Win and Turn Back Trump

Win and Turn Back Trump

This election we reject the status quo & organize under strategic necessity to create the conditions that drive change from the ground up.

Boston Escuelita: Aprendizaje Across Generations

We are so excited for our Elders Panel at the Boston Escuelita for Latinx changemakers this weekend July 21-22!

Here’s a preview of the poderosxs that will be sharing time and experience with us. Check out the full agenda aquí

Remember, it’s not too late to register!*

“Today I am alive because of love,” Felix D. Arroyo told reporters, surrounded by family members, his doctor and Municipal Sergeant Roman Colon Jr., who performed CPR on him after he collapsed, and revived him with a defibrillator.

Long active in Boston’s civic and political spheres, Arroyo, 70, was elected Register of Probate in 2014, becoming the first Latino to be elected to statewide office in Massachusetts history. Arroyo ran for the Boston School Committee in the 80s, becoming the first Latino to run citywide and the first Latino to pass a primary. He held various positions on the Boston School Committee throughout the 90s and in 2003, served on the Boston City Council. During his recent time in the hospital, community members rallied around his cause, with over 100 people turning out to a prayer vigil in Lower Roxbury May 7. Read more about Felix aquí

Excerpts and photo for this bio taken from this article by the Baystate Banner.

Originally from El Salvador, Jeannette Huezo came to the US in 1989. She has spent her life working for justice and social change.

Jeannette is the Executive Director of United for a Fair Economy and also coordinates UFE’s popular education work and facilitates many workshops, particularly for Latino groups. She is also co-author of several of UFE’s State of the Dream reports on racial economic inequality in the U.S. In developing confidence and leadership skills in others, Jeannette has increased the number of activists in the struggle for social change, and has empowered women, immigrants and others facing injustice to participate in the decision-making process around issues that affect their lives. Jeannette is the mother of nine children, all currently in the United States. Read more about Jeannette aquí.

Carlos Rosales is originally from El Salvador, and came to the US in 1989. Carlos brought with him 9 years organizing experience in the rural coops, in the US his first organizing job was with the Coalition for Basic Human Needs (CBHN), organizing low-income women to fight for their rights. Carlos spend four years with Mass Tenants Organization were he worked as tenant’s organizer and was promoted as executive director; also worked with the Mass Seniors Action Council, as a senior housing organizer, he was the Coordinator of the Latino Coalition in East Boston; with IWCC (Immigrant Workers Center Coalition) was the first coordinator, organizing immigrant workers like himself to find their voice forming their worker Center, right after went to IBA as resident services coordinator.

For the last 5 years he has been working in the service field, as social worker in different agencies as EMPATH, Carlos always has been connected with the social movement in El Salvador, he has been participated twice as international observer for the election in El Salvador as part of the CISPES delegation. He is a co-founder of the Salvadoran Initiative for Education and Culture, a small volunteer organization which mission is to keep alive the memory historic, making the connection with the reality that Salvadorans faced here and the struggle that is facing the communities in El Salvador, this work had been done using the art, culture and political education.

*Members only pay $25 for the 2-day training weekend (become a member here), which includes meals, childcare, space, and housing/transportation support for those coming from out of town. If you’re a youth or not able to pay the registration cost, email sofia@mijente.net for need based scholarships (!)

Escuelitas Are Back For 2018!

WHAT ARE ESCUELITAS?

Last summer, we held our first series of  Mijente Escuelitas for members and potential members to deepen our analysis, grow our skills, and strengthen the community of Latinx changemakers who can take on the attacks of our time and seize the opportunities to transform our future.

The training will focus on looking at different historical and international examples of organizing, exploring what it means to create political home together, identifying ways to plug-in, and practicing concrete skills to be the movement-builders that we need.

WHEN AND WHERE?

Sign-up for one of the weekend long Escuelitas below:

Boston – July 21-22 – Purchase Tickets

Atlanta – August 4-5 – Purchase Tickets

Los Angeles – August 25-26 – Purchase Tickets

Richmond, VA – September 22-23 – Purchase Tickets

Miami – September 29-30 – Purchase Tickets

REGISTRATION & LOGISTICS

Interested participants are encouraged to take advantage of the $25 member registration by becoming members at members.mijente.net.

Registration includes costs associated with organizing the meeting (site, interpretation, materials, childcare, etc.), breakfast and lunch during the training. Need based scholarships are available, email sofia@mijente.net for more info.

Solidarity housing may be available in people’s homes and limited travel support is available upon request. Please indicate if you’ll need it on your registration form. Looking forward!

Mijente Responds to “Extreme and Retaliatory” Charges Against ‘Zero Tolerance’ Protesters Arrested During Yesterday’s Day of Action

Yesterday, 10 protesters were arrested for participating in a peaceful civil disobedience during the #FreeOurFuture Day of Action in downtown San Diego. The action was intended to send the message that people around the nation are demanding the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) and the against the criminalization of migrants by the Department of Justice (DOJ).  

The charges filed against them are of felony conspiracy, felony burglary, misdemeanor trespassing, and misdemeanor obstruction of justice and given each protester $50-60,000 bonds.  The 10 were arrested across the street from the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building, where the DOJ is set to begin an operation next week of mass trials and convictions of immigrants arriving at the border. They were part of a mass mobilization organized by Mijente,  with the slogan “Free Our Future.”

Mijente director, Marisa Franco, released the following statements about the charges:

“The attacks our communities are facing from the Trump administration require that we fight back in every way, sometimes putting our bodies on the line for what we believe is right. That is what those 10 protesters arrested yesterday did. Their actions forced a spotlight not just on  the Trump administration in Washington, but on the judges and officials right here in San Diego holding mass trials of immigrants, trials that will happen right acrros the street from the very building the protesters were arrested in.

The charges against them are extreme and cannot be read as anything other than an attempt to discourage protest. We call for the charges to be dropped against all the protestors, who were exercising their right to speak out against the atrocities committed by the Trump administration and Jeff Sessions.”

San Diego was chosen as the site for the mobilization due to the return of Operation Streamline to the city, slated for July 9th. Under Operation Streamline more people will be criminally prosecuted under Sessions’ “Zero Tolerance” policy. Operation Streamline is a federal strategy of mass hearings and mass imprisonment where immigrants are put into a courtroom, shackled at their hands and ankles, and convicted in groups of up to 70 people at a time, rather than getting individual hearings. At these hearings, immigrants with undocumented status face up to 20 years in prison for entering or returning to the country.

 

For press inquiries, contact Monica Trevino: 773-573-8667.