Good morning. I am writing to invite you to "Harnessing NYC's Public Libraries to Support Immigrants & Refugees," a Center for an Urban Future (CUF) policy forum on Thursday, June 13th. I hope you will join us for this timely discussion, which will feature speakers including MOIA Commissioner Bitta Mostofi, Queens Public Library President Dennis Walcott, and NY Immigration Coalition Executive Director Steve Choi. The forum, which is generously sponsored by the Charles H. Revson Foundation, will be held from 8:30 to 10:45 a.m. at Flushing Library (41-17 Main Street, Lower Level Auditorium). New York City's branch libraries have long been one of the most trusted institutions for immigrants, providing a safe space for the newest New Yorkers to access resources and services on everything from citizenship and ESOL to entrepreneurship. But in today's environment, when immigrants face unprecedented fear and intimidation, can the city's libraries take on an even more important role in supporting, protecting, and reaching foreign-born New Yorkers? This forum will examine how the city's libraries can strengthen and expand their already-significant immigrant-focused initiatives and explore whether libraries are well-positioned to play a stepped-up role in other critical areas, such as ensuring an accurate Census count. The event will also discuss how city policymakers can better harness and support the important work New York's libraries are doing with immigrants and refugees. Speakers include: * Bitta Mostofi, Commissioner, Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs * Natalia Aristizabal, Organizing Director, Make the Road New York * Steve Choi, Executive Director, NY Immigration Coalition * Yanki Tshering, Executive Director, Business Center for New Americans * Dennis M. Walcott, President & CEO, Queens Public Library * Adriana Blancarte-Hayward, Manager, Outreach Services, New York Public Library * Tara Lannen-Stanton, Director of Adult Learning, Queens Public Library * Eva Raison, Director of Outreach Services, Brooklyn Public Library Attendance is free, but space is very limited. RSVP is required via email to rsvp@nycfuture.org<mailto:rsvp@nycfuture.org>. Details Thursday, June 13, 2019 8:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. @ Flushing Library 41-17 Main Street, Lower Level Auditorium Schedule 8:30 Registration + Breakfast 9:00 Welcome + Introductory Remarks 9:10 Panel Discussion + Audience Q&A 10:45 Closing This symposium is made possible thanks to generous support from the Charles H. Revson Foundation. The Center for an Urban Future is also grateful for general operating support from The Clark Foundation, the Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation. We are also grateful for support from Fisher Brothers for the Center for an Urban Future's Middle Class Jobs Project, and ongoing support from a number of other philanthropic funders. I hope you'll be able to join us. Best, Jonathan Jonathan Bowles Executive Director Center for an Urban Future 120 Wall Street, 20th Floor New York, NY 10005 212-479-3347<tel:212-479-3347> jbowles@nycfuture.org<mailto:jbowles@nycfuture.org> twitter: @jbowlesnyc<http://twitter.com/nycfuture> ?