Vamos Unidos
Rafael Samanez & Berta Felix Camacho, Co-Founders
web.mac.com/vamosunidos/VAMOS_UNIDOS/Home.html
VAMOS Unidos (Vendedoras Ambulantes Movilizando y Organizando en Solidaridad – Street Vendors Mobilizing and Organizing in Solidarity) is a Bronx-based multi-issue organization founded by low-wage Latino/a immigrant workers, primarily street vendors. “Organizing for economic and racial justice, immigrant rights and police accountability, VAMOS Unidos seeks to develop a strong, empowered base and leadership of low-wage Latino/a immigrant workers who are politically conscious, economically self-sufficient and able to change public policy.”
VAMOS Unidos provides critical services. It has achieved improved treatment of vendors by police through accountability meetings discussing excessive and multiple summonses, arrests, and trashing of merchandise. VAMOS Unidos assists members with applications for licenses accompanying them to city agencies, providing translation services, and filing quarterly sales and annual federal taxes.
VAMOS Unidos is a member of a citywide coalition seeking to increase the number of licenses and participates in campaigns to create grassroots-led, progressive agendas on issues affecting immigrants’ lives.