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#IMMIGRANTSTRONG: Rosario’s Story

June 20, 2019 MRNV DACA, Earned Paid Sick Days, Immigrant Justice

As a part of Immigrant Heritage Month, we are highlighting the experience as an immigrant of our member leaders. Rosario Moreno is a founding member of Make the Road NV! She is a part of our “Familias Unidas” committee, that focuses on the economic justice for the working families in Nevada. She has taken an active role at weekly member meetings, as she cooks for all the members and even leads the discussions at times. Without Rosario’s contribution, we may not have been as successful in pushing bills through the Nevada legislator, or recruiting new people to the meetings. Her “Lucha es Fuerte!” and her determination was shown by going on four bus trips to Carson City, urging legislators to support Earned Paid Sick Days!

Rosario emigrated from Mexico City, Mexico, with her husband, with only one goal, providing a better life for her children. She was fleeing a life of poverty and knew that life in the United States was going to be something different, but definitively better. Her life in Mexico was hard, she was stuck in poverty like so many Mexicans that decided to search for opportunity across the border.

“Ahorra la vida es muy difícil con este señor que entró, ya hasta en la calle vamos atemorizados, vamos con miedo precisamente a causa de este señor…”

Since having moved here, Rosario has experienced a change in the treatment and the way immigrants are viewed in the US. She tells us that life for an immigrant has become more difficult and much more dangerous under the current administration compared to when she first arrived in the US. The rhetoric that President Trump spews has caused fear in so many contributing immigrants. She believes that immigrants, like her, contribute everyday just by going to work. She compares a day without immigrants in Las Vegas, would look like a ghost town. Her message to immigrants struggling under the current administration is “La unión hace la fuerza” meaning unity creates strength. There are power in numbers and we at Make the Road NV are here to make sure that our immigrant communities voices are united, strong, and heard!

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HR6 Passes, DACA Recipients Rejoice!

June 10, 2019 MRNV DACA, Immigrant Justice

The Long Journey of DACA, from 2012 to the Dream and Promise Act of 2019…

On June 15  2012, undocumented immigrants all around the US were given hope of a better life, one no longer in the shadows, and with more opportunities in education and careers. Undocumented Immigrants that arrived as children under the age of 31, now dubbed DREAMers, were given legal status and work permits through an executive order from President Barack Obama. This meant they could now attended college, get jobs legally, and acquire driver licenses. The DREAMers were now protected from being deported from the only country they have known as home, since some of them left at a very young age and didn’t have the opportunity to visit their native country.

The name DREAMers originated from a series of failed federal legislations called the Dream Act, and in response to the lack of legislation being put out by congress, President Obama decided to issue the executive order, with the hopes that legislation will soon be passed. However, any form of legislation never came to fruition, and as the Obama Administration ended, the DREAMers were left unprotected with their futures up in the air. Many of those DREAMers took advantage of opportunities given to them, some of them earning degrees, others working their way up legitimate career fields. With the beginning of the Trump administration, the entirety of the DREAMers’ lives could be uprooted any second, and when the Trump administration ordered that DACA come to an end, all the DREAMers were once again no longer welcomed in the country they called home. As of right now, the decision to end DACA is under judicial review, having been ruled against, the DREAMers are safe for now but their futures remain cloudy.

 



 

“This is critical, and it’s worth celebrating even though, we have more work to do because this sends a strong message, not just from the democratic party, but across the nation and across the yard to the senate”

-Dina Titus, District 1 US Congresswoman  

Since the introduction of DACA, deporting the DREAMers would be the same as deporting Americans, there is no difference between a child that arrived at one year old or one that was born in the US. Some DREAMers didn’t find out they are undocumented until they are old enough to apply for driving permits or when the time for college applications comes around. For the Trump Administration to tell the DREAMers, that they’re not valued and they’re not allowed to be a part of this country. The hope of the DREAMers lies in the hands of congress passing the Dream and Promise Act and the 2020 Presidential Race.

On June 4, 2019, DREAMers got to celebrate the passage of HR6, the Dream and Promise Act, in the House of Representatives! The following Friday June 7th, MRNV hosted the Nevada congressional delegation to celebrate this victory! We had Congresswoman Susie Lee, Congressman Steven Horsford, and Congresswoman Dina Titus speak about the bill along with members of the Nevada Immigrant Coalition and the community. Our leaders talked about continuing the fight as HR6 moves onto the senate, where the fight becomes tougher.

To learn more about the Dream and Promise Act visit our page here: The Dream and Promise Act of 2019

 

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Nevada’s Congressional Delegation Gathered at Make the Road NV to Celebrate the Passage of the American Dream & Promise Act

June 7, 2019 admin DACA, Economic Justice, Immigrant Justice, Make the Road Nevada, Press Release

For Immediate Release: June 7, 2019

Las Vegas, NV –  Today, Make the Road Nevada (MRNV) hosted Representatives Dina Titus (NV-01), Steven Horsford (NV-04), and Susie Lee (NV-03), community members and other progressive organizations in the celebration of the passage of the American Dream and Promise Act. These representatives are co-sponsors of H.R.6, this legislation provides protection for up to 2.5 million immigrants which include DACA, TPS and DED holders. The Dream and Promise Act represents the first time in several years that a legalization-only bill has moved forward for a floor vote.

“As a first generation college student I am deeply passionate about education and striving for the best to represent my family and my community… The Dream and Promise Act will give us a fighting chance to finally be on the path to citizenship for people that want to contribute to this country further. ”- Genaro Marcia-Lorza

“Passing the Dream and Promise Act was about every person in this room that made phone calls and made your voices heard, activism has consequences and produces results and this passage of the Dream and Promise  Act was one of the most emotional votes….I will tell you, Si se Puede ”- Congresswoman Susie Lee

“It is so nice to come home, to be with friends to be together and have something to celebrate…It is worth celebrating even if we got more work to do because this sends a strong message not just from the democratic party but across the nation and across the yard to the senate on the other side, just how strong this community is.” – Congresswoman Dina Titus

“We have to go back to what this is really about, and it is all of your families,  and we have communities across the board that are affected by a broken immigration system… I’m proud that H.R.6 passed out of the house, 100 percent of the house democrats voted for it. While we still have more work to do get this done, you deserve the credit”- Congressman Steven Horsford

Make the Road Nevada is counting on the leadership of Nevada Senators Catherine Cortez-Masto and Jacky Rosen to continue standing alongside Nevada’s immigrant families as they defend HR6 while they urge their Republican colleagues in the Senate to support the Dream and Promise Act.

Download the PDF here: NV’s Congressional Delegation at MRNV

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Nevada finishes their 80th Legislative Session with many victories Make the Road Nevada

June 5, 2019 admin Earned Paid Sick Days, Economic Justice, Immigrant Justice, Justice for Puerto Rico, Make the Road Nevada, Time to Care Nevada, Victories ,,

June 5th 2019 The 80th Nevada legislative session has come to an end and with it comes an array of victories for Make the Road Nevada (MRNV) and our members! After a long 120 days of lobbying for bills that were aimed to help working families in Nevada, members had the opportunity to  participate in the legislative process! Our members showed legislators in our state that they are present and involved in Nevada ! Although there were many victories there still a lot of work to be done especially towards the bills that died in this legislative session but that address important issues for our community.  

As a part of the Time to Care NV coalition, members successfully lobbied for SB 312, a bill requiring employers with 50 or more employees to provide earned paid sick days. MRNV members made monthly bus trips to Carson City, Nevada, in order to meet with state legislators and share the stories and struggles of working Nevadans. The passage of AB 456, which raising the minimum wage to $12 over the next five years, resulted in another big win for economic justice after a decade with no increase!

We saw great victories for immigrant justice! We successfully organized as part of the Nevada Immigrant Coalition(NIC), and with the help of Senator Selena Torres, for AB 275 which removes any citizenship requirement need to acquire professional licenses. This is a victory that our members can be really proud of as this bill will open the doors for so many undocumented immigrants, allowing for them to start their own business and stimulate the economy. In addition, the Office of New Americans was established through SB 538 and immigrants being informed of their miranda rights through AB 376. However, the work for immigrant justice doesn’t end at the end of the legislative session, we still need to work to end the 287g program.

One of the issues that our members are most passionate about, housing justice, saw advances that would help those Nevadans on the verge of homelessness. So many Nevadans live one emergency away from failing to make rent and being evicted. With the passage of SB-151, the bill buys those Nevadans an extended period of time and protections when facing evictions. AB 174 helps the homeless population find housing as it establishes the Nevada Interagency Advisory Council on Homelessness to Housing.

The work doesn’t end here, for the members of MRNV there are still needs that are not being met. We still need to end the terrorization of ICE in our neighbors through the 287g program. There is still more that can be done for the imminent housing crisis, and we can’t let the $12 minimum wage raise be ceiling but only just the beginning, because our communities are still facing life changing economic struggles.

To stay informed and get involved, join us at our weekly community meetings and come back to our website for the latest information.

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Make the Road Nevada Continues its Efforts for a Better Nevada

June 4, 2019 admin Earned Paid Sick Days, Economic Justice, Immigrant Justice, Justice for Puerto Rico, Make the Road Nevada, Press Release, Social Justice, Time to Care Nevada, Victories

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Nevada’s Legislative Session Wraps up

Las Vegas, NV – Since the beginning of the 80th Nevada legislative session, Make the Road Nevada (MRNV) members focused their organizing efforts to pass policies around economic, immigrant, and housing justice. In coalition with partners like Time to Care Nevada (TCNV) and the Nevada Immigrant Coalition (NIC), we achieved landmark policies to improve the quality of life for immigrants and hardworking families.

As a member of TCNV, MRNV supported SB312, which gives Nevadans working in a business with over 50 employees the ability to earn paid days off so they can take care of themselves and their loved ones. AB456 & AJR10 raised the minimum wage for the first time in over a decade, another priority of the TCNV Coalition.

In partnership with the NIC, we called for the creation of the Office of the New American (SB538) and supported AB376 which ensures immigrants are informed of their Miranda rights when being detained. We also championed the passing of occupational licensing for all Nevadans via AB275.

Nevada is facing a housing crisis and housing advocates in Northern and Southern Nevada dedicated their time to lay the groundwork for stronger housing justice policies in the following sessions. Over 200,000 working families are rent burdened, living one emergency away from becoming homeless. SB151 passed giving renters more time to pay the rent and providing more tenant protections.

MRNV is proud to be following the leadership of Arriba Las Vegas Workers Center and to be a part of the effort to end Clark County’s 287(g) agreement at the local level and promote legislation that stands up for immigrant families at the state level.

Nevada’s 80th legislative session was historic for many reasons. Outstate took the first steps to ensure that Nevada’s most vulnerable are being heard and protected. We look forward to continuing to work with Arriba Las Vegas Worker Center to eliminate 287(g) and Metro’s relationship with ICE, and with NIC and TCNV to ensure that the bills passed really work for Nevadans. We will continue our work with these and other partners to hold our elected officials accountable and ensure Nevada is a a place where all people can live with dignity and respect.

Download the PDF HERE

MRNV builds the power of Latino and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation and transformative education.

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#IMMIGRANTSRONG

June 1, 2019 admin Immigrant Justice, Make the Road Nevada

June 1st 2019, Make the Road NV will be celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month by showing that we stand with immigrants! We are launching a month long #IMMIGRANTSTRONG campaign! We will be adding a butterfly emoji 🦋 to all of our social media handles to signify our support for the immigrant community. We encourage all of you to take part and do the same, as we take this month to honor the contributions that immigrants have made in our everyday lives.

For immigrants the butterfly holds immense meaning! The monarch butterfly is known for its migratory patterns, moving between Mexico and US as the seasons dictate, making it the perfect symbol for immigrants. Since being adopted by 11 million undocumented immigrants, the symbol’s meaning has changed to symbolize the resilience and hope in the immigrant community, the same way the monarch butterflies endure a long journey to arrive to its destination. Similarly a butterfly migrates to escape harsh winter conditions, immigrants like in the Migrant caravan were escaping the harsh and violent life in Central America.

Throughout US history, the country has been a place for immigrants searching for a new life, the way the Trump Administration has been treating immigrants is contradictory to our long culture of immigration! There has always been immigrants in US history, from the time it was called the “new world” to immigration through Ellis Island and the influx in immigrants from Latin America. All of these immigrants have made contribution to the country that have improved our lives. This long history of immigrants is why we have to show that we stand with immigrants during their struggles for a better life.

Please join us in honoring the long history and sacrifices that immigrants have made for this country and in our lives, whether they be our parents or other family members, they all deserve a chance to spread their wings in the country they call home. We also encourage everyone to share their immigrant stories or reasons why they stand in solidarity with immigrants using on social media using hashtag #IMMIGRANTSTRONG

You can take part by adding the butterfly emoji 🦋 to your social media handles and by adding one of these social media covers below:

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The Final Push for Earned Paid Sick Days in Carson City

May 14, 2019 admin Earned Paid Sick Days, Economic Justice, Time to Care Nevada

May 14th 2019, Make the Road NV (MRNV) had their fifth and final lobbying trip of the 2019 legislative session, as part of Time to Care Nevada (TCNV), members have been making monthly trips from Las Vegas to Carson City to meet with state legislators. MRNV members met with state senators and assembly members, among those, were Mo Denis, Ozzie Fumo, and Susie Martinez. The goal was to share the stories of working families and to not only pass the bill on earned paid sick days, SB 312, but to have a bill that includes employers with less than 50 employees. If those employers were to be excluded, roughly 192,000 Nevadan workers will not receive the benefits of earned paid sick days. Those 192,000 Nevadans include some of the workers that most needs earned paid sick days.

 

It was approximately 50 people on this bus which included staff from Mi Familia Vota, Battle Born Progress, Planned Parenthood, Indivisible, and PLAN. After an 8-hour long bus ride, having finally arrived in Carson City, TCNV members had dinner and prepared for a long day of lobbying for the next day. The next day, members started their day with a brief explanation of what lobbying is and how it can be powerful. After getting into groups they headed to the capitol, they were in and out of meetings with state legislators, having meaningful discussions, and pushing for a better bill on earned paid sick days.

 

 

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MRNV member, Amparo Cruz, and her family had to endure the unthinkable, her son was diagnosed with leukemia. When the diagnoses came through Amparo and her family couldn’t afford to stop working to care for her son, they had new medical bills to pay on top of all their other expenses. Earned paid sick days would have allowed the family to be there for their son.

We have less than a month left in the legislative session, sharing the stories of those workers affected by the lack of access to earned paid sick days is the key to passing bill SB-312.  For more info contact us at info@maketheroadnv.org or visit timetocarenv.org

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Make the Road Nevada 2019 mid-Legislative Session update

May 9, 2019 admin Earned Paid Sick Days, Economic Justice, Immigrant Justice, Justice for Puerto Rico, Make the Road Nevada, Time to Care Nevada

May 9th 2019, the Nevada legislative session has been winding down, with less than a month remaining, Make the Road Nevada (MRNV) has been working towards bills that aims for Nevadans to have a better quality of life. MRNV’s members have been busy going to committee hearings, lobbying trips and reaching out to their state Legislators. Their effort resulted in all of our voting rights, housing, and immigrant rights bills making it through the first house passage. One of MRNV’s largest campaign is earned paid sick days, bill SB312, and it has been making its way through Senate committees. The coalition for earned paid sick days, Time to Care NV will be having one last lobbying trip to keep the push for a stronger bill that includes as many Nevadans as possible.

Make the Road Nevada is involved in the following Bills in the Legislative session 2019:

Immigrant Justice

AB 275 Occupational licensing for Non-citizens

AB 376 Makes local law enforcement agencies report statistics of prisoners transferred to federal agencies, such are ICE  

Puerto Rican & US Territories Justice

SB 396 Makes it simpler for people from US territories like Puerto Rico and Guam to transfer their licenses in Nevada

Economic Justice

SB 312 Requires business provide earned paid sick days for workers to take care of their health or family without risking financial security.

AB 456 Raises the minimum wage to $12

Housing Justice   

SB 398 empowers local government to address affordable housing.

SB 256 Prohibits discriminatory practices on the basis that the income of a person is derived from governmental benefits.

SB 151 Eviction reform which increases the period of time before the removal of tenants.

SB 425 Requires the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services to amend the State Plan for Medicaid to provide certain additional home and community-based services

AB 174 Creation of the NV Interagency Council on homelessness.

 

For more information on our organization and on what you can do before the session ends, contact us info@maketheroadnv.org

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PRESS RELEASE: Southern Nevada’s Congressional Delegation Respond to the Ongoing Crisis in Puerto Rico

April 24, 2019 admin Justice for Puerto Rico, Press Release

For Immediate Release:

REPRESENTATIVES FROM SOUTHERN NEVADA’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION COMMENT ON THE ONGOING CRISIS IN PUERTO RICO

Las Vegas, NV – Today, Make the Road Nevada hosted a roundtable with members from the community and representatives from Southern Nevada’s congressional delegation to talk about the current needs in Puerto Rico and how Congress can step in to assist. At the same time, a federal court hearing was taking place to decide what will happen to the island’s $72 billion public debt.

Across the nation many groups, including Make the Road Nevada, are asking for Judge Laura Taylor Swain, the judge presiding over hearings on Puerto Rico’s debt, to eliminate $6 billion in debt that was declared “illegal” by Puerto Rico’s Financial Oversight and Management Board last month and to cancel other parts of the debt.

In today’s roundtable, many commented on what is currently going in Puerto Rico;

Judy Fleishman, a member of the Puerto Rican Association of Las Vegas, issued the following statement:

“The United States says they responded to the disaster and they did, but Puerto Rico continues the need to receive help so they can recover after a hurricane that ended with a big part of the island destroyed. Puerto Rico needs funding and if some of this debt is not eliminated, it will hurt Puerto Rico for a long time.”

Congresswoman Susie Lee issued the following statement:

“While Puerto Rico continues to rebuild from one of the worst natural disasters to hit the island, there is another crisis hurting our fellow Americans on the island: the territory’s debt crisis. Congress urgently needs to provide disaster relief and seriously review Puerto Rico’s current debt situation—which is being worsened by predatory practices from hedge funds and private companies taking advantage of an island still trying to rebuild,” said Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03). “I believe it is time for Congress to hold the Financial Management and Oversight Board accountable and address Puerto Rico’s ballooning debt before it’s too late.”

Congressman Steven Horsford issued the following statement:

“I firmly support increasing aid to Puerto Rico, and I’ve called on the Trump Administration to release already appropriated funds to help the island. House Democrats have also called for additional relief funds. The Natural Resources Committee, on which I sit, has jurisdiction over Puerto Rico and has committed to look into this issue. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the committee to ensure the people of Puerto Rico receive the resources they need.”

Until Puerto Rican families are unburdened from the illegal debt, they won’t have the chance for a Just Recovery from Maria and from years of austerity.

Download the PDF here

For photos and videos please email info@maketheroadnv.org

Make the Road Nevada (MRNV) builds the power of Latino and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation and transformative education.

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A Small Victory & a Big Step Towards Earned Paid Sick Days for Nevada!

April 11, 2019 admin Earned Paid Sick Days, Economic Justice, Time to Care Nevada, Victories

Since the start of the 2019 legislative session in Nevada, Make The Road NV (MRNV) began their efforts in ensuring that working families in our state have the opportunity to care for their health and the health of their love ones by supporting earned paid sick days. As soon as this issue was brought up to members of the Las Vegas community they couldn’t agree more. It was time to make sure all workers have the time to get better when they become ill. MRNV spoke with small businesses in the community, many of which agreed that earned paid sick days are needed and all employers should provide them for their employees to promote a strong and healthy work environment.

Fast forward to the beginning of the legislative session, members from MRNV, together with the rest of the Time to Care NV coalition, were ready to go from Las Vegas to Carson and speak to legislators about why earned paid sick days is important issue for them. The first bus trip full of supporters was on February 18th, 2019.

Earned Paid Sick Days moves on to the next level

On April 11th 2019, working Nevadans, families, and small business owners came together in front of the Senate Commerce and Labor committee to testify and advocate for the earned paid sick days bill, SB312. With no opposition, the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee voted paid sick days bill SB 312 out of committee unanimously at the end of the hearing! The bill now moves to the Senate floor to be heard again and we at MRNV as part of the Time to Care NV coalition, will continue to go Carson City to urge our elected officials to support SB312 when it gets introduced again later this year.

During the testimonials, we heard emotional testimonies from MRNV organizers Bianca Balderas and Jose Macias who shared their personal stories of their own family members being affected by the inability to earn paid time off to take care of themselves when they fell ill. Jose lost his mother because she couldn’t afford to put her health first, like most working families, she needed to support her family, ignoring all the warning signs she had a stroke while working and later passed away as a tragic consequence. Families are unknowingly risking their own lives going to work to provide for their families and it’s NOT RIGHT!

 

 

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Join in the fight for economic justice as we continue battle for earned paid sick days!  Visit Time to Care Nevada and sign up to be involved on their website! Or send us message! You can help by:

✔ Sharing a personal story of how you’ve been affected by not having earned paid sick days
✔ Join us on our next bus trip to the state capital
✔ Come out to support during the next hearing in Las Vegas

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