Refugio "Reg" of PER

Name: Refugio "Reg" of PER Location: Los Angeles, CA Immigrants rights activist, founder of Project Economic Refugee; also community organizer for Heal the Bay, a SoCal environmental nonprofit

A little about me

Originally from Mexico, I immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager and have lived in SoCal ever since. For the past 4 years, I have been doing environmental work in communities of color and at the same time have been advocating for immigrants' rights

I would describe myself as a

blogger

Why I deserve a Netroots Nation Scholarship

I want to take my immigrants rights & EJ work to the next level by attending Netroots Nation for the first time. I've been invited to be part of at least two panels by fellow activists that have attended before and I need your support to get there!

I manage these blogs

Project Economic Refugee
Heal the Bay's Blog en Español

The blogs I use most are

DailyKos
Huffington Post

What first inspired me to get involved

As a son of Mexican immigrants, I always seemed to be hyper aware about just how important it is that opportunities to prosper be kept accessible in equitable ways. Through the study of Cultural Anthropology in college, this sense was ever more accentuated, as I began to study the ins and outs of why we live in the systems that we live in and how power relations work across cultures. During this time, the Bush Adminstration happened, and while I like to joke about it, seeing the extreme rightward turn that our country took during the Bush years really pushed me in a definitive and unapologetic progressive direction. It would not be until 2007, though, when I would start a small blog through a MySpace page to advocate for immigrants rights online. I can say with the utmost certainty that the Immigration Rights Marches across the nation were the single most inspiring thing that motivated me to start blogging. My heart burst with pride and admiration at the bravery of my own people, and so at that moment, I decided to join the movement by becoming an online community organizer. From there, my involvement in improving the environment in communities of color has re-affirmed by drive to fight for a better life for everyone regardless of race, social class, ethnicity, or whatever other label you want to use.

How I've gotten others involved

On my Project Economic Refugee front: since that blog has a pretty unique focus on promoting the use of the term "economic refugee" instead of "illegal immigrant", I have found that my readers tend to be extremely supportive of my work not only online by off-line as well because they share the same goal that I have, to move the debate on this issue so that we tackle the root of the problem: the extreme poverty that creates "illegal immigrants" in the first place. In addition, my project goes beyond advocacy for immigration reform by calling for a closer alliance between Latinos and the people of the United States through progressive cooperative mechanisms that, led by Latinos themselves, can actually have the impact of lifting Latin Americans out of poverty so that the “illegal immigration problem” is solved once and for all. Not only have my readers taken action online to contact media personalities to ask them to cover issues relating to the long-term focus of Project Economic Refugee, but they have also taken the extra step of incorporating the writings of my blog when they talk about this topic in school reports, and most recently, in college-level treatments of how the history of the backbone of the U.S. is one that is rooted in “economic refugeeism.” Whether it is signing an online petition, supporting an author of a new book on the subject of immigration, or helping get content go viral, my readers are able to be moved by my blog because THEY constantly move and inspire me to write in ever-innovating ways. In terms of my environmental activism in the Latino community, I have leveraged my Heal the Bay Spanish language blog to get media coverage on issues from closure of park services in low-income communities to why it's important to reduce our dependence on plastics: issues that would've otherwise not received much attention at all from press outlets that reach a Latino audience.

The blog post I am most proud of

http://www.economicrefugee.net/the-psycho-emotional-impacts-of-immigration-on-our-children

Why I think participation in the blogosphere is important

In this country, our freedom of speech is one of our most cherished values. Democracy itself depends on the strength of our voices and in the civic participation of an informed populace. Because our media is becoming ever more centralized and dominated by corporate interests that are oftentimes in direct conflict to these ideals, the blogosphere represents an extremely important counterweight to such a troubling trend. The progressive blogosphere in particular empowers us to focus national attention on issues of importance that would have otherwise been blacked out by other media outlets. However, in order for the progressive blogosphere to remain strong, it needs to diversify its base of perspectives and so it is extremely important for more people of color to enter the blogosphere. In terms of the immigration reform movement, Latino bloggers are at the center of it all, becoming one of the newest groups of people standing at the proverbial gates of access to influence, seeking to also “crash the gate” Kos-style, if you will, in the same manner that other pioneer bloggers did when the blogosphere first came into existence.

More about my involvement with DFA and local work

I am an active DFA member. I first got involved with DFA through trainings that enabled me to do targeted canvassing in my neighborhood during the 2006 elections. Since then, I have continued to be engaged, taking advantage of the wealth of online trainings that DFA has on its site and through online campaigns they run, most notably during the Health Insurance Reform/Public Option fight. Through my Project Economic Refugee blog, I try to weave in the campaigns that DFA is working on with an emphasis on how they affect Latino interests because I want to do my part to strengthen the overall progressive movement. What I like the most about DFA is that they are about building an infrastructure that can be mobilized when progressive issues need it the most. In this regard, I share the same trait as DFA: I like to think in long-term, taking into account the bigger picture, and in the vision of a stronger movement.

More about my volunteer work

I’m very active with other campaigns and progressive organizations, mainly having to do with either immigrant rights or environmental justice issues. During the lead up to the DREAM Act vote last November, I joined in efforts by America’s Voice, Immigration Reform for America, Cuéntame and others to generate phone calls to urge Congress to vote in support of the legislation. I also work for a Southern California nonprofit doing community organizing in inner city Los Angeles to build pocket parks and community gardens in underserved communities. Those are really the most recent example of my activism for progressive causes. In the past I have phone banked for Organizing for America on various campaigns. I’ve also attended and hosted MoveOn House Parties to either phone bank or watch progressive films. In addition, my volunteering experience is not limited to the U.S.: I have done some volunteer work in both Mexico and Peru in children centers that offer services to impoverished families.

My Twitter manifesto on online activism

Online activists exist more than just online. They're often engaged in local causes as a result of online activity; I see it every day!

My suggested bumper sticker slogan

They’re not “illegal aliens”, they’re ECONOMIC REFUGEES.

My idea for a cool new online action

I have always wanted to have a tool that could engage those Latinos that have served or are serving in the U.S. military. I think that could make for a very powerful way to showcase just how important the Latino contribution to our military is. Currently, there is no organized activity specifically celebrating or covering Latinos in the U.S. military either online or on-the-ground. All we get in the media is the stereotype of Latinos as gang bangers or Latinos as “illegal immigrants” taking from the system and the reality of Latinos actually SERVING and DYING for our country gets very little attention in the mainstream media. Not only that, but very little attention is ever paid to those cases of Latinos going through some “mixed family status” nightmares. There have been cases, for example, of Latino soldiers fighting in Iraq/Afghanistan and also fighting the deportation of either parents or wives at the same time. I would love to break through those media blackouts and stereotypes and actually start a campaign targeted at Latino soldiers to empower their voices. Who knows, maybe such a campaign could evolve into something similar to VoteVets.org that could serve as an entry way for Latino soldiers into ever-growing activism in support of progressive initiatives.