Donors and Local Leaders in Conversation
On the Table: Immigrant Advocacy & Support
We began the event with gratitude. Standing in a circle, attendees acknowledged that immigrants often feel unseen and unheard. So, together we said thank you and shared stories of loved ones who are immigrants. Some honored family members or spouses. Others honored friends. As a group, we honored the labor of immigrants in Santa Cruz County who work so hard, especially in the agricultural and service industries. And then we learned how to better support and advocate for them in our community.
Gathering Around the Table
As a community, we’re at a critical time where we need innovative, community-driven, local solutions to support and advocate for our immigrant community. At the center of lasting solutions are strong relationships. Our On the Table event is a series of participatory mealtime conversations that connects our community of donors to current issues and each other.
For the conversation on Immigrant Advocacy and Support we invited
Dr. Ann López, Executive Director of Center for Farmworker Families
Ariadna Renteria Torres, Executive Director of Immigrant Legal Services Of the Central Coast Inc
Paulina Moreno, Director of Special Projects & Thriving Immigrants Initiative at Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County
Henry Martin, Director of Watsonville Law Center
Understanding Needs to Support Our Neighbors
Dr. Ann, Ariadna, Paulina, and Henry all spoke about the fear that people in the immigrant community live with every day. There is fear of deportation for themselves or their loved ones; fear of being victimized by crime and being taken advantage of financially; fear of racism and discrimination; and fear for the safety and inequal treatment for their children in school. For too many, this fear prevents them from accessing resources like food or health care because they fear the system itself which is intimidating in its complexity with technological, language, and literacy barriers. Through direct service, these organizations help provide the local immigrant community with food and supplies, legal support, and help navigating systems to access services. On an advocacy level, they are working to increase workplace safety, reform immigration policies, and broaden access to health care.
Actions We Can Take Together
Donate and invest in local organizations supporting and advocating for immigrants. Help organizations by giving them flexibility with unrestricted funding.
Support and learn about youth and school programs that focus on immigrant youth empowerment and education.
Volunteer to support organizations working with immigrants.
Center for Farmworker Families at a food distribution, contact Dr. Ann: ann [at] farmworkerfamily.org
Thriving Immigrants Initiative at Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County
Put your interest in supporting the immigrant community in your Memorandum of Charitable Intent (MOCI). Contact Hilary Bryant at hbryant@cfscc.org or 831-662-2065
