Puerto Rico get hit with earthquakes

January 14, 2020 admin Justice for Puerto Rico

Beginning in late December 2019, a series of earthquakes struck the southern coast of the island of Puerto Rico. Since then, the island’s faced almost 800 earthquakes, with varying magnitudes reaching up to 6.4. Puerto Rico’s weak infrastructure couldn’t hold up following the continuing earthquakes, having already been weakened by the effects of Hurricane Maria more than two years ago. About 1 million Puerto Ricans were left without power or running water. The Island had been waiting for the $18 million dollars in relief Congress had allocated that President Trump is sitting on. This aid would have been used to rebuild the island’s infrastructure after Hurricane Maria destroyed critical power lines and structures, leaving certain regions without power for 11 months.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters on the island, for too long they have been treated like second-class citizens. They deserve a just recovery, one that was not given to them in the events following Hurricane Maria. Puerto Rico needs the support of the US government during this natural disaster. We need to also take action now, you can donate directly to relief efforts here: https://www.justiceforpuertorico.org/donate.

To get involved in some of the work we do on Puerto Rican Justice in Nevada, join us at one of our weekly meetings, Wednesdays at 6:00pm at 4250 E Bonanza Rd. Suite 20, or email us at amigxs@maketheroadnv.org

Nevada workers may now qualify for having earned paid sick days. Know your employment rights.

January 8, 2020 admin Earned Paid Sick Days, Economic Justice, Time to Care Nevada

Senate Bill 312 (SB312) implementation Jan. 1, 2020

Last year Make the Road Nevada (MRNV) members along with the Time to Care NV (TCNV) coalition, rallied together in an effort to push for earned paid sick days for the working families in Nevada. On June 12, 2019, Governor Sisolak made it official when he signed SB312 into law. Fast-forward to now, SB312 took effect on January 1st for employers with more than 50 employees. You may be asking what this means to you and how it might affect your job? Here are a few frequently asked questions regarding earned paid sick days:

Q1: Who is eligible for earned paid sick leave?

A: Full-time and Part-time employees with employers who have more than 50 employees

Q2: Who is NOT eligible for earned paid sick leave?

A: Temporary, seasonal, and on-call employees; employers with less than 50 employees; and employers with matching or greater paid leave policies

Q3: How much paid sick leave am I owed?

A: You are owed .01923 hours of paid sick leave per hour worked

Q4: How will my paid sick leave work?

A: Your employer must provide you with paid sick leave at the rate above either by earning it over time or front loading, depending on the employer’s discretion.

Q5: When can I start using my earned paid sick leave?

A: You are eligible to use your paid sick leave after 90 days of employment and depending on workplace policies once you have earned the minimum increment to use a paid sick day.

Q6: How long do I have to give notice before using my paid sick leave?

A: SB312 does not set requirements for use of paid leave ahead of time but also does not restrict the use of last-minute notices for emergencies.

Q7: Can my employer deny my paid sick leave?

A: Your paid leave can NOT be denied if you have available paid leave, nor can you be required to find a replacement as a condition or be retaliated against for using paid leave.

Q8: What should I do if my employer is not providing paid sick leave if you are eligible?

A: If your employer is not complying with the new law, file a complaint at the following website:

http://labor.nv.gov/About/Forms/FORMS_FOR_EMPLOYEES/

I am a DREAMer: Lalo

January 6, 2020 MRNV I am a DREAMer, Immigrant Justice, Make the Road Nevada

LaLo learned at an early age what it meant to be an undocumented immigrant. He was brought to the United States at the age of 2 and was fortunate enough to receive DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) at the age of 25. He is now the political director for Make the Road NV and works hard every day to empower his community and unite all people to fight for everyone’s right to be able to achieve their full potential, regardless of a 9 digit social security number.

On November 12th, 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) started hearing testimonials on the DACA program. Now more than ever, we need to stand with #Dreamers.

RENEW YOUR DACA DONATE TO HELP OTHERS & GET INVOLVED

If you live in Las Vegas, NV and need assistance with renewing your application or you want to share your story and get involved in the fight to PROTECT OUR DREAMers, email: amigxs@maketheroadnv.org

Donate to help local DREAMers renew their DACA http://bit.ly/MRNVdonate

Going Hungry, Looking for Work

December 18, 2019 admin Social Justice

President Trump continues his attack on low-income communities and decides to starve them as well. Recently the Trump Administration has finalized new rule changes with US Department of Agriculture to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that would limit eligibility for single recipients who work less than 20 hours. This change would remove almost 700,000 recipients from the program, more commonly known as food stamps, leaving them hungry. This change could prove to be drastic for families, communities and local grocers.

The proposed changes would virtually eliminate the ability for state governments to give waivers to SNAP recipients who don’t meet the 20 hours per week work requirement and don’t have dependents or a disability. As of now the almost 700,000 recipients are able to apply for a waiver that removes the limit of 3 months of assistance per 3 years. A major part of the recipients of these waivers are from high unemployment areas. This proposed change was previously a part of a farm bill in Congress that was ultimately left out. Showing yet another time that President Trump circumvents the legislative process.

This change impedes the ability for individuals to succeed and reach autonomy while fearing the possibility of food insecurity. In Las Vegas, many casino workers and laborers are subjected to on-call shifts and unreliable hours, many of which depend on this program. Unreliable hours should NOT be a reason to go hungry. In other high unemployment areas, people manage to make ends meet with day jobs and gigs while searching and struggling to find consistent employment. Their only relief was this program to at least not going hungry. Household with multiple adults and families will suffer the most as they are already at higher risk of homelessness; putting more pressure on the families to pick up the new costs in the households. The homeless population will be further pushed from any sort of path to housing, for many of them food stamps are the main source of food. Removing their access to food stamps only adds onto the obstacles they face on a daily basis. This change is under the guise of employment incentives, while only removing support and not creating more jobs to struggling communities.

If you want to help stand up to unjust changes like these or stay informed on the latest, join us at our weekly community meetings on Wednesday at 6pm. Get involved with our fight against the homeless ban or for tenant rights and affordable housing by joining our Housing Committee on Fridays. Contact us for more information at amigxs@maketheroadnv.org

FamiliasGiving & Turkey Giveaway

December 2, 2019 MRNV Housing Justice, Make the Road Nevada

We hope that everyone had a happy Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and lots of food! Here at Make the Road, members did the most to make this Thanksgiving a special one. Starting at our Familias Unidas meeting, members put on a Thanksgiving dinner for all of our members and staff, giving us a chance to say thanks as an organization.This past Monday, Kenneth and other local businesses in Las Vegas donated Turkeys to our MRNV members. Over the weekend, we successfully hit our fundraising goal for our GivingTuesday campaign!

As the holidays approach, the Familias Unidas Committee wanted to celebrate with the MRNV family. Our Make the Road familia joined for a special dinner dedicated to giving thanks. FamiliasGiving was a night filled with dancing, laughter, and delicious food and deserts. As members came in carrying their favorite dishes, ready to share, they were greeted with great music and festive decorations put on by the Familias Unidas Committee. Our members took the time to commemorate and give thanks for the past year. All the food was delicious and the welcoming ambiance was even better. We would like to thank all of the MRNV members who put in the work to help their communities day in and day out.

The Monday before Thanksgiving, Kenneth Ceballos together with other local businesses collected over 150 turkeys and chose Make the Road Nevada as one of the recipients of the turkeys. Thanks to them, 35 of our members ensured their family had a Thanksgiving dinner!

Make the Road NV is an organization for the community by the community. This holiday season, while you gather around with your loved ones, give someone else that same opportunity. Families belong together today and every day. You can still donate to our GivingTuesday, before time runs out. Donate to our GivingTuesday campaign and let DREAMers know that they belong here.

DONATE HERE

PRESS RELEASE: Metamorphosis of the Woman Conference a Success in Nevada

November 26, 2019 admin Press Release, Women Empowerment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAS VEGAS — Women in Las Vegas often find themselves struggling to find a space to learn about important topics and where they are allowed to express themselves freely. This Saturday, Make the Road Nevada together with partners in the city of Las Vegas hosted, Metamorphosis of the Woman Conference, more than 100 women attended the event where they engaged in dialogue about reproductive justice, healing modalities, and activism as a tool for liberation during our conference.

In the Latino society some of these topics are considered tabu and therefore never talked about at home or in any social setting.

“I got here a little depressed because of personal reasons but the first workshop made me feel much better and really helped me, the workshop talked about techniques on how to get rid of the negative thoughts and gave us great techniques…A lot of times we have problems that we keep inside because we have no place to go and these events really help,” Ofelia Esquivel attended the event

This yearly conference hopes to continue empowering women to be their best selves. We thank this year’s sponsors: Nevada Department of Health and Human Services , Division of Public & Behavioral Health, Health Plan of Nevada, UNLV Immigration Law Clinic, Chispa, Happy Smiles, Human Rights Campaign, Immunize Nevada, Nevada Minority Health & Equity Coalition, Dignity Health, Nice & Bella, PLAN, Undocunetwork, Vision y Compromiso, Consumer Assistance & Resource Enterprise, Mujeres de Excelencia, Nevada Conservation League, Planned Parenthood, HIV, Promotoras & Public Affairs.

We are now starting to plan next year’s event and hope with the help of our community members, businesses and organizations we can keep growing and include more women.

DOWNLOAD THE PRESS RELEASE HERE

#MRNVgivingtuesday 2019

November 25, 2019 admin DACA, Immigrant Justice, Make the Road Nevada

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL OF $1000 BY DONATING TODAY!

Our goal for this year’s #GivingTuesday is to be able to raise enough money to pay for two Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal application fees. The cost to renew our DREAMers application is a $495 fee. A substantial amount for any person much less a working student. Giving Tuesday is happening on Dec 2nd, but why wait? You can donate now at: http://bit.ly/mrnvgive2019

DACA allows the recipients to be able to continue their education, obtain a work permit so that they are able to provide for themselves and their families, and most importantly, it gives them the opportunity to stay in the place they call home for another two years. Our immigrant youth are at risk of deportation and for most of the 700,000 beneficiaries, this is the only country they know.

This holiday season, while you gather around with your loved ones, give someone else that same opportunity. Families belong together today and every day. Donate to our DACA renewal scholarship fund now and let DREAMers know that they belong here. You can donate at our #GivingTuesday page here: http://bit.ly/mrnvgive2019

30 local DREAMers received DACA renewal scholarships over the weekend.

November 19, 2019 admin DACA, Immigrant Justice, Make the Road Nevada

CORRECTION: Current cost of a DACA renewal fee as of 11.19.19 is $495 NOT $496.

November 16, 2019 – On Saturday, Make the Road NV(MRNV) and partners from the Nevada Immigrant Coalition(NIC) prepared for a DACA Renewal Clinic. This DACA clinic was part of an effort with FWD.us and The Informed Immigrant coalition to help DACA recipients extend their protection amidst the Supreme Court case discussed on Tuesday, November 12. We were able to provide 30 DACA renewal scholarships to helped ease the $495 burden that families struggle to pay for every two years.

The Dreamers that came to the Clinic were first helped by filling out their applications and gather the documents required for the process. From there, they were sent our volunteer photographers who provided either free or reduced-priced passport pictures for the Dreamers, another hidden cost in the process. The next stop was with an immigration lawyer who went over their applications and answer any potential questions the beneficiary had. Lastly, they were given copies of all their documents and vouchers were given to those that received the scholarship. Thanks to our volunteers’ efforts, the 40 DACA recipients can keep living their lives in the place they call home, for many the only home they know.

In Nevada alone, DACA recipients make $15.8 million in mortgage payments a year.

Being able to provide this service to the community of DACA recipients was critical at a time when the future of the program and the 700,000 beneficiaries and their families is at stake. The Supreme Court is expected to make a decision about DACA between January 2020 and June 2020, in the meantime, it is important to support DACA recipients and uplift their stories, and their contributions to our country. DREAMers are homeowners, teachers, and leaders in our community. In Nevada alone, DACA recipients make $15.8 million in mortgage payments a year. These Dreamers are vital to our community and economy, leaving them without protection and a way to earn an income would result in disastrous effects in the country.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Make the Road NV (@maketheroadnv) on Nov 18, 2019 at 5:22pm PST

Thank you to FWD.US and the Informed Immigrant team for supporting the clinic, and thank you to our partners in the Nevada Immigrant Coalition for putting in the work needed to bring this service to our community. A massive thanks to AILA NV and the attorneys that volunteered their time, Enedina Dorsey Kassamanian, Mayra Salinas, Sarah Perez, Romero Mario, and Hardeep Dee Sull.

If you have DACA please renew as soon as possible, if you don’t you can help a Dreamer stay in their home, donate to our DACA renewal scholarship fund here. To stay informed on the latest on the DACA case, upcoming clinics and other immigration related issues, make sure to come to our weekly meetings, Tuesdays at 6:30pm and Wednesday at 6:00pm. For more information, contact us at amigxs@maketheroadnv.org

I am a DREAMer: Karla

November 7, 2019 admin DACA, I am a DREAMer, Immigrant Justice, Make the Road Nevada

Karla was brought to the United States at the age of 1 and a half years old. As a DREAMer she has been able to work, pay for school, and live the American Dream with her family. Now with the future of DACA being uncertain, she is determined to fight against family separation. Her message is clear, love humanity and fight for the right to stay in the place she calls home.

On November 12th, 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will hear cases on the DACA program. Now more than ever, we need to stand with Dreamers.

RENEW YOUR DACA
DONATE TO HELP OTHERS
& GET INVOLVED

If you live in Las Vegas, NV and need assistance with renewing your application or you want to share your story and get involved in the fight to PROTECT OUR DREAMers email: amigxs@maketheroadnv.org

Donate to help local DREAMers renew their DACA http://bit.ly/MRNVdonate

The meaning behind Make the Road NV’s Ofrenda for the Life in Death Festival

November 4, 2019 admin DACA, Immigrant Justice

On November 1st & 2nd of 2019, Make the Road Nevada (MRNV) participated for the first time at Life in Death Festival in Winchester Park. Dia de los Muertos is a tradition in Mexico where families put up pictures of loved ones that have passed away on to an ofrenda with bright colors, candles, fresh flowers, foods and items that once belonged to their loved ones. This altar is meant to honor them and welcome them their spirits with items they are remembered by.

Our ofrenda was dedicated to the children and transgendered women that have passed away while being under ICE custody at the border. All passed through Mexico in hopes of a better future than what they were currently living. Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin (7-years-old), Felipe Gomez Alonzo, an (8-years-old), Juan de León Gutiérrez (16), Wilmer Josué Ramírez Vásquez (2½), and Mariee Juárez (18-months-old) are just some of the victims that deserve justice. Darlyn Cristabel Cordova-Valle (10-years-old) just wanted to be with her mother who had been working in the U.S. for 9 years and Johana Medina Leon and Roxana Hernandez did not feel safe in their country for being transgendered women.

These were asylum seekers and they had rights. They needed hope and empathy, not a wall. Make the Road Nevada understand first hand the devastation family separation brings and we will continue to fight so our families can one day live with dignity. Today, we honor the lives of those that can no longer be here and we want to bring more attention to the injustices that are happening with our latinx community.

Along with our Ofrenda, MRNV had a face painting for DACA booth where our members painted traditional sugar skulls on children and adults to raise funds for DACA renewal scholarships. We managed to raise enough for two new applications! We would like to thank all our members who dedicated their time to creating the Ofrenda for weeks prior to the event and to those who came to share their face painting talents for a great cause. We look forward to next years Dia de Los Muertos to further bring our awareness of issues happening in our community.

If you live in Las Vegas, NV and need assistance with renewing your application or you want to share your story and get involved in the fight to PROTECT OUR DREAMers email: amigxs@maketheroadnv.org

You can also donate to help local DREAMers renew their DACA at: http://bit.ly/MRNVdonate

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Puerto Rico get hit with earthquakes

Nevada workers may now qualify for having earned paid sick days. Know your employment rights.