#1cal

2011 Immigrant Day

One California: Many Peoples, One Future

Immigrant Day in Sacramento has the feeling of family reunion combined with a big social justice rally. This day is a special occasion where organizations, advocates and allies statewide join forces to lift up the voices of the immigrant community and lobby legislators on the pressing issues that communities and more specifically immigrant communities are facing statewide. It is a time to connect or reconnect the realities from the most marginalized communities and the policies, propositions and legislation that is happening in Sacramento.

*Domestic Workers Coalition for Immigrant Day*

This year, I was a grateful to be part of the contingency with the California Domestic Workers Coalition. But if you know me you know that I have deep roots and respect for the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium and P.U.E.B.L.O. from Santa Barbara. In the morning we were able to say hi to old faces, talk and discuss strategies with new faces and most importantly demonstrate the strength of our collective power with a moving program and rally. The program consisted on representatives of the different groups and communities that make up such powerful coalition, from the Samoan group of Los Angeles, to the young immigrant Latin@s in Marin County, all representing different demographics but one common hope: shared responsibility and prosperity for the state of California.

As the California Domestic Workers Coalition we were part of more than 75 legislative visits. My favorite part of the visits, and I believe also the most beautiful, was to see in action the independence and fearlessness of the domestic workers. “I came to the house that I was working at and I would find a locked door with a note that said I was no longer needed…I never recovered those wages” a domestic worker shared in one of the visits.

These women have really taken ownership of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (AB889). The domestic workers were the leaders, advocates and at the end of the day the best ones to hold accountable each legislator we all visited. They gave testimonies about the endurance of their work and the realities of the challenges that came with it. At the end of each visit I saw time and time again a domestic worker firmly looking into the eyes of the staff member or legislator and asking them straight blank “Can we count on your support for the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights?” The reactions range from impressed and sympathetic to intimidated and confused. Accountability in government sometimes is a radical concept. But the women that I saw in my visits carried their visits with pride, distinction, dignity and respect for their profession.

I am thankful to be a part of the California Domestic Workers Coalition. I am proud of the power that these women exhibited in their visits. And maybe, just maybe… we can keep pushing our legislators so that they too one day reverse the question back to us: How can I best support you (us the constituents)? After all, just like the Immigrant Day motto say One CALIFORNIA: Many peoples , ONE Future.