UNDOCUMENTED: How Immigration Became Illegal
by Avivia Chomsky

Family Accompaniment

Members of Dharma Heart Zen have formed an NBRRN (North Bay Rapid Response Network) Family Accompaniment group, with members from other West County sanghas. Zen Family Accompaniment does not include Court Accompaniment. Several members are also taking Spanish classes. Anyone interested can contact Debi or Beth and/or sign up for NBRRN General Accompaniment training.

Personal account from Beth:
On Monday, Debi Papasan and I drove a woman to the Immigration Building in SF for her 7 a.m. scheduled ICE check in. I think we were more nervous than she was, but there were no problems. Breathing a sigh of relief, we all went to breakfast and learned a little of her family and home country, laughing a lot and sharing photos. A sweet exchange in a potentially stressful situation! 

A good start to our focus this week on Joyful Bodhisattvas!

Volunteers are assembling packages with a whistle, NBRRN cards with important phone numbers, and other information to keep immigrants safe. They will be distributed at Family Accompaniment, Adopt-a-Corner, and other places where immigrants gather.

From Ellen Sherron:

Adopt a Corner
On a recent Saturday morning, I got to participate in "Adopt a Corner" in Fulton. The program was organized to support day laborers at their gathering spots. Volunteers commit to regularly visit a specific corner to provide resources like "Know Your Rights" information, legal support, and supplies like gloves and masks to protect workers, and to act as a supportive presence. We also brought coffee, tea, and pastries to offer workers on Fulton Road, who may face harassment or exploitation.

It was a wonderful experience and I plan to do it regularly! The North Bay Organizing Project has collaborated with the Stone Creek Zen Center and the Graton Day Labor Center on this initiative. So far, no group has stepped up to help in Fulton. I’m hoping that Engaged Buddhists from Dharma Heart Zen will take this on. We would decide on a consistent schedule, such as once a week, and volunteer to show up in Fulton.

Some of you might identify with this: my position as a Privileged White Lady can shield me from the suffering of many of my neighbors, especially undocumented immigrants. I often feel guilty and ineffectual. What I learned last Saturday is that being a Privileged White Lady can be my Superpower: the presence of three white older women made it safer for the workers: ICE might be hesitant to harass or pepper spray us—it would not look good. And the workers seemed to welcome our presence. Even with my terrible Spanish, I was able to have several conversations.

We can also help by hiring workers through the Graton, Fulton, and Petaluma labor centers. I have hired workers from Graton often over the years. I found the woman who helps me in my garden once a month at the Graton center three years ago. She knows a lot about plants, works hard, and helps me solve problems. She has sons and brothers who often work with her when I have larger projects. Learn more about the services CLG provides. 

You can also find out about local efforts through national organizations like National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON).  Please contact Ellen Sherron if you’d like to get involved.