FAN Policy Engagement Director Kristin Ang was present when Governor Inslee signed HB 2368 this week, enabling the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance within DSHS to administer funding for immigrants seeking asylum who do not qualify for federal refugee assistance. This will include the $25.25 million budgeted this session.
Signing and Implementing Bills
Now that the legislative session is over, the Governor has been signing bills into law and will continue to do so in the weeks ahead. We continue to update our Bill Tracker with final actions when bills are signed into law, and we will share photos or news of them on social media.
The next important area for our advocacy is implementation, and sometimes there is an important role for faith communities and advocates to play. For example, the Working Families Tax Credit still needs all of us getting the word out for people to apply, and pointing them to the resources to help do that. Last year, only about half of those eligible applied, and we want everyone eligible to be able to access the cash that will help navigate economic challenges. The Bias Incidents Hotline will need all of us to share the news that it is a resource for people, once up and running. Faith communities have been part of the safety net for newly arrived immigrants seeking asylum at Riverton Park United Methodist Church and beyond; your creative ideas are part of the solution for how to best serve and house people throughout the state! Stay tuned in the months ahead for ways faith communities can inform and help implement the laws you helped pass.
Celebrate National Farmworker Awareness Week March 25-31!
Farmworkers feed the world, but are often invisible–85% of our fresh fruits and vegetables are hand-picked. This is a week that we can lift up the lives and work of the 2.5-3 million migrant and seasonal workers who labor in the fields in the United States.
Farm work is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. Those who plant and harvest our fruits and vegetables suffer from the highest rate of toxic chemical injuries of any other workers in the nation and have higher incidences of heat stress, dermatitis, and some other medical problems than other wage-earners.
Farmworkers are treated differently under the law. Overtime, unemployment insurance, and even protection when joining a union are not guaranteed under federal law. Unemployment Benefits for Undocumented Workers did not pass our state legislature this session.
With Farm Worker Ministry Northwest, we share some ways to honor the welfare and dignity of farmworkers this week:
- Lift up farm workers and their contributions to our daily well-being in worship this week. Sample prayers available here.
- Sunday, March 24, 2:00pm. Cesar Chavez Day Block Party: March for Farmworker’s Rights, in-person, South Hill Park, 1521 South 1st St, Sunnyside. Contact United Farm Workers at 614-390-9968 or Connie Yost cyost@uuma.org for more info.
- March 26, 11:00am. Attend a national Webinar. Learn more about the conditions of farm workers today and how consumers can work alongside farm workers to make improvements to their working and living conditions. Webinar offered in English and Spanish.
- Donate gently-used long-sleeved shirts that are light colored and natural fabric to help prevent exposure to pesticide residues and prevent suffering a heat-related illness. Donations invited on 3/29 or 4/5 in East Wenatchee, Granger, Kennewick, Moses Lake, Pasco, Sunnyside and Walla Walla.
Advocate!
States like Florida and Texas are banning local heat standards for workers. That’s why we need federal standards. Only a handful of states — California, Oregon and Washington — have policies on farm work in extreme heat. With climate change, outdoor workers are more in danger every year. Farm workers are as much as 35 times more likely to be killed by heat than any other civilian occupation. Click this link to message your federal elected officials and tell them to support the crucial Ascunsion Valdivia Heat Stress Injury, Illness and Fatality Prevention Act.
Take Action with the National Farm Worker Ministry to improve living and working conditions via their legislative page.
Look for the Responsibly Grown, Farmworker Assured, EFI label which means healthier working conditions and safer food. The EFI label signifies that the workers harvesting your fresh produce are not only treated well and compensated fairly, but they are engaged to identify problems and solutions that impact the safety of your food while helping to transform the agricultural supply chain.
Get ready to advocate for the Farm Bill this summer! FAN will be sharing more resources and opportunities to advocate for a renewed Farm Bill before the end of September that includes protections for farmworkers. Some of our priorities can be found in this ELCA Advocacy document.
Additional informational resources available from the National Farm Worker Ministry’s Resource Center.
Opportunities
The Washington Bus is offering a summer fellowship that is a ten-week paid, social justice, political power-building, and organizing program for young people ages 18-25 years old. The priority consideration deadline is Wednesday, April 3rd and the final application deadline is Saturday, April 20th. Learn more by emailing edgar@washingtonbus.org or text at 360-567-5109.
Multi-Faith Observances
Iftar dinners continue during the holy month of Ramadan and provide an opportunity to break the fast with your neighbors at your local mosque. Use this guide to find local interfaith iftars that may be happening in your area.
Purim celebrations this weekend in the Jewish community commemorate the survival of the Jewish people from extermination in Persia and the power and faithfulness of Queen Esther. This is a time of merriment and joy.
Christian faith communities are observing Holy Week and Easter in commemoration of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection next week. There are many opportunities to worship, hear powerful sermons, celebrate in community, and take action together.
Blessings to all who are celebrating!
Upcoming Events
Saturday, March 23, 9:00am-4:00pm, 2024 Labor and Immigration Summit, in-person, IAM 751, Machinists, Seattle. Come learn about the intersection of labor rights and immigrant rights in the process of building an inclusive labor movement for all working people.
Sunday, March 24, 6:00pm, Ramadan Interfaith Dinner, in-person, Tacoma. Hosted by Pacifica Foundation and Associated Ministries, come for a dinner and time of learning about Muslim culture and how to best support Muslim communities.
Saturday, March 30, 1:00pm, Table Turning, in-person, Northwest Detention Center, Tacoma. Come stand with advocates of many traditions to call for a permanent shutdown of the Northwest Detention Center and a release and freedom of every person who is detained and deported in this system.
Tuesday, April 2, 5:00pm, Fear and Loathing on the Way to Leveling the Playing Field, online. Where are advocates in the fight to preserve Medicare and stop the corporate takeover? What are the next steps they need to take in 2024? National experts will discuss these questions and more.
Wednesday, April 3, 7:00-8:30pm, Welcoming the Stranger: Past and Present, in-person, Seattle. Join Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice to examine how ideas of community and solidarity bridge to immigrant communities today. Hear from local graphic novelist Josh Tuininga, author of We Are Not Strangers, Stan Shikuma from Tsuru for Solidarity Seattle, Marlene Motola, a Sephardic Jewish community member involved in JCIJ, and Andrea Soroko Naar, co-founder of JCIJ.
Thursday, April 11, 9:30am-1:00pm, Clergy Institute for Interfaith Learning, in-person, Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle. Come and learn from Dr. David Elcott, author of Faith, Nationalism and the Future of Liberal Democracy.
August 5-9, Holden Village Summer 2024 Lecture Series, in-person, Holden Village, Chelan. Learn from FAN Staff members Kristin Ang as well as Board Member Rev. Dr. Edward Donalson III on their work with FAN and beyond.
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