Author: ariellekandel

NWNY visits Chinatown for the Asian American festival

Written by Daria Kurdyukova On May 15, New Women New Yorkers participated in the 36th Annual Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival in Chinatown for the second year in a row. Organized by the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans, the theme of the festival was to promote voter registration and to encourage all attendees to vote in the upcoming local elections. There were six volunteers on hand to help Arielle, founder and director of NWNY, introduce new immigrant women...

IDNYC: an ID card for all New Yorkers

Written by Henrike Dessaules   Given the volatile nature of the current US presidential elections, there are many reasons for immigrants to feel a bit nervous about the future. If there is one take-away from the current campaign trail’s rhetoric it is that, under a Republican presidency, life would be harder for most people with foreign backgrounds. But even a Democratic presidency does not guarantee improved conditions for the undocumented or other immigrants, and despite President Obama’s efforts comprehensive immigration...

An inspiring evening with 4 accomplished women immigrants

Written by Netsanet Tekeda Alemu To mark the completion of two spring series of the LEAD program and the graduation of 18 young women immigrants from the program, New Women New Yorkers held a roundtable discussion at the Mid-Manhattan New York Public Library (NYPL) on May 3. The panel consisted of four inspiring and successful immigrant women. Arielle Kandel, founder and director of NWNY, welcomed the panelists and participants, and thanked NYPL for their generosity and continued support of the...

“We don’t need no education” — Oh wait, yes we do

Written by Mira Brock   I sit across from Dia Rueda in Joe’s Coffee on 23rd Street. We drink Earl Grey tea and share a vegan scone. Rueda, at 38, is a confident, curly-haired beauty.  She beams across the table at me, her smile accentuated by bright pink lipstick. Dia Rueda grew up in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. She describes her childhood as being stuck in a “golden cage.” Rueda’s parents did not allow her to play with other children...