Help make it possible for migrants to work, contribute

Did you see the article in Sunday’s Denver Post? The article was reprinted in the Longmont Times-call, as well. The Longmont Times-call headline read, “A simple dream: Work.”

The article is worth reading and considering: https://www.timescall.com/2024/02/18/denver-migrants-work-permits-jobsshelters-venezuela/.

As a senior citizen living on Social Security, I am concerned about the Congressional Budget Office’s prediction that Social Security is not sustainable beyond 2033 as currently constructed. I am not an economist. Yet, I wonder if there are a number of ways to “skin the cat,” including by not giving tax breaks to the wealthy and by eliminating our shadow economy.

Enabling migrants the opportunity to work can help with the latter. But, we need to help the migrants who desperately want to work by enabling them to do so legally — so taxes are collected and critical staffing shortages are reduced. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “Colorado has 52 available workers for every 100 open jobs.” (https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/the-states-suffering-most-fromthe-labor-shortage?state=co) Ours is one of the states with a “more severe” worker shortage.

Presently, the city and county of Denver needs 500 bilingual (English and Spanish) volunteers to help migrants fill out work permit applications. There are specific days and times over the next few weeks when screenings and work authorization clinics are being held for this purpose. Here’s the URL address to sign up to volunteer for any of the time slots listed: https://www.signupgenius/org/cao_workauthorization_Volunteers#.

If you have questions, you may contact Melissa Sisneros at melissa.sisneros@denvergov.org.

And, if you aren’t able to serve as a bilingual volunteer, you still can help by forwarding this email to all your contacts and by spreading the word. Thank you!