Voz Representatives at the National Gathering

From February 19 to the 23rd, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) Assembly was held in Los Angeles, the city with the longest history of day laborer organizing in the country. More than 350 people were in attendance from some 50 member organizations from across the United States to celebrate the 10th anniversary of NDLON. Participants made connections, received leadership training, and planned a course of action for the day laborer movement in the United States for the coming years.   Six day laborer leaders– Marcos Cardenas, Felix Chuma, Daniel Alvarez, Johnny Escoto, Jesus de León, and Jesus Sánchez—and three staff members– Romeo Sosa, Francisco Aguirre, and Paul Riek– travelled to Los Angeles to represent VOZ at the national event.

The Assembly was inaugurated th evening of Sunday February 19th. Monday’s activities were focused on remembering 10 years of NDLON history and improving effectiveness of Worker Centers in obtaining more work for day laborers. Tuesday’s theme was the “Turning the Tide” campaign against unjust immigration enforcement programs. On Wednesday, the experience of women in the struggle for immigrant rights was highlighted, and then participants marched to protest Los Angeles Sheriff Baca’s participation in the “Secure Communities” program.

While VOZ Organizer, Paul Riek, described the march as an incredible experience, he said another highlight of the National Assembly was the musical entertainment provided by the day laborer music group, Jornaleros del Norte. The band played throughout the week, starting each session with music which brought excitement to the meetings while reinforcing day laborer identity within the context of the National Network. The Assembly was powerful as it promoted solidarity among so many different day laborer organizations throughout the country.

Voz representative Félix Chuma made a proposal to the Assembly to include indigenous identity issues as they parallel gender equality issues covered in the program in relevance to day laborer and workers’ rights. A working group was created to recognize this newest expression of diversity in the day laborer movement.

In preparation for the National Assembly, Voz day laborer leaders Marcos Cárdenas, Alex Gonzalez, Johnny Escoto, Daniel Alvarez, and Braulio Torres; and staff members Romeo Sosa and Paul Riek, attended the Northwest Regional Assembly on January 26th and 27th in Seattle at Casa Latina, the other active member organization in the Northwest. Workshops were conducted on LGBTQ sensitivity, social inequality, and health and safety on the job.  Finally, tours of the Casa Latina facilities allowed the VOZ staff members and day laborers in attendance to learn about the partner organization operations.

Overall there was a positive response to the Assembly including an appreciation for Casa Latina’s worker center structure, procedures, and computer software for assigning work. Inspired by the visit, VOZ has the objective of using similar strategies to advance our work in Portland. Since Casa Latina offered to share their new software, VOZ has a wonderful opportunity to improve the effectiveness of our own Martin Luther King Jr. Worker Center when we are able to obtain necessary equipment.

Last week, Voz joined dozens of activists to support the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners as they passed a resolution condemning Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s(ICE) flawed deportation programs.

Photo by Douglas Yarrow

The resolution offered strong criticism of the “Secure Communities” program, or S-Comm, and laid out a path for moving forward by continuing to work with advocates.

Many at the hearing shared personal testimonials of the devastating effects of ICE’s deportation dragnet. Roberto Santiago, a single father, described how his wife was deported after mistakenly being accused of falsifying documents, leaving Roberto as the sole breadwinner of his family.

“Every day is really hard,” said Santiago. “I fear for the future of my family.”

S-Comm is a federal immigration enforcement program that came to Multnomah County in 2010. Since S-Comm was initiated, over 200 people have been deported from the county, the vast majority of whom committed no crime or were convicted only of minor offenses such as traffic crimes. The program has come under fire nationwide, with several localities, including Cook County and Santa Clara, choosing to opt-out.

Even worse, S-Comm and CAP undermine public safety throughout the county, as the perception of police officers as immigration enforcement officers has led entire communities to stop talking to the police. “People are scared,” says Francisco Aguirre, Assistant at the MLK Jr Worker Center. “When I came to Portland fifteen years ago, the community was vibrant. Now people are too afraid to drive their cars, talk to the police or even leave their homes.”

The Commission acknowledged the damaging effects of mistrust of law enforcement, and listed public safety as a priority. “Nothing hurts a community more than the residents’ fear of the local government,” said County Chairman Jeff Cogen, the resolution’s sponsor. “It’s time we stepped up to reinstall trust.”

Though the resolution indicates an important first step for the Commission, clear policy changes have yet to be determined. “This is only a first step”, said Romeo Sosa at the hearing. “We thank the County for their support and look forward to continued engagement on this issue.”

Those testifying in favor of passage of the resolution included members of the community and leaders from Activists Coming Together for Justice and Dignity (ACT), a network of faith, labor, immigrant, and civil liberties organizations. Voz is a member organization of ACT.

For more information on the hearing and on immigration enforcement programs in Multnomah County, visit www.actforjusticeanddignity.org.

On February 25th, medical students from OHSU visited the Voz Worker Center to conduct health screenings for those in need of health consultation free of charge. The group was made up of aspiring dentists, nurses, physicians and medical researchers from a class at OHSU called ICHEE; the Interdisciplinary Community health and Education Exchange. Their professor is Valerie Palmer, a tall South African immigrant who is currently a senior research associate of the Global Health Center at OHSU as well as director of the Neurotoxicogenomics labs.

Palmer explained that her goal for this class is to bring together students of different medical disciplines to solve global health issues. Years ago, while tackling an infectious bacteria in Ethiopia, a member of her medical team questioned why it was necessary for chemists, as well as microbiologist and epidemiologists to work together on the project, rather than taking the more standard approach of working with solely professional medics. “It is a hindrance to effective diagnosis and treatment to only see sickness through one angle,” she said to me.

My own reason for attending the health screening event was to learn more about translation work of two kinds: Spanish to English, as well as the conversion in perception of health for Latin Americans to a typically Western biomedical view of health. Patients described their problems in their terms (headaches, lower abdomen pain, one man describing symptoms “caused by a lack of faith”). I translated these words into English as best able, from which the medical students then transformed symptoms to diagnosis: one man was said to have hernias, another—lymphoma. For these problems, various clinics around Portland were recommended, most of them suggested because of the possibility of free or state subsidized health care. The Wallace Clinic was the most frequently suggested clinic, as it is well know for providing health care to those for whom English is not a first language. Workers at Voz spoke positively about the event, at which there were nearly equal numbers of medical students and workers, allowing for a short wait in order to receive consultation. However, a few workers expressed that they had already tried going to clinics in Portland, including the Wallace Clinic, and discovered that the wait time to receive emergency surgery was longer than expected, or the cost of care more expensive than anticipated.

“This work as interesting to me,” said a student of nursing, “because we get to meet people in the field and get to learn about their lives. In a hospital setting, you only get five minutes to talk to someone and figure out the problem, but usually it’s a lot more complicated than that.” Palmer likewise stressed the importance for both students and workers to interact freely and without time limit, in order to understand health issues from both the side of the patient and medical student. “It’s an opportunity in learning how to listen to patient, and to encourage the patient in speaking openly.”

The next and last Voz health screening by OHSU will be on Saturday March 10th 2012, also occurring at the worker center.

Applications due by 5pm on Monday, February 20th, 2012.

Position: Development/Fundraising Director
Supervisor: Executive Director
Hours: 30 hours weekly
Benefits: Salary, Health insurance, paid vacation

The Development and Fundraising Director will collaborate with the board of directors, VOZ’s executive director, and other staff to create a strategic fundraising plan that will keep VOZ and the Worker Center sustainable. S/he will build and maintain relationships with different foundations and donors and will be responsible for writing all grant proposals. Other administrative tasks will include developing and maintaining a database of donors and foundations, and coordinating thank you mailings to past donors.

The Development and Fundraising Director will network with the greater community and manage other outreach activities. S/he will work with the Board of Directors to plan special events, parties, etc. to reach fundraising goals.

Grant Writing & Foundation Relations
The Development Director is responsible for researching potential funding opportunities, establishing relationships with current and potential funders, and managing the proposal, application, and reporting process in order to meet the line items declared in the annual budget.

• Maintain database of foundation and corporate giving programs
• Attend public events
• Write grant applications and reports to meet deadline
• Manage relationships with funders, especially meeting in person or over the phone to inform them of our work and interest them in future funding opportunities
• Develop communications specifically aimed at funders, including the distribution of positive press coverage

Grassroots Fundraising
The Development Director is responsible for facilitating staff and board strategic planning in relation to community fundraising. This position manages the community fundraising committee of Board members and volunteers to increase the amount of non-foundation fundraising.
• Facilitate Annual fundraising strategic planning with Board, staff, & volunteers
• Maintain database of individual donors
• Facilitate quarterly donor appeal
• Identify potential individual donors
• Manage community fundraising committee
• Organize Fundraising events
• Maintain and strengthen the VOZista donor program
• Organize house parties, phone banks, and other events

Board of Directors
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to prepare the organization’s annual budget for Board review and approval
• Involve Board of Directors in grassroots fundraising activities

Qualifications:
• Strong interpersonal, communication, planning and organizational skills.
• At least two years of successful fundraising and proven grant writing experience
• Demonstrated experience working in a bilingual, multicultural environment
• Understanding of Latino labor and workforce issues.
• Highly organized
• Basic knowledge of computer operations (Windows, Word, Excel, etc.,) and equipment operations such as copiers, fax machines and telephones.
• Commitment to the mission and goals of VOZ
• Ability to work independently and in a team

How to Apply: Send curriculum vitae and cover setter to Romeo Sosa, 1131 SE Oak St Portland OR 97214; or e-mail to: romeo@portlandvoz.org. For more information call 503-233-6787.

The system retrieves the migration information of each individual and characterizes each worker as eligible or ineligible to be hired. E-Verify is already being used in several states, and through a legislative proposal is trying to be implemented throughout the country.

Because of this, during the meeting with Barrett two requests were made: that Blumenauer vote against the legislation in September of this year, and that he writes a public testimony about his position on the issue.

Barrett expressed her rejection of the legislation and promised to pass on the worries of the day laborers to Congressman Blumenauer. He represents the district that the Worker’s Center and Voz office belong to.

Antonio Cervantes, a worker, spoke about the importance of the Worker’s Center. He said he feels safe there because he can avoid his salary being taken.

Another day laborer, who preferred to omit his name, mentioned the mistreatment some day laborers have suffered because they didn’t have papers. “There isn’t any security or protection, the pay is unjust. However, we don’t complain.”

The Worker’s Center maintains agreements to avoid the exploitation of workers. In the meeting it was emphasized that the day laborers do not work for Voz, “we only connect the worker with the employer,” explained Romeo Sosa, Executive Director.

Other than Voz, Eliana Machuca from Jobs with Justice, and Dan Torres from a union of ALFCIO national also participated in the meeting. This is the third meeting with members of congress to talk about E-Verify. On previous occasions they also spoke with representatives of Congressman David Wu and of Senator Jeff Merkley.

Brian Plinski representative from the office of congressman David Wu

their concern about the possible use of E-Verify throughout the country.

The workers asked that Wu, the Oregon Representative, publicly state his position against E-Verify. On previous occasions, the Congressman has already mentioned several negative aspects of the legislation to the press and radio.

Voz insisted that the use of the E-Verify system will be prejudicial towards day-laborer centers. Because it will be obligatory, employers will have to enter the system in order to prove the “eligibility” of the workers, including their immigration record. Currently, the Center for Day-Laborers does not ask for this information.

Daniel Álvarez, President of the Day-Laborer Committee of Portland, explained to Plinski the importance of maintaining the current organization of the Center for Day-Laborers. “This is a safe place,” he said, “because on the corners sometimes we feel the harassment of the police.”

The Center for Day-Laborers is a place where workers are organized to avoid wage theft. “If any day-laborer has a problem, he can come to the Center and we can talk with the employer. We have been able to recover the wages of several day-laborers this way,” explained Romeo Sosa, Executive Director of Voz Workers’ Right Education Project.

Plinski listened to the day-laborers, who trust the message got through to the Congressman.

Also in attendance at this meeting was Greg Margolis, from Jobs with Justice, and Dan Torres, from AFLCIO (America Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations). This was the first of a series of meetings that Voz will hold with various political representatives in order to discuss the consequences of E-Verify.

The National Day of Action in Solidarity with Georgia, where the anti-immigrant law HB 87 was passed, was taking place.  Parallel with this, nine young undocumented immigrants decided to Come out of the Shadows and tell their stories.

Faith communities, labor unions and pro-immigrant activists worked together to organize a large press circle, in English and Spanish.  The local media attended in order to cover the event.

The first to speak at the microphone was Cindy Ávila, of the Safe Communities Project, a coalition that proposes the end of collaboration between local authorities and ICE.  “We have seen how anti-immigrant laws, which claim to protect our communities, only persecute and separate families,” she said in reference to the Federal Secure Communities Program.  Through this program, ICE, or la migra, has access to any person who comes into contact with the police, whether a criminal charge exists or not.

This generates fear in the immigrant communities of the United States and promotes discrimination.  “We are suffering a relentless persecution.  In 2010, more than 392,862 of our brothers and sisters were deported, the majority for misdemeanors,” stated Cándido Alvarado in his speech.  Alvarado is a day laborer and a member of VOZ Workers’ Rights Education Project.  “We ask that the silent raids stop,” he added.

Candido Alvarado

Nevertheless, anti-immigrant laws continue.  HB 87, which was passed in May in the state of Georgia, gives police the power to investigate the immigration record of any person of whom they have a “suspicion.”  Moreover, it imposes fines and punishments on those who employ undocumented workers.

Marco Mejía, of the Pro Immigrant Rights Coalition of Portland, stated that to characterize the phenomenon of migration as a criminal matter alienates the country from the universal principles of justice.  Furthermore, it “denies responsibility for the causes of immigration, such as free trade agreements, war, and the exploitation of natural resources the world over.”

The organizations that participated in Saturday’s demonstration also denounced the economic cost that anti-immigration laws represent for the country.  The law HB 87 of Georgia could affect tourism income.  This hypothesis takes into account that in Arizona, with the law SB 1070, there was a loss of some $140 million due to canceled conventions.

New Sanctuary Movement, Portland Central America Solidarity Committee, North West Immigrant Youth Alliance, American Friends Service Committee, Jobs with Justice, MECHA and the Center for Intercultural Organizing Committee of Solidarity and Mutual Support were also present at the action.

See the Oregonian’s coverage of the event here.

Coming Out of the Shadows

Juvenile groups also showed their solidarity with Georgia on Saturday.  Jaime, of the North West Immigrant Youth Alliance (NWIYA), mentioned that seven youths were arrested in Georgia for participating in an act of civil disobedience “in order to defend the human rights in which we all believe.”  Jaime is one of nine undocumented youths that “came out of the shadows” on Saturday.  With the support of relatives and friends, they decided to say in public that they no longer wish to live with fear simply because they do not have papers.  They grew up here and are part of this country.  “Coming Out of the Shadows” was an emotional act that even brought forth tears from among those who were present.  But the support, the bravery, and the desire to move forward infused these young people with joy.  Their shirts carried the slogan of the afternoon, “I am undocumented and I am not afraid.”

After each youth had told his or her story, all of the attendees united in a march to downtown Portland.  “Education not deportation!” and “What do we want?  Justice!  When do we want it?  Now!” were some of the rallying cries of the marchers.  The march concluded last Saturday’s demonstration.

Maria Fernanda Mejia