Moneda Moves (54) : Practicing compassion & building community in the time of coronavirus
We've made it to the weekend, mi gente. How are we doing?
Practicing social distancing and quarantine for extended periods of time may not be easy, but it is in uncertain times like these where we can truly appreciate all the things we usually take for granted, especially when it comes to financial security.
I work at a day job that encourages me to work from home during COVID-19 as we collectively aim to #FlattenTheCurve. But being able to do so is not a given, it's a privilege. This week, many workers across the country still had to show up in person for their jobs and risk exposure. Others have experienced a decrease in work hours or financial insecurity.
(Source: Flatten the Curve by CDC)
In fact, only about a third of the workforce in the United States is able to work from home, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While 92% of higher income workers get paid sick leave, 10% of lower salaried workers get this same benefit. Workers of color, as pointed out by the Environmental Policy Institute, are far more likely to be paid poverty-level wages than white workers, and it's no surprise that in this time they are among the most vulnerable.
NBC News reported earlier this week that Latino restaurant owners (as many others) are struggling to stay afloat and taking a risk by staying open because financially, they have no other choice. One way we can help? By practicing compassion and supporting our local businesses. This quarantine season is a great time to pull your list of favorite local businesses and support them...with money. 💸
We've put together a shortlist of small business databases to check out further down in this notita. This is a growing list and at the moment NY and Chicago-area heavy, so please send on your suggestions to add. We'll send out another iteration of it.
Also featured is an upcoming virtual event with Rebel One, a community of founders innovating to make the world a better place. Next week, they're hosting a pitch night to tackle COVID-19: Highly relevant, and I would encourage you all to attend or apply.
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See you at the bottom.
Con poder,
Lyanne
Keep tabs/cuentas on what's happening at the intersection of Latinos and money.
Latino restaurant owners struggle to stay afloat in NYC: In NYC, Mayor Bill de Blasio has signed an executive order to keep restaurants to deliver and takeout only. While no business is immune to the side effects of this order, the Latino and people of color communities in particular are taking a hit. Much so, that the New York State Latino Restaurant Bar and Lounge Association has encouraged that other owners file a note stating that they "cannot pay ... rent at this time," citing that landlords would be in a better financial position "to absorb the impact of losses in rent." The story comes from Nicole Acevedo at NBC Latino and NBC News, which document the stories of small business owners who are still going into work.
These workers will continue their labor in sickness and in health: In Chicago, folks who are undocumented, have low-wage jobs and lack of health insurance will continue to labor in sickness and in health. The Chicago Tribune's Laura Rodríguez Presa sheds a light on food cart vendors in La Villita, one of the city's highest-grossing shopping districts which is also a predominantly Latino immigrant neighborhood. Despite Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's recommendation to work from home, many will continue to work outdoors in this neighborhood to serve the foot traffic still seen on the streets as of earlier this week.
(Credit: Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
“Sadly, their vulnerable position makes them even more vulnerable to the disease,” Dolores Castañeda, a research assistant at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Center for Healthy Work told the Chicago Tribune.
With a new stay-at-home order in place for Illinois announced in the last 24 hours, it's unclear what the future could look like for very small businesses like these.
Federal government restricts visas for farmworkers: The federal government has stopped conducting visa interviews for temporary farmworkers in an attempt to further limit the spread of coronavirus. This means new temporary farmworkers from Mexico will not be eligible to work in the United States, and industry groups say this could significantly impact the country's fresh supply of fruit and vegetables. Only guest workers from Mexico who were previously admitted into the H-2A visa program will be able to return to work.
(Source: Giphy/Viceland)
But if fiscal year 2019 is any indication, foreign farmworkers have become a significant part of the agriculture industry. Last year, the Labor Department certified over 250,000 positions for temporary foreign farmworkers through the H-2A program, according to federal data. And while many Americans may be out of work at the moment, industry groups are not confident it would be citizens filling these positions. Historically, it hasn't been the case. Most are Hispanic immigrants. This is reported by Suzy Khimm at NBC News.
IRS extends filing deadline to July 15: If you haven't filed your taxes, this is a PSA to remain calm! It was announced earlier this week that Americans will have three more months than they usually would to file taxes, with no interest or penalties incurred. Tax Day is moved to July 15. However, Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin encouraged taxpayers to file as soon as possible to ensure they get their money.
Know the powerful/potentes and up-and-comers in the money world.
3/26 COVID-19 pitch night with Rebel One: Are you interested in accelerating innovators combatting COVID-19? Moneda Moves is part of the organizing team for www.hackc19.com - a series of events focused on elevating founders and organizers leading projects addressing the issues exacerbated by COVID-19. These innovators will be presenting their projects virtually on 3/26 from 6-9PM ET. You can sign up to attend here: http://bit.ly/hackc19
(Source: Rebel One)
Put your money/monedita where your mouth is! Some money updates for thought.
SMALL BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT: DATABASE LIST
Send in your databases and we will make this list grow!
FoodtoEat
https://www.foodtoeat.com/
On a mission to unite people around the communal table and add diversity to the food community by championing small businesses from every neighborhood.
Only in NOHU
An Instagram account covering North Hudson NJ's best food, art, events, entertainment & community.
https://www.instagram.com/onlyinnohu/?igshid=19378yz3ip6tl
Black-Owned Brooklyn
https://www.blackownedbrooklyn.com/
Black-Owned Brooklyn is a digital publication spotlighting Black-owned, Brooklyn-based businesses and the people behind them.
Rawly Bold
https://www.rawlybold.com/pages/copy-of-meet-the-boss
Community support women entrepreneurs and merchandise.
Black-Owned Chicago
https://blackownedchicago.com/
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A not-so-subtle reminder...
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