The Latitude Legal Alliance that is located at 5650 S. Western in Oklahoma City hosted a reception to acquaint individuals with the immigration law services that it offers to new arrivals at minimal costs. The literature available at the event told of how it has partnered with local organizations, including Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, The Mexican Consulate in Oklahoma City, Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, Empower OKC, and the Spero Project of Oklahoma City for that purpose. Attorney Tara Jordan De Lara, who is fluent in both English and Spanish, serves as executive director of the entity, and she was a constant smiling present during the festivities along with her husband, mother, and handsome five year old son, who grinned warmly at the guests as he made his way from room to room. Since it opened in January of this year, the Alliance has obtained thirty two green cards for individuals, naturalization for eight people, obtained asylum status for 2 applicants, was responsible for the reunification of nineteen families, and obtained twenty five employment authorization cards that allow their recipients to obtain employment as well as driver’s licenses and social security numbers. Half of those beneficiaries are of Latino heritage, 14% of them are African in origin, twenty seven % are from Asian nations, and the remaining seven % are of European origin. There was a celebratory atmosphere at the gathering, where English and Spanish was spoken interchangeably and the young staffers who greeted the guests exuded the warmth and confidence that is often found in those who are engaged in providing important services to people in need of them. Among the guests was the Mexican Consular official, Carlos Padilla, who serves Mexican immigrants from a recently opened office in downtown Oklahoma City. A representative of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council Of American – Islamic Relations was present as well. Imaginative refreshments were offered in sweets that originated from the nations of those whom they have served, and small signs in from of them told of where they were from, and visitors were offered small boxes to fill with those items to take home. In an adjacent room was found heated foods in metal trays that were from the nations of EL Salvador, Mexico, Afghanistan, and Mexico that were eaten with gusto by those present. Three large clear canisters dispensed sweet beverages, but their nation of origin was not identified, and small bottles of water were available as well. An engaging young man, Ehsan Laghmani, was in attendance and he told of how he is an immigrant from Afghanistan, and serves as a translator from immigrants from that South Asian nation and speaks Dari, Pashto, Urdo, and translates them for both clients and attorneys. He is also currently a second year computer science student at the University of Central Oklahoma, and said that he considers it a privilege to assist people from his native land.
Against the Grain 