Community Voz

Welcome to Season 8! The legislative session just opened in Washington State and already Republicans and Democrats have introduced a bill which would erode overtime for farmworkers, on the first working day that the new overtime law went into effect. Rosalinda Guillen, Edgar Franks, Lelo Juarez and Liz Darrow talk about why this bill must die before it gets a hearing and how you can help make that happen.

Also in this episode: an update on flood relief, Lelo's inaugural Immigration Advisory Board meeting, and which movies we think you should add to your watch list.

Contact Chairman of the Labor and Workforce Development Committee, Mike Sells, and tell him not to give this bill a hearing:
[email protected]
 (360) 786-7840

Contact your state representatives and ask them to vote "no" on HB 1750 if it does get a hearing.

Songs in this episode:
Five Feet High and Rising by Johnny Cash
Fronteras by Gaby Moreno
Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Laughing by David Crosby

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Art is a critical element in movements. It inspires us, informs us, and reminds us to keep going. In this episode, Liz Darrow interviews singer/dancer Sabrina Gomez, visual artist Phoebe Wahl, and C2C's own Artivism Coordinator, Brenda Bentley about their work.

Songs in this episode:
Como Una Flor by Sabrina Gomez
Lady What Do You Do All Day by Peggy Seeger
You Don't Own Me by Leslie Gore
Straight to Hell by The Clash

Find out more about the artists:
Bilongo
Day to Day Dance School
Phoebe Wahl

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Since C2C discovered an unmarked ICE prison in a business park in Ferndale earlier this year, we have been standing vigil every Monday from 12-1 pm to demand that the facility is shut down. Recently a Homeland Security sector chief reached out to us to offer a tour of the facility and "clear things up". In this episode, Sierra Green, Marciano Sanchez and Liz Darrow discuss the tour, and the ways in which things are less clear now than ever before.

Western Front article referenced in this episode:
Does ICE have a secret facility in Ferndale? The city won't say, but protesters are angry

Photo credit: Sattva Photo

Songs in this episode:
Ay Que Bonita Es la Vida by Rosa Martha Zárate Macías
Borders by M.I.A.
Ave Que Emigra by Gaby Moreno

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Beginning on November 14th, 2021, Whatcom and Skagit Counties were inundated with days of non stop rain. Many communities were devastated by "atmospheric rivers", a term we wish we weren't so familiar with. In the middle of this disaster the promotora program has been mobilizing alongside allies and volunteer crews to respond with dignity and solidarity. In this episode, Australia Tobon, Brenda Bentley, and Liz Darrow talk about what they have seen so far and what the recovery effort moving forward will look like in the context of the movement work that has already been taking place.



Songs in this episode:
When the Levee Breaks by Led Zepplin
Ojalá Que Llueva Café by Juan Luis Guerra
Umbrella by Rihanna

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This week's podcast is a special presentation of our recent gathering Encuentro Campesino 2021 with live music from Tomas Madrigal and Rosa Martha Zaráte Macías. This program is an opportunity to hear from farmworkers and organizers about the work that is being done on the ground in the face of COVID, labor struggles, and historic flooding.

You can watch the video of the Encuentro webinar here:
https://youtu.be/7S2jhTyysvg

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In our final installment of Crash the Cop, Edgar and Jill talk about takeaways from COP26 and what could come next for climate justice organizing. Many thanks to Front and Centered for producing this podcast series with Jill and Edgar.

Songs in this episode:
Somos Sur by Ana Tijoux

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Our second installment of Crash the Cop is a series of short podcast interviews produced by Front and Centered with Jill Mangaliman and Edgar Franks. Tune in to hear updates from Glasgow on inclusion, exclusion, gender equity, worker rights, haggis and who's showing up late at the hostel.

You can see photos and videos from Edgar's trip on Front and Centered's landing page designed specifically for #CrashtheCop.

Songs in this episode:
Right On by the Roots
All the Good Girls Go to Hell by Billie Eilish

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In a busy industrial park just off the freeway in Ferndale exists an unmarked ICE detention facility that has been operating under the radar in Whatcom County since 2018. We first heard about the facility from community members who were held there as part of the Granite Precast ICE raid. In this episode, Rosalinda Guillen, Brenda Bentley, and Liz Darrow talk about how prisons like this are allowed to exist in public spaces without public knowledge, and building the campaign to get ICE OUT of our community.

Songs in this episode:
Ave Que Emigra by Gaby Moreno
Todos Somos Ilegales by Residente, Tom Morello and Chad Smith
Get the Balance Right by Depeche Mode

Related reading:
Whatcom Immigration Justice Timeline: Community Organizing Toward a Bellingham Immigration Advisory Board

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Edgar Franks, political director for Familias Unidas por la Justicia, joins the Just Transition Alliance at COP26 in Glasgow this week.  We interviewed Edgar and Jill Mangaliman for context on COP26 before the talks got started.

Songs in this episode:
Ay Que Bonita es la Vida by Rosa Martha Zárate Macías
The Last Trumpet by Lyrics Born & Lateef
Stop the Killings by Sendai Era

Links from this episode:
Global Climate Wall from Transnational Institute
Resilience in Action from ReSources for Sustainable Communities

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In this episode we talk all about what it means to have a city council and alliance of businesses publicly express anti-worker sentiment under the guise of caring about the workers. This seems familiar somehow...

Songs in this episode:
Under Pressure by David Bowie and Queen
Tear the Fascists Down by Woody Guthrie
9 to 5 by Dolly Parton
Ghost of Tom Joad by Bruce Springsteen

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