CODEDI

COALITION FOR THE DIGNITY AND RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS

Proyects:

* Advocacy

* Building Alliances

* Services to the Public

* Newsletter

A.- Advocacy

CODEDI also recognizes and addresses structural and legal barriers that prevent a healthy integration of the Latino immigrant community into the larger society. CODEDI works on the Local, State and National level to promote legislation and policies that address these structural barriers. For example at the Local Level CODEDI worked with city council to get the city of Cincinnati to officially recognize the Mexican and Guatemalan Consular IDs as valid forms of identification. At the State level, CODEDI, along with other three co- immigrant-based grassroots organizations, founded the Ohio Immigrant Network (RIO, Red de Inmigrantes de Ohio) to develop campaigns and actions aimed at achieving favorable laws for the immigrant community. For example, RIO worked heavily on a campaign to facilitate issuing driver’s licenses to immigrants. At the National Level CODEDI advocates for federal legislation that impacts the integration of the immigrant community such as a Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
To these ends CODEDI is one of the co-founders of NALACC (National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities), an alliance that joins together more than 100 immigrant organization from around the country. CODEDI has sponsored letter writing campaigns, organized marches and attended national and international forums to promote policies and practices that facilitate the integration of the immigrant community on a national level. In 2007, CODEDI hosted NALACC’s annual meeting in Cincinnati.
CODEDI has organized and participated in immigrants rights protest demonstrations both locally and at the state level. Locally, CODEDI and RIO organized a protest demonstration at the offices of the Butler County Sheriff to protest persecution of immigrants. CODEDI helped organize a demonstration of 2,000 immigrants for immigrant rights in downtown Cincinnati in 2006 and a demonstration of 9,000 in Columbus that same year.

B.- Building Alliaces

CODEDI works with many organizations from the established community such as religious organizations, local universities, labor unions and other community based organizations. Since its inception CODEDI has been particularly interested in working to build relationships with the African American community in the area. Traditionally relationships between minority communities are often overlooked. CODEDI has recognized this dynamic in other cities and has made efforts to overcome it in Cincinnati. Some examples of these efforts include:

1. Lafricano Festival

In June 2005, CODEDI joined African American organizations such as the New Prospect Baptist Church in Over-the-Rhine and the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission in organizing a Black/Latino cultural festival called LaFricano held in the Seasongood Pavilion of Eden Park, dozens of musical groups performed for over 2,000 attendees from the African American and Latino communities. This was the first effort we are aware of to bring together these two communities.

2. NALACC National Meeting

In November 2007, CODEDI hosted the annual NALACC conference. Over 150 immigrant leaders from around the country attended as well as several community leaders from Latin America as well. As part of this conference, CODEDI together with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, New Jerusalem Baptist Church, and NAACP held a reception for the visiting Latino immigrant leaders and local African American leaders. In addition to informal conversations and entertainment the reception also included a facilitated dialogue between members of both groups regarding how to increase understanding and collaboration between the two communities. The event was called, “Dialogue for Justice: Building Alliances between Latin American and African American communities.”
CODEDI and its leadership work to develop strong ties to progressive sectors of the African American community to be able to respond to issues of common interest such as housing, education and the school system, health issues, immigrant women’s concerns, and Latino relations with labor unions and with employers.

C.- Services to the public

D.- Newslatter

CODEDI publishes an occasional newsletter “La Voz del Inmigrante” (The Immigrant Voice) as well as other literature and leaflets for specific events. We are currently working on posting back issues in this section.

CODEDI is an information resource for individual immigrants with particular problems or situations. Most of the time the individual consultation results in advice and a referral that will help to resolve the issues. Common issues that we address include: how to register a child for school, where to find medical treatment, housing and legal help. It can also entail helping individuals fill out applications for social services, government aid, and US passports. We also have access to an internet café that people can use for a variety of reasons such as looking for jobs on line..

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Codedi 931 McPherson Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45205 Phone:(513)921-6080

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