Spring Volunteers’ GAPSA Grant Deadline Approaches

For ALP volunteers participating in the spring break trips, the deadline for GAPSA travel grants is February 2nd. It is a short application, and GAPSA awards up to $200. So far, our ALP applicants have had good results obtaining the grants.

The online application form and other information can be found at http://www.gapsaumn.org/?page_id=19.

Here are a few materials to help you with your applications:

• GAPSA Grant Handout
• GAPSA Grant Evaluation Matrix

If you have any other questions, please contact Board member Ariel Tazkargy at tazka001@umn.edu.

ALP Miami

The week two Miami Asylum Law Project is well under way. Good to know the ALP participants have managed to get some beach time into their busy schedules! Thanks to Miami V.P. Dustin Wayne for the photos.

Dustin Wayne, Sandra Pierzchala and Michelle Oswald at Wet Willies in South Beach, FL.

Dustin Wayne, Sean McNary and Josh Devaney at the beach.

ALP Miami volunteers at the Miami Beach Boardwalk.

ALP Palo Alto

Sarah Hewitt sharing her experience with Asylum Law Project in Palo Alto, CA:

“We’re at a clinic called Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto (CLSEPA). The attorneys here are great, and they’ve done a fantastic job making this a truly educational experience for us. Tomorrow we’ll be observing an immigration hearing in San Fran and then touring a juvenile facility called Hillcrest. We’ll also be attending a clinic on domestic violence and restraining orders.

The work we’re doing involves helping immigrants from El Salvador renew their Temporary Protected Status designations. Today we’ve been working on writing and translating a phone script, and we’ll be using it Thursday to talk to Salvadorans who have used the services here in the past.”

Jack McFarland at the Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto

ALP Bay Area Experiences Begin

From left to right: Sarah Hewitt, Jack McFarland, and Meredith Leake at the Golden Gate Bridge

The first of this year’s ALP participants are beginning their experiences in the San Francisco Bay area. Several dedicated 1Ls even agreed to fly out on New Year’s Eve to start their training. Thanks guys – looks like it was worth the sacrifice!

GAPSA Travel Grant Approvals – Please Keep Us Updated

GAPSA Travel Grant approvals are starting to come in. We are trying to keep records to help out next year’s board. Once the approval comes in, can everyone who received a GAPSA travel grant please shoot Ariel Tazkargy, our grant writer, a Facebook message or an email at tazka001@umn.edu?

Also, if you have the time, please answer these two questions:

1. Did you make use of any of the grant workshop materials available on the website?
2. Was there any piece of advice/ particular resource you received during your application process that was especially helpful to you?

We would appreciate any additional feedback you might have to help out next year’s board.

Stop by the Silent Auction in Spannaus

Be sure to drop by the Silent Auction in the Spannaus Commons today and tomorrow, Nov. 15-16 from 12 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to bid on desirable items, including tickets to the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, wildcard tickets to a Guthrie production, dinners or lunches with faculty members, and more.

Asylum Law 101 Training

This is a reminder that Nov. 9 at 12:15 in Room 30, we will be holding the Asylum Law 101 training with Professor Mieli. All ALP participants are expected to attend this training – see you there!

Donate to the Silent Auction

The Asylum Law Project Silent Auction raises funds to help pay travel expenses for participants. The Silent Auction will take place Nov. 15-16, from 12 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. in the Spannaus Commons. There will be tables set up with gift baskets and other goodies, and a sheet where people will write their name, their email and their bid. Goodies include tickets to the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, wildcard tickets to a Guthrie production, dinners with faculty members, and more.

In order to participate in the Asylum Law Project, each participant must donate at least one item to the silent auction. Ideas for donations include food, gift baskets, tickets to concerts, a bottle of wine, etc. Be creative with your donations! If you do not donate an item, you will be expected to pay $50 to the Asylum Law Project. We will be accepting donations at the Nov. 9 Asylum 101 presentation, on Nov. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room N20, and on Nov. 11 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in room N20. If you need to schedule a different time to drop off your donation, contact Jake Vandelist at vande682@umn.edu or Meredith Leake at leake007@umn.edu.

ALP Placements

ALP placements are in. Placements have been posted on TWEN. If you submitted a site preference form and your $25 deposit, and you have not received a placement, or if you have any questions or concerns about your site assignment, contact ALP President John Morrissey at John Morrissey at morr0676@umn.edu.

Trip Expense Estimates for Grant Applications

Trip expense estimates are in! These estimates are based on average expenses from last year’s spring 2011 trips. Use these estimates if you are applying individually for a grant. Remember – ALP should be able to cover lodging and transportation within the destination city. You will need to cover your transportation to the destination city (flight) and your food and other living expenses while you are there.

Lodging

• Approx. $50-60/night x 6 nights = $300-$360
• Estimate toward the lower end for the Southwest and Texas trips and toward the higher end for Miami and Northeast trips.

On-Site Travel

• Approx. $50/day x 5 days = $250

Travel to Site

• It is best to get this estimate from Expedia or Travelocity, since it will vary  with each site/travel week.

Food

• Approx. $40/day x 6 days = $240
• You can obviously take measures to make this lower. However, it’s best to budget high on grant applications.