19 Dec Sebastian Yatra shows his support to Make the Road Nevada members
Part of our job at Make the Road Nevada (MRNV) is to get other people to support the Las Vegas community on issues that they care about and for them to get to know the hard working families in Nevada.
A couple of weeks ago we had the honor of welcoming Spotify who brought Latin recording artist, Sebastian Yatra to our office. He sat with many of our members in a circle and got the chance to know them. Some of our members shared their experiences of being an undocumented worker of the Route 91 music festival, one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern America. Sebastian Yatra listened to their stories and showed great support. Watch the emotional video below:
Our organizer Bianca, retells her experience with Sebastian and our members:
“Sebastian Yatra came in and brightened up the room with his smile, giving everyone hugs and kisses right away. Our members at Make the Road NV were so happy because a well known young man had entered their safe space, a place that they have started to call their second home. As Sebastian warmed up to everyone and things quickly got very serious and emotional as he asked our members to share their stories not knowing that more than half of the people in the room where survivors from the October 1st Route 91 Music Festival.
He sat with us and listened attentively as they talked about the tragedy. Moving lifeless bodies, being affected by PTSD, and how some are still not able to cry. A member spoke with a knot in her throat trying not let the emotions out, she felt weaker than everyone else because she hasn’t been able to move on and is still having to go to therapy. Sebastian came in with the perfect answer, validating their feelings but also letting them know that one terrible experience should not define them and that there are a hundred other things to smile about. As a special “Thank You” we presented him with our official Make the Road NV tote bag, shirt and hat. Welcoming him as an honorary member of our organization. Sebastian quickly put the shirt on and wore it with pride looking like he was part of the Make the Road familia all along! He then serenaded us with his new song, putting smiles on all our members faces. We invited him to end our meeting like we always do as a strong latinx organization with the unity clap. Right away he was all for it! Almost as if he was the energy of the group!”
After the shooting, victims involved were able to receive medical and mental health services from the state. Because these survivors were undocumented, many of them were being turned away from these important services and some were too scared to ask for assistance for fear of deportation. MRNV was instrumental in helping the undocumented survivors of the Route 91 shooting receive help and were the leading organization in assisting them receive U-visas which are granted to Victims of Criminal Activity.
Make the Road Nevada recently celebrated their one year anniversary and we continue our commitment of fighting for Dignity and Respect of our community in Nevada. Being able to get these survivors a U-Visa’s was one of the many victories we accomplished in this short time. Read more about the “The Forgotten Route 91 are Finally Being Heard” here
Spotify is a music platform that was able to captured these great moments with Yatra and our members of Make the Road NV.
Watch the full video on the Spotify’s Viva Latino playlist here!