Resettlement re-cap: a periodic report from the Cuban Refugee Center, April 1970

              APRIL,   1970
RESETTLEMENT RE-CAP
A   PERIODIC   REPORT   FROM   CUBAN   REFUGEE   PROGRAM
FREEDOM   TOWER,   MIAMI,   FLORIDA   33101
U.S.   DEPARTMENT   OF   HEALTH,   EDUCATION,   AND  WELFARE
SOCIAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICE
HOWARD H. PALMATIER, Director, Washington, D.C.
ERROL T. BALLANFONTE, Director of Center
U. S. CUBAN  REFUGEE PROGRAM
PAUL R. B. LANE, Editor
REFUGEE  ACCOMPLISHMENTS  RECOGNIZED
AT  RECENT LINCOLN-MARTI AWARDS 1970
Exiled, and now blind, a former Cuban lawyer,
Napoleon Leyte-Vidal was one of the outstanding
Cuban refugees receiving this year's Lincoln-Marti
Award. Currently a social worker in Los Angeles
County, California, Leyte-Vidal was described by Cuban
Refugee Program Director Howard H. Palmatier as
"...an outstanding example of courage and perseverance,
not only for his fellow Cubans in the United States but
disabled and handicapped persons everywhere." Mr.
Leyte-Vidal surmounted the obstacles of his affliction,
learned English in Braile, studied to qualify for a social
work position, and now puts his talents to good use
helping others.
This year's awardees were selected by a committee
of five community leaders in Miami with wide contacts
among Cubans across the United States.
Selection Committee Chairman, Horacio Aguirre,
pointed out that the task of selection was not easy.
"There are just too many Cubans in the U.S. who have
done outstanding jobs of self-rehabilitation to recognize
everyone. The committee hopes that all Cubans will
identify with one or more of the awardees."
Special awards were also given to Cuban social service
organizations throughout the United States for their
increasing involvement and assistance to newly arrived
refugees from Cuba. Staffed by volunteers - in the
majority of cases - these organizations personalize their
efforts to make adjustment to life in the U.S. a shorter
and more productive period.
A total of 68 persons and institutions were award
recipients at this year's ceremonies in Miami, Florida.
Miami is the principal port-of-entry for the majority
of refugees escaping communist Cuba.
Lincoln-Marti Award recipient for 1970, Mrs. Julia Valcarce
is warmly congratulated by Cuban Refugee Program Director, Howard H. Palmatier. Mrs. Valcarce, widowed in
Cuba in 1959, arrived in the U.S. in 1960 with her seven
children who now range from 11 to 20 years of age. Two
are in college, and Mrs. Valcarce plans for all to finish their
education.
FACES IN MIAMI - According to the Miami News Means a Man
Like  Pacheco
A former high school teacher in his native Cuba,
Pacheco is 38 years old, married and has two children.
Soon after the Castro takeover, he packed his family
up and came to the United States. Now a citizen of
this country, he works for the City of Miami as a painter.
In the words of the Miami News, "Pacheco likes the
United States ... he likes his fellow workers ... he
likes to work outdoors. Pacheco is a cheerful man."
THE MIAMI NEWS - Reg. U. S. Patent Office
LONE  STAR STATE CUBANS  BAND TOGETHER
FOR  CIVIC AND  SERVICE  BENEFITS
On March 6, 1970, in Houston, Texas, the Cuban
Association of Houston was formerly established and
announced in its official organ the FREE CUBAN.
Of interest, is the association's # intent to obtain
group hospitalization and medical insurance for its
membership. In addition, the constitution also calls
for the providing of assistance and counsel to all Cubans
passing through or intending to reside in Houston.
The association in Houston joins a growing number
of Cuban groups throughout the United'States. These
associations offer a multitude of social services to new
exiles settling in their respective areas. Groups have
been established in Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles,
San Francisco, Boston, Newark and Grand Rapids,
Michigan, to name a few.
Present at the inauguration ceremonies as guest of
honor was Mr. Nicomedes Hernandez of Miami, Florida. Mr. Hernandez is President oi' the Municipalities
of Cuba in Exile a nationwide apolitical organization
of Cubans dedicated to the freedom of their communist
enslaved country and its return to the family of free
nations.