Donna Poisl, A Friendly Voice for Immigrants

Donna Poisl has the right idea. She is the author of How to Live & Thrive in the U.S. / Como Vivir y Prosperar en los Estados Unidos, a bilingual guide for immigrants to everything from seeking medical care to opening a bank account. Her aim is to help immigrants to learn our system and live successfully in the U.S. as active members of society rather than as passive visitors. The book is available spiral-bound, with English printed on the left and Spanish on the right to facilitate its use by advocates, such as ESL teachers, in helping to instruct their students.

I wish I had known about this book a long time ago, for the many times I've guided migrants to walk-in clinics, dentist offices, and emergency rooms, and tried to answer questions about auto insurance, drivers' licences, and various other "documents."

I want to add, however, that most of the challenges faced by those I know were compounded by their being undocumented, and I don't want to invite hate-mail by implying that she has written this book to help undocumented migrants navigate (i.e. take advantage of) "the system." From food stamps to Planned Parenthood, undocumented immigrants aren't eligible for public relief, anyway. In fact, in spite of what some nativists like to say about immigrants' receiving social services, those I know rely on each other for support in times of need, rather than trying to get anything for free, and when given the chance, pay their hospital bills in installments rather than walking away from their obligation.

Poisl's book is on my list of things to purchase with my next paycheck, so I haven't read it yet. It seems an invaluable resource for anyone who works with or advocates for immigrants of all kinds. Whether a person is documented or not, it's ultimately better for everyone if they know what to do in an emergency, what their rights are, and how to live as seamlessly as possible among us.

Donna also keeps a blog, highlighting mostly positive articles relating to immigrants and their lives here. Her advocacy - helping to orient immigrants in their new surroundings and guide them to sources of support, and her blog's emphasis on the positive impact of immigrants on our communities - is a powerful force in the right direction, creating win-win situations for immigrants and those who live alongside them, and countering the negative press that aims to vilify immigrants.