- February 25, 2010 - The Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida and SFIWJ release joint
statement on Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama's visits to Nova Southeastern
University. "...We hope that Nova’s welcome to these two giants of the worldwide struggle for
human rights will inspire the university itself to a greater concern for the rights of its own
employees...." Read more.
- February 18, 2010 - A Momentous Step in the Campaign to End Wage Theft - Miami-Dade
County passed the first county-wide ordinance in the United States to combat Wage Theft, and
South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice (SFIWJ) was central in making it happen! This victory is
a spark that will help ignite a wave across the country, says IWJ's Public Policy Director Ted
Smukler. This is momentous, said Jeanette Smith of SFIWJ. The passing of this legislation will
make a difference for every worker in Miami-Dade County and, hopefully, will encourage
groups all over the country to establish similar mechanisms for workers in their communities.
Read more about this exciting victory at StopWageTheft.org.
- February 3, 2010 - Haiti Interfaith Prayer Vigil - Co-sponsored by SFIWJ
A diverse group of South Florida's religious leaders joined together Wednesday evening in an
interfaith prayer vigil for Haiti.
Miami Archbishop John C. Favalora will officiate at the 7:30 p.m. ceremony at Notre Dame
d'Haiti Church, 110 NE 62nd St., Miami. The vigil, open to the public, will include leaders of
Jewish, Muslim and Protestant congregations.
- January 15, 2010 - Bishop Leo Frade of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida
announced that he stands behind the efforts of the Fast for Our Families. Said Bishop
Frade, "The Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida supports the Fast for Our Families in its
effort to stop the separation of families, a principle to which the Episcopal Church is
committed."
- January 14, 2010 - Press Conference on the Situation in Haiti
SFIWJ Board Member attended the press conference to represent SFIWJ. He stated, “On behalf
of South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice, we demand that President Obama take action now
to give immediate Temporary Protected Status to Haitians. Haitians in the U.S. need to be
able to live without fear. They need to be able to earn a paycheck so they can support their
loved ones both here and in Haiti. We demand that all Haitians that are imprisoned and that
are awaiting deportation be released immediately.” Read More about the press conference.
- December 2, 2009 - SFIWJ co-sponsored viewing of "The Sugar Babies", a
documentary film about sugar plantations, children, and human rights
A screening of a film that examines the moral price of sugar from the perspective of conditions
surrounding the children of sugar cane cutters of Haitian ancestry in the Dominican Republic and
the continuing denial of their basic human rights. Screening at FIU Modesto A. Maidique
Campus, GL 1000 (across from the Green Library Main Entrance)
- November 25, 2009 - Thanksgiving Meal with Day Laborers
The past year has been difficult for so many in our community. The economy is hurting and
unemployment has been on the rise, but few have felt it as much as day laborers.
It has been a struggle for members of this community to earn enough to provide for their
families. Because of this, it was incredibly moving to help provide a meal for the day laborers
at the WeCount! Community Workers Center the day before Thanksgiving.
Members of the faith community shared their abilities and abundance, offering a Thanksgiving
lunch to workers - a meal that could have been the only one many received that day.
Thank you so much to Rev. Steve Hudder and congregants of Christ Congregational of Cutler
Bay, as well as Jenny Aguilar of Homestead, for preparing the food for this wonderful event!
And
thank you to those of you who made the donations which enabled SFIWJ to provide some of
the food for the event. It truly was "un dia para la accion de gracias."
The night of November 21st was truly heartbreaking as immigrant members of the South Florida
community shared their testimonies with a panel of community leaders at a forum co-
sponsored by SFIWJ on November 21st in Homestead.
South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice (SFIWJ) and other members of the South Florida Wage
Theft Task Force joined Miami-Dade County Commissioner Natasha Seijas on Tuesday,
November 19th, to denounce wage theft and to announce a pending local ordinance to address
wage theft in our community. A press conference that included testimonies from several
victims of wage theft was held at the Stephen P. Clark Government Building in downtown
Miami. Rabbi Solomon Schiff, a longtime advocate for workers' rights, spoke on behalf of
SFIWJ. (More)
- November 7, 2009 - SFIWJ's Jeanette Smith Received the WeCount! Community Service
Award at WeCount!'s 2nd Annual Fundraising Gala, "Dancing on Top of the Crisis".
"WeCount! thanks you for your determination, generosity, solidarity, and unwavering
dedication to the cause of justice for day laborers and immigrant families."
- September - Roadtrip to NDLON Conference
SFIWJ's Jeanette Smith, along with WeCount! Community Worker Center Director Jonathan
Fried and ten workers and staff from WeCount!, traveled to the recent National Day Laborer
Organizing Network Conference in Maryland. More.
- SFIWJ worked with residents of the Redland Labor Center in Homestead, FL on a campaign to
keep the Migrant Educational Program open. More.
- Farmworker Women's Leadership Group meets to discuss the dangers of producing genetically
modified foods. More.
- SFIWJ staff and interns undergo Farmworker Health and Safety institute Pesticide Training.
More.
- SFIWJ attends Big City Police Chief Press Conference on Immigration Reform. More.
- SFIWJ is working together with Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida on the Coalition of
Immokalee Worker's campaign to encourage Publix to hold Florida's tomato growers
accountable for the treatment of their workers. SFIWJ is organizing delegations to visit local
Publix stores and present the store manager with a letter explaining the situation & encouraging
cooperation from Publix on this issue. If you are interested in participating, please contact us.
- SFIWJ interns visit IWJ sister affiliate Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida. More.
- From June 13-15, SFIWJ representative Jeanette Smith, along with interns Rebekah Evans and
James Schwarber, traveled to Tulane University in New Orleans for the Interfaith Worker
Justice Leadership Summit. More.
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