 Thank you very much for joining us today here at Channel 17, and today we have great, wonderful guests. One of them, no one can introduce him anymore. His name is Mohammed Jafar, and the other one is an incredible community-minded, oriented person. His name is Lal Pradham. And as you probably know, today is the remembrance of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Day. But we are here to talk about two main items. One of them is a non-citizen voting ballot item that will come through the voters of Burlington. And also we have a great, wonderful event called New American Voting Event coming up. So without further ado, we will let our guests to introduce themselves. So can we start with you, sir? Hello. Thank you again for having me. My name is Mohammed Jafar. I am currently working for the Burlington Community Justice Center as a Tamarican Pre-Trial Services Coordinator. I am involved in the community, and I am a longtime Burlington resident originally from Kenya. And thank you, Ali, for having me here. My name is Lal Pradham. I am one of the, you know, the people, the citizen here just recently. And I work as a liaison in the district, Burlington School District. Burlington School District multi-lingual liaison. And also we have a community organizer, and you work for the Peace and Justice Center? Burlington Justice Center. That's great and wonderful. Thank you both for joining us here today. So as we talked about earlier, today is the legacy of, the remembrance of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Day, a civil right movement who had thought increasingly and all the time for equality, for justice, for equal pay, and for just the well-being of everyone living in the United States of America and beyond. He fought against war. He thought for the pay, you know, for people to organize. He was really, he left us at a very young age. And it seems today if he lived, he would have been 92 or 93 years old. So to my guess, what do you think, what does this day mean for you? And what do you think is happening in Burlington around this day? To me, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a legacy. Individuals like him throughout history create doors for people who are faced with nothing but walls. And to me, thinking about where I am today and what I'm capable of doing and where I'm seated in this very moment, I'm humbled and always reminded that there are people who have sacrificed a lot to create the space that I'm able to now inhabit and kind of accept and take in. So to me, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a door opener. He is a door opener, a hero. Someone who inspired all of us as, you know, immigrants and refugees. And Mr. Lal, what would you want to add to that? So yeah, he's a legendary person, you know, who always fought for the rights of the people. And he always, you know, showed his bravery and then protected the rights of the people who always fought for the rights of the people. Wonderful, wonderful. So it seems there are so many great, wonderful people who are trying to follow his footsteps for justice, for equality, for equity. And one of them is my guest and one of them is Mohammed Jafar, who has been working tirelessly for equity in this community. As you probably know, he has a great, wonderful event coming up that will be helping new Americans to really get involved deeply in a very, very deep sense. So Mohammed, can you tell us what is this new American voting event coming up? So the new American voting event is a leg of a three-piece project that myself and a small group of community leaders have been working on for over a year. This project first originated back during the November elections last year of 2018. A few Somali women who recognized me came up to me. I serve on the board for the registration of voters and they were excited to vote, but they felt like they didn't really know how and they didn't have enough information to kind of navigate the polling station. That was both frustrating and exciting at the same time because I was really excited that they were there and they were excited by the opportunity to vote and they wanted to be involved. But at the same time it was a little bit frustrating that they didn't have enough resources to actually find their way to our democracy. And hearing other people kind of make the same concern, I reached out to the Secretary of State's office. I drove out to Montpelier Met with them several times and I brought a team together and we came up with this project, this three-piece project that consists of videos that have been translated or not translated videos that have been acted out of people voting, the voting process. And then we have voiceovers of them in six languages as it was shown. We had originally asked for five languages. We got six languages, which is excellent. Along with those videos we've got the both municipal and state ballots translated for both Burlington and Winooski as well, where the municipal ballots are translated as well. And then the third piece is this event, which is going to be providing this new resource and this information to folks. We have childcare. We have food from Kismayo Kitchen and Nepali Kitchen. We've got speakers, tremendous volunteers and community members who are hoping to gather together and kind of bring people to the table. You know, voting is a sacred thing, but there are some people, some of us come from communities and places around the world where voting is something that could really cost us a lot more than... A lot more than other people would think. So, you know, it's important to give people the opportunity to be a part of their own lives and to make decisions and vote on who represents them. Absolutely. And I think, you know, okay, Mohammed, maybe we can go back a little bit. How old were you when you first came here in the United States? So I was seven years old when I first came here. So you are a product of the Burlington School District? Absolutely. And you graduated high school and you went over for college. Yep, I went to New Hampshire for college. You came back. And returned, yep. So when you returned, you noticed that there was an issue and the issue was the new Americans were really left out in participating meaningfully in our democracy. Absolutely. And then it seems you went to the Secretary of State's office, you met with them several times and to come up with this great, wonderful idea. Absolutely. And so if you can tell us, so there are six languages where the ballot items in both Winooski and Burlington will be translated on Town Meeting Day. That's great. And also you're saying there is a video demonstration on how people can vote. And there is an event where you will show that video that you worked very hard with those community-minded folks. And also, would there be registration processes? Oh, yes. So during the event, there will be stations for people to register. People will get information on how to vote. There will be mock voting. You can pretend to vote. You'll have all the videos playing in a loop around the space. All the actors were new Americans and community members. And we got all kinds of people in the videos. And so it's an inclusive project and it's a project really meant to make people excited about this right and privilege that we have. Absolutely. Absolutely. And also I think we're talking about citizens, I mean new Americans who are legal citizens of the United States. They can show up to that event and now they can show up to the voting booths and vote meaningfully with really a lot of confidence about who they're voting for and what they're voting about. Yes. And the best part is even if you're not a United States citizen, if you're going to be a United States citizen and you're thinking about wanting to vote now is a good time to get that education so that when you are a citizen, you're able to jump right in it and be a part of the process. So that's the best part about it is now is a good time to learn and people now have the ability to get that education at this event. This is so great. So wonderful. Thank you so much for your leadership boss. Thank you. So now are you a citizen of the United States? Yes. Just recently in November, this past November, I got the citizenship. I'm very super excited, you know, and in my entire life, I haven't voted. I haven't participated in voting. So it's super exciting event that I will be participating in where I will be just, you know, practically going through, you know, voting during the voting. So that gives me idea of how to vote and that would be my first experience how to vote in our democracy here. So great. So wonderful. I mean, I think you can give Mohammed a high five. Thank you for helping us. Thank you for organizing this event. You know, it's very important for the new Americans, especially because many of the people they have never voted. Even my parents, I can just, you know, I can just imagine that how exciting would they be to learn how to vote because they have never voted in their life. I don't remember back in our country voting and in the refugee camp, you know, there was no such voting in the democratic system or whatever was there. And coming to this country, you know, and struggling to get the citizenship and then that's the basic right of the citizens to vote and people would be super excited to vote. Super excited. This is so great. And also it has some, I almost want to, I almost have tears that you'll be voting for you for the first time with your parents. Exactly. Oh my, this is great. And also before you vote, Mohammed, can you tell us when is the events? It seems we're not talking about one, but there are a couple. Yes. So there are two events. One event is on Saturday, January 25th. So this Saturday coming up from two to four o'clock. Again, we will have food. We will have speakers. We will have childcare. Come, come enjoy. We will have interpretation as well. The second event is in Winooski, also same thing. We will have Kismai Kitchen, Nepali Kitchen, childcare and interpretation. Excellent food, excellent childcare, excellent interpretation services. That's so great. And that'll be at the O'Brien Center, 32 Mallets Bay Avenue, Winooski. That'll be Saturday, February 8th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. So join us. The speakers will include Secretary of State Jim Condos, Hal Colston, Amila Merzanovich, sorry, Ali Jang and Mohammed Jafar. And speakers will flip-flop between the two events. But you will hear from each person at one or the other. Absolutely. So, I mean, it seems everyone know who is the Secretary of State. But who is Hal and Amila Mir Darovovich? What are they? What are they all in the community? So, Hal is a community leader as well. And I believe a state representative, yeah. And then Amila is the Director, actually, of United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, formerly known as the Refugee Resettlement Program. And so she's, of course, involved in the immigration process that is kind of a mess right now and that. So, and then Mr. Ali Jang is, of course, our City Councilor from Burlington. Ward 8, 7. I missed it. Ward 7. And then Mr. Mohammed Jafar, that's me, just community organizer. Absolutely. And maybe you don't have it on top of your mind. But roughly, how many meetings from the time you went to see the Secretary of State to this event? How many meetings do you think you have done with people to sell this idea? To facilitate this? Yes, yes. To be honest, the amount of meetings and the amount of, like, attempted meetings and missed meetings and the amount of different people that jumped on board for the project and then dropped out and the amount of people that came on and then stayed and then were gone again, I don't even think I can come up with a number for you. I almost felt like a consultant at some point. I was thinking I should try to do this for a living. And it took you then more than a year when this idea come to you precisely? I think around, maybe I started meeting with the Secretary's office in January of last year. So around about a year I would say. I think November was kind of when everything happened and then there was some outcry and here and there there would be a month where there would be a home because things would be busy whether there's the legislation session or the legislature is in session, sorry, or I'm busy but otherwise. Great, great. This is amazing. As you all heard, it will be Saturdays at 25th at 2 p.m. in Burlington AALV, also known at 20 Allen Street, one community center. And the second one is in Winiski, O'Brien Community Center, Malets Bay Avenue and it will be Saturday, February 8th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and I like how you guys did it one is in the afternoon and the other one is at the end of the day in the morning. This is great, this is incredible. But Mohammed, how was it like? Did you get some buy-in or some push-back from the secretary of office? Can you tell us a little bit about the experience when you brought the idea to them? So when the issue kind of originally was raised, the secretary of state's office did say we were not expecting this and we just were not ready for it. So I kind of asked that they respond and I think they responded. At first there was a little bit of push-back but as the project kind of unfolded and ideas came together there was a buy-in and ultimately I'm very thankful for the secretary's office because they have funded this project from the beginning all the way to the end and there's been a lot of moving pieces and there's been a lot involved in it but I'm very thankful for that. There was a push at first a little bit. Financially of course the project did cost a lot but finally there was a buy-in and in the end the project expanded beyond what I actually had expected originally. So it was great. So it's a matter of fact that Friday I was actually invited to a meeting with some community organizers, people who know here to talk about the outreach piece. So maybe Lal, that's where you play a huge role. Yeah, I'll be reaching out to the parents. I already started. I had this poster in different stores that are owned by the community members and I have talked to some of the people and I had invited them on those dates and hopefully we'll have a great turnout. And especially where there are ethnic foods from both Somali and also from Nepal. And those are the two biggest communities here in the month. But Mohamed you did talk about six languages that are where the bullet items will be existing in six different languages. Maybe you can tell us a little bit about what are those languages on top of your head. So the languages are Arabic, Nepali, Burmese, Swahili, French and what is the sixth one? Kirundi, Karen, French. Did I say Arabic and French I think? The sixth one always escapes me and unfortunately this is the old one. This is the old version. Oh Somali. Somali. That's the one I'm forgetting. Those are the languages and the way we came up with the languages was actually we used USCRI and ALV which are two local organizations obviously that deal with a lot of new Americans and migrants and folks who migrate over here. So these are the languages that they identified as the top six in terms of the United States citizens population of new Americans. Hopefully we'll be able to expand on this project and there will be a new American event point to. But this is the first and it's a pilot. Anything right now we have nothing so anything is better than what we've got right now. I'm very excited and hopefully we'll be able to expand that. Absolutely. Now that you will be voting for the first time with your father do you think that this is now the driving force behind getting the new American involved? Yes, absolutely. As I mentioned there are a lot of the community members who recently got the citizens in the process of getting the citizens in the near future and this kind of event definitely will have will teach them how to vote and then exercise their rights. So this is going to be a wonderful event. Absolutely. So now there is no reason to say oh I don't understand the Bible because now it will be translated. There is also no reason I don't have access to an interpreter. So there will be some type of level of education when you get there, right? And now I think there is also if we change gear we currently talking about in Burlington about one ballot item that is called the non-citizen voting ballot item. So that means that people who legally live here and card holders or people who are permanent residents can now participate in the local democracy. So by giving them the opportunity to vote for local elections such as cool board, such as city council, I believe mayor and also for the school district budget as well as the city's budget. So it has been a lot of controversy around the nation about this idea. And I am a city council and I think what I think I think I'm going to hold it for now but was just wondering what you guys think of that idea. Is it better for people to get their citizenship and become citizens so they can vote in all ballot items or do you think this is a good start or do you have any concern about this provision? So you know I think it's a good start for the people living who has been here visiting in the city legally. They should have some way to vote for their representatives to the person that they think they can represent them wherever they go. So I think it's a good start to me personally. I feel like it should be carried out forward so that it's not only the citizen who has the voting rights, the people who are legally here they should have some rights to vote for their representatives. That's great. And Mohammed what do you think? I agree and disagree with love. So I think it is a good route and a good opportunity for people because I do think that if you live here for a substantial amount of time you should kind of have a say in what is happening and what the taxes look like, what kind of structures are coming to city hall like you should be involved in that. The concern I have is that there are loop that creates loop holes for people to be put in positions where they can get in trouble legally. If you accidentally vote for a presidential election that can get you in a lot of trouble. And I feel like especially with the current administration. Before you know when Obama was president I don't think I would have thought about this. I would have thought twice about this. But currently realizing the current administration and the way things are seen and the political climate I feel like it is dangerous. It is the right idea. I think that there should be stipulations or policies in place that make it so that there is absolutely no doors or loop holes for people to find themselves getting deported by ICE. That should not be happening. You basically think it is a good idea but you have some concern about it. Like right now if it was maybe Obama's President Barack Obama's tenure as an executive of the nation then you would have been saying this is ICE. This is okay. But now knowing that ICE is getting stronger and stronger and have their foot almost everywhere with our driving licenses and everything it's not a good idea to hold information of non-citizens that live in our community. So I think Lael maybe you can come back to how was the process like for you to become a citizen? How long was it? I was here in the country legally so as soon as I came here we were granted the employment authorization so after one year we can apply for the permanent residence or the green card then there is the time limitation once it gets five years then I can apply for the citizenship. So that's kind of just waiting for the time but everything is like it was legal so it was not kind of very hard for me to go through the process just wait for the time and then just apply and then get it. Wonderful. And do you think a lot of people in your community Nepali community are becoming citizens? Yes they are becoming citizens. As I mentioned some of the people because of the language where they are having some problem going through the citizenship test they have always fear of the taste so that's the only problem that people from my community are having but rest of the things are just waiting for the time once it gets five years then everyone can apply for it and then. Just to piggyback off that I kind of discussed this with my mom and she said that what the city and state can do is exhaust some of those resources towards educating people ahead of time when you talk about people struggling with the citizenship test my mom was talking about how she used to have a disc that she would play in the car when she was going to the grocery store dropping us off going to work whatever it may be she would be playing it and it would ask who is the first president of the United States to answer along. What's the capital of the United States Washington DC she's answering along and so maybe education and giving people information that should be the focus ahead of time and then once they are citizens they're able to jump right in and they know how to do what they do. And I think you know personally one of the other concern is just the volunteers that are at the booths helping people to register to vote and it seems with the non-citizen voting items we're putting another extra layer onto their job responsibility you know things like that and I think one other point is just it seems like apartheid the people who are citizens here you are the people who are not citizens here you are I mean you are really dividing the community and I think personally going to the booths belong to people who went through the process who've been vetted you know ins and out who've been here legally for years and you know they bring taxes and everything and they become citizens of the greatest country of first and when you get into the booth you can vote from national election to the local to your next representative or to the school budget that really affects you directly but I think we like Mohammed what you have done is what the focus is supposed to be those who are currently citizens how do we make sure that they show up and participate in the democracy and the freedoms translated done a demo of the video done and I think you know immigration also as an immigrant I think there was a reward if you become citizen it's not because just because you're having a passport but it is also you can vote you are part of this country and I feel with the non-citizen voting you're taking that reward away from the people who really go over to that so do you have any sentiments around it we have like maybe two more minutes I came to this country in 2012 so since then I have been hearing people talking about the vote for the local representatives to the national level for the presidential candidate so I was kind of not having that rights and I felt so bad that I couldn't participate because I am not a citizen so that strike me time and again and then all the time I was thinking about getting the citizenship so I had to wait for the time and then finally the time is over and now I can vote I can exercise my right and you can vote for everything from president to school board wonderful so this is actually great and wonderful maybe before we give Mohammed to close can you tell your people in your own language about this in Nepal about the event so we don't have any more minutes maybe Mohammed you can close thank you thank you thank you yes so guys thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you yes so guys thank you very much for watching this corner here at channel 17 and next month we will see you again with another great wonderful show thank you so much and have a great evening thank you