Well wishes on your retirement Terry!
To clients and advocates alike Terry Tiberi is seen as the backbone of the Immigration Assistance Program at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark. The New York native began her career nearly 21 years ago as a secretary in the Behavioral Health Services unit. However, her relationship with the organization started on a more personal note years before when she fostered children from Vietnam through its Project Haven Program.
Tiberi’s superb organizational skills and professionalism led her to quickly advance throughout Catholic Charities, including time in the Special Services division and supervising staff in both refugee resettlement and workforce development. As she begins the next chapter of her life, her legacy and contributions will not be forgotten. Here are a few final gems from the beloved Terry Tiberi on her time as office manager and the importance of immigration legal services providers.
Q: Tell us about one of your most memorable moments working at Catholic Charities?
A: The early refugee settlement program provides the most memories with some of the funniest incidents. This was mostly the Bosnian crisis era. I loved having their children come into my office, and even dealing with some of the emergencies they managed to create. [One time], a family set a fire because they were drying their clothes in the oven! There are just too many incidents to relate. I loved the refugees.
Q: What kept you in this business so long, especially considering the controversial nature of immigration?
A: Yes, the immigration [field] has been trying these days. However, even though my position is “clerical” in nature, I am supporting those who are helping people that are in GREAT need right now. Immigration legal services is definitely one area that fits my personal faith mission.
Q: What is one of your most interesting skills you learned while in this role?
A: I managed to learn a little Spanish. Not a lot, but enough to cover a reception desk when the receptionist is out! Over the years, I had the opportunity to participate in statewide committees with both Legal Services of New Jersey’s Antipoverty Network and the former New Jersey Immigration Policy Network. The connections I made often helped me provide some social service connections for our clients.
Q: How have you seen the community improve due to the work of Catholic Charities?
A: I know of some dramatic saves in this office—that is, clients who were either ripped off or had poor work done by notarios and our accredited representatives or attorneys fixed the problem with immigration. Those are individual life changing events. Our staff also does outreach events to properly inform the community of the law and provide Know Your Rights education, and they attend various legal immigration or asylum-related community organization meetings. All of this helps provide the immigrant community, a population that is often at the mercy of unscrupulous providers, with access to sound, affordable legal help.
Q: What would you say to someone who is just starting out doing this work to inspire them to not give up?
A: Make certain your heart is really in this business. These clients need our help and they need the stability of consistently having the availability of their counselor or attorney available over a long period of time. There is not a great financial reward, so the mindset has to be to work with compassion and charity, regardless of this drawback.
Q: What is the biggest lesson you learned over your career, either about yourself or this industry?
A: I am definitely walking out the door with a better understanding of the hardships of immigrants today. We’ve see many horror stories. We’ve seen and heard the stories of the children who have crossed the border and have suffered the apparent permanent separation of a parent. These sort of hardships did not exist when my grandfather brought relatives (and I’m referring to cousins, not even immediate relatives) to this country.
Q: What is next for you? What plans do you have for your retirement?
A: Ah—this is exciting. I am getting my bathroom upgraded slightly—only the necessary stuff, LOL. However, I will be doing some reading. My next book is “CRUX-A Cross-Border Memoir” by Jeanne Guerrero. I’m checking into some volunteer projects. There are several I am interested in, but I will not start one until probably the New Year. Initially, I am going to help out my best friend who has suffered through a devastating form of cancer and now her husband is not well. I currently do bring communion to a friend in a nursing home each week. I will be able to spend longer periods of time with my family in upstate New York and Long Island. There are no big travel plans on the horizon. A quick trip to the New Jersey Shore with friends is enough for me.
Colorado photographer uses art to create an inclusive community
In June, Intercambio Uniting Communities, a previous CLINIC highlight, celebrated its first photo exhibit: Stories of Friendship and Success, a unique showcase of relationships that developed from Intercambio’s English education work in Boulder, Colorado.
The exhibit traveled to libraries and galleries in three cities, highlighting the connection between English teachers and students, regardless of their differences. Intercambio was inspired to host an exhibit promoting integration after observing the division growing between immigrants and native-born citizens around the United States. Lee Shainis, executive director and co-founder of Intercambio, wanted to “capture the essence of cross-cultural relationships in the community,” so he turned to photographer Michele Cardamone.
Cardamone was the mastermind behind the portraits of student-mentor friendships presented by English in Action, another Colorado-based agency dedicated to helping immigrants learn English. When she was a mentor with the organization, she felt it was her responsibility to give back to the community. Using her talent as a professional photographer, she came up with the idea to capture the working relationships she observed as a mentor.
Cardamone’s art not only showed the organizations’ value to the community, but it depicted the visual story of the individual’s journey to learn English and integrate into the community. Cardamone invited pairs to take the photos in her studio with picture perfect lighting and a nice backdrop. She also partnered with local professionals to get the photographs professionally framed and hung in local cafes and libraries around Basalt, Colorado.
As of today she has taken nearly 50 partnered portraits.
“It is important now more than ever to connect and understand those with different backgrounds and cultures” says Cardamone, who hopes the photos will help inspire others to befriend their immigrant neighbors.
CLINIC applauds Intercambio, Michele Cardamone and English in Action as they continue to capture the integration of their community.
The Center for Immigrant Integration wants to hear from you and your community members on ways you promote integration. Email us at lspeasmaker@cliniclegal.org or send us a tweet Twitter at @cliniclegal.
Image
Image
From volunteer to attorney, the journey was worth it!
In May, Graciela Mateo was promoted to Staff Attorney in the Religious Immigration Service section. Prior to joining CLINIC, she spent two years clerking for an immigration firm in North Carolina, focusing on deportation cases and family-based visa petitions. While attending law school in North Carolina, Mateo served as a student attorney representing clients in the Charlotte Immigration Court. Her cases primarily focused on asylum, deferred action and family-based petitions. In addition to working as a student attorney, she served as committee chair for the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Program and volunteered with the Latin American Coalition. She also took pride in serving as president of the Immigration Law Society and as a pro bono student ambassador. Becoming a practicing attorney was a life-long dream of here
What did you want you be when you were younger and how did it evolved into the path you have chosen?
When I was younger, I knew I wanted to be one of three things: (1) a chef, (2) a basketball player or (3) a lawyer. I quickly decided against being a chef because I was not a fan of washing dishes. However, I am a good cook. I also ruled out basketball player after realizing I would not grow past 5’4. Suddenly, I was left with one option, lawyer, and it felt right. I always followed the rules and made sure others abided by them too. I enjoyed debating and getting into arguments, however, I cannot say the same for those who argued against me. I was interested in solving mysteries and getting to the truth. Therefore, it seemed clear to me at nine years old that I would be a lawyer and I certainly achieved my goal. Today, I am grateful because I am practicing immigration law as I planned to do and I look forward to learning more in my new position and to helping the immigrant community.
Describe how you felt when you took your oath after passing the bar.
I was overjoyed when I took the oath after passing the bar. I honestly, could not believe it. I felt a weight fall off my shoulders and the happiness that overcame me was indescribable. I did not pass the bar exam on my first try and that was very difficult for me. I planned my entire life and knew that I would be an attorney by the age of 26, but when that didn’t happen I had to make a decision as to what I wanted to do. I took a break from studying, moved to a different state and allowed myself to live life for a couple of months before studying for the exam again.
When I restarted by studying, I was working full-time. I was nervous that I would fail again, but knew that I couldn’t give up on my dream. When I opened the letter indicating that I passed the bar exam I cried uncontrollably because, just like that, my dreams came true. The day of the oath ceremony I was a nervous wreck because I knew in a matter of minutes I was going to get to do what I always hoped I would. It will be something I will never forget. That night, I went out to eat with my boyfriend (one of my biggest supporters) and we had an amazing dinner. I celebrated with his family as well. We had cake and pizza. I haven’t celebrated with my family yet because they live in Charlotte, but I plan to celebrate with them soon.
How did your family history or community influence your decision to become an attorney?
My parents are from the Dominican Republic and they came to the United States when they were seventeen. My mother became a U.S. citizen and my father is now beginning the process to obtain his citizenship. Both of my parents remarried to other immigrants who have naturalized. My mother petitioned for my stepfather to come to the United States, but she wasn’t successful in her efforts until she obtained help from the mayor’s office in the Bronx, New York. My father, on the other hand, has had a long and complicated immigration history. He has had his run-ins with the law and that has complicated his immigration case. My family’s immigration history has inspired me to help others with their immigration matters.
What do you like most about working in religious immigration law?
What I like most about working in religious immigration law is its complexity. Some of my cases are complicated and they take various twists and turns. Trying to find a solution to these various immigration issues can be a daunting tasks, but it is also rewarding. I have learned the most from my complicated cases and I know that if faced with the same issue I can find a solution. The transition from paralegal to attorney has been exciting as well. Being able to provide legal advice and being authorized to sign forms, as an attorney has been the most exciting. Having experience in both areas has really helped me determine the kind of attorney I would like to be.
If you could give any advice to an aspiring attorney, what would you tell them to encourage them not to give up?
I would tell an aspiring attorney to remember what led them to this career. There will be long nights and days. There may be days where you feel that you will not be able to catch up, but there are good days. There are days where clients thank you for your hard work and remind you why you entered this career in the first place. My passion for immigration and helping others is what led me to this career and it gets me going every day.
On the mornings that you don’t really want to keep going, what inspired to come into work and fight the good fight?
What inspires me to come into work and fight the good fight are my clients and those in the immigrant community who need my help. The recent political climate and changes to immigration procedure have caused confusion and anger. Today, we need people who will speak for those who have no voice. We need to remind others that the United States is a melting pot with different cultures, races, ethnicities and backgrounds. We should welcome one another as brothers and sisters. Through my work, I hope to be the voice for those of the unheard and work towards bringing people together.
Image
