Grassroots Councils
We believe that truly liberating change will result from a social justice movement whose power and vision is rooted in the lives, experiences, and solutions of everyday, working class people. In order to eradicate racism, sexism, economic exploitation and poverty, our central work is to build grassroots organization and leadership amongst low-wage workers, women, African-Americans, immigrants, Latinos, and the poor.
The organizations are called "Grassroots Councils." These councils exist in different geographic regions, but share common organizing campaigns, and movement work.
Low-Income Families Fighting Together (LIFFT)
2000 - Present
We are an organization of mothers, fathers, workers, residents and people who are trying to survive in Miami. We work low-wage jobs and live on small or fixed-incomes. We struggle against racism everyday. We are fighting for opportunity, equality, respect, and power within our communities. We aim to keep the politicians honest, the government fair, and to stop corporations from putting their greed before our needs. We do this by organizing and uniting to become effective leaders.
History & Issues: LIFFT was originally founded as Minority Families Fighting Against Wages (MFFAW) in 1999. The roots of the organization are in the Liberty Square Housing Projects, affectionately known as the Pork n' Beans. Through MFFAW, the Workers Center helps women to organize against WAGEs, the local agency responsible for the welfare to work program. MFFAW dissolved and LIFFT was born through the fight to save the Pork n' Beans. Since then, housing has become the major issue for LIFFT as it took on other public housing issues, tenants' rights, and the impacts of gentrification on the African-American Community. LIFFT has become one of the strongest and most influential grassroots organizations in Miami-Dade County.
Miami in Action/Miami en Acción
2005-Present
We are an organization of mostly Latino neighbors who have found common cause and inspiration from Low-Income Families Fighting Together. Like LIFFT we are an organization of mothers, fathers, workers, residents and people who are trying to survive in Miami. We work low-wage jobs and live on small or fixed-incomes. ·We are proud to be Latinos and we are proud to fight with LIFFT as we move forward for racial and economic justice in MIami and beyond.
History & Issues: Miami in Action/Miami en Acción is based in the neighborhoods of Wynwood, Buena Vista, and Allapattah - all of which are working class, Latino neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are at risk of wholesale gentrification. Wynwood is facing massive redevelopment as the city and corporate developers are pushing to make the area into a bohemian enclave. Allapattah is facing wide spread slumlord situations and Buena Vista is getting assaulted with raising rents for working class people as Wynwood is gentrified. MIA is building a core of leaders from renters and homeowners in the area and building alliances to preserve the working class community.
Childcare Providers Organizing Committee
2000 - 2002 The Childcare Providers Organizing Committee was an organization of home-based childcare providers. The CPOC fought for fair wages and conditions and attempted to build a North Dade organization of providers. As part of the process, the Workers Center trained over 30 low-income women to begin their own certified childcare businesses and, in the process, educated them about their rights, and how to organize.
