BRAZILIAN WOMEN'S GROUP INC

WORKERS' RIGHTS: EDUCATES BRAZILIAN IMMIGRANT WORKERS ON THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES, ORGANIZES A WORKERS' COUNCIL, AND OFFERED OSHA WORK ACCIDENT PREVENTION TRAININGS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BRAZILIAN WORKERS' CENTER. WORKERS ARE REFERRED TO BWG BY OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, HOSPITAL SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, BUT MOSTLY BY WORD OF MOUTH FROM WORKERS WHO WERE ONCE HELPED BY THIS PROJECT. ORGANIZER MET IN PERSON OR BY PHONE WITH WORKERS COMPLAINING ABOUT VIOLATION TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS BASIS TO PURSUING LEGAL ACTION. WHEN NEEDED, CASES ARE REFERRED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES (GBLS), DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL), JUSTICE AT WORK, OR TO ATTORNEY STACEI SOBOSIK. THE BWG ALSO WORKS WITH THE MASS. ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ON STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DOMESTIC WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS, AND RUNS EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS FOR EMPLOYERS ON THE ISSUE, AS WELL AS WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS. AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE, THE BRAZILIAN WOMEN'S GROUP BENEFITS FROM A SERIES OF VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS AND PARTICIPATES IN VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON ACTIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS, IMMIGRATION REFORM AND OTHER LEGAL BENEFITS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS. A COALITION OF WORKERS' CENTERS, CREATED IN 2020 TO SUPPORT CENTERS AND THEIR MEMBERS DURING THE PANDEMIC, CONTINUES TO MEET REGULARLY.IN 2023, THE WORKERS' RIGHTS PROJECT HAD 59 CASES AND RECOUPED ALMOST $160,000 IN WAGE THEFT AND OVERTIME FOR WORKERS. . THE BWG ALSO HAS SUBMITTED EIGHT CASES OF LABOR DEFERRED ACTION TO DOL AND GBLS.

IMMIGRANT RIGHTS/CIVIC ENGAGEMENT :THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES AND REFERRALS FOR IMMIGRANTS. BWG ORGANIZES WEEKLY LIVE EVENTS ON ITS SOCIAL MEDIA TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION ON IMMIGRATION AND ON FAMILY AFFAIRS, HEALTH, HOUSING, JOB PLACEMENT, AMONG OTHER TOPICS. IN 2023, BWG HELPED 53 STUDENTS TO RENEW DACA ELIGIBILITY (DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS). BWG ALSO HELPED 79 BRAZILIANS TO RENEW THEIR BRAZILIAN PASSPORTS AND APPLY FOR POWER OF ATTORNEY. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING MANY WALK-IN SERVICES, SUCH AS TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENTS, BWG CONTINUES TO WORK TO FIND AND SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS IN DETENTION AND CONTINUES TO ORGANIZE GRASSROOTS SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM, INCLUDING DRIVER'S LICENSES, THE DREAM ACT, IN-STATE TUITION FOR IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS OF MASSACHUSETTS, THE SAFE COMMUNITIES ACT, LANGUAGE JUSTICE LEGISLATION, AND THE KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER - STOP DEPORTATIONS CAMPAIGN. BWG PROMOTES PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS THROUGH CITIZENSHIP CLASSES, VOTER REGISTRATION, AND ONGOING OUTREACH PROGRAM OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS, ARTICLES, INTERVIEWS AND PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE PORTUGUESE-LANGUAGE MEDIA.