This year, on May 11th, on the occasion of the International Workers Day, the Central Ohio Worker Center (COWC) hosted an unforgettable May Day Event at The King Arts Complex. International Workers’ Day, honors the history, present, and future of the workers’ rights movement. At the event, we dedicated ourselves to recognizing and supporting the Franklin County workforce by providing them with access to valuable resources and information about apprenticeship programs, job opportunities, guidance on filing complaints, and more. Thanks to the relationship building the COWC has done, 21 area community organizations and government agencies attended the event and shared their resources to the Franklin County residents.
COWC’s May Day event highlighted unity, community, and the power of collaboration. The significance of the event, the impact of community engagement, and the spirit of togetherness that was evident throughout the day. International Workers Day is a time-honored tradition that celebrates the achievements and contributions of workers around the world. This event is a testament to this spirit of recognition and unity. With the different community organizations coming together to participate, the celebration was a true reflection of the power that lies in solidarity and collaboration. Each organization has its own unique mission and focus, the celebration highlighted the importance of working together towards a common goal.
Participant organizations:
- Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS)
- Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE)
- The Legal Aid Society of Columbus (LASC)
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Center
- Policy Matters Ohio
- Columbus Public Health
- Ohio Health
- Lower Lights Christian Health Center
- Dominican Learning Center
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- U.S. Department of Labor (Wage and Hour Division)
- City of Columbus – City Hall (Wage Theft Prevention and Enforcement Ordinance)
- The Self Help Center (Franklin County Municipal Court)
- The MARCH Program (Franklin County Municipal Court)
- NP immigration
- Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 55
- Central Ohio Labor Council
- Painters & Allied Trades DC6
- OHIO AFL-CIO
- Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT)
- Mamás y Mujeres Latinas en Ohio
The sense of joy and camaraderie that penetrated the event was truly heartwarming. From the colorful and emotional performances of the XOCHIHUA Ballet folklorico dancers to the delicious food from Antojitos Mexicanos and Zaki Gill that was shared among participants, there was a noticeable sense of happiness and togetherness in the air. Children laughed and played happily, an artist painted whimsical designs on their faces, and everyone came together to celebrate the spirit of unity and community that defined the day.
Today we celebrated the incredible individuals who have made a lasting impact on the lives of low-wage and immigrant workers in our community. Their dedication, compassion, and tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we are proud to honor them with recognition awards for their selfless work.
Their work includes providing access to justice in the workplace, better paying job resources and support to advocating for fair wages and better and safe working conditions, these champions have truly made a difference in the lives of the community we serve. Their daily work and acts of kindness and generosity have touched the hearts of many and have inspired us all to work harder every day to support and uplift our community.
Thank you to all the honorees for your commitment to creating a more just and inclusive community for all. Let’s continue to stand together in solidarity and Let’s keep shining our light and uplifting one another!
Connie Hammond
Mark Fluharty
Ali Smith
Chris Naegele
Diana Maame Agyei
Dominick Gomez
The COWC 2024 May Day Event was a true celebration of workers’ rights and a testament to the power of collaboration and community support. The event served as a reminder of the strength found in collaboration and the importance of recognizing and celebrating those who work tirelessly to make a social change and positive difference in their communities.
We look forward to continuing our efforts to empower workers and advocate for a fair and just workplace for all. Thank you to all the organizations, community members, and our COWC Volunteers, a special GRACIAS to all our COWC Members of the Board for their support in enabling us to do what we love, work for social justice and our DreamTeam, molly Shea, Isbel Alvarado, Ali Smith, who made this event a memorable and impactful occasion. May this celebration serve as inspiration for future endeavors and continue to foster a sense of togetherness and unity among all who participated. Special thanks to the Teachers Unions OFT for their kind contribution of 5,000 books to our community. May their books inspire the children’s minds. May the stories within those books spark the curiosity and imagination of the children’s mind, encouraging them to explore beyond the limits of what they see!
¡Juntos Sí Se Puede!
Claudia Cortez