In 1892, composer Antonín Dvořák came to America to serve as the director of the National Conservatory of Music of America. It was in this country that Dvořák was inspired by African American music and wrote his most well known works, including Symphony in E minor ("From the New World"), the String Quartet in F, and the Cello Concerto. The New York Talking Statues project brings this history to life at the site of the Dvořák statue in Stuyvesant Square Park, near where he lived on East 17th Street. Visitors can scan the QR code near the statue using their smart phone or look up a listed web address to hear a pre-recorded message by an actor portraying the historical figure. Originally started in Copenhagen by documentary filmmaker David Peter Fox, the popular project spread to the cities of Helsinki, London, San Diego, Berlin, and Chicago. The Talking Statues project has recordings for statues in all five boroughs, and aims to "recreate an image of how the city has changed over several centuries and was built not from a single nationality, but from many nations."
McClatchy: “Under pressure, Trump team backs off proposal to cull foreign tech workforce”
After reports late last month that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was considering a policy change that could have prevented certain H-1B workers who are applying for permanent residency from extending their H-1B status beyond the normal time limit of six years, the agency has reportedly reversed course. Facing intense pressure from the business and technology communities, the Trump administration appears to be no longer considering the policy change that could have potentially forced hundreds of thousands of foreign skilled workers out of the country.
Read moreDHS: Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Designation for El Salvador Will Terminate on September 9, 2019
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this week that the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation that has allowed approximately 200,000 Salvadorians to reside in the US after earthquakes devastated their country in 2001 will be terminated as of September 19, 2019.
Read moreNY Times: “Trump Must Keep DACA Protections for Now, Judge Says”
On Tuesday, Judge William Alsup of the Federal District Court in San Francisco issued a nationwide injunction ordering the Trump administration to partially resume the DACA program. The judge said the Trump administration’s decision to discontinue the program was improper and wrote that the administration must “maintain the DACA program on a nationwide basis” as legal challenges go forward in court. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was set to end on March 5, 2018, and this week lawmakers and the Trump administration have been negotiating the program’s continuation.
Read moreReuters: “Fewer family visas approved as Trump toughens vetting of immigrants”
As the Trump administration campaigns against “chain migration”—where US citizens or Green Card holders petition for extended family members to immigrate to the US—approvals of family-based visas have dropped dramatically in the 2017 fiscal year despite no changes to law. Within the first nine months of 2017, the number of I-130 approvals dropped to 406,000, compared to the 530,000 approvals from the same time period in 2016, despite a similar amount of applications, a Reuters review of US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) figures show.
Read moreThe Most Diverse Population
Bomb Cyclone 2018
The so-called "bomb cyclone" (also known as Winter Storm Grayson) hit New York City this week dumping over a foot of snow and creating fierce gusts of wind. While the rest of us were working remotely yesterday, and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo declared a state of emergency for New York City as well as Long Island and Westchester, the storm didn't stop Protima from going to the office and making sure everything was still standing. (Don't worry, it is.) A "bomb cyclone" is when a cyclone, which is a low-pressure rotating storm system, has a sharp and quick drop in atmospheric pressure, a process called bombogenesis. Bomb cyclones can draw cold air in from the North, which in our case will result in extremely cold temperatures for the next few days. Yay, something to look forward to this weekend!
Something Entirely Different
Bryant Park Winter Village
With the cold snap covering the East Coast in freezing temperatures, it seemed appropriate to embrace the weather by going to Bryant Park's Winter Village, also known as "Midtown Manhattan’s winter wonderland." The Winter Village includes artisanal boutiques selling unique apparel and decorative goods, local food vendors, a rinkside eatery, and New York City’s only free admission ice skating rink. This 17,000 square foot rink offers high quality rental skates and features free skating shows and special events. Most importantly, there's plenty of room for me to perfect my triple salchow. (Pretty sure I still have time to qualify for the Winter Olympics.) What else am I going to do in this cold!
