By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
For more than a decade, Beatriz Maya unflinchingly stood toe-to-toe with people in positions of power. She has been an ally to invisible immigrants, an advocate for social justice, and an annoying thorn in the side of those who stood in the way of either.
Maya, a founder of La Conexion of Wood County, has stepped down from her role as executive director of the organization. She will soon be moving to Houston, Texas, where her son teaches social studies and American history.
The community gathered for a reception in Maya’s honor earlier this month – looking back on just how far La Conexion has come.
“Although we began with humble beginnings and zero funding, we had a strong desire to affect change for a growing community that was invisible, unorganized, marginalized and powerless,” Maya said. “We ultimately created a voice and presence that is recognized and valued today.”
When the local La Conexion was born, Maya had no concept of the need.
“What we didn’t know was the impact of the community in need of our advocacy and services,” Maya said at her reception.
The non-profit community organization is dedicated to bringing unity, voice, representation, and advancing the rights of the growing Latinx and immigrant communities in the Northwest Ohio region.
The organization helps with daily challenges, like translations/interpretations, school registrations, career searches, and accessing resources. La Conexion offers classes on English as a second language and citizenship.
Knowing the value of teamwork, Maya worked to create community partnerships with the Wood County District Public Library, local churches, the hospital, health department, sheriff’s and prosecutor’s offices. She has collaborated with BGSU, the Cocoon, Brown Bag Project, plus Bowling Green city officials, police division and school district.
Much of her efforts were thwarted by red tape and unresponsive people in power. She became a familiar face at the office of U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green.
La Conexion supporters protested outside Latta’s office in Bowling Green, demanding changes to the U.S. policy of separating families and housing humans in overcrowded, unsanitary detention facilities. Over the past decades, she has spent countless hours waiting to speak with her congressman – whom she has yet to hear from.
Maya has spoken out against deportations of local residents, the racist attack on two teens of color at the Waffle House in Bowling Green, and the hateful rhetoric used by some politicians about immigrants.
Maya has stood up in defense of essential farm workers, the hiring of immigrants to help solve the labor shortage in Wood County, DACA, and anti-discrimination laws in the city of Bowling Green.
While she advocated for big change, Maya never forgot the individuals caught up in an unfair system. When a traffic stop landed a local immigrant in jail – with the next stop likely deportation back to Mexico for being an undocumented immigrant – Maya stood by the family.
He left behind three children who are U.S. citizens, a wife who had just been diagnosed with Lupus, and a local employer who was unlikely to find a documented American to take his place in the fields.
“Who’s winning with this,” Maya said as she sat at the family’s kitchen table in their migrant housing. “We are losing a hardworking person, who is honest and never took anything.” The family has lost its breadwinner, and the farmer has lost a worker. “Who’s winning?”
Maya organized rallies on the Wooster Green in support of DACA as it neared expiration. People who came to the U.S. as small children continue to be used as a political football by politicians, Maya said.
Linda Lander, a friend of Maya’s and La Conexion, credited Maya with her unwavering commitment.
“She has a very clear vision of what needs to be done,” and the skill to organize people, Lander said. “Her moral compass is true north. She does not waver.”
Maya, a native of Argentina, is not afraid of confronting injustice.
“She’ll take a stand most people won’t,” Lander said. “She does it on principle. She throws her entire being into it.”
When two teenagers of color were physically attacked and called racist slurs at the Waffle House restaurant in Bowling Green, Maya and La Conexion stood by the young men. Community meetings were held in an effort to come up with preventative measures to keep similar incidents from occurring in Bowling Green.
“The incident deeply affected and rightly enraged” city residents, Maya said.
Maya has met with area economic development officials about how the labor shortage could be lessened with the hiring of immigrant workers.
“There is a sense of frustration among both sectors, employers and immigrant workers. Some employers have indicated to us that they will perish unless they can find a solution to their labor shortages,” she said.
“There is no logic to it,” Maya said, pointing out that white immigrants have traditionally been welcomed with open arms to the U.S.
“But most immigrants now are people of color,” she said. “People with skills are needed here. That has been very, very frustrating – all the roadblocks.”
Maya’s scorn is not directed at one political party.
“Even the Democrats chicken out,” when it comes to immigration reform, she said. “They don’t want to touch this issue with a 10-foot pole.”
Lalo Mato Velasco, president of the La Conexion board, said he shares Maya’s passion for justice and equity. He praised her leadership skills.
“She led me and taught me everything I know now,” Velasco said.
La Conexion of Wood County has named Rosalinda Contreraz-Harris as the new executive director.
“I have loved every single minute of my tenure as executive director of La Conexion, but it is time for new leadership, new vision, new energies,” Maya said. “I am very glad to leave the organization in the hands of a fantastic and involved board, and a skillful and visionary leader as Rosalinda.”
