|
Dear Friends of Economic Justice,
As 2023 comes to a close, we are reflecting on the work we did
together this year. We hope you will continue
your support in the year ahead!
Did you know that UFE now has three hubs? We are
maintaining our presence in Greater Boston, continuing to build
coalition structures to advance worker-led change in North Carolina,
and wrapping up our first full year of programming to build a cadre of
Black and Latinx workers’ rights organizers in Alabama. And of course
we continue to collaborate with national partners!
-
In Greater Boston, where workers are organizing, UFE is
there with our Popular Economics Education and transformative
leadership development. When we gathered earlier this year
for a multiday convening of established and emerging immigrant leaders
advancing economic justice projects in Greater Boston, we saw the
“multiplier effect” in action -- nearly every trainer and session
facilitator was a woman who had been through UFE’s trainings to
learn about the economy through popular education. Support
this work to continue in 2024!
Participants in the Boston-area
Grassroots Leadership Institute, where a majority of trainers were
past UFE trainees
- In North Carolina, ranked the worst state in the
country for workers, we find that workers are fed up. People are
working long days and have families — and they are still organizing.
UFE coordinates the Raising Wages NC coalition, where
low-wage BIPOC worker-led groups set the agenda for raising the
minimum wage. We are a co-founder of the Avila Retreat
Center, ensuring that immigrant- and BIPOC-led groups have
access to that space for collective learning, action planning, and
rest. Your
gift to UFE ensures that our economic justice curricula,
intersectional supports, and creative communications meet worker
organizing with support and solidarity.
Workers assemble at the “Building
Worker Power” Convening at the NC Justice Center
- In Alabama, we are building people power in a
place that was not meant for us to thrive. UFE’s
Grassroots Organizing School of Alabama is building a
cadre of BIPOC worker-leaders ready to step into organizing for
change. Participant Iralda Hernández, an immigrant, domestic worker,
and mother of four, began through GOSA to connect her family’s
struggles with those of other low-wage workers. She has become a
popular educator and organizer, working with her community to increase
access to health care. Participant Juan Carlos Pérez, a poultry
processing worker for 25 years, is stepping into leadership through
GOSA. He is volunteering his time as an immigrant organizer in family
reunification efforts with other low-wage workers. Give
to UFE today to support leaders like Iralda and Juan Carlos, and
the 2024 GOSA cohort in Alabama.
And, across our hubs, we are growing and
innovating:
-
Healing for liberation — We are bringing circle work
and other tools for individual and collective healing to economic
justice organizing. We are supporting artists, organizers, educators,
and other community members with transformative justice workshops and
trainings that connect movement work for economic justice to healing
work for liberation using popular education.
-
New curriculum — UFE and Equipo Maíz launched a new
training curriculum – “Racism in the Mind, Skin, and the Action” – in
2023. A resource for learning and reflection about anti-Blackness in
Latinx communities, the curriculum debuted in an epic month of
trainings and workshops in each of UFE’s geographic hubs: North
Carolina, Boston, and Alabama.
Together – with you, with low-wage workers, with immigrant workers
– we are coming together to learn, strengthen our bonds, and take
action for a more just economy. Your support will ensure
we can continue this transformational work in the months ahead.
If you are able, please
increase or double your gift today!
En la lucha,
Jeannette Huezo
Executive Director and Senior Popular Educator
P.S. If you have already given, THANK YOU! You will receive a
letter of thanks shortly.
|
