A Deportation and the Vanishing Memories of my Grandpa

April 13, 2017 / By We'Ced
Tags: broken families, deportation, grandpa., immigration, mixed status families, separated families, spotlight, undocumented immigrants

My mom and her sisters grew stressed and depressed. They missed their dad a lot. We also began to struggle financially. We expected Grandpa to only be gone a year at the most, but it’s been almost seven years now. Since then, we’ve struggled to make enough money to send to support him and support ourselves. But despite the difficulties, we continue to help him as much as we can, hoping to bring him back to us.

Third annual Cesar Chavez Event Highlights Tradition of Community Organizing in Merced

April 7, 2017 / By We'Ced
Tags: cesar chavez, farmworkers, La Causa, march, merced, spotlight, The Struggle is One, UFW

Dozens of families, activists and young people came out to participate in Merced’s third annual Cesar Chavez march; walking down the city’s Martin Luther King Boulevard while holding signs displaying their support for undocumented rights and the continued protection of farm workers. “We’re very happy with the event,” said Jesse Ornelas, community organizer and member of the local chapter of the Brown Berets. “We got the community to come out and talk about issues that were relevant to South Merced and the farmworker community in general in this area.”

How Safe Are DACA Recipients?

April 4, 2017 / By We'Ced
Tags: DACA, DACAmented, ICE, immigration, spotlight, students, Trump

Since taking office, Trump dramatically expanded the definition of who can be prioritized for deportation. Immigration attorneys say that under the expanded definition, nearly any undocumented immigrant could be considered a target. The first thing to understand, Ruch said, is what undocumented means. “Visa overstayers, as well as people who came without a visa, are undocumented,” Ruch explained on a recent national press call organized by New America Media and Ready California. Legal immigrants, especially those who have criminal issues or travel internationally, may want to check with an attorney to find out their options and risks, Ruch said.

Youth Advocates Look to Boost Civic Engagement in Communities of Color

March 30, 2017 / By We'Ced
Tags: civic engagement, communities of color, Politics, spotlight, unequal voices, youth

According to the study, “Unequal Voices, Part II,” released by the statewide advocacy group Advancement Project, California’s Asian-American and Latino adult populations are vastly underrepresented in most political activities, while whites are overrepresented. From donations to petitions, voters of color are less likely than white counterparts to engage with politicians and campaigns. This pattern is reflected in both the older adult population and millennials aged 18-34, suggesting it won’t simply erode over time, said John Dobard, manager of Political Voice at the Advancement Project. Such pervasive racial disparities are particularly problematic considering 70 percent of the 80 million young adults entering the California electorate between now and 2030 will be people of color. Advocates warn of the need to restructure the traditional engagement model to be more reflective of the state’s majority-minority makeup.

Valley residents call for a ‘golden state for all’

February 16, 2017 / By We'Ced
Tags: #GoldentStateforall, central valley, equity on the mall, SJVHF, spotlight, valley rising

Billed as “Equity on the Mall,” the advocacy event drew hundreds of residents and families of color from towns across the Valley who braved rain and stormy weather to assemble on the steps of the state capitol building. Organizers hoped to engage with legislators on issues affecting their communities and express support for several key pieces of legislation, including Senate Bill 54.

State of Merced talk glosses over youth funding

February 13, 2017 / By We'Ced
Tags: invest in youth, mayor, merced, spotlight, state of merced, youth funding

At the talk, Murphy repeatedly described his vision of a bright future for Merced, but failed to share much detail on how the city planned to improve its record on youth investment. City leaders have previously been criticized for slashing youth-program funding, investing about $13,000 annually in youth programs in recent years. Murphy said that the city recently added more resources to McNamara and Stephen Leonard Parks, enabling the city to serve thousands of families through academic and recreational resources.