Police calls, entitlement & liturgical dancing

This past week we've had some pretty interesting things happen at the CLRC!

-With more enforced security at the shopping center, guys have relocated to the library right across the street. Friday we got a call from a police officer letting us know that an individual had just called the police, notifying them/complaining that there were 20+ guys up on the corner. Apparently the police went to check it out and there were only 3 guys total there. Though they gave us the name of the caller, we don't know who it was or why they called. Saturday morning we went out on the corner to check it out and realized that there were indeed a lot of guys out there, including the shopping center usuals who relocated themselves by the library but up the street a bit to still be separated from the other men (they choose to be separate for various reasons, such as different countries of origin, religions or what have you). So at this point, it seems like plan A of the shopping center owner was successful for his mission of getting them off his property, but it didn't bring an ultimate solution - the guys chose to simply relocate on the streets rather than come down to the center.

-One of the protocols that the workers created themselves when planning for the center is el gusto de patrón, which essentially means that the workers are chosen according to the employer's liking. One morning this week we had an elderly homeowner come in who needed one more worker for landscaping since he had already picked one up on the corner (who happened to be a pretty anti-CLRC guy yet brought his employer down to us, which we're seeing more frequently!). Next on the list of workers was an americano, who has been described by one of the hispanic's as Santa Claus. The homeowner was pretty quick to tell him to his face that he doesn't think he'd be able to handle the job due to the heat and difficulty of the job. Hostile worker #1 begins now. Next on the list of workers was un moreno (African American). They agreed on the conditions and continued to head out to the car when suddenly the homeowner spotted un latino and came back to tell us he now wanted to take that worker because he speaks Spanish AND English. Hostile worker #2 begins now. The two rejected guys were pretty steamed up and were not hesitant to let it show. There was plenty of tension to go around. It's been an interesting spark to talk with some of the latino workers; they fully understand the system and respect el gusto de patrón. There have been plenty of jobs of which they were NOT chosen for because they didn't know English or other reasons that would choose native Americans over hispanic immigrants. Most of them also shared how they think these americanos believe they deserve something when they are simply in the same boat & same list as everyone else that comes into the center.


Another homeowner came in later this week and literally took a look around the center at all the workers there and said I want....THAT one, pointing to a hispanic worker. We are simply a service, providing a place for employers and workers to negotiate their businesses with predetermined systems. If we want the employers to return back, it is important to keep them satisfied and happy with their workers. While the mission of the CLRC is to provide a safe & organized place for day laborers who would normally find jobs on the street corners, we don't turn away any others who are seeking employment, but they must understand the system and protocol that has been created by the workers themselves.


In other news, this Sunday was our "Wellspring Dance Team" liturgical performance! We've been practicing and goofing off the past few weeks together. We made matching t-shirts, danced around to the latest tween music, played dance games and simply had girl time. I've had so much fun choreographing and being silly with these girls. After many laughs and even some tears being shed at practices, today was the big day! Although I really wanted it to be all about them, part of me wanted to get up there and dance with them - they ended up begging me to stand up there and dance with them, so I reluctantly & joyfully joined in. They did a beautiful performance and I was SO proud of them :)