NEW BEDFORD — During COVID-19, Magdalena remained working as an “essential” employee in the New Bedford fish factories, because the businesses were producing food for households around the country.
However, as noted in Essential But Excluded, a Marshall Project report published by The New Bedford Light in February, many immigrants working essential jobs in New Bedford were excluded when the population received federal and state compensation.
Recently, both Magdalena and thousands of workers previously excluded from pandemic relief funding are receiving checks for $500 from the state of Massachusetts in recognition of their work.
Saving, pooling money helps New Bedford migrants with big expenses
Those without traditional access to banks are saving money as a group and “lending” the proceeds to rotating members, who use the payout for buying cars, down payments or unexpected costs.
El ahorro de dinero que ayuda a los migrantes de New Bedford a enfrentar sus gastos
No tienen acceso a los bancos, pero el grupo es capaz de ahorrar y recibir dinero en un sistema rotativo que les permite tener efectivo para comprar automóviles, dar el pago inicial para una casa o enfrentar gastos inesperados.
Una aventura atrevida y 41 años después una vida para recordar
Rosalina Jovel, una de las primeras centroamericanas que se estableció en New Bedford a finales de los años 80, todavía conserva el diccionario que la ayudó a aprender inglés.