Help New Americans in Mississippi!

Hello.  I am L. Patricia Ice; Patricia for short!  I work with the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance (MIRA!), a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that educates the public about immigrant issues and advocates at the local, state and federal levels on behalf of immigrant families. In certain cases, we provide those families with direct immigration legal services.  At the MIRA, which is based in Jackson, I am the Legal Project Director.  Therefore, in addition to advocacy, I assist immigrant families with their applications and petitions to become lawful United States residents or United States citizens.  Our major objectives are to reunite and/or keep families together and to help new Americans become active participants and voters in their communities. I have done this work for more than 16 years in Mississippi, educating and assisting masses of immigrants, their families, friends and the general public.  I have spoken with dozens of Mississippi State legislators about laws that affect immigrant families and I have visited the offices of all six of Mississippi's U.S. congressional Senate and House  members. Although I am a lawyer, my non-profit salary is low. This is why I am seeking help from like-minded people like you. 

I was to attend the Georgetown University Nonpprofit Management Executive Certificate Program in Washington, DC.  in June 2015.  Due to several unforeseeable events, including the death of my dear mother in March 2015, I was unable to go.   But I am now enrolled in the University of Texas -Austin's online Nonprofit Management Certificate Program and companion course.   I will learn about the current trends, challenges, and promising practices in nonprofit management, develop leadership tools necessary to influence policy decisions, encourage collaboration and build coalitions and strengthen the capacity to lead in a diverse society. I now need to raise at least $1500 to pay for these courses.  The knowledge I gain will help me run the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance Legal Project more efficiently and will assist in helping to  make our state a better place for all of us to live. When we work to uplift vulnerable people we also uplift ourselves.  For more information about my  new course of study please click on the following link: http://cie.austin.utexas.edu/pdc/certificate/nonprofit-profession/

Won't you please help me reach my $1500 goal? ALL donations will be accepted, large or small (even $1). And remember, you can also donate anonymously. Thank you!