APDS Blogger: Carolina Sheinfeld

As part of my duties of outreach coordinator, since 2004 I participate at local forums hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In Los Angeles, USCIS conducts two regular monthly meetings: the Adjudications Information Forum (AIF) and the Naturalization Advisory Committee (NAC). Advocates attending these meetings are members of community-based, faith-based and ethnic-based organizations; ESL teachers; volunteers; members of expats associations and NGO employees like myself.

Libyan immigrants worldwide are banding together to call for aid to their embattled homeland and drumming up support for international relief groups. The Libyan Community Association of Oregon, for example, formed in February when the unrest first erupted. Since then, the state's Libyan community – some 225 people – has staged four rallies in the Portland area and helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for aid groups, says leader Jamal Tarhuni.

Calling it “the most successful project in the Jewish world,” Israel’s Minister of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Yuli Edelstein, who serves as chairman of Birthright-Taglit’s steering committee, hailed the new application figures. “We see Taglit-Birthright Israel turning into a real rite of passage for a majority of young Jews worldwide and we hope many more thousands will come to Israel.”

Several hundred people gathered on Saturday afternoon near the United Nations for a demonstration in support of the recent antigovernment protesters in Egypt. Participants came from New York City and beyond, buoyed, they said, by the hope that a wave of clashes taking place in Egyptian cities over the last few days might sweep Mr. Mubarak from office and usher in democratic reforms.

The production is in Russian with no English subtitles — but that’s the point. “We wanted to bring something bright to the Russian community in New York,” said promoter Anton Krylov. “The musical is for families that don’t want to lose their cultural ties.

Toronto is the venue for India's next mini-Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in June to connect with its 27 million-strong diaspora in over 150 countries. It would focus on the aspirations of the new generation of Indian youth worldwide and the universal cultural draw of Bollywood, said Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi.

India's annual convention to connect with its 27-million strong diaspora in over 150 countries concluded Sunday with President Pratibha Patil honouring 14 individuals for their achievements and enhancing India's image globally.

The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh chaired the second meeting of the Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians on 7 January, 2011. Fourteen eminent overseas Indians from across the world attended the meeting. The External Affairs Minister, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and senior officials also attended the meeting.