Pro-immigrant organization ‘Make the Road New York’ makes changes to its board of directors
One of the major pro-immigrant organizations in New York City‘Make the Road New York’ (MRNY), announced on Monday a transition process in its leadership, which will be completed in April 2021, when the new ones take possession Co-Executive Directors.
In this way, and after almost a decade in his posts, Deborah Axt y Javier Valdes they will leave their positions as co-Executive Directors of MRNYto make way for the new leaders who were chosen after the recommendation of the Board of Directors to assume: Jose Lopez, Arlenis Morel y Theo Oshiro.
“It has been the honor of our lives to stand shoulder to shoulder with the members, staff and partners of Make the Road New York”, Axt and Valdés said in a joint statement, in which they added that during every minute “that we have been in this position, Theo Oshiro, Arlenis Morel and José López they have worked alongside us, serving as the true backbone of this organization and making Make the Road the force it is.”
The organization indicated that over the past decade, under the leadership of Axt and Valdés, MRNY members have won dozens of historic victories that will impact the lives of millions and shape the future of this nation. It’s a statement, MRNY specified that in the past 10 years expanded to westchester, sister organizations were launched in four states and the size of the budget and membership tripled. “And now there will be a 24,000-square-foot headquarters space that is being built in the heart of queens: a new Make the Road community center and a beacon of hope, where future generations of leaders will thrive.”
“We have advanced a powerful vision of what is possible; we have held the line against the vicious racism and xenophobia; and this year we face the devastating impact of COVID-19. This community of love has responded with amazing speed and strength to every moment of crisis. We provide truthful and reliable information in the face of Washington’s lies. We provide sustenance, physical and emotional, and vital support when families face their most urgent moments of need,” said Axt and Valdés.
and about the new co-CEOs, MRNY indicated that there are three extraordinary leaders who have emerged from the base of the organization and each has been at least 16 years with the organization. In the case of Jose LopezFor example, it was indicated that he joined MRNY as a member of the ‘Youth Power Project’ when he was 13 years old after passing through the office of the organization in Bushwick and see his cousins there and decide to go in to see what was happening.
About Arlenis Marel, it was specified that he originally came to the organization with his mother, one of the founding members of MRNY. After joining the staff, Arlenis has worked to build the powerful infrastructure that supports the collective work of MRNY, including the sophisticated technology and data system that connects services and the organization, and the Human Resources department that shapes how organizations of the movement can support and maintain an incredible staff.
And of Theo Oshiro, MRNY indicated that he joined the organization in 2005 as the organization’s first health advocate, part of a fledgling legal team of four, seeking a place to address the injustices he and his family had faced as immigrants from Peru. He worked tirelessly to build MRNY’s innovative service departments, which now comprise more than 150 employees in New York State.
