SEPA Mujer's 2018 Annual Report

SEPAMUJER.ORG

2018 ANNUAL REPORT

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SOCIAL JUSTICE SOCIAL IMPACT LEGAL ASSISTANCE & ADVOCACY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP THE PEOPLE BEHIND SEPA MUJER INC JAN - DECEMBER 2018

Prepared by Joanna Johnson, Social Media Manager Approved by Margaret Fitzgerald, Digital Media Head

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NAVIGATE OUR REPORT Welcome to our 2018 annual report! SEPA Mujer Inc. has created a comprehensive report combining impact, reach and sustainability. We also highlight success stories, the people behind SEPA Mujer Inc. and so much more.

Table of Contents

1. ABOUT US

Page(s): 3-4

2. SUSTAINABILITY Page(s): 5-6

3. WHAT WE DO; CHAPTERS, CAMPAIGN & PROGRAMS Page(s): 7-13

4. IMPACT AND REACH Page(s): 14-15

5. TRIBUTE PHOTOS TO OUR MEMBERS Page(s): 16-17

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ABOUT US

OUR MISSION

SEPA Mujer has been working to support immigrant women on Long Island since 1993, bringing together community members and advocates to speak out against injustice, provide access to opportunities and services, take a stand against violence against women and push for social justice change. We aim to highlight the value of Latina immigrant women in our community and to develop and celebrate our role on Long Island.

OUR VISION

SEPA Mujer stands for the well-being and success of Latina immigrant women on Long Island. Our objective is to raise and unite our voices to be heard by the social and political systems in our communities. Through our work, we strive to nurture and improve civic engagement by way of leadership skills and legal representation.

“We are the voice, we are the community, we are not in the shadows anymore because we are powerful and we are

”

amazing, join us!

Executive Director

Martha Maffei As Executive Director, it is my pleasure to highlight the amazing individuals, who embody SEPA Mujer by sharing their stories, their leadership, and their grassroots advocacy.

We might not wear capes or have extraterrestrial powers, but we have a fire within to change the world they live in through justice.

SEPA Mujer has for years been home to amazing women and men breaking and shattering stereotypes. They are storytellers, they are strong and they persevere. They are our members, our mothers, our sisters, our neighbours, our community. They continually inspire us and motivate the work SEPA Mujer has done on Long Island, not solely because of their struggles, but because even in the face of such struggles they have risen above it all and continue to rise.

Amazing SEPA’s have changed the face of social justice. They advocate for justice in local town halls, bring diversity to local school Parent Teacher Association meetings, fight to end gender violence, and push intersectionality in feminist issues to reflect and include our issues too.

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BOARD & STAFF OF SEPA MUJER JOHANNA ROTTA

NOEMI SANCHEZ

BOARD PRESIDENT

BOARD MEMBER

RON FISHER

JENNIFER BRADY

TREASURER

BOARD MEMBER

SIRIS BARRIOS

ALIZABETH NEWMAN

SECRETARY

FOUNDER

MARTHA MAFFEI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CRISTINA CERON

VICTORIA HERNANDEZ

STAFF ATTORNEY

COMMUNITY OUTREACH VOLUNTEER

DULCE ROJAS

YAHIRA DELEON

SENIOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

SOCIAL WORK INTERN

JESSICA REYES

JU LEE

AMERICORPS VISTA

SOCIAL WORK INTERN

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SUSTAINABILITY: REVENUE/FINANCIALS

Fundraising Events

Foundations & Private Grants

Government

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Thank you for an amazing year!

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CHAPTERS & DEMOGRAPHICS SEPA Mujer currently has four active chapters with a diverse number of members in each area. Our largest chapter meets at our central office in the town of Patchogue. Our second chapter in collaboration with Centro Corazon de Maria can be found in Hampton Bays, you can also find our third chapter not too far in Riverside-Flanders. Lastly in February 2018, we opened our newest chapter in Huntington Station!

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NEW CHAPTER; HUNTINGTON STATION

On Thursday January 11th, 2018 SEPA Mujer conducted its first meeting in Huntington Station in the office of our partner Source the Station of Renaissance Downtown. Since then...

16

7

Monthly Meetings

Tabling & Outreach Events

2

6

Trainings Workshops

Rallies & Actions Supported

"Here there is a great need, for families, for us women who take care of our children"

"Aqui hay mucha necesidad, para familias, para nosotras las mujeres que cuidamos a nuestros hijos" "Gracias a sepa mujer por venir a aqui, gracias a ustedes estoy aprendiendo sobre mis derechos y mi gobierno" "Thanks SEPA Mujer for coming here, thanks to you I am learning about my rights and my government!"

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SOCIAL JUSTICE CAMPAIGNS 2019 #1FairWage ONE FAIR WAGE NY STATE AND NATIONAL CAMPAIGN COALITION IN COLLABORATION WITH RESTAURANT OPPORTUNITIES CENTER-UNITED (NATIONAL)

In October 2017 SEPA Mujer started conversations about NY tipped workers and sexual exploitation. In January 2018, Vicky, one of our recently graduated members, quickly became a first-time public advocate on a Viral Attn; video for the NYS campaign "One Fair Wage" denouncing harassment as a previously employed NY tipped worker. Our members organized themselves to testify for the first of seven Public Hearings in New York State called by Governor Cuomo. Long Island was fundamental for the success of the termination of an oppressive and outdated tipping system. We started the conversations in Spanish on social media and we put it in the forefront of our progressive allies on Long Island. We engaged partners such as Opening Doors in Wyandanch and Huntington conducting bi weekly training on labor abuse and minimum wage as well as other topics related to gender and domestic violence.

SAVE V.A.W.A ! The Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women's Act BI-COUNTY (LONG ISLAND) CAMPAIGN IN COLLABORATION WITH NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN (NATIONAL)

Earlier this year, U.S Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Trump Administration recklessly decided that immigrant victims fleeing abuse and violence are not worthy of our care and compassion by announcing the elimination of Asylum for victims fleeing gang and domestic violence.

This was devastating to the community and especially the increasing number of clients and people in need of our legal immigration assistance.

We saw the need to raise awareness of the reauthorization of VAWA (Violence Against Women’s Act). SEPA Mujer organized a VAWA Reauthorization Letter of Support with 39 non profit organizations that signed on. We sent this letter to 9 Long Island Legislators along with over 570 petitions collected demanding full support for the reauthorization of VAWA. We also sent an attached report from Women’s Justice NOW in partnership with the National Organization of Women where SEPA Mujer is also highlighted in the cover and is given a page highlighting our work and words. We continue to push for the full reauthorization of V.A.W.A! Report: survivorstoriesnow.org/the-report/

Language Access: Res. # 1033-2018 Adopting County Law to Ensure Language Assistance for the Public.

SUFFOLK COUNTY COALITION IN COLLABORATION WITH LONG ISLAND LANGUAGE ADVOCATES COALITION

On February 2018, County Legislator Monica Martinez announced her sponsorship for codifying a 2012 Executive Order directing county agencies to offer language access services to people of limited English

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SOCIAL JUSTICE CAMPAIGNS 2019 continued.. proficiency. This law will change the lives of many non-English speaking, visually and hearing-impaired families. As a member and fiscal sponsor SEPA Mujer continues to push our County to push implementation, training, oversight, translation of vital documents, usage of language line throughout county agencies on Long Island. Our language access testing was one of the most critical pieces of advocacy evidence used to become the turning point for support for Resolution 1033.

Link to one article: riverheadlocal.com/2018/03/07/languageadvocates-call-change-urge-passage-law-mandating-translationinterpretation-services/

RAPID RESPONSE; PUBLIC CHARGE SUFFOLK COUNTY CAMPAIGN IN COLLABORATION WITH NEW YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION AND EMPIRE JUSTICE CENTER

Panic arose in immigrant communities when news broke in March 2018 regarding changes to the regulations governing use of public benefits and the impact on Immigration status. This new urgency has caused SEPA Mujer to prioritize disseminating correct public charge information and to provide action items to our community. Â We were the first to respond with the first bilingual public Town Hall in Suffolk County in our offices with Empire Justice Center. We continued to organize trainings and forums on Public Charge, what it means, and the impact for our immigrant communities, also offering guidance/referrals to families that want to apply to benefits. SEPA Mujer also was the only organization in the tri-state area providing support to translate Spanish to English testimonies to submit in partnership with New York Immigration Coalition, NYIC. We reached out to all organizations, agencies, service providers, clinics, social workers, counselors etc. to learn about public charge and the impact by way of our trainings.

Intersectionality for the #MeToo Movement for Latina Immigrants BI-COUNTY CAMPAIGN (LONG ISLAND)

Gender Violence and Inequality: A Mi Tambien/ Me Too Movement: SEPA Mujer highlights the component of intersectionality on an international and local level to bring the issue of violence against women with undocumented and documented immigrants. SEPA Mujer has created a new space for Latina immigrant women in the U.S to explore the A Mi Tambien movement both on social media, chapter meetings and local events. SEPA Mujer has conducted for years and now more recently strategically and targeted content of educational videos, social media efforts on gender violence, gender inequality and systemic discrimination. SEPA Mujer continues to lead the conversation on Long Island around Latina Immigrant Feminism and intersectionality as well as intentional and impactful activism and grassroots organizing.

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LEGAL IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE AND REFFERALS SEPA Mujer's Legal Assistance Program has been able to provide the proper representation to immigrant victims of crime and their families. This has allowed them to take back their power and life after years of violence and abuse. The antiimmigrant rhetoric under the current administration has made it difficult for the immigrant community to access resources they need, and has further isolated victims and their families into lives of violence and despair. In spite of this we continue to provide legal assistance to immigrant survivors of gender violence.

SUCCESS STORY: OMAR

I am Latino and I needed help with legal advice on immigration relief. I found many non-profit organizations, but most of them could not help me, until I found SEPA Mujer. I made my appointment with a lot of fear and uncertainty because I did not know if they could help me. I told them that I am a homosexual and sought help in applying for my residency. In my country I suffered much abuse due to ignorance. I was amazed at the way this organization helped me; they never judged me because of my sexual orientation. I remember that SEPA Mujer’s staff attorney looked me in the eyes and told me calmly, we are here to help and from that day and with the help of God, my life began to change.

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76

VAWA SELF-PETITIONs & ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS

87

U-Visa/T-Visa

3

Naturalization

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GIRLS A.C.T 2019 (ACTIVIST, CREATING AND TRANSFORMING) GIRLS A.C.T. (Activist, Creating and Transforming) is SEPA Mujer’s nine week intensive summer employment program for Latina youth on Long Island, NY looking to be activists and creators ready to transform their community. Our goal is to create the young Latina activists and leaders of tomorrow.

Girls A.C.T. follows an original curriculum geared to empower, educate, and promote professional work experience, and each girl is provided with an individually crafted syllabus giving them responsibilities in different areas such as Fundraising & Grant Writing, Community Outreach & Organizing, Communications & Media, and more.

Girls A.C.T was designed to empower Long Island’s Latina youth and give them the opportunity to work with SEPA Mujer on issues that affect our community, while giving them a space to learn, grow, and fully embrace their Latina identity.

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REPORT BACK: ORGANIZING, OUTREACH & PROGRAMS 43

Tabling, Flyering & Outreach Events

10

Speaking Engagements & Presentations

12

Rallies & Actions Supported

15 28

Legislative Visits/Lobbying & Public Hearings Trainings & Workshops

35

Monthly Chapter Meetings

61

Coalition Roundtable Meetings

11

SEPA Mujer Led Events

14

Orientations

988

SEPA Mujer has had a groundbreaking year and our work has never been more critical on Long Island especially under the new administration. Anti-immigrant rhetoric, empowering misogynistic and sexist messages in media and by people in government and hurtful local, state and national policies that have advanced and directly impacted Latina immigrant women girls and entire families.

SEPA Mujer sheds light on Long Island pressing issues and more importantly have been able to empower and raise our immigrant community voices.

Immigrants Reached

For too long we chose to ignore the secret abuse, racial discrimination, and oppression that Latina immigrants and families suffer in the “luxurious” Long Island.

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SOCIAL MEDIA & ENGAGEMENT REPORT Facebook Page Likes

713

2,022

Total Posts

Total Likes on Posts

Facebook Lives

9,156

53.4K

56

Minutes Viewed

563

Mailchimp Contacts

650

members group text

192

290

Twitter Followers

Instagram Followers

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IN THE NEWS 2019

PAGE 15 Email info@sepamujer.org for additional info on interviews, links etc.

1) Martha Maffei Executive Director Featured in OFW Coalition Promo video: https://www.facebook.com/sepamujer/videos/2131448930429399/ 2) La Fiesta 98.5 Interview www.facebook.com/sepamujer/videos/2181087208575145/ 3)Long Island WINS covers SEPA Mujer rally for immigrants victims of violence: www.longislandwins.com/uncategorized/long-islanders-rally-in-patchogue-in-support-of-immigrantvictims-of-domestic-violence/? fbclid=IwAR0yhA8rPrfnHxk539n0YFFAUwtTN2J_Gbbmqie8WiY58JkiVMaeGglziHA 4) ATTN; Video Interview of SEPA Mujer member testimony on One Fair Wage https://www.facebook.com/attn/videos/1688539731181479/ 5) Refinery29 & Yahoo! publishes SEPA Mujer Inc. Op-Ed in response to Jeff Sessions Asylum block and for immigrant victims of violence. Article then published and picked up by Yahoo! www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/06/202001/jeff-sessions-stops-asylum-domestic-violence-victimsdeath-sentence?utm_medium=post&utm_source=facebook.com 6) RiverheadLocal interview Restaurants Opportunity Center to provide content and info in spanish https://www.facebook.com/RiverheadLOCALenEspanol/videos/1251654101635012/ 7) RiverheadLocal Article on Long Island Public Hearing; SEPA Mujer highlighted: https://riverheadlocal.com/2018/04/21/should-new-york-eliminate-the-tip-credit-hundreds-attendheated-public-hearing-to-speak-out-on-both-sides/ 8) Noticia LI Covers SEPA Mujer win justice for Southampton Workers: www.noticiali.com/articles/sepa-mujer-ayuda-a-lograr-justicia-para-victimas-de-robo-de-salarios/ 9) El Diario covers SEPA Mujer in Manhattan Press Conference with One Fair Wage Coalition Launch https://eldiariony.com/2018/04/13/la-lucha-por-los-15-sigue-para-los-trabajadores-con-propinas/? fbclid=IwAR1ww15zOXocBdOQpV9m7cc5QMj_l7qMXPJEsYJin8AMcWn6RaxwyYsdZgo 10) Riverhead Local En Español Video Interview with SEPA Mujer attorney on Immigration, violence against women advocacy and sexual assault/harassment: https://www.facebook.com/RiverheadLOCALenEspanol/videos/1354378274695927/ 11) Martha Maffei Executive Director and Cristina Ceron Staff Attorney in interview at Latinus on Human Trafficking labor abuse, violence against women and One Fair Wage: https://www.facebook.com/latinusmag/videos/2256942160989793/? hc_ref=ARS5DjYA45xWKglGM3rvdNETNDHg6CYrxA_dbSwwbCF4Krh04uO8QpeXz63H2tfjVQc&__tn__=F C-R 12) SEPA Mujer Inc LIVE from the last Public Hearing in Manhattan with members; https://www.facebook.com/sepamujer/videos/2193609833989549/ 13) Noticia LI covers SEPA Mujer Inc Latina en Accion Conference A Mi Tambien: https://www.noticiali.com/articles/conferencia-de-latinas-en-accion-discute-el-impacto-delmovimiento-amitambien/?fbclid=IwAR15Pxg0U8u0b16ViqWlOOVuFxU-Ev9lXEbdzA5p2b8tYTAnEcfNQO_PB8 14) Newsday covers SEPA Mujer Inc Latinas en Accion Conference: https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/latina-me-too-conference-patchogue-1.19107999

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Attn; Filming for One Fair Wage

Puerto Rican Day Parade

Domestic Violence Awareness Day

Rally for DACA

Self Portrait Partnership Workshop

SEPA Mujer Latinas en Accion Conference 2019

GOTV Efforts

Public Hearing for One Fair Wage

GIRLS A.C.T Mini Me Day 1

L.I Women's Diversity Summit

FRNCA Food Truck Fest

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Thank You Gracias ON BEHALF OF SEPA MUJER INC. MEMBERS, STAFF, INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS

2018 ANNUAL REPORT