A message for the community from Cosecha Michigan
Make a donation to Cosecha Michigan to support our work in 2022 →
Lee este mensaje en español
Hi, my name is Brenda. I’m from the Cosecha Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti circle in Michigan.
First, I want to let you know that we are a grassroots movement and the majority of our members are directly affected people from the undocumented community we organize here in Michigan.
What is Cosecha and why are we fundraising?
Cosecha Michigan is currently fighting for driver’s licenses for the undocumented community at the state level. At the national level, we are part of the long-term struggle for permanent protection, dignity and respect for the more than 11 undocumented immigrants in the United States.
To carry out this work of organizing and mobilizing community, as well as running local and national campaigns, we need money and resources to sustain our regular activities. For this year, Cosecha Michigan circles do fundraising activities several times a year.
What do we do with these funds? We purchase materials for actions, reimburse gas when we drive to statewide mobilizations; support our community in case a family needs emergency resources, etc.
What types of local fundraising do we do? Food sales, raffles, sale of Cosecha merchandise such as T-shirts and bandanas.
All our resources come from the community, and that is why we are asking the community for donations to sustain our work in 2022.
Cosecha Michigan’s organizing work in 2021
This past year Cosecha Michigan has worked hard in our efforts for the rights of undocumented immigrant workers. One of our main campaigns has been “Licenses for All” immigrants in Michigan.
On May 11, 2021 the Licenses for All bill was introduced in the state legislature and in September a committee hearing was scheduled in the House of representatives.
Cosecha Michigan also participated in several campaigns to support undocumented immigrants at the national leve, including a series of banner drops in various cities in Michigan to mark President Biden’s inauguration in January. Our message was that the new administration has not made progress or kept any of their promises to the immigrant community. Biden promised to stop deportations and pass immigration reform for all 11 million undocumented immigrants, but by the end of 2021 deportations still continue and he has abandoned his plan for a “pathway to citizenship” for all.
We organized mass mobilization and coordinated buses from Michigan to participate in Cosecha’s national May 1 march in D.C., demanding “Papers, Not Crumbs” from President Biden.
In the summer of 2021, Cosecha Michigan led a “Licenses Tour” through 13 communities in Michigan, including 10 consecutive days of immigrant-led marches. The tour visited predominantly rural places throughout Southwest Michigan where immigrant workers occupy an important place in the local economy and agriculture. By seeding Cosecha circles in these new cities, we will put more pressure on the legislature, because at the end of the day, this state depends on immigrant labor to function.
The “Licenses for All” bill is still in the Michigan legislature. In 2022, Cosecha Michigan will continue with our campaign so that the more than 100,000 undocumented immigrant workers in Michigan who currently do not have access to driver’s licenses finally have the right to drive without fear.
We need support from our entire community this coming year. Unity is strength and we count on your generosity to sustain our work.
Donate to Cosecha Michigan →
Happy New Year,
Movimiento Cosecha Michigan
