Filipino Advocates for Justice, at 45, to hold ‘homecoming’

OAKLAND, California -­ “Filipino Advocates for Justice is what I think about when I think of home,” says Rachel, a former youth program participant and staff member. “This organization basically gave me back my family and gave me a purpose. It gave me a way to impact lives and give back.”

Filipino Advocates for Justice(FAJ) celebrates its milestone anniversary on April 20 at Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley. Its homecoming­style event, “We Are Home,”  will celebrate 45 years of immigrant and low­wage workers’ rights, youth development, and community­building.

More than 250 guests are expected to attend. The event will highlight FAJ’s evolving civic engagement work and current tenant rights campaigns in Alameda and Union City. It will showcase FAJ’s 45-year history of service and organizing to build political power and the “home” shared with the Filipino and broader immigrant community in the East Bay.

The event is not just a celebration, but a display of unity and strength of the Filipino community and its partners in fighting for social and economic justice needed in this political moment, particularly affecting immigrant communities.

Malcolm Amado Uno, political director of the Million Voters Project, will speak at the event about reshaping the face of the electorate by bringing out one million black, Latino, and Asian Pacific Islander voters to the polls in this critical election year.

FAJ will honor its partners in the fight for tenant protections, the Alameda Renters Coalition and Urban Habitat. Kimi Lee, Director of Bay Rising, will emcee the program. Food will be catered by renowned chef Dominic Ainza and special guest chefs.

Founded in 1973 by young activists protecting their community from racist attacks and xenophobia, 45 years later little has changed, and FAJ continues to protect immigrant and worker rights central to its civic engagement program, which includes voter education and mobilization. It recently celebrated the defeat of SB1188 (Stone) with the California Domestic Workers Coalition to ensure 24­hour caregivers get paid for all hours worked.

A partial list of event sponsors includes: Kaiser Permanente, Union Bank, East Bay Innovations, Office of Alameda County Board of Supervisor Richard Valle, and Pilipino­American Society of Education.

For more details about “We Are Home”go to FAJ’s website at www.filipinos4justice.org or get tickets at www.tinyurl.com/FAJ45th.

Founded in 1973, FAJ’s mission is to build a strong and empowered Filipino community by organizing constituents, developing leaders, providing services, and advocating for policies that promote social and economic justice and equity.

CONTACT: Fred Pinguel, Lead Organizer at Filipino Advocates for Justice Email: [email protected]
Phone: 267­269­7209