveys and focus groups are available in English and Spanish. 

June produce box distribution schedules

Check out our Facebook page for June produce box distribution schedules in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean and Arabic. 

PEBT

P-EBT cards are back

Families will receive $375 per child for the whole summer break. If you already have a P-EBT card, keep it! It will be automatically reloaded. If you don’t have a card, reach out to your child’s school to make sure they have the correct email address. New cards will be mailed out soon. Questions? Visit dhs.maryland.gov/p-ebt

Applications open for the Emergency Broadband Benefit $50 discount on internet

The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible families and households who are struggling to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible households can also receive a discount of up to $100 for the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. A household is eligible if one of the members of the household has an income that is below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines, receives free-reduced school lunch, received a Federal Pell Grant last year, or participates in several other government assistance programs. For more info and to apply, please visit getemergencybroadband.org.

2021 Baltimore Nonprofit Relief Fund accepting applications

On Tuesday, June 1, the Baltimore Civic Fund opened applications for the 2021 Baltimore Nonprofit Relief Fund. Tax-exempt organizations in Baltimore City are eligible for awards of up to $50,000 to address either past costs or future projected needs related to COVID-19. The application will close at 11:59 p.m. on July 23, 2021.The Civic Fund will also hold four information sessions for tax-exempt organizations with questions; dates, times, and registration links are below. Organizations can also request technical assistance by completing this form, and someone will reach out to assist you.  

Baltimore Police Department Equity Framework

The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) has released the agency’s first Strategic Framework for Advancing Equity. The Strategic Framework for Advancing Equity is designed to help BPD become the fairest, most transparent, diverse, and inclusive Department possible. The plan is available in English and Spanish. 

State of Maryland ends additional federal unemployment benefits

Starting June 3rd, unemployment recipients will no longer receive the additional $300 weekly payments, and unemployed gig workers (Uber, Lyft, 1099 workers) will no longer receive the additional $100 weekly payments. Job search requirements will restart on July 4. Individuals will continue to receive regular unemployment benefits. 

Join MIMA's biweekly update call

MIMA has been inviting stakeholders and community partners to join a call every other Friday to share information that may benefit community members. Join us on May 21 at 11:30am via Microsoft Teams here, or call-in:+1 667-228-6519, code: 192 572 409#. 


National Happenings

Haiti designated for TPS

The Department of Homeland Security designated Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months starting May 21, 2021. The new TPS designation allows Haitian nationals (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Haiti) currently residing in the United States as of May 21, 2021 to file applications for TPS with USCIS, as long as they meet eligibility requirements. 

New data shows immigrant families with low incomes hit hard by the pandemic

A December 2020 survey from the Urban Institute indicated that:

  • 51.8 percent reported that the pandemic negatively affected their or a family member’s employment,
  • 41.4 percent had experienced food insecurity in the past year, and
  • 5.7 percent did not get needed medical care because of costs.

Despite these hardships, 1 in 4 adults in low-income immigrant families reported that they avoided participating in  federal programs and COVID-19 emergency relief efforts because of immigration concerns. Check out additional research from the Urban Institute about the pandemic impact on immigrant households. 


Employment Opportunities 

Social Services Advocate, Tahirih Justice Center

Director, Soccer without Borders Maryland

Sports-Based Youth Development Associate, Soccer Without Borders Maryland 

Database Manager, Maryland Office of Refugees and Asylees

Energy Program Technician 2, Mayor's Office of Children and Family Success 

Maryland Refugee Organizer (Part-time, Remote, Maryland based), Church World Service 

Language Specialist, International Rescue Committee 

Therapist Case Manager (Bilingual- English/Spanish), Healthcare for the Homeless  


MIMA

Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
100 N. Holliday Street, Room 250
Baltimore, MD  21202
410-396-8056