our mission / nuestra misión

CENTRO
P
RESENTE
UNION! POWER! JUSTICE!
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO
FULLFIL OUR MISSION!
Your donation to Centro Presente is easy, tax-exempt and
NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2013
deeply appreciated. If you wish to support our mission,
please send us a check or visit www.cpresente.org and click
This issue
on donate to make a safe donation through Paypal.
P.1
-Trust Act Public Hearing
OUR MISSION / NUESTRA MISIÓN
Established in 1981, Centro Presente is a member-driven,
state-wide Latin American immigrant organization
dedicated to the self-determination and self-sufficiency of
the Latin American immigrant community of
Massachusetts. Operated and led primarily by Central
American immigrants, Centro Presente struggles for
immigrant rights and for economic and social justice.
Through the integration of community organizing,
leadership development and basic services, Centro
Presente strives to give our members voice and build
P.2
-Globalization Workshop
-Workers Rights Victory in
Somerville!
Fundada en 1981, Centro Presente es una organización
impulsada por una membresía cuyo propósito es desarrollar
nuestra autodeterminación y autosuficiencia como
comunidad inmigrante Latinoamericana en el estado de
Massachusetts. Operado y dirigido primordialmente por
inmigrantes centroamericanos, Centro Presente lucha por
nuestros derechos como inmigrantes y por la justicia
económica y social. Como medios para lograr sus
objetivos, Centro Presente integra servicios básicos junto a
una estrategia de organización comunitaria y desarrollo de
líderes, dándole voz a nuestros miembros y construyendo
poder comunitario.
P.3
-Immigration Reform
Forum
-Centro Family Cruise
P.4
-About Centro
community power.
MA TRUST ACT PUBLIC HEARING
CENTRO PRESENTE
Somerville, MA, 02143
NON PROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Phone: 617-629-4731
PERMIT NO. 228
17 Inner Belt Road,
Fax: 617-629-2436
BOSTON MA
Current Resident
July 9th, 2013
can be separated from my children who are U.S. citizens
at any moment," said Irasema Zapata, a member of
As the debate over federal immigration reform continues, Centro Presente.
an average of 1,100 people get deported everyday.
According to the statistics more than 61% of the people
The MA TRUST ACT Coalition turned out well over 100
deported under Secure Communities (S-Comm) in MA
immigrant advocates to attend the Judiciary Committee
were people with no criminal records. "Over the past
public hearing on the TRUST ACT, a bill that would direct
several years, we've seen hundreds of families being
Massachusetts law enforcement not to funnel our loved
separated because of programs like S-Comm. Governor
ones into an unjust deportation system. The bill was
Patrick tried to get Massachusetts out of the program but introduced in the House by Representative Carl Sciortino
ICE forced it on the state. Now we're pushing a new
and in the Senate by Senator Jamie Eldridge.
solution to break ICE's hold on our communities," said
Patricia Montes, Executive Director of Centro Presente.
In Massachusetts families live in constant fear of
deportation at the hands of local and state police. The
distrust of law enforcement this engenders in law-abiding
families undermines community policing efforts. "My
family was stopped by police and now even though I have
no criminal record, I have a deportation order from ICE. I
The TRUST Act is a state bill that sets a clear, minimum
standard for local governments in Massachusetts to not
submit to burdensome requests from Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain people for
deportation who have otherwise been ordered released
by the courts.
GLOBALIZATION
WORKSHOP
June 22nd, 2013
FORUM ON
IMMIGRATION REFORM
June 29th, 2013
Centro Presente members participated in a workshop on
On the 29th of June 2013 Centro Presente hosted a community
Globalization and Structural Causes of Migration held in partnership
forum on immigration reform. Members of the immigrant
with United For a Fair Economy (UFE). Jeannette Huezo lead the
community explored the current status of the immigration
interactive workshop which focused on the relationship between the
reform effort in Washington DC, including the political and social
global economic system and the flow of migrants around the world.
contexts. They explored the bill that was debated in the Senate,
Members of the Board of Directors, staff and members learned of
the ideas being discussed in the House and the political process
the need to put the interests of human beings and not corporations
that must occur for these proposals to become law.
at the heart of our immigration reform policy. The current economic
model with its globalized policies generates structural poverty in our
countries of origin and spurs undocumented immigration.
Militarization and border walls will not stop immigration. We
demand an economic model more JUST and HUMANE!
SAVE THE DATE!
YOU ARE INVITED TO CENTRO PRESENTES FAMILY
CRUISE
Workers Rights Victory in Somerville, MA!
Come support us and be part of the movement.
Enjoy a fun summer evening on Boston Harbor with
Centro Presente and SEIU Local 888 joined forces with local workers,
community activists and Greater Boston Legal Services to successfully push
for the passage of a City Ordinance, the first of its kind in the
Commonwealth, which would provide an additional lever to force employers
to comply with labor laws.
More than a year ago Centro Presente was approached by workers who had
been employed at various establishments of the One World Cuisine
restaurant group, including Davis Square's Diva Indian Bistro. They had
initially complained about not receiving payment for several pay cycles.
Upon investigation it was revealed that even when they were paid, they
were not paid minimum wage nor paid for overtime worked.
Centro Presente began a campaign with the workers that included a legal component supported by Greater Boston
Legal Services and a public campaign in Davis Square that caught the eye of local union leader Rand Wilson of SEIU
Local 888. "I want to thank Rand Wilson and SEIU Local 888 for the support they have given to this campaign," said
Patricia Montes, Executive Director of Centro Presente. "They helped us to maintain a very visible and very vocal
presence in Davis Square through rain and snow."
The ordinance would allow the City to deny a license or permit needed by a business from the municipality if that
business had been found to be engaging in wage theft. "This really sets a standard for local commitment to workers
rights," stated Montes. "What Somerville has done is to provide a model for municipalities in Massachusetts that
want to do more than resolve to protect labor rights but want to add teeth to that sentiment."
family, community and friends. Try a bite of delicious
Latino food, dance to the beat of live music and
participate in our raffle!
Where & When
Boston Harbor
One Long Wharf
Sunday, August 11, 2013
From 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Tickets:
General Admission: $35
Children under 12: $25
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW! Call (617) 629 4731 or
email pmontes@cpresente.org
All profits from this event will benefit Centro
Presente's work towards immigrant rights, workers
rights and civic engagement campaigns.