JANUARY 2022

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chaldean DIGEST What others are saying about Chaldeans FOX 5 SAN DIEGO At stake: a lucrative allotment of state money for each student In 2008, Hazel Park Schools worked with a nonprofit to create an alternative education program and had it approved by the Michigan Department of Education. The program was designed to attract families who did not speak English as a first language — specifically, Chaldean families who were hesitant to enroll in the traditional public school system. The program has triggered a 10- year legal tug-of-war between Hazel Park Schools and Warren Consolidated Schools over who has the rights to the taxpayer dollars that are designated for each child who resides within a school district’s boundaries. Protestors hold signs of support for the Chaldean community in East County, El Cajon, California. Each public school student was worth $9,336 to Warren Consolidated Schools in 2020-21, something for which the Macomb County school district is willing to go to court over. That $9,336 is called the “foundation allowance,” and it’s the one bucket of money that follows students to whatever school district they enroll in. In 2011, Warren Consolidated Schools sued Hazel Park Schools, seeking monetary damages. Warren Consolidated Schools asserted that Hazel Park Schools lured students to the program “without obtaining plaintiff’s permission … thereby wrongfully depriving plaintiff of students within its own district.” The two school districts have been involved in a legal battle since. The fight has included three separate lawsuits filed in circuit court and filings with an administrative office at the Michigan Department of Education. In each instance, the decisions have gone in favor of the Hazel Park Schools. The court of appeals was the most recent to rule on the matter, and it sent the case back to the circuit court to be heard. – Tom Gantert Chaldean community in El Cajon speaks out against redistricting “Our community is under threat again. This time, it’s right here in the United States,” said Vince Kattoula, a Chaldean activist, at the Keep East County United rally and press conference on Tuesday. Chaldean Americans have found a home in and around El Cajon for over 50 years — but what has been built over this half century by generations of people is now on the line, as county redistricting is putting their unified voice at risk of being fractured. The event, held at El Cajon’s Centennial Plaza, was a rapid response to the Independent Redistricting Committee (IRC) releasing their proposed maps for Supervisorial districts, which are scheduled to be finalized on December 14. Groups of people like Chaldeans are supposed to be kept together in county districts, designated as “communities of interest” since they are not formally counted by the Census Bureau. Yet the newly proposed maps currently split large chunks of this community away from each other. “We believe this is a politically motivated map, to diminish our voice as an ethnic minority,” said Dr. Noori Barka, President of the Chaldean Community Council. “We ask for a fair map,” he continued. Afaf Konja, the spokesperson for the rally, noted how El Cajon would potentially share a district with neighborhoods who do not necessarily share their values or lifestyle. “It doesn’t make any sense culturally, it doesn’t make any sense businesswise, it doesn’t make any sense politically,” she said. “Other than to dilute a vote and to silence a people.” Those who spoke also included the Cajon Valley school board president, a Chaldean Bishop, El Cajon community activists, and Bill Wells, the Mayor of El Cajon. “They’re trying to destroy this area’s ability to govern themselves,” said Wells. “What is happening with the redistricting committee is pure and simple identity politics. And I’m here to tell you something, and the IRC should know this: it is against the law to make decisions on redistricting based upon political will.” – Elijah McKee, East County Magazine A message of trust and hope for the future comes from the Chaldean Church. Baghdad auxiliary bishop on youth meeting and a ‘living Church’ Auxiliary Bishop Basel Yaldo of Baghdad, a close aide to Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako, presented the meeting of young Chaldeans in Iraq in late November. The event was designed to provide hope to young Iraqis who are part of a “living Church”, as Pope Francis underlined last March during his historic trip to the Arab country. The gathering is special because it comes at a difficult political, social, and economic moment, but Church institutions are tasked with showing a path for the future. “At this complicated time, we want young people to be able to find a point of reference, a place for discussion and a way forward,” explained the prelate. For the first time in the history of the Chaldean Church, more than 450 young men and women, aged 18 to 35, gathered in Baghdad and represented seven dioceses: from Basra in the south to Zakho in Iraqi Kurdistan, as well as Kirkuk, Alqosh, Mosul and Nineveh Plains. Testimonies about life in the various dioceses were on the agenda, as were indications on how to proclaim the Gospel, alternating with moments of leisure, games, and group competitions. Young people themselves asserted the urgency of a meeting, Bishop Yaldo explained, because they need to “come back to life,” to feel like a community again “after the darkness of the CO- VID-19 pandemic, which stopped activities for almost two years.” Adds Bishop Yaldo, “More will come in the future since a meeting is in the works for young Chaldeans from all over the world, from America to Australia.” – Asia News ASIA NEWS 10 CHALDEAN NEWS JANUARY 2022
noteworthy Renee Tomina Rises at DTE DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) announced several executive appointments, aimed at developing key leaders and accelerating DTE’s aspiration to become the best-operated energy company in the country. “The development of strong leaders who are committed to our company, our customers and our communities is critical to DTE’s continued success,” said Jerry Norcia, president and CEO of DTE Energy. “These organizational changes bring new insights, experience and perspectives to our journey toward service excellence.” Renee Tomina is promoted from DTE Gas vice president to senior vice president, Major Enterprise Projects. Since joining the company in 2010, Tomina has held several leadership roles across the enterprise. In her new role, Tomina will lead the project management, planning and execution of the largest projects in DTE›s $3 billion annual capital investment portfolio. Key initiatives span power generation, including the construction of DTE›s new combined-cycle and renewable energy projects, distribution and the DTE Gas infrastructure upgrade program. Tomina holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Lawrence Technological University and a Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering from Oakland University. CELL: (248) 497-8333 E-MAIL: myaldoo@kw.com WEBSITE: myaldoo.kw.com INSTAGRAM: Michael_Yaldoo_Real_Estate #MYcares All my clients are my family, there is nothing I won’t do to help you reach all your real estate needs and goals! – Michael Yaldoo JANUARY 2022 CHALDEAN NEWS 11
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JANUARY 2022

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