Thanks to the generosity ofKordestani Foundation,Goodarzi Foundation, andOskouy Family FoundationPars Equality Center (Pars) recently reviewed student applications and awarded the following scholarships:
Pars Youth Grant /The American Dream (supported by the Kordestani Foundation):Pars received28applications fromlow-incomestudents graduating from high schools in California with specific plans to continue their education in a California college or university. After extensive review by the Scholarship Grant Committee,7qualified applicants were awarded the Pars Youth Grant, scholarship checks totaling $45,000 Were awarded toward their tuition.This is the seventh year of Pars Youth Grant initiative which has been made possible by the generous contribution of the Kordestani Foundation.
The Goodarzi Scholarship Grant: For the second consecutive year, Pars has been instrumental in assistingtheGoodarzi Foundation provide financial assistance to students of Iranian descent who, within the last seven years, have migrated to the United States. 6 students were selected among 31 applicants. On August 21, 2021, scholarship checks totaling $36,767 were awarded during an online ceremony.
Hand & Lift Grant:assists college students ofany nationalities in California’sBay Areawho are experiencing financial hardship. The intent of this grant is to lend a helpinghandto students who need a financiallift.For the first year Three students were selected among 23 applicants. On September 23, 2021, scholarship checks totaling $15,000 were awarded and mailed to final candidates.
Biden Administration Plans to Rescind COVID-19 Travel Bans and Instead Required Proof of Vaccination from International Travelers beginning in November.
Today, the White House announced that it is plans to ease travel restrictions on all international travelers coming into the United States beginning in early November 2021. The White House will rescind the current geographic COVID-19 related travel bans implemented for individuals from China, Iran, the Schengen Area, U.K., Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, and India and will instead move forward with solutions to deter the spread of COVID-19 based on individuals, rather than restrictions placed on entire countries or regions.
In place of these bans, all international travelers will be required to prove that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within three days of boarding a flight to the United States. The CDC will provide information regarding which vaccines will be accepted.
Limited exceptions such as for children; COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial participants; and humanitarian exceptions for people traveling for an important reason and who lack access to vaccination in a timely manner will be available. Individuals who are exempted from the vaccine requirement may be required to be vaccinated upon arrival.
Pars Equality Center has responded to the Afghan crisis by forming the Pars Afghan Support Project, which is dedicated to matching individuals in need of immigration legal support with volunteers to file humanitarian parole applications, assist with repatriation and evacuation, and congressional advocacy. We are proud to report that we have matched 1800 individuals with Pars volunteers for legal assistance. We currently have 150 volunteer attorneys, many of them members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) along with volunteers from the community. Hundreds of humanitarian parole applications have been filed, and many individuals have been evacuated. It is a human rights crisis that must be responded to immediately. The $575 fee for one humanitarian parole application only covers one person’s application. The fee is too high for many US sponsors to pay for their family and friends. Fee waivers are creating large delays and have very stringent income requirements. We ask that you help us by donating to our Afghan Support Project fund that will help with immigration legal fees, immigration services and various aid that we plan to offer newly arriving Afghans.
Please donate to the Pars Afghan Support Facebook fundraiserHERE or on our websiteHERE.
We have also created an Amazon Wish List for new Afghan arrivals. These items are shipped to our office in San Jose and put directly into the hands of newly arrivals. Please make sure to choose Pars Equality Center’s address at the checkout: Amazon Wishlist
Pars Equality Center’s San Jose office is offering rental assistance for extremely low-income residents of Santa Clara County who need help paying their rent. Since mid-2020, with the help of our partners, Destination Home, Sacred Heart Community Service, the County of Santa Clara, and the City of San Jose, we have been able to help more than 50 households overcome financial hardship.
To qualify, you must be a Santa Clara County resident who:
Has been financially impacted by the pandemic;
Is at-risk of losing your housing; AND
Makes less than 30% of the area’s median income (see income table below)
Eligible residents will receive assistance to help pay rent and may also qualify for additional funds to meet other basic needs. The amount of assistance will be determined based on the individual household’s situation and funding availability.
President Biden has directed evacuation flights for Afghan interpreters who helped the U.S. military to begin late July. Afghan nationals waiting for special immigrant visas (SIV) and their families will wait in one or more locations outside of Afghanistan while the State Department finishes processing their paperwork to enter the United States.Read more.
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