URGENT
Translators are needed immediately!

NYSABE has been asked by Carmen Perez-Hogan, director of the New York State Office of Bilingual Education, to recruit translators to assist the City of New York in their disaster recovery operations. We need to compile a preliminary list by Monday morning September 17th for submission to Mrs. Perez-Hogan. However, we will continue to add to the list as additional people may not have access to e-mail until they return to work on Monday. All languages needed. We will update the list daily. If you would like to volunteer, please send the following information to , President of the New York State Association for Bilingual Education (NYSABE).

Name
Home Phone Number
Work Phone Number
Language(s)

If you have been asking "How can I help?", this is one way that we can use your expertise.

Thank you for your cooperation and your assistance.
NYSABE Executive Board

Emergency and Victim Information

Please do not use the 911 emergency system to seek information on your loved ones and friends. Use these numbers instead.

• The New York City Website
• NYC Emergency Information: 212-560-2730
• FBI Information: To report any leads on the incidents in New York or Washington, call 866-483-5137, 800-331-0075

General Victim Information

• Partial List of Victims
• American Airlines: 800-245-0999
• United Airlines: 800-932-8555
• Justice Department: Office of Victims of Crime -- Information for families about victims and about services for survivors and their rights: 800-331-0075
• Report Safety Web Page
• Unofficial World Trade Center Survivor Database
• Federal Emergency Management Agency: 800-462-9029

New York City

• World Trade Center Vicinity Tenant List and Hotlines
• Missing Persons Information: 866-856-4167 or 212-741-4626 (NYPD) or 212-560-2730 (NYC). Relatives of missing people may go to the 69th Regiment Armory (Lexington Ave. and E. 26th St.) or the New York University Medical Center (1st Ave. at E. 30th St.). If possible bring a photo, dental records and other identifying information about the missing person.
• NYC Fire Department and EMT Employees: 718-999-2541
• NYC Police Department Employees: 718-677-8238
• Port Authority Employees: 973-565-5501, 973-565-5505 or 973-565-5506
• St. Vincent's Hospital: 212-604-7285
• Bellevue Hospital Center: 212-562-4141
• More New York City Hospitals
• City Mortuary: 212-562-3051
• Chief Medical Examiner: 212-447-2030
• Gov. Pataki's Emergency Information page
• Senator Schumer's official Web site
• Air Quality: Government officials haven't yet certified the safety of Manhattan's gritty air as smoldering debris is carried aloft from Tuesday's World Trade Center attack, but some experts say neither the air nor decomposing bodies should pose a major health concern. People with heart ailments and respiratory problems, however, are at some danger and should stay inside and avoid prolonged exposure to dirty air, the experts said. (Reuters)
• Animal Safety: The ASPCA has a fully-equipped mobile veterinary unit on the corner of Houston St. and West St. This group is working with other authorities to remove pets from homes south of Canal St. To volunteer, e-mail [email protected] or call 212-876-7700 ext. 4700.
• For more emergency info, see NYTimes website

For Parents In This Time Of Tragedy

Dear Family:

In this time of tragedy, we as parents need to think about our children -- no matter what age -- and how this event is affecting them. We must reassure our children that they are safe and that people love them.

You are the role model for your child. You must maintain calmness and a sense of a regular routine. This, of course, may be easier for those who are not in New York or Washington and those dealing with the loss of loved ones, businesses or homes.

A number of child psychologists have been on the television stations for the past few days helping parents find answers to coping with the tragedy and dealing with their children's insecurities and fears. Following are some tips we've compiled to help you with your children:

• Turn off the television when a child enters; limit the images your children witness
• Create a calm environment at home
• At bedtime, read your child's favorite story
• Talk to your children about violence, freedom, democracy and safety
• Address their fears
• Watch out for the "kill" attitude. Don't let your child hear you say, "Let's kill"
• Encourage your children to express their feelings through talking, writing and drawing
• Suggest that children help others, by sending letters to family and friends, draw a picture for a neighbor
• Write Thank You letters to your local police station and fire station
• Make red, white and blue friendship bracelets to signify our strength
• Hang your American flags PROUD (along side your native flag). Understand that the sweat and the blood of your ancestors made America what it is today, therefore you are American before anything else and that we stand united.

How can you tell if your child is being traumatically affected? Experts say the following signs will give parents insight:

• jittery
• irritable
• stomach aches
• headaches
• emotional changes
• trouble concentrating
• may be hesitant to do things

If you feel your child is having difficulty or if you are having trouble explaining this tragedy, we urge you to seek counseling. The school systems have grief counselors on-site to help children deal with their fears and anxieties. Local clinics and religious houses are also on-hand to help families deal with the tragedies.

We as a nation will get through this and come out stronger. As families, this is an opportunity to strengthen the bond with our children.

God bless,

Arizona State Association for Bilingual Education

My prayers have been with all of you since this happened. There are no words to describe what we saw on the TV screen so I am sure that this is even more horrible for you there. We will keep the "velitas" lit and keep the prayers going. Please let me know if there is anything we can do from here and keep me posted when you can.

Saludes y como siempre,

National Association for Bilingual Education

Thank you so much for inquiring about us. Fortunately for us, not a single staff member was directly affected by the Pentagon tragedy. Although my husband does work for the Pentagon, his office is located one and a half mile away. (He was scheduled to go to the Pentagon for an afternoon meeting on that Tuesday, September 11th). I am still shook up by the close call.

We at NABE were somewhat frightened since we are only three blocks from the White House, so some of us left after the White House was evacuated--we just couldn't concentrate anyway.

I hope that you are also doing well despite the horrendous events of this past Tuesday.

Alicia

Thanks! Our prayers are with all!

Support the Recovery Effort

Dear Supporter,

Our prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to the victims, families and friends impacted by the terrorist attacks that rocked the United States on Tuesday.

While there are no words to express our sadness, our hearts are warmed and strengthened by the heroic efforts of the emergency response teams and volunteers who are helping in the recovery.

In an effort to provide assistance in the aftermath of these tragedies, America's Second Harvest and Mercy Corps will use the proceeds generated from The Hunger Site through September 30th to support their efforts to aid victims and survivors in New York City and Washington D.C. The organizations will be providing relief until the crisis subsides, and funding received after that point will be used to support their daily work to provide international and domestic hunger relief.

So many of you have asked how you can help. One simple action you can take today is to visit The Hunger Site

(www.thehungersite.com) and click on the "Give Free Food" button. Perhaps the rhythm of making a small difference every day will help us all to heal. To learn more about the relief efforts undertaken by Mercy Corps and America's Second Harvest, simply scroll to the end of this email.

AMERICA'S SECOND HARVEST
In response to the recent tragedy, America's Second Harvest will focus on what they know best: getting food and water to hungry people. The organization is working hard to stock the area food banks and food rescue organizations in New York City and Washington D.C. Critically-needed food, drinking water, toiletries and other grocery items will go directly to the people who need it most -- from relief workers to the families of loved ones injured or killed in this tragedy. The need is urgent as we are only beginning to see the full effect that this tragedy will have on our nation. To learn more about how you can help, visit www.secondharvest.org.

MERCY CORPS
In addition to using their Hunger Site funds to provide meals to volunteers in New York, Mercy Corps is identifying and supporting local agencies providing trauma counseling and psycho-social services, especially for children. Using its expertise developedthrough 22 years of responding to international disasters, Mercy Corps will help bring help and hope to children and families in New York and Washington, D.C. Mercy Corps is also exploring scholarship funds for children who lost loved ones. Find out more -- and learn how you can help -- at www.mercycorps.org.

Sincerely,

Trauma of being Arab/Muslim Student

My wife teaches ESL at a local high school. She has students from 9 different countries in her classroom. Several are Muslim and/or from the Middle East. She wanted me to share with my middle school education majors what is happening to some of her students. I thought the rest of you might be interested as well. I hope we can all do what we can to prevent any more pain and suffering from occuring in the aftermath of the NY & Washington tragedies. -Bill

"Some of our Arabic students are having a tough time---Azher told me she was approached by a woman on the street yesterday who was angy with her being from Iraq and Muslim; and a man at her job the same. We talked about what she could do. She can tell them she is an American. She hated Saddam Hussein and left the country because of him.

We also heard that some American students said, "You Stink" to the table of girls yesterday where several Afghani girls were sitting yestesrday. Zainab (a former student and graduate of our school) came by yesterday to see me and said her husband warned her to not go out in public or go to her job---but she did. She said she is afraid. Why would people think worse of her, she asked---she attended the joint church service at a local church Tues. night with Muslims, Catholics, Jewish, and other demoninations--all praying for the families of the NY tragedy and for peace. A united service that says a lot.

Rabia said that students in the cafeteria on Wednesday said some words to her about being from Afghanistan in a derogatory way. She asked me, "Why" when Bin Laden was responsible for her dad's death. She said, "I would drink bin Laden's blood--that is how much I hate him. I left Afghanistan because of him. Why do students accuse me about deaths in NY City?"

Pedro, Thank you for such a thoughtful and caring gesture as the message board. I am lucky that my sister in Brooklyn got through to me yesterday. -Adele

Thanks, for this much needed and useful service in time of crisis.

Multi-Lingual Help Sites

This information might be of help and perhaps you can diseminate it.The National Association of School Psychologists has posted a number of materials for parents on copyn with tragedy. These handouts have been translated into several languages. People can access the NASP site at www.naspweb.org and following these links:

A National Tragedy - Helping Children Cope: Tips for Parents and Teachers

This handout has also been adapted by translators from the Fairfax County, VA, Public Schools. We encourage you to distribute the translations together with the original English handout, but please give proper attribution both to NASP and to the Fairfax County, VA, Public Schools.

• http://www.nasponline.org/pdf/Helping-Children-Cope-with-Terrorism-Spanish.pdf
• http://www.nasponline.org/pdf/Helping-Children-Cope-with-Terrorism-Urdu.pdf
• http://www.nasponline.org/pdf/Helping-Children-Cope-with-Terrorism-Korean.pdf
• http://www.nasponline.org/pdf/Helping-Children-Cope-with-Terrorism-Arabic.pdf
• http://www.nasponline.org/pdf/Helping-Children-Cope-with-Acts-of-Terrorism-Farsi.pdf
• http://www.nasponline.org/pdf/Helping-Children-Cope-With-Acts-of-Terrorism-Vietnamese.pdf
• http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/terror_eds_alt.html
• http://www.naspcenter.org/safe_schools/safeschools_disteach.html
• Desastres: Como Ayudar a los Niños a Enfrentarlos
• Teachable Moment School Safety
• http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/teachmoment.html
• Primeros Auxilios para una Situacion Emocional: GuÌa Escolar para la Intervencion en una Crisis
• Emotional First Aid: A Schoolís Guide to Crisis Intervention

SAVE THIS FEELING

Save this feeling. No matter how horrifying it is now, it will fade but fight to hold on to it. The destruction felt by the nation this last week is something that is felt by families and communities on a daily basis throughout the world. Although the number of victims is generally much smaller, the tragedy of fatal/paralyzing car accidents, domestic violence, disease, extreme weather, financial catastrophes, and terrorism that is continually felt in the U.S. and around the world is just as real. The tremendous and awe-inspiring outpouring of unity, compassion, and generosity to the World Trade Center and Pentagon disaster victims and their families is something that should be exercised everyday. After the funerals are over, the rubble is cleared, and the towers are re-erected, others will need your empathy. We must continue to give money to those whose needs far out weight ours, donate blood for unexpected events, reach out to those left behind, and, most of all, pray. In the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack, a puppy in California was left without an owner. Consequently, hundreds of people offered to adopt it. We should be lining up to adopt, mentor, and care for all of the abandoned and "damaged" children in the U.S. and around the world long after this grief is over.

The passion that is flowing through our nation has proven that we have the resources to overcome horrendous circumstances and the power to reduce suffering both now and in the future. Imagine what incredible strength our national community could maintain if we save this feeling.