 CARECEN leads the Earthquake Preparedness Network. In Pico-Union, thousands of people are left homeless. Pictured here are people waiting to receive clothing, food, health and shelter referrals. |
1994 Vladimir Cerna, a CARECEN Youth Leadership Intern, is one of the first Salvadorans to speak out about the discrimination of undocumented youth seeking access to higher education. UCLA accepts him, but due to his immigration status he is not eligible for any financial aid. The Northridge Earthquake causes massive destruction in Los Angeles. Anti-immigrant Republicans move to deny emergency aid to undocumented persons. CARECEN and a handful of other organizations try to meet needs of the more than 1,000 families in Pico-Union left homeless and without public and little private support following the earthquake. Using its experience from the uprising of 1992, CARECEN organizes and draws attention to the needs of families sleeping in the parks and streets of Pico-Union. CARECEN leads the Earthquake Preparedness Network, coordinates more than thirty-four service agencies, 1,000 employees and thousands of residents. CARECEN staff and other Latino leaders travel to Sacramento to urge Governor Pete Wilson not to support Proposition 187. Wilson reaffirms support for Prop. 187. CARECEN joins with other immigrant groups to organize the largest march in Los Angeles in more than a decade. More than 25,000 attend the May 29 march against Proposition 187. CARECEN continues to play a central role throughout the national immigration debate. Prop. 187 passes. CARECEN and other Latino organizations challenge the constitutionality of Proposition 187 in Gregorio T. v. Pete Wilson (currently pending appeal in the 9th Circuit). CARECEN works with the Street Vending Coalition of Los Angeles (SVCLA) to develop special vending districts by mobilizing hundreds of street vendors at City Hall. Most vendors have never been to City Hall and most people in City Hall have never dealt with vendors. This historic event leads to the eventual passage of the ordinance creating vending districts. CARECEN continues to support the movement for democracy and justice in El Salvador. CARECEN organizes a 50 member delegation to observe the first democratic election in 60 years after the signing of the 1992 peace accords. |