Rachel Micah Jones

2005

Rachel Micah Jones

Centro de los Derechos del Migrante

http://www.cdmigrante.org/

Zacatecas, Mexico

Legal Advocacy

The Bold Idea:

Operating a transnational workers’ rights law firm based in Central Mexico that addresses the legal rights of low-wage migrant Mexican workers employed in the United States.

Centro de los Derechos del Migrante (CDM) educates low-wage Mexico-based migrant workers about their legal rights in connection with their employment in the United States. CDM conducts oral know-your-rights presentations and workshops for workers in major sending areas, and uses mass media to reach workers in additional areas. CDM's workshops are specifically designed to develop leadership talents among workers. These presentations generally focus on the civil, human, labor and employment rights of migrants who live in the U.S. We also hold more specific meetings for women migrants, and are developing a more in-depth health and safety training.

In addition to conducting outreach to workers through presentations, Centro staff regularly give radio and television interviews. We have developed working relationships with a number of TV and radio stations.

CDM liaises closely with other non-profit and community groups, as well as governmental organizations. CDM staff also lead seminars and provide background papers and briefings to Mexican consular officers, government officials, and non-governmental organizations such as human rights groups about U.S. laws, regulations, and policies regarding labor rights and immigration issues.

Biography:

Rachel is a Spanish-speaking migrant legal services attorney who has been committed to advocating for the rights of low-wage migrant workers from Mexico. She graduated from American University Law School in 2003.

Moment of Obligation: When and why did you decide to start your organization?
Last July when I was in Mexico for my job as a farmworker attorney, I met with a group of workers in their home village in rural Mexico. I had met with and interviewed the same workers in the United States only a few months earlier. In the labor camp in the US, the workers had been intimidated and silent, but in Mexico they poured out stories of extremely oppressive working conditions, waiting hours to speak with me in an increasingly dark room. At that moment, I realized that for the efforts of the worker advocate community to be successful, we need to have a presence in Mexico where Mexico-based migrant workers feel comfortable speaking openly about workplace conditions.

Who do you look up to and why?
My clients for their courage to demand that their rights be respected. My parents for their compassion and generosity. My mentors, farmworker attorneys Greg Schell and Lisa Butler, for their passion and tirelessness. Paul Farmer for his determination, persistence, and vision in establishing a culturally-sensitive organization in a foreign country against seemingly insurmountable odds. And for their leadership and vision, current and former Echoing Green Fellows, especially Tricia Kakalec and Jennifer Gordon.

A snapshot in ten years: What is your dream of what's happening? What impact has your organization had?
CDM will be replicated in other major migrant sending areas around the world, workers’ rights will be respected regardless of where the workers are from, wages and workplace health and safety conditions will have improved, and the voice of migrant workers will be reflected in fairer laws and policies.

What's in your CD player right now?
Silvio Rodriguez and Pablo Milanes, Live in Argentina, Jarabe de Palo, de Vuelta y Vuelta, and Tracy Chapman, Telling Stories.

What are a few book recommendations (pleasure, work and anything in between)?
Suburban Sweatshops: The Struggle for Immigrants Rights by Jennifer Gordon, With these Hands by Daniel Rothenberg, and Mountains Beyond Mountains, The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder.

What websites do you go to often (work and personal)?

• washingtonpost.com
• palmbeachpost.com
• smfws.com
• elsoldezacatecas.com.mx
• news.bbc.co.uk

Quick piece of advice for people starting social change organization:
Talk to as many people about your project as you can.