NOTE: For those who don’t know: Okili Nguebari, beloved friend of many for the past 27 ½ years, beloved husband of US Citizen Sabrina Krauss for 22 years, father of two American children ages 21 and 17, business owner, non profit founder of The United Africa Club, home owner, and tax payer, was picked up by the Dept. of Homeland Security, ICE unit on Monday April 20, 2009 in front of his home by six ICE Agents traveling from SF in 3 unmarked cars (talk about waste of tax dollars).
He was picked up for a 23 year old outstanding order of deportation from an over stay of Student Visa. For the past 21 years his wife and he have been trying to make him legal, and for at least 15 years of that time he was temporarily legal through an Amnesty Program. Just 3 weeks prior to his being picked up they had met with an Immigration attorney and were set to start new appeals on his case in June. On April 20, the ICE agents wasted no time in flying him to a remote, 5000 bed, privately owned (Correction Corporation of America) Immigration Detention Facility in Eloy, AZ where he was held 3 long months. Miraculously he has been released, as of July 18, because he is a member of a class action law suit against the Government regarding the Amnesty Program he’d initially been denied 10 years ago. When this all first happened in April, we held an emergency fund raiser that had OVERWHELMING SUPPORT from the many communities who’s lives have been touched by Okili. When he was released we had another VERY supportive WELCOME HOME PARTY / fundraiser on Aug. 28, ‘09, where Okili was the star of the party. For complete info of all updates, and if you want to send help that we still need, go to http://okili.chipin.com.
OKILI UPDATE AS OF 9/19/09:
Hello, everyone. I’m finally able to sit down and write this after first making a HUGE Thank You list to everyone who’s helped us, supported us, donated to us, etc. (see below – it’s long). Hopefully I’ve not left out many, but I’m bound to have left out someone, so PLEASE forgive me if I did, but also please don’t hesitate to let me know. Not only has it taken me nearly a month to write this update, but I’ve been kind of recuperating after, for me, 4 months of intensive stress. The 3 months while Okili was detained by ICE I was living on some kind of nervous adrenalin energy that kept me up till 2:00 AM most nights, and up in the AM by 7:30, barely getting a bite of food at proper times of the day. As many of you know I was sending constant updates, communicating with lawyers, Okili; and not able to focus on my income ($) job, etc. It was non stop. Then when he was released July 18, we knew we had to start organizing the Welcome Home Party immediately (for all updates /stories on this go to: http://okili.chipin.com). That was another intensive lot of time planning, coordinating, publicizing, etc. with only about 1 month to pull it all off at the Sebastopol Community Center on Aug. 28 (less than a month ago). So after the event it was for me like a “rest” after 4 months rather than just one month planning the welcome home event, if you know what I mean. To be honest things are STILL getting back to normal for us in the house, and things are not “complete” yet with his case by any means.
So How Was the Welcome Home Party?
It went great. Again we had a wonderful outpouring of donated and volunteer support from an awesome list of Musicians, Businesses, Volunteers, and people. This time it was a BIG dance / dinner party with great live music – super tasty Marinated Chicken dinner (not BBQ as advertised, that’s ANOTHER story) w/ yummy Black Beans, organic Salad, rice, someone brought Dahl, there was bread, etc. This time we could not pull off the Silent Auction, but that was OK. There was a great Turn out again too. We did not make as much money as the FREE OKILI event because I think people were not feeling the same urgency as they felt when Okili was first kidnapped by the ICE. There were more people who came in for FREE or for less money at the entrance, and that was OK too, because we kind of wanted to give something back to the community. After all calculations (some I kept coming across) we net about $2900. At least that was a jump start as I can finally work in my job; and, Okili can start back to what he was doing when they got him, which was starting a new business (more on that in another update).
Is Help Still Needed ?
- Of course we can still use help, as there are plenty more big expenses coming, even though our lawyer has a cap on her fees (compared with the last lawyers who wanted unlimited amounts): We still have some large Government application fees to pay; I’d say we could still really use another $5000. But at least now we can both focus on working to make money ourselves. Although, if you want to send any financial support to us, there is a PayPal link at http://okili.chipin.com.
At the bottom of this UPDATE I have a HUGE list of Thank You’s to ALL the Businesses, Musicians, and Human Beings who helped us out during the past 5 months. I really hope I didn’t leave anyone important out. Please let me know. Thanks.
WHERE DO WE STAND NOW?
Currently, as many of you know, Okili joined a class action law suit against the US GOVERNMENT CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES that was brought on by the NORTHWEST IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS PROJECT in Washington State (NWIRP vs. USCIS). While the class action law suit application membership is pending, he again has a temporary work permit giving him temporary legal status in the USA (he got the permit on Aug. 29, the day after the Welcome Home Party from another “privately owned contractor” with the USA, right here in Santa Rosa – and that’s another weird story to tell another time).
WE WANT FAMILY UNITY GUARANTEED
– While he has this temporary legal status, our lawyer, Ms. Florence M. Ndedi, will be attempting to open up the old case regarding the overstay of Student Visa from 25 years ago; the one that they picked him up on to have him deported, and why he was taken to the Detention facility. In this deportation case, they do NOT currently recognize our family, nor the 15 years he lived here w/ temporary legal status under Amnesty, and really developed our family and community connections here during that time. If she is able to open up the old case we will be showing a judge our lives from the past 22 years together (family, community involvement, home ownership, taxes paid, etc. etc.). What we really want and need is a guarantee of Family Unity here in this country where we have made our lives together for 22 years, and Okili’s actually been in the country for nearly 28 years (it would be very hard for him to start a life at his age in France or Congo at this point – and for us all to be disrupted by force – it’s nuts) It’s weird to realize that actually as it now stands, the kids and I do not have the same rights as other US Citizens – to have our father and husband like other US Citizens do. But, we feel spiritually and in our hearts that this is all going to work out. When it works out we will be paving the path for many other’s in similar situations regarding Family Unity. Humans are complex creatures, and you can’t control who you’ll fall in love with, and you can’t make laws about humans that are like traffic tickets and traffic school. There is no set law that tells us things will work out a certain way for us, no clear path at this time for what the right thing is to do or how it will turn out. We have only our wits about us, a good lawyer, finally, who really cares, and the Grace of the Great Spirit which IS all of you and all of your love (my Grandmother always said that God was in everything and everyone). See many such stories like ours here on this Immigration Reform blog: http://www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org/blog/citizenship-week-tell-congress-why-citizenship-is-worth-fighting-for/comment-page-2/#comment-720 (I put a brief story in it too, if you can find mine)
New Web Page Coming: Videos and Pictures
(If your reading this now, your reading from the new web site) During this whole time, our dear friend Michelle Hill has graciously used her husbands website to attach a small website for us to it, and added all the updates, etc. It’s coming time though, that we will be actually making our own new website where we can ad our own stuff as needed, etc., as Michelle is getting really too busy in her life to handle this much longer. There are a number of photos, and some videos from the welcome home party, etc. to add.
HUGE LONG LIST OF THANK YOU’S
This list is for ALL the people, businesses, Media, Musicians, major Volunteers, emotional supporters, friends, family, etc. etc who came together during the past 5 months to REALLY help us out. We cannot say Thank You in a big enough way. We LOVE YOU ALL! (Everyone is in Alphabetical order rather than order of who did more, paid more, etc. (accept Media is random))
BUSINESSES
Abby Bard, Woven Scarves, Sonoma Co., CA
Andrea Karolle, Massage Therapist, Santa Rosa, CA
Andy’s Produce Market, Sebastopol, CA
Archer Audio Sound Systems, Santa Rosa, CA
Blanche Fichtel, Herb Gardener, Sonoma Co, CA
Body Rhythm Goddess, (Kris Freewoman)Santa Rosa, CA
Boogalu (Philip Ross) Cuban Music & Dance, Sebastopol
California Home Makers, Santa Rosa, CA
Camp Fame Music Camp, (Victor Hall) Santa Rosa, CA
Chai Baba Chai, Sebastopol, Ca
Clone Copy Center, Santa Rosa, Ca
Eliza Grace, Transformative Meditation Services, Santa Rosa, Ca
Fine Art and Frame, Santa Rosa, CA
Goli Mahaammadi, Massage Therapist, Santa Rosa, CA
Govinda’s Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant, Santa Rosa, CA
Healing Flower Acupuncture, Santa Rosa, CA
Incredible Records, Sebastopol, CA
Jenna Wilson, Swedish Massage / Rosen work, Sonoma Co., CA
Jessica Bauman, Personal Chef, Sonoma County, Ca
Judy Dragon, Theta Healing / Belief Sessions, Santa Rosa, CA
Katie Kechum, Professional Musician, Sonoma County, CA
Khatiba Grais, Mft, Santa Rosa, CA
Kim Atkinson, Professional Musician, Sebastopol, CA
Krista Lynn Brown, Devaluna Artist, Sebastopol, CA
Kurt Sanford, Jeweler, Sonoma Co., CA
Lagunitas Brewing Co, Petaluma, Ca
Law Offices of Florence M. Ndedi, Oakland, CA
Lazy Summer Traders, Sonoma Co., CA
Leaf and Vine Winery Brokerage Marketing, Petaluma, CA
Lindsay Hassett, CMT, Sonoma County, CA
Margie Smith, CMT, Santa Rosa, CA
Mariposa Landscape & Nursery, Santa Rosa, CA
Mark Bauman, Trager, Chi Nei Tsang, Massage, Santa Rosa, CA
Martin Rey Winery, Sebastopol, CA
Melissa Rodezno, Mike Thompson’s Office, Napa, CA
Melissa Weaver, Massage Therapist, Sebastopol, CA
Miejo Berat – Pottery, Cotati, CA
Michael Neuwirth, EMF Home Testing, Sonoma Co., CA
Olivers Market, Santa Rosa ( Rincon Vlly. Store), CA
One Planet Fair Trade Store, Petaluma, CA
Peoples Music, Sebastopol, CA
Peter Schurch, Structural Engineering Consulting, Sebastopol, CA
Parkside Café, Santa Rosa, CA
Provino Premium Wines, Santa Rosa, CA
Raven Playfair, Massage Therapist, Sebastopol, CA
Rick Cratty, Neuro – Acoustic work, Sonoma Co., CA
Rollo Creative Productions, (Robert Evans)Santa Rosa, CA
Rosemary’s Garden, Sebastopol, CA
Sahar Pinkham, Drum Lessons, Sonoma Co, CA
Scot Reinking Biodynamic Wines, Santa Rosa, CA
Sebastopol Community Center, Sebastopol, CA
Siobhan Brady, Swim Instruction, Sonoma Co., CA
Smog Frog, Santa Rosa, Ca
Solomon Sprodlim, Shiatsu Massage Therapist, Sonoma Co., CA
Sonoma Muffin Works, Sebastopol, CA
Sprint Copy Center, Sebstopol, CA
Stella Monday, Professional Photographer, Sebastopol, CA
Sujata Monti, Life Coach – Sonoma Co., CA
Sunfield Design (Laurie MacMillan Graphics designer), Petaluma, CA
Tiger Paw Drum Lessons, Sebstopol, CA
The Dog House, Bodega Bay, CA
The Last Record Store, Santa Rosa, CA
Unity Music, (Victor Hall) Santa Rosa, CA
Victoria Strowbridge African Dance Class, Santa Rosa, CA
Voices of Roma, Sebastopol, CA
WaccoBB.net, Sebastopol,CA
Wildflauer Bakery, Freestone, CA
Yona Flemming, Drum Lessons, Santa Rosa, CA
Zone Music, Cotati, CA
Musicians / Entertainers / Stage Presence
Albert Tenaya
Amadou Camara
Amy Treadwell
Amy Trussell
Angelena Kyzar-Crowhurst
Archer Audio Systems (Robin & Thereze Silver)
Baba Shibambo
Big Man (AKA Elbert Howard)
Carnaval Spirit
Committee for Immigrant Rights
Dusty Wroten
Greg Trimble and Reed Combs
Hoytus
Inna Riddim
Jana Muhar
John Jones & Friends
Ken Vangadio
Kim Atkinson
Lucky Otis
Mapanda Mwella
Mendozone
Midnight Sun
Olembe Nguebari
Onye Onyemaechi
Robert Evans
Rosie Rodriguez
Sarafina The Bellydancer
Sandor Diabankouezi
Sang Matiz
Sky- I
MEDIA
Newspaper
The Press Democrat (Bleys Rose, Dan Taylor)
Sonoma West Times and News
The Bohemian (Gretchen Giles, Lindsay Pyle, Cassandra Landry)
Russian River Times
Radio
KPFA (Dennis Bernstein / Kris Welch)
KBBF (David Sharp, Amy Contardi, Mary Moore, Big Man)
KRCB (Bruce Robinson, Amy Contardi, Wendy Anderson, Robin Pressman)
KRSH (Frank Hayhurst)
KGGV (Leslie Warren and Lois Pearlman / and John Chapman (AKA Milo)
KKUP (Emmanuel Nado)
Internet Media
WaccoBB.net (Barry Chertov)
INGA Association (Congolese Yahoo Group)
TV & Other Media Sources
Project Censored (Kate Simms, Peter Phillips)
Santa Rosa Community Media Center (Ida Johnson,”What’s hot”)
Congressional Support
Congressman Mike Thompson ( Letter of Support) Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (Letter of Support)
GENERAL SUPPORT AND VOLUNTEERS (WE LOVE YOU!)
(Alphabetically by First Name)
Abanya Nguebari
Abby Bogomolny
Albert Krauss
Alexandra Jacobs
Alice Kibwaa
Amy Treadwell
Amy Trussell
Andre Russell
Andrea Karolle
Angelo Parici
Ann Exton
Annette Arnold
Annie Greenfield
Annie Zombil
Ari Camarota
Arrow Moser
Art Kopecki
Arthur Lichtman
Attila Nagy
Barbara Buff
Barrie Mason
Barry Chertov
Bateke & Wendy Farnsworth
Brenda C. Palter
Ben Adelmann
Benjamin Michael
Benjamin Parisi
Blake Allan
Brigitte Muderhwa
Bruce Alan Rhodes
Boukaka Family
Brian & Ellen Bauer
Brice Bayetassa
Bruce Alan Rhodes
Calistoga Dance Class Girls (Bonnie, Melisa & Susan)
Cameron Ottens
Carl Franzoni
Carol Brodskey & Jay Ed
Carole & Duncan Garrett (and family!)
Catherine & John Cerda
Celest Donar
Chanda Zanga
Cheiira Dotson
Cheryl & Marty Bonacorso
Chris Samler
Christine & Ed Bauman
Christina &Bob Evans
Christopher Gouvea
Cinnabar William Jones
Claudia Levin
Claudine Mununga
Colbee Mcmanamon
Constance L. Ford
Constance Smith
Conly Shell
Cora Simmons
Corina Abouaf
Cynthia Phillips
Dan Kessler Ins. & Financial
Daniel & Melissa Craig-Morse
Dan Flock
Darby Rimkus
David Field
David Laverine
Deb & Mark Dobish
Deborah Eubanks
Deborah Thayer
Debra Guisti
Delphin & Bitisho Kyubwa
Denise Kerfoot
Dennis Bozman-Moss
Devan Cardinas
Diane Darling
Diego Pittaluga
Dixon Wragg
D.J. Sister Yasmin Solomon
D.L. Thayer
Donna Agoita
Donna Waldman
Donna Wells
Dorrise Neale
Doug Jayne
Ed Corn
Edward Kehoe & Joyce Higgins
Edward & Carmen Mendosa
Eric Hendsley
Eric Thompson
Erik Jorgensen
Erika Smallen
Erin Anderson
Erin O’Conner
Ernest and Christine Boae
Fredy Arce
Farida K. Fox
Florence M. Ndedi
Fungula Fumu Ngondji
Furet Ongognia
Gary Abreim
Geo Howard
Gideon Bendele
Gilbert Cobb
Guy Erhlman
Guy Tape
Guy Zogouhee
Gwen Jensen
Gwen Smith
Hillary Tholen
Hope St. Louis
Irene Nickels
James Maughan
James Njoroge
J. Robert Dobbson
Jana Muhar
Jane Honeycutt
Jed Wallach
Jerome Sindano
Jeri Becker
Jessica Marcus
Jill Ramirez
Jim Drain
Jo-ann Rosen
Joe Senteneri
John Chapman (AKA Milo)
John & Christine Alilovich
John Milabu Mumbusi
Jonathan Ridley
Joyes Burris
Juan S. Parra
Jude Mariah
Judith Iam
Judy Bowser & Greg Trimble
Jules Oyumbu
Kabwang Annie Zombil
Karen Bouwer
Karl Adelman
Kat Anderson
Ken Roberts
Kendrick Freeman
Kerry Lynn Gavin
Kathryn Vyenielo
Kevin Berry
Kieth & Marty Swift
Kilombi Nolot & Gerard Nolot
Kim Wardwell
Kris Freewoman
Kris and Nicole Menezes
Kofi and Juta Amoah
Konami Chisolm
Kumari Sivadas
Lani Young
Laura Drewes
Laura G. Lindsay
Laurie Duplacich
Larry Harper & Eszter Freeman
Leslie Butler
Linda Lee Rose-Mcroy
Linda St Andrews
Lisa & Grover Casey
Lissy Jenkins & Scot Clarke
Lokoko & Alice Kitenza
Lorrain Ottens
Lois Pearlman Louisa Espinosa
Louisa Espinoza
Lucy Bayer
Lynn Swan Berglund & Rod Berglund
Mabiba Baegne
Maman Mapana (Batala Webster)
Mathew T. Bauer
Malonga Family
Mandy Snyder
Marcia Parisi
Margaret Hunter
Margie Smith
Marian & Almamy Sesay
Marian Doyle-Landis
Marjorie Mann
Mark Feldman
Mark Flower
Mary Ann Edwards
Mary Harmon
Mary Louise Clemente Alvanez
Mary Moore
Mary Norman
Mary Ratcliff
Marrianne Mannina
Marryl Mendelson
Marylou Alvarez
Marylyn Scott “Motherbear”
Maureen Baumgartner & Kevin…
Mbissa Family
Melissa Rodezno
Melissa Weaver
Michael Fiumara
Michelle and Joe Hill
Michele Anna Jordan
Michele Jensen
Miejo Berat
Mimi Mandianfu
Mishi Silva
Morris Turner
Mwangi & Milca Kiloko Family
Nancy McFarlan
Neena McNair
Nicolas Morris
Ndangi Mahungu
Nganga Devin & Family
Noelle Marshalle
Okito Okitukunda
Onye Onyemaichi
Ossi Bissa
Paul W. Harris
Paul Lavender
Peggy
Penny Nichols
Peter Fittipaldi
Peter Ngamate
Philip Ross
R. Miles Mendenhall
Rae Ellis
Rasta Bob
Raven Zderic
Rebecca
Regina Brennan
Regine Dunda
Richard Coshnear
Richard W. Ely
Richard and Mary La Paglia
Rick Kieth & Elaine Lucia
Rob Cherwink
Rob Singleton & Lorie Work
Robert Dana
Robert Evans
Robert Ramirez
Robin and Berry Latham-Ponneck
Robin and Jaimy Krauss
Rose Conner
Rosemary DeVitt
Ruby Amramov
Russell Naylor
Ruth Richards
Sandra O’Donnell
Sandy Eastoak
Sandy Murphy
Sam Salmon
Sara Downing
Scott Hewett
Scott McKeown
Shani Rifati
Shekeyna Black
Sherry Mobley
Stacy & Marguerite Li
Stephen Martin
Steve Black
Steve Kollander
Steve & Lydia Mertens
Stori Davis
Susan Church
Susan Fuhrman
Suzan Carroll
Taylor Webb
Teri Piatenasi
Terry Jenson
Thaddeus Sierak
Therese & Wes Horsting
Trowbridge
Victor Hall
Victoria Strowbridge
Victor & Cathy Teteh
Wayne & Nancy Scott Hunnicutt
Wayne Morgenthaler & Connie Madden
Wendy Anderson
William Shonbrun
Windy Braden & Reed Combs
Yao Hihete
Yona Flemming
Yvonne & Alex Acheampong
