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Board honors partners behind county 'Know Your Rights' immigrant forums; officials cite wide reach
Summary
The board commended county staff, legal volunteers, school districts, media partners and community organizations for four 'Know Your Rights' forums that reached thousands in Salinas, Greenfield, Pajaro and Seaside.
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors on April 29 formally recognized more than 30 organizations and dozens of volunteers who helped run four county-sponsored "Know Your Rights" immigrant forums in Salinas, Greenfield, Pajaro and Seaside.
Nut graf: Supervisors said the forums—organized after changes at the federal level increased fear among immigrant residents—reached thousands in person, distributed more than 100,000 information 'red cards,' provided one-on-one immigration consultations and included mental-health and resource tables.
Supervisor Luis Alejo, co-chair of the county’s Immigrant Rights Ad Hoc Committee, led the presentation and said the county’s effort was aimed at empowering residents. He told the board the forums were attended in person by about 1,500 people (800 in Salinas, 350 in Greenfield, 250 in Pajaro and 125 in Seaside). He said volunteer immigration attorneys provided one-on-one consultations to about 280 people and that the county distributed television and radio public-service announcements, indigenous-language videos and an online Know Your Rights hub.
County officials presented framed proclamations to dozens of partners including local media (Noticias Univision Costa Central), school districts that opened facilities and provided childcare, local law enforcement leaders who presented safety messages, the Diocese of Monterey and Catholic Charities, community legal providers including the Watsonville Law Center and numerous private immigration attorneys. Adriana Frederick of Univision was singled out for serving as emcee for the Salinas forum.
Speakers included Supervisor Mary Lopez, Supervisor Molly Askew and Supervisor John Church, who each praised volunteers and cross-sector collaboration. Monterey County Health Department Director Elsa Jimenez highlighted the department’s mental-health outreach at the forums.
Ending: The board asked staff to make certificates of recognition available to other volunteers who could not attend and said county officials would continue forums and online outreach as the legal and political landscape evolved.
