Board, Staff and Members Gather for 2018 Leadership Retreat

DAMAYAN MIGRANTS | January 27, 2018

Damayan Board, staff, and new and old leaders and members concluded its groundbreaking leadership retreat during the weekend of january 26th-27th in Stony Point, NY.

With the theme “Isang Layunin, Isang Pagkilos (One Goal, One Movement)”, the participants deepened their understanding about Damayan’s mission, vision, and strategies. They also learned invaluable achievements, lessons and challenges from the organization’s 15 years of serving Filipino migrant workers in New York City and neighboring states.

Guest speaker Ben Becker from the Justice Center presented about the current political situation in the US, and staff members tied it to the ever worsening situation in the Philippines. Martha Ojeda from Interfaith Workers Justice facilitated team building activities that strengthened the bond among the participants. 

In 2017, Damayan organized the Justice for Edith and Sherile campaign, which was covered by both national and international news agencies and reinvigorated the domestic workers rights movement. In addition, Damayan held a General Assembly, Health Fair, Holiday Party, Know Your Rights trainings, and monthly legal clinics, and provided OSHA training for 50 workers, Nanny training for 30 and the 2017 Workers Academy had 35 graduates. Through the Trafficking Victims Assistance Program (TVAP), Damayan provided over $45,000 to trafficked workers and their families. With our allies at the Community Development Project (CDP) at the Urban Justice Center, over 150 legal (trafficking, fraud, stolen wages, DV, adjustment of status, etc.) were filed and stolen wages and t-visas were won. The year ended with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippine Consulate and Damayan, after a four year long campaign. 

With the conclusion of such a busy year, the retreat provided the essential appportunity to center the board, staff and key leaders around the mission, vision, and goals of Damayan. They left with a renewed commitment to serve the community and Damayan.
Congratulations to all the participants for all your hard work. 

Serve the people!