MEDIA ADVISORY FOR FEBRUARY 25, 2017
Media Contact: Naomi Leilani Salcedo
E: nsalcedo@afirechicago.org
C: 773-315-0997
What: General membership meeting, orientation and “Know Your Rights” program for undocumented immigrants, domestic workers, allies, and members.
When: 11:00am-4:00pm CST on February 25, 2017
Where: Rizal Center, 1332 West Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613
Who: 40-60 new/old community members, undocumented immigrants, and domestic workers
(Chicago, IL) -- Since the passing of the Illinois Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, AFIRE is in the process of strategizing around implementation and enforcement of the law alongside coalition partners. In order to build greater awareness about the provisions of this law as well as other policies affecting our (undocumented) Filipino immigrant and working community, we have been facilitating Know Your Rights presentations and dialogues for community members; establishing a formal membership base of 65 members since October. Though most of our members are domestic workers and immigrants, AFIRE maintains an intergenerational base of Filipinos committed to building the movement for immigrant and workers rights.
This general membership meeting, the first of the year, will be held on February 25, with a program including Know Your Rights, a message to the Filipino community, orientation and dialogue running from 11am to 4pm. This assembly is being planned and co-facilitated by core group leaders, of whom, a majority are domestic worker women.
The purpose of this meeting is to allow members a safe space to share their experiences and express their commitments to build the community and defend families from exploitation, oppression, harassment and injustice. As many in our community are silenced, vulnerable, exploited, and abused, due to unjust immigration policies and poor working conditions, we hope this Membership meeting will amplify the voices of the most silenced, while developing the leadership of our community members to organize towards creating social change.
For more information on membership, please contact community organizer Christine by email at csumog-oy@afirechicago.org or by phone at 312-925-8451.