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June Issue Donate 
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2009 has been very busy at the Bellevue/NYU Program for the Survivors of Torture. Like many non-profit organizations, we have faced enormous challenges due to the economic downturn. Through the work of our extraordinary team and our dedicated volunteers, we continue to provide much needed services to survivors of torture and their families. In order to maintain our commitment to these individuals and their families, we need your support so that no services are reduced or lost. Please consider making a donation to PSOT today! Best Regards, Upcoming Opportunities to Support PSOT 
Fundraiser to raise money for Metrocards! Come observe the International Day of Support of Victims of Torture (June 26) by helping raise money for Metrocards so that clients can attend classes and appointments at our program. What: Benefit Mixer When: Thursday, 25 June 2009 7pm-10pm Where: Arctica Bar, Ice Room 384 3rd Ave (Btw. 27th -28th St) Goal: $5,000 for Metrocards for clients Who: Friends of PSOT How: Suggested donation $15 $3-$4 beers, $6 martinis, some free food, and door prizes will be available. Thanks to ESL Volunteers Sarah Benckart, Inbal Samin, and Nicole Deutsch for organizing this event.
PSOT Volunteers and Staff Team Up to Organize a Marathon Fundraiser Four runners have recently joined forces to run marathons this fall to raise money for PSOT: Bethany Hetrick, John Wilkinson, Carin Mirowitz and Hattie Hill. In order to assist with PSOT’s budget challenges, Hattie and her colleagues decided to organize a Marathon Fundraiser, with a goal of raising as much money as possible. This money will go a long way towards providing valuable services for our clients. A bit about our Volunteer Runners: Bethany Hetrick has been a volunteer French interpreter with PSOT since December 2006. This coming November, she is running the ING NYC Marathon for the second time. Somehow, that first 26.2 mile jaunt through the five boroughs left her wanting more... Hattie Hill has been working as a volunteer interpreter for PSOT since 2005. This will be her first marathon and hopefully not her last! Carin Mirowitz is a friend and supporter of the PSOT program. John Wilkinson is PSOT's Social Services Coordinator/Legal Liaison and has been with the Program for nine years. The organizers have created a Facebook page so that friends of PSOT can follow their progress. Please join the group here. Hattie and Carin will be running the Columbus, Ohio Marathon on October 18, 2009 and John and Bethany will be running the New York Marathon on November 1, 2009. Please email Hattie at hattiehill@hotmail.com to be added to the Marathon Fundraiser newsletter list. PSOT's 2009 Benefit will on October 8, 2009. Look for updates on this occasion over the summer!
Dr. Allen Keller has an article on the ongoing torture debate in The Huffington Post. As former Bush administration representatives, including Vice President Dick Cheney, recently made the rounds on various televised news shows defending their records on the misnamed and misleading ‘enhanced interrogation techniques,’ the current Obama administration remained relatively silent on investigating the use of torture in the prosecution of the War on Terror. These methods of torture do not work and are illegal. Click here to read the full text of Dr. Keller's article on Huffington Post. PSOT Psychiatrist Speaks in Spain Dr. Asher Aladjem, Chief Psychiatrist of PSOT traveled recently to Madrid to speak at the 24th Spanish Psychiatric Congress on June 5, 2009. His presentation was part of a panel on organized violence and terrorism following the March 11th, 2004 bombing. He discussed the psychiatric aspect of care for survivors of torture from the perspective of a provider that deals with the consequences of organized violence and also discussed humane treatment of suspected terrorists. PSOT ESL and GED Classes Find a New Home 
In January, PSOT lost its space for ESL and GED classes on short notice. For several months, classes were suspended while we looked for a new home. Through our volunteer Lesley Koustaff, we identified a wonderful new location at Rennert. Rennert, established in 1973 by César Rennert, teaches English and other languages, has a translation services division, and offers TESOL Certification. They are conveniently located just a few blocks from Grand Central and generously provide four classrooms to PSOT on Monday through Thursday. Rennert also offers our volunteers discounted rates in their teacher training program and will open spots for PSOT students in their teacher training classes. PSOT classes at Rennert began on Monday April 13. PSOT would like to acknowledge Teresa Barile, the Director of Educational Operations at Rennert for making this collaboration possible. During this transition period, all of our tutors and ESL volunteers have shown extraordinary patience, flexibility and support of the program. We would also like to thank Sarah Benckart (pictured here) who stepped in on a volunteer basis as a coordinator for all ESL and GED classes. She has done a wonderful job teaching, tracking attendance, coordinating teacher schedules, and liaising with PSOT and Rennert. PSOT Clients Benefit from Collaboration with NYLAG and Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton, LLP. Starting in May, our good friends at New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) are coordinating a once-a-month legal representation project to consider asylum seekers who are clients of the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture. This collaboration provides pro bono attorneys from the law firm of Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton, LLP. PSOT is very grateful for this assistance, as it has provided essential help to our neediest clients. PSOT Staff Conduct Assessment in Chad On May 20, Drs. Andrew Rasmussen, Samantha Stewart and Eric Green returned from a three week research trip in Chad, assessing protection issues of the various refugee communities there. Protection entails all the different aspects of how best to safeguard refugees from the dangers they might be subject to in their new host country. PSOT staff conducted the assessment for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. |
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