Voces Unidas: First Local 925 conference conducted completely in Spanish

First Local 925 conference conducted completely in Spanish

Nearly 200 Spanish-speaking family child care union members came to Yakima June 30 from all over the state to participate in this historic union meeting--our very first state-wide Spanish-language meeting. Toppenish and Grandview providers each brought handmade SEIU piñatas. Providers put out displays from their home countries, some of which included: Panama City, El Salvador, various cities in Mexico, Guatemala, Uruguay, Nicaragua. Michael Laslett serenaded the conference as members came into the hall. Elena Avalos got up and joined him in singing and playing the guitar – totally impromptu.

The entire conference was organized and run by a member committee, with staff help from Rena MacKenzie, Kito Alvarez, and Maggie Valtierra. All of the Early Learning Division and Organizing staff pitched in to help, along with Michael, Adair, Tricia, and Gretchen. Special thanks to the guest speakers: FCC Chapter Pres. Nancy Gerber, Olympia Provider Dora Herrera (a member of the negotiated rulemaking committee), Local 925 Exec. Board Member José Mayorga, Local 925 Pres.  Kim Cook, Early Learning Dir. Karen Hart, Farmworker leader and legislative candidate Tomás Villanueva, Antonio Ginatta from the Governor’s office, Dr. Graciela Italiano-Thomas, President & CEO of Thrive by Five,  Cathy Sarri, SEIU National Child Care Campaign Director, and local radio personality Ninfa Gutierrez. Karen Hart gave her first ever speech in Spanish. "I was paralyzed until the providers started chanting to help me muster some serious ganas," she said later.

Elena Avalos, the conference MC, revved the audience up, with “Si se puede!” along with thunder sticks on each table. Door prizes and COPE gift contests excited the crowd. (More than $1,000 was raised in COPE throughout the day.)

Providers had a terrific time learning about their contract, their rights and about political involvement.