Trainings

Rideshare & Accompaniment Trainings

The Pioneer Valley Workers Center's Sanctuary in the Streets (SiS) network seeks build the trust and solidarity needed to confront injustice.  Through SiS's solidarity programs, we provide direct support to worker leaders to promote organizing.

Join our network through participating in our Rideshare and/or Accompaniment programs!

  • In order to be part of this network, you must join us for one of our orientations.
  • We request that you attend the Rideshare training BEFORE attending the Court Accompaniment training.
  • If you've already been trained for Rideshare, you can sign up for accompaniment only.
  • You can attend Rideshare training only or do both of these training on either of the two available dates.
Register for Trainings

Rideshare

Driving is essential, but many of our members are not able to drive for a variety of reasons.  Rideshare drivers participate in a one-hour training and are then notified of opportunities to drive community leaders when needed.  Many of the rides are specifically to support Lucio Perez, living in sanctuary at First Church Amherst to fight his deportation case.  Drivers support his family in visiting him, in addition to providing support to other community members.  With at least 10 rides per week, we always need more dedicated drivers!

Accompaniment

Immigrant community member’s sometimes request that someone accompany them to an appointment with Immigration officials or to a court date.  In today's political climate, these meetings can be very scary, and indeed sometimes do lead to deportations.

Volunteers will assist the immigrant community member by providing a ride, helping locate the appropriate office, providing support, observing and taking notes on the proceedings, and communicating with the Workers Center about the meeting's outcome.  Familiarity with Spanish or other languages is useful but not necessary.

Please join our one-hour training to participate in accompanying Immigrant Community Members to appointments. We hope to develop a large enough pool that we can always find someone available to fill each request.

Know Your Rights Trainings

If you want to learn more about your rights on the job or have questions about the legality or ethics of practices in your workplace, attend one of our trainings or contact us.

Workshop topics include:

  • Rights of Undocumented Workers
  • Health and Safety
  • Sexual Harassment

More information on upcoming trainings can be found on our Facebook page.

Bilingual Volunteering

We have bilingual volunteer opportunities and phone responder trainings for Sanctuary in the Streets.

Learn how you can help with:

  • Court accompaniment
  • Interpreting for meetings & events
  • Rideshare coordinating
  • Answering the Sanctuary in the Streets Hotline
Sign up for a training

Spanish Classes

Are you looking for a welcoming place to practice your Spanish? Did you take Spanish in high school, but find that you are a bit out of practice? Or would you like to start from the beginning and learn to greet friends and neighbors?

Come join us! Lucio is hosting Spanish conversation classes and would love for you to attend. These casual conversation sessions will be an opportunity for people of varying Spanish ability to develop their vocabulary and confidence in the language. Both individual and group sessions are available.

Learn More

Sanctuary in the Streets

In 2017, we created Sanctuary in the Streets (SiS), a 2,000+ person rapid response network that unites people with status and/or privilege to support organizing led by immigrant workers. SiS volunteers provide concrete resources (rides, accompaniment, hotline assistance), and mobilize hundreds of people quickly for direct actions to support worker organizing.

Our Sanctuary in the Streets Rapid Response network meets every first Monday of the month from 6-8pm

The Parlor Room
32 Masonic St
Northampton, MA