"Golden Door, Golden State": 11th Annual Immigrant Day

MEDIA ALERT
May 17, 2007

Contact: Caroline Lee, KRC, 323-937-3718

"Golden Door, Golden State": 11th Annual Immigrant Day
Korean American community members and the Korean Resource Center will be joining hundreds of immigrants and advocates for the 11th Annual Immigrant Day, in Sacramento

WHAT:
Press conference with participants and lead organizations in Southern California to discuss issues to be presented during Immigrant Day legislative visits and rally.

WHEN:
Friday, May 18, 2007
10:00 A.M.

WHERE:
Korean Resource Center
900 S. Crenshaw Blvd / Los Angeles, CA 90019
Parking lot and free street parking available

WHO:
Tae Soon Jeon, Participant, 2007 Immigrant Day "Golden Door, Golden State"
Caroline Lee, Health Access Advocacy Director, Korean Resource Center
Reshma Shamasunder, Director, California Immigrant Policy Center
Wingshan Lo, Health Policy Advocate, Asian Pacific American Legal Center

WHY:
On May 21, 2007, Korean American community members and KRC will be traveling to Sacramento to join hundreds of community leaders and advocates to meet with our elected officials and voice our support for vital safety net services for immigrants and the working poor.

According to a recent KRC survey, over 70% of seniors stated that they had difficulty understanding written and spoken English. As limited English proficient community members, these vulnerable and frail seniors are constantly plagued by confusion each time a letter regarding their Medi-Cal benefits arrives in their mailbox in English. This year, as part of Community Health Promoters Language Access campaign, Korean American senior citizens will share their concern over the lack of Korean written Notices of Action letters from Medi-Cal and the difficulties they face trying to communicate their needs to Medi-Cal case workers.

At this crucial moment, policy makers in California are deliberating a series of major healthcare reform bills that will create fundamental changes in our healthcare system. Because it will directly affect the Korean American community, we need to ensure that the health reform includes a comprehensive plan that is affordable and accessible to ALL Californians.

In addition to health issues, participants will raise their voices on behalf of immigrant families throughout the state regarding the Governor's budget proposal that targets low-income children and families who participate in CalWORKs, the expansion of Naturalization Service Program, and the support for AJR 18, SB1(Cedillo), and SB60(Cedillo).

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