Damayan Hosts Third and Final Workshop in a Three-Part Series, Workers Protection Academy (WPA): Know Your Rights with ICE and More

“In every person like us, regardless of status, we have rights. I didn’t know before I came here. Now, I have the tools to fight.” 

• Erwin, Damayan member and WPA graduate

Woodside, NY - Last week, almost 80 Filipino migrant workers attended Part 3 of Workers Protection Academy (WPA), the final part of a series designed to provide knowledge and tools Filipino migrant workers need to protect themselves and our community from ICE. The workshop concluded with a graduation ceremony for participants who attended 2-3 workshops. 

Damayan staff gave a recap of parts 1 and 2, building on knowledge from previous WPA workshops, and gave a Know Your Rights training when detained by ICE. The attendees also learned how to fill out a safety and security planning worksheet on how to gather their documents. They were then given a presentation on how to spot fake news, which is a crucial step in protecting our communities. A graduation ceremony was held for participants concluding the series. Damayan staff wished participants a happy International Working Women’s Day, as many of the attendees were migrant women workers who were forced to migrate to support  their families in the Philippines. 

Damayan will host a Legal Clinic on March 22, 11am-4pm, in Woodside, NY, with labor and immigration attorneys. RSVP is required, as we will contact registrants to be pre-screened. Please check our social media and website, and subscribe to our communications to find out more about future events. 

Damayan events are free, and open to the public. Filipino migrant workers are prioritized.