學生! 團結! 工人! 團結! 移民! 團結!
Students! Unite! Workers! Unite! Immigrants! Unite!
Amidst the cries of English, Cantonese, Spanish, and Tagalog from the people that rallied on Market and Van Ness, one single message came through: a demand for justice. Over the summer, I worked with several Chinese and Latino youth from different organizations including Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) and People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights (PODER). CPA is an organization stationed in Chinatown while PODER is an organization stationed in the Mission district. Together, we worked to support public education and affordable housing. We worked in a program called Common Roots, because at the very roots of our different cultures lie similar struggles: education, housing, healthcare, and much more.
During the summer, I reached out to the Excelsior district via CPA and PODER, trying to raise awareness about Proposition 30. To provide some background, Prop 30 is a measure on the November ballot that will temporarily raise taxes on individual households that earn more than $250,000 annually and distribute the money to help fund public education. The Excelsior district, in particular, has a high concentration of immigrants living in that area enabled us to address a common cause. All of us have friends and family who attend public schools and with the growing number of budget cuts, something has to be done to help our community.
The second project I worked on this summer was a rally against San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Alongside Common Roots, Filipino Community Center (FCC), and Coleman Advocates, we pressured Ed Reiskin, the head of the SFMTA board, to convince the board to release the Upper Yard. The Upper Yard is the fenced-in area that SFMTA uses as a parking lot, which you may have seen if you have passed by the Balboa Park Station. Because of increasing rent, many families are being evicted or are struggling to find affordable housing in San Francisco. We hope that if SFMTA votes to relinquish the Upper Yard to the Mayor’s Office of Housing. It will be turned into affordable housing so that more families will have the opportunity to reside in San Francisco.
Overall, my summer was kept busy working with both CPA and PODER on local politics. During the experience, I made some connections with other people that I normally would not have, as well as improved my experience with talking to strangers about political issues. I am glad to have had the opportunity to work with the wonderful community and meet so many youths my age who are passionate about making the community better. If you or anybody is interested in working with CPA or PODER, feel free to contact them or locate them online.
The people united will never be defeated! ¡El pueblo unido jamas será vencido!
