Immigrant workers in New Orleans, and some of the people trying to help them, Saket Soni (2nd from top) and Marco Amador (bottom).
Photos: Blair Wells
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Weekly Show AlertsMAKING CONTACT - a weekly international radio program
New Orleans Now:
Immigrants, Labor Rights and the Human Cost of Rebuilding an American City -
Part 1
June 6, 2007
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Since the floodwaters receded, New Orleans has been submerged in a sea of reconstruction issues, and a displaced population still has no way to return. Yet, a new population has taken root: an immigrant labor force. Some of them were already in this country, or were invited by the U.S. government, and some have risked all, crossing borders, for the promise of work. But for many, that promise of work has become a fight for survival.
On this edition, we hear from the immigrants themselves and from the people on the ground trying to help them.
This series was made possible in part by the Open Society Institute.
Featuring:
Arthur Robinson, business owner; Israel Lopez, Senor Jose Castillo, Lorenzo Alvarado Duran, Rafael Sanchez and Manuel, immigrant laborers; Marco Amador, New Orleans Worker Center for Racial Justice field worker and National Day Laborer Organizing Network member; Jose, Mobil Taco Truck Owner; Saket Soni, founder, New Orleans Worker Center for Racial Justice.
Senior Producer/Host: Tena Rubio, Open Society Institute Fellow
Mixing Engineer: Phillip Babich
Interns: Alexis McCrimmon and Samson Reiny
Translation: Frank Rubio, Andrew Reisseger, Christine M. Rodriguez
Voiceover talent: Jose Ramirez, Dr. Joseph Khamsi, Paul Bieber, Samson Reiny,
Steve Masar, Christopher Williams, Aaron Shuman, Joshua Grossman
Transcribing: Casting Word
Much appreciation to all the people who contributed their time, energy and support to this show, Eve Troeh, David Kunian, Claire Schoen, all of those listed above and especially to Steve Masar and Emily Polk.
For more information:
New Orleans Worker Center for Racial Justice (NOWJC)
The New Orleans Worker Justice Coalition
504-363-1108; organizer@neworleansworkerjustice.org
www.neworleansworkerjustice.org
Workplace Justice Project
Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law
7214 St. Charles Ave., Box 901
New Orleans, LA 70118
504-861-5550; molina@loyno.edu
National Day Laborer Organizing Network
www.ndlon.org
Other helpful links:
Common Ground Health Clinic (Latino Health Outreach Project)
1400 Teche Street
PO Box 741801
New Orleans, LA 70174-1801
504-361-9800; healthalgiers@yahoo.com
www.cghc.org
The People's Hurricane Relief Fund (PHRF)
1418 N. Claiborne, Suite 2
New Orleans, LA 70116
504-301-0125; 1-888-310-PHRF; info@peopleshurricane.org
www.peopleshurricane.org
Southern Poverty Law Center
400 Washington Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36104
www.splcenter.org
National Immigration Law Center
3435 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 2850
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-639-3900; info@nilc.org
www.nilc.org
Hope House
916 Saint Andrew St
New Orleans, LA 70130
504-522-5881