Monthly Newsletter - June 2024
Worker Power
Fresno, CA - One of the goals of our Worker Power Program is to organize agricultural workers in their native languages. To do this, CBDIO meets once a month with its farmworker committees in Fresno, Madera, and Tulare to provide information on various labor rights topics. In June, the topic addressed was heat stress and labor rights. As well as minimum wage, breaks, and how to document working hours. A total of 87 workers participated: 46 from Madera, 26 from Fresno, and 15 from Farmersville.These meetings empower workers to have confidence in themselves to exercise their rights and report violations that affect them in their workplace.Fresno CA - One of the goals of our Worker Power Program is to organize agricultural workers in their native languages. To do this, CBDIO meets once a month with its farmworker committees in Fresno, Madera, and Tulare to provide information on various labor rights topics. In June, the topic addressed was heat stress and labor rights. As well as minimum wage, breaks, and how to document working hours. A total of 87 workers participated: 46 from Madera, 26 from Fresno, and 15 from Farmersville.These meetings empower workers to have confidence in themselves to exercise their rights and report violations that affect them in their workplace.
Indigenous Voices at Radio Bilingüe
Fresno, CA - On Sunday, June 23, 2024, farmworkers were on Radio Bilingüe to share their stories about their participation in the monthly meetings of the Worker Power Program, and to encourage workers to speak up if they experience violations. Workers from the Chatino, Mixtec and Triqui communities shared their experiences in their native languages and in Spanish. Our staff members also shared how many farmworkers are more willing to share their work experiences and heat-related conditions after attending our meetings. This also inspires other workers to speak up about injustices in the workplace. It is a great source of pride and excitement to know that workers are learning and exercising their rights in their workplace and it is powerful to see them share their knowledge through the radio.
Mixteco After School Program
Salinas, CA - On June 26, 2024, the Board of the Santa Rita Unified School District approved the expansion of CBDIO’s after school program for Mixteco students at Santa Rita Elementary School in Salinas, CA. Alongside community members, CBDIO community workers, and the after school program instructors, gave testimonies and shared the importance of the program and the positive impact it has had on both students, family, and school staff.
In their testimony, parents described the tremendous academic support the program provides to their children. The students shared that they feel more confident and excited to engage in school, and school staff shared about the crucial in-language support CBDIO team members provide on a daily basis on school campuses. CBDIO’s after school team has wrapped up the first year of Mixteco classes at Santa Rita Elementary. We look forward to starting the program back up in August 2024.
To read more about the program and the Board’s decision click below:
Monterey County Now - Citing success in a Salinas school, Greenfield looks at an Indigenous-serving program.
Local News Matters - Salinas school district agrees to extend after-school program for children speaking Mixteco
United Communities are Stronger Communities
Salinas, CA - On June 27, 2024, the Chatino and Mixteco communities of Salinas came together to share about their customs and traditions, emphasizing that although we speak different languages, we have similarities in our customs and traditions. In the event, a shared value of working together towards the common good stood out. That is, we can be more powerful together if we unite as one. Many of our Indigenous communities have the same needs and the same desire to improve the conditions of the environment. The event participants shared that coming together and being united allows them to feel safe and supported when fighting for change.
Immigration
Fresno, CA - On June 18, 2024, the Biden and Harris Administration announced a new program with the purpose of keeping American families together. Community organizations in the Central Valley made the official announcement during a press conference on June 20, 2024, at 11 a.m., in front of the Robert E. Coyle Federal Building in downtown Fresno. This announcement was supported by CBDIO, Centro La Familia, ILRC, SIREN, ELF, and other non-profit organizations. CBDIO staff participated by informing the media and the community about the program announcement. The message was shared in Mixteco.
In the meantime, we ask the community to stay informed and be wary of fraud. Always seek help from trusted community organizations or reputable legal providers. To verify recognized organizations and representatives accredited through the United States Department of Justice, click here. To verify an attorney in the State of California, click here.
Statewide Reach
Updates
Immigration
In the month of June 2024 the Immigration Department completed the required naturalization cases under the NAC funding. Additionally, a new funding period begins for the fiscal year 2024-2025 with the NEW American Campaign. If someone needs assistance with the naturalization or citizenship process, refer to CBDIO’s Immigration Team at (559) 499-9891 or at gregorio@centrobinacional.org.
Comments