Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative Adds Four Partners  

 Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores, Metrowest Worker Center, New North Citizens Council and Pioneer Valley Workers’ Center join 11 initial partner organizations to support immigrants

 The Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative has expanded by adding four new partner organizations to the original 11 nonprofit immigrant support organizations that came together in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores, Metrowest Worker Center/Casa del Trabajador/Casa do Trabalhador, New North Citizens Council and Pioneer Valley Workers’ Center increase the geographic footprint and the number of immigrant families the Collaborative can serve amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are delighted to have these four immigrant support organizations join the Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative,” said steering committee members Natalicia Tracy, Patricia Sobalvarro and Ronnie Millar. “It has become clear that the need to support immigrant families extends beyond Boston’s city limits. These organizations reach immigrant families in other regions who are also struggling with job loss, sickness and food insecurity during the pandemic.”

The new Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative partner organizations are:

• Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores (CCT) seeks to effect long-term changes that will empower and dignify immigrant workers through a three-pronged approach including education, organization and taking action. CCT strives to address workplace injustice and to enhance the working experience of immigrants through community building and organizing. The staff and leadership of CCT are drawn exclusively from the immigrant worker community the organization serves.
• Metrowest Worker Center (MWC) is an immigrant worker-led organization based in the MetroWest area of Boston, Massachusetts, which organizes to defend and expand the labor, civil and human rights of all workers. MWC is multilingual and multiracial to unite communities that unscrupulous employers seek to divide. The organization combines direct action and legal strategies to combat wage theft leading MWC to recover more than $4 million in unpaid wages, while building worker power.
• New North Citizens Council provides advocacy, public and human services to Hampden County residents with an emphasis on the Hispanic community to enhance the preservation and support of the family resulting in the improvement of quality of life issues.
• The Pioneer Valley Workers’ Center builds power with low-wage and immigrant workers throughout Western Massachusetts. Together, PVWC organizes to build community and win real change in the lives of working people.

The Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative was formed through initial funding from the Boston Resiliency Fund to provide direct, emergency relief to immigrant households regardless of legal status through financial assistance and food assistance. Since April 13, 2020, the Collaborative has supported more than 20,000 immigrants by direct cash assistance as well as meals and fresh produce.

In addition to the new partners announced today, the Collaborative is comprised of Agencia ALPHA; Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC); Brazilian Workers Center; Caribbean Youth Club; Centro Presente; Boston International Newcomers Academy’s Center for Collaborative Education (BINcA); Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI); ICNA Relief; Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI); Rian Immigrant Center; and Sociedad Latina.

The Rian Immigrant Center serves as the lead partner and fiscal sponsor to ensure efficient and transparent disbursement of funds directly to families in diverse immigrant communities and in coordination with Boston’s existing food distribution operators. The steering committee is comprised of Agencia ALPHA Executive Director Patricia Sobalvarro, Brazilian Worker Center Executive Director Natalicia Tracy and Rian Immigrant Center Executive Director Ronnie Millar.

The City of Boston produced a video about the Collaborative which can be viewed here.

For more information, please visit immigrantrelief.org