MLOV was invited to participate at the panel on “Resisting Displacement in the “Cappuccino City””

MLOV at the invitation of The "National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development" CAPACD, participated in the panel of experts on internal forced displacement due to urbanization processes and development of the city the event called ""Resisting Displacement in the "Cappuccino City" with the participation of
·         Daniel del Pielago, (Empower DC)
·         Jairo Valencia, MLOV (Many Languages One Voice)
·         Dominic Moulden, ONE (Organizing Neighborhood Equity DC)  

The description of the event below was the focus of the panel:

Washington D.C. is a place where advocates from across the country often congregate to make their voices heard on federal policy, but it is also home to nearly 700,000 residents, who have been systematically disenfranchised and denied voting rights.   The city's landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years due to rapid development, shifting the demographics of a historically majority- Black, “Chocolate city” to one where long-term people of color residents are being displaced from their homes and neighborhoods (now called the “Cappuccino City”). Despite a lack of resources and infrastructure to support local grassroots organizing efforts, community-based organizations have been fighting back against residential displacement, building out resident led campaigns for tenant protections, fighting for worker's rights, and sanctuary for new immigrants.  Join local grassroots organizations in a discussion about the unique context in DC, the current landscape of organizing, and current campaigns to fight for racial and economic justice.      The participation of Jairo Valencia of MLOV focused on the conceptual framework of refugees and forced displaced persons, who have international protection standards, unlike those displaced by "gentrification" that occur in urban development processes in the city and whose affected they do not have legal protection tools.

Daniel del Pielago and Dominic Moulden expanded the diagnostic information of the problem and showed statistics of how the city has turned from being the "Chocolate City to the Cappuccino City" where a migratory flow has occupied neighborhoods where it has been inhabited mostly by Afro-Washington population, which have been displaced. Of how the city does not guarantee the attention of the displaced, they also showed us how their organizations face this problem.

In his remarks, Jairo from MLOV emphasized the need to rebuild with dignity the lives of people and their communities who have suffered from displacement. He also highlighted the importance of culture and language in the context of displacement.  Finally, Jairo defined the concept of Sanctuary for ALL, which must cover all the inhabitants, especially to the most vulnerable as in this case those affected by displacement by processes of gentrification.