2020 Stronger Together Gala |
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On Sept. 17, our community came together for the 2020 Stronger Together Gala. Together, we sought to build a community where everyone belongs and no one is left behind.
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Proceeds from this year’s Stronger Together event support the Monument Relief Fund to help undocumented communities recover from the financial impacts of COVID-19. The fund provides financial assistance to undocumented families to pay their rent and other essential bills.
So far, we’ve raised $195.5K! Thanks to your generosity, we're now able to help even more local undocumented families stay in their homes and put food on the table during this pandemic.
Our goal is to raise $200K. Every little bit counts. Can you help us close this gap? Donate here.
If you missed the gala, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author, filmmaker and immigrant rights activist Jose Antonio Vargas served as our keynote speaker, offering his reflections on these unprecedented times and the resilience of undocumented workers during COVID-19.
“We are seen as essential workers, but we are not treated and seen as essential people.”
- Jose Antonio Vargas
The event also featured a spoken word performance from our Special Projects Coordinator Jose Cordon. And, we swayed to the music of Deuce Eclipse.
If you missed it, watch the event on YouTube.
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Thanks to our sponsors and donors!
Monument Impact is grateful for your support and dedication to
immigrant families in need.
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To date, we’ve raised more than $1.5 million to support our undocumented community. Thank you to our donors and grantmakers dedicated to supporting immigrants and refugees in these challenging times.
As of this month, we've provided financial assistance to more than 1,700 families - benefiting over 6,100 men, women and children.
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Your generous support is critical to families across Contra Costa County. |
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Contra Costa County Eviction Moratorium Extension |
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“We appreciate that the Board of Supervisors extended the County moratorium in an effort to protect our residents during these challenging circumstances, but there is more to be done because the current ordinance permits more reasons to evict than it prevents.”
- Debra Ballinger, Monument Impact Executive Director
CALL TO ACTION - Join the Board of Supervisors Meeting on Tuesday, 9/29. Ask the Board to:
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Amend the proposed urgency ordinance to limit just cause for eviction to situations that present an imminent threat to public health and safety, until the end of January 31, 2021.
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Invest in immediate, comprehensive, and multilingual community outreach to educate renters about legal protections under AB 3088 and the county’s eviction ordinance, to ensure that renters receive the full protections they are entitled to under state and local laws.
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Invest in tenant legal services to help make these protections REAL for renters in Contra Costa.
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Use CARES Act monies or other county resources to create a rental assistance program dedicated to helping low-income tenants pay 25% of their rental obligation from September 2020 to January 2021, per AB 3088 requirements to be protected from eviction.
TENANTS’ GUIDE
Need help understanding your rights? Check out our newly updated tenants’ guide in English and Spanish.
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Concord District 2 Candidates Forum
Saturday, October 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. via Zoom
With five candidates running, the Concord City Council District 2 Candidates Forum on Saturday, Oct. 17 will be an important opportunity to hear candidates’ visions for our community. Monument Impact is co-hosting this event with First 5 Contra Costa/Central County Regional Group and Raise the Roof Coalition. Register here.
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Let Your Voice Be Heard on Ellis Lake Park Renovations!
The City of Concord is applying for funding from the state to renovate Ellis Lake Park. They need to hear from the community about your ideas for design, recreation features, and safety, as well as any concerns you may have about the project. Monument Impact and First 5/Central County Regional Group are partnering on a series of five virtual community meetings. The first meeting hosted by the City is September 30th at 6:00 PM. You can register here. A full schedule of meetings will be available soon.
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Meet our Newest Staff Members |
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Maria Miranda, Relief Fund Project Manager
Maria administers financial aid to those without work permits and those who have been affected by
COVID-19
She was inspired to work at Monument Impact to make an impact on her community through social justice and immigrant rights advocacy.
Prior to Monument Impact, she was a full-time college student studying political science, social justice and law.
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Jose Cordon, Special Projects Coordinator
Jose works on our Day Labor DALE Campaign and Tenants’ Rights projects. His life experiences and deep care and curiosity for the human condition led him to pursue community-based work.
Prior to Monument Impact, he worked as a kennel lead and dog trainer for the Milo Foundation and as a community engagement lead for the One Day at a Time organization.
Outside of work, he is also a spoken word artist.
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Jessica González, Community Organizer
Jessica leads our transportation justice and public land work.
She grew up in the Eastern Coachella Valley, a farm-working and immigrant community in the Inland Empire. Her experiences growing up drew her to community and labor organizing.
She is a UC Berkeley alumnus and holds a bachelor’s in human geography with a focus on food systems and labor.
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Monument Impact believes in developing the skills of young community leaders, which is why we are thrilled to welcome our Get Out the Vote 2020 interns Carla Gonzalez (Diablo Valley College), Lucas Ramos (Diablo Valley College) and Daniela Morando (UC Santa Cruz).
In order to build the voice and power of Latinx youth in Concord and surrounding communities, GOTV interns will work on voter turnout for the 2020 election and support for the Schools and Communities First ballot measure (Prop 15)!
Congratulations, and welcome GOTV interns! We can’t wait to see how you’ll shake things up around here.
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Our Programs Are Now Virtual! |
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Our offices are closed, but our programs are still available through virtual means. Learn more about what we have to offer: |
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Workforce Development
Do you want to improve your computer skills? We offer workforce development classes in Spanish:
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Do you need help with home improvements, yard work or maybe installing holiday lighting?
Contact our Day Labor Program at:
(925) 682-8258.
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Community Engagement
Monument Impact and our allies are working hard to ensure tenants are not evicted during the pandemic and know their legal rights. We are co-hosting two Tenants’ Clinics with legal consultations every month.
For more information, contact Karen at (925) 682-8248 x2210. Also, check out our newly updated tenants’ guide in English and Spanish.
Are you interested in building your leadership skills to advocate for what matters most to your community? Join our leadership cohort. To learn more, contact jennifer@monumentimpact.org
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Monument Community Shuttle
It is with sadness that we announce that, due to lack of funding, the Monument Community Shuttle service has been discontinued as of September 25, 2020. This has been a vital service for our community and we will continue to work with the City and partners on securing funding for the future.
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