| The Latin American Association of New Jersey has been found as an alternative Latin American/Hispanic organization to the many existing organizations that are currently working for the Hispanic community. I will have to first tell you about my work here in the City of Englewood.
I am currently President of a non-profit organization called ODECI (Organización de Derechos Civiles, Organization for Civil Rights). The concept of ODECI came about in February of 2004 when Luis A. Sánchez, Germán Cardona and Darlenson Roldan (All teachers in Englewood) decided to create an after-school tutoring/enrichment program for the Latino youth of the Englewood Public School district. Its mission broadened as ODECI became involved in speaking up against the targeted and racist housing inspections of Hispanic neighborhoods in Englewood. These raids were carried out by Englewood's own city inspectors. ODECI's work brought about a new city ordinance to protect the civil rights of our community.
ODECI's fundamental belief is that in order to protect the civil rights of any marginalized or disenfranchised community, one must first educate the community. As such, we run free tutoring programs for the children in the Englewood Public School district as well as ESL for all adults. Again, all free of charge and taught by mostly volunteer teachers. Having worked with ODECI for over two years, I have come to the painful realization that working for the community has to involve more than the altruism of community service. ODECI is solely concerned with education. Community service and educational initiatives are not enough to empower a community. A political force is necessary. The community must participate in the municipal/district/county/state/national political arena.
LASO-NJ has come about because of the aforementioned realization. LASO-NJ can only hope to learn from the many that have been keeping the civil rights movement alive and strengthening its scope. We will look to build upon the foundation that these groups have established throughout the decades. That being said, I am frustrated by the current participation of the Latin American community in local politics in my county of Bergen and the state of New Jersey. While united, multi-national and passionate, it is my belief that these organizations have fallen into a trap that I can best describe as a state of conformity. As Latin American immigrants, we must all carry the unifying memory of the many socio-economic-political reasons that have brought us to the United States.
It is my belief that many of our current Hispanic leaders have seemingly forgotten their names, color of their skin and the countries they left behind. We have arrived and in many ways assimilated and taken the decision to work with and within this country, as hard working peoples, to empower not only ourselves, but our adopted nation and inevitably the nations we left behind. All as proud citizens of the United States (yet many are denied this right...).
How to define this state of conformity? One must be practical, of course, and pragmatic about the established political system. As such, working within the system means supporting the establishment and waiting/hoping that one's work to further their cause will in turn bring about the opportunity to further one's agenda. But therein lies the danger of conformity. The vast majority of Hispanic organizations and groups have somehow lost their way within the establishment. The concept of progressive thought has been muddled, lost or forgotten among the harsh realities of New Jersey politics. LASO-NJ, again, is a fresh alternative to those that have lost their way or stuck in a system that no longer speaks for the people. We are talking about progressive pragmatic political educational empowerment.
It is revolutionary. Revolutionary because LASO-NJ will work to establish and define the identity of a people unlike any the world has ever seen. The United States has erased the borders of Latin America. And Latin Americans have erased the borders of the Americas. In this nation, we are no longer Colombian, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Cuban, Ecuadorian, etc., we are Hispanic-Americans. A new species. Redefining, therefore, what it means to traverse this New World that is the American continent, from Canada to Chile.
To answer your questions: LASO-NJ is an alternative to the boss driven political machine established in Bergen County and New Jersey. LASO-NJ is about progressive politics. Drawing from the indelible memories of our Latin American heritage and fused to the progressive political forces that are the hallmark of many of our local leaders in District 37 and Bergen County. Our goals are to shatter the political establishment/status quo. To inspire those looking for something different, for an alternatives and new modes/forums of expression.
An alternative to a county that has produced an outrageous freeholder board that operates with a seven to nothing majority!?!? Where is there room for even a whisper of dissent?
We will work to empower the disenfranchised and the marginalized. These include, but are not limited to, the Hispanic, Black, Disabled, LBGTI and our uninspired, complacent and indifferent youth.
I hope this has given you somewhat of an idea of what LASO-NJ, ODECI and I am about.
Atentamente,
Lucas Sánchez |
