1199 Welcomes Immigrants

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month in September, two members share their stories.

Ana Medina is an 1199SEIU Delegate and home care worker who emigrated to the US from Mexico as a child and gained her citizenship earlier this year.

“The story of an immigrant to this country begins for various reasons, we come here wanting to sustain for ourselves and our families, not wanting to be a burden to anyone. But we have the title of immigrant which can mean being shamed, discriminated against, pushed aside and treated like outcasts. Many of us work tirelessly in conditions where there is often no union and therefore no fair agreement to receive healthcare and other benefits, even when we are contributing to society. Immigrants are sometimes seen as people who simply take from the US and do not give. I left Mexico when I was only fifteen years old, saying goodbye to my family and not realizing that it would take me years to be able to return and see them again. For some family members, it wasn’t possible to say goodbye to them, before they parted with this world. I hold the memory of them and all my years before fifteen-year-old me close to my heart.

“When I first arrived here, I knew little to no English and had very few connections to receive help in any form, and I was dealing with the stress of having to take care of my two children while being a child myself. I was also experiencing domestic violence and constantly belittled and shut down when dealing with case workers regarding my situation and children, no one would listen to me even when everything was laid out in front of them. Years passed and I began to learn in small ways how to look out for my children and myself. I began speaking and understanding more English and attempted working many times before finding home care work with an 1199SEIU agency, where the benefits helped me to get my citizenship. I met people in home care who would actually sit and understand what I was saying. Working in this field has allowed me to sustain for myself and grow as a person in so many ways that were beyond the imagination of fifteen-year-old me. The story of an immigrant starts differently for each individual, but we are human beings who are just looking to live and contribute to the world.”

Ramon Carmona is an 1199SEIU Delegate and bilingual Social Worker at the Department of Behavioral Health in Washington, D.C.

“My parents arrived in the U.S. at separate times before I was born to work and take a chance on providing greater opportunities for their children. Once the family gained enough money, they brought us here and we went through the citizenship process. We lived in the Bronx while they slowly worked their way up the ladder. We lived in a disciplined environment where education was of the utmost importance. I became one of the first of my family to attend and graduate college. By this time, I had grown to love the US while maintaining a strong bond with my native culture and native country. I felt we were achieving the American dream. Through my experiences growing up and knowing first-hand what it was like coming from basically nothing money-wise, I could empathize with those around me in similar situations needing help and advocacy to achieve success in life. It was one of the reasons why I believe I had a natural inclination to help others and eventually it was one of the reasons I decided to join 1199 SEIU as a Delegate. It was as if it was a natural calling for me to help others in need.

One of my greatest hopes is to continue to inspire the next generation in my family, my daughters, to learn more about their Dominican culture, about the country’s history, people, customs, and maintain the same pride and joy I have for my beautiful native homeland.