The local impact of changing national policies on immigration will be the focus of a discussion on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Momina Di Blasio will give a timely talk that will discuss a history of immigration policy, current impacts of policy changes and efforts within the county to resettle and support refugees and asylum seekers.
The Ethnic and Gender Studies program is sponsoring the talk, to be held in Williams Center Room S204 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. It is free and open to the campus and community. Light refreshments will be furnished.
Ms. Di Blasio manages the New Neighbors Coalition program housed at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown, NY. In her role with the coalition, Di Blasio feels a strong commitment to advocating for and supporting marginalized individuals, across all spaces, in a way that is rooted in intersectionality and inclusivity.
As an immigrant with first-hand experience regarding the challenges non-American born individuals may face, her passion lies with promoting language accessibility, pushing for immigrant equity and advocating for cultural humility in her professional and personal life.
Through the New Neighbors Coalition, Di Blasio manages dozens of volunteers assisting new arrivals to the area with assistance accessing services, help navigating transportation challenges and fostering human connection through various events and volunteer opportunities.
Campus and community co-sponsors of the event include the Department of English, the American Democracy Project and the League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County, which will staff a voter registration table at the event.
Di Blasio holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from George Mason University and a Master of Public Administration from the State University of New York Brockport. Currently, she serves on the Education Solution Team of the Chautauqua County Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Coalition (IDEA), and sits on the Audubon Community Nature Center’s IDEA Committee.
Previously, Di Blasio was a mayor-appointed member of the City of Jamestown Commission on Human Rights from November 2020 to November 2023.
