Spring Newsletter
Family Separation in Westchester
As difficult as it is to admit this, our immigrant families are being targeted and separated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in our Westchester communities. In the last month, over 20 ICE detentions have occurred in Westchester County even while we celebrate the signing of the Immigrant Protection Act . Everyday, throughout the country, the hard working parents of American children are being detained and deported leaving behind desperate situations. There is much work to do to keep these families informed, together and safe at the local level. CRC continues to host community forums and Know Your Rights training as well as legal clinics to support immigrant families but rapid response is now necessary.
CRC is in the midst of putting together the Westchester Immigrant Defense Coalition in partnership with community activists and the Hudson Valley Community Coalition (HVCC) . Our goal is to adequately prepare families for separation, respond quickly to their needs in the event of detention, and provide resources for legal assistance. It is becoming increasingly clear that families will need access to legal defense more than anything. If you would like to volunteer to join the coalition in some capacity, please click here .
Please also consider making a financial contribution to support our work with separated families.
As difficult as it is to admit this, our immigrant families are being targeted and separated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in our Westchester communities. In the last month, over 20 ICE detentions have occurred in Westchester County even while we celebrate the signing of the Immigrant Protection Act . Everyday, throughout the country, the hard working parents of American children are being detained and deported leaving behind desperate situations. There is much work to do to keep these families informed, together and safe at the local level. CRC continues to host community forums and Know Your Rights training as well as legal clinics to support immigrant families but rapid response is now necessary.
CRC is in the midst of putting together the Westchester Immigrant Defense Coalition in partnership with community activists and the Hudson Valley Community Coalition (HVCC) . Our goal is to adequately prepare families for separation, respond quickly to their needs in the event of detention, and provide resources for legal assistance. It is becoming increasingly clear that families will need access to legal defense more than anything. If you would like to volunteer to join the coalition in some capacity, please click here .
Please also consider making a financial contribution to support our work with separated families.
Celebrating Immigrant Heroines
On Wednesday, March 28th in honor of Women’s History Month, we celebrated our domestic worker leaders , Ana Aragon, Martha Carballo, Maria Yasmin Potes and volunteer, Manuela Soler for their dedication, hard work, and ongoing leadership at our Center. Our Founder, Martha Lopez graced us with a lovely key note speech and our heroines received accolades and proclamations from the CRC, the community, and elected officials. It was a special night for all as this celebration was our kick-off event to our 20 th Anniversary!
Special thanks to Rio Bravo Tacos & Tequila in Larchmont for hosting us, and thank you to all who joined us in support of women’s empowerment programs! Click here to see photos from the celebration.
Celebrating Immigrant Heroines
On Wednesday, March 28th in honor of Women’s History Month, we celebrated our domestic worker leaders , Ana Aragon, Martha Carballo, Maria Yasmin Potes and volunteer, Manuela Soler for their dedication, hard work, and ongoing leadership at our Center. Our Founder, Martha Lopez graced us with a lovely key note speech and our heroines received accolades and proclamations from the CRC, the community, and elected officials. It was a special night for all as this celebration was our kick-off event to our 20 th Anniversary!
Special thanks to Rio Bravo Tacos & Tequila in Larchmont for hosting us, and thank you to all who joined us in support of women’s empowerment programs! Click here to see photos from the celebration.
Justice for Workers: The Power of Workers United
Plaza Sweets is a large wholesale supplier of baked goods to retailers as far away as California. The company employed more than ten workers, who often had to work more than forty hours a week at barely minimum wage without overtime pay. When they had complained to management and the company’s owner they were ignored. In 2017, a number of employees sought medical care and were stunned to learn that their group health insurance program, which their employer was legally obligated to offer, had been canceled due to the company’s failure to make its required contributions. Yet their boss continued to deduct “health insurance premiums” from their paychecks long after the insurance had been canceled. Some were now stuck with thousands of dollars in unpaid medical bills. Amidst all of this, they also learned that the company was planning to shut down and the workers would soon lose their jobs.
The Plaza Sweets workers sought assistance from Community Resource Center (CRC) to develop a plan of action. With legal representation from Hudson Valley Justice Center (HVJC) , eleven former employees of Plaza Sweets brought suit against the company in Federal Court. They succeeded in having their former employer immediately deposit funds with the Court as security against the illegal health insurance premium deductions and outstanding medical bills. They also recovered tens of thousands dollars in earned but unpaid wages. Thank you to our partners at HVJC and the brave workers who stood up for their rights!
Plaza Sweets is a large wholesale supplier of baked goods to retailers as far away as California. The company employed more than ten workers, who often had to work more than forty hours a week at barely minimum wage without overtime pay. When they had complained to management and the company’s owner they were ignored. In 2017, a number of employees sought medical care and were stunned to learn that their group health insurance program, which their employer was legally obligated to offer, had been canceled due to the company’s failure to make its required contributions. Yet their boss continued to deduct “health insurance premiums” from their paychecks long after the insurance had been canceled. Some were now stuck with thousands of dollars in unpaid medical bills. Amidst all of this, they also learned that the company was planning to shut down and the workers would soon lose their jobs.
The Plaza Sweets workers sought assistance from Community Resource Center (CRC) to develop a plan of action. With legal representation from Hudson Valley Justice Center (HVJC) , eleven former employees of Plaza Sweets brought suit against the company in Federal Court. They succeeded in having their former employer immediately deposit funds with the Court as security against the illegal health insurance premium deductions and outstanding medical bills. They also recovered tens of thousands dollars in earned but unpaid wages. Thank you to our partners at HVJC and the brave workers who stood up for their rights!
Community Partnership
The CRC is excited to partner with the Rye Nature Center to bring science, nature, and fun to our middle school students. The first week, our students learned about live animals, their environment and how we can protect them. The second week, Courtney showed us how to make do-it-yourself bee’s wax lip balm! We cannot wait to see what our young people do with the Village of Mamaroneck garden plots in the coming weeks!
The CRC is excited to partner with the Rye Nature Center to bring science, nature, and fun to our middle school students. The first week, our students learned about live animals, their environment and how we can protect them. The second week, Courtney showed us how to make do-it-yourself bee’s wax lip balm! We cannot wait to see what our young people do with the Village of Mamaroneck garden plots in the coming weeks!
CRC Named Community MVP
We thank MVP Health Care for recognizing our dedication to our community through the Most Valuable Player Award. CRC hosts MVP representative every Tuesday and Wednesday to help members of the community sign up for health insurance.
We thank MVP Health Care for recognizing our dedication to our community through the Most Valuable Player Award. CRC hosts MVP representative every Tuesday and Wednesday to help members of the community sign up for health insurance.
SPECIAL THANKS!
Our supporters make this work happen. We thank our foundations and community organizations for their financial and moral support of our work this quarter!
Westchester Community Foundation
Catherine and Joseph Aresty Foundation
Hispanic Federation
New York Immigration Coalition
National Domestic Workers Alliance
Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Tom Murphy interviews Executive Director of the Community Resource Center, Jirandy Martinez and Deputy ED, Janet Rolon.
Our supporters make this work happen. We thank our foundations and community organizations for their financial and moral support of our work this quarter!
Westchester Community Foundation
Catherine and Joseph Aresty Foundation
Hispanic Federation
New York Immigration Coalition
National Domestic Workers Alliance
Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Tom Murphy interviews Executive Director of the Community Resource Center, Jirandy Martinez and Deputy ED, Janet Rolon.