By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Beatriz Maya has been a friend to immigrants, an advocate for social justice, and a thorn in the side of those who stand in the way of either.
A founder of La Conexion of Wood County, 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 for essential farm workers, the hiring of immigrants to help solve the labor shortage in Wood County, DACA, and anti-disrimination laws in the city of Bowling Green.
On Monday evening, she was presented with the Drum Major for Peace Award by the Bowling Green Human Relations Commission. This award is given to citizens of Bowling Green who exemplify the teachings and the values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility, and service.
While she advocates for big change, Maya’s heart is with the individuals suffering. In 2018, a traffic stop landed a local man in jail, with the next stop likely deportation back to Mexico for being an undocumented immigrant.
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. “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 in 2017. People who came to the U.S. as small children continue to be used as a political football by politicians, Maya said.
She is a familiar face at the office of U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green.
In 2019, La Conexion supporters held signs 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.
The local citizens left a letter and fact sheet for the congressman.
“We will stand witness to the suffering and deaths of courageous migrants,” Maya said. “We will be the voice for those who now suffer.”
When two teenagers of color were physically attacked and called racist slurs at the Waffle House restaurant in Bowling Green in 2019, 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. She thanked the police division for its quick response to the attack, and city leaders for speaking out against such hate crimes.
“Bowling Green has taken a clear stance against hate,” Maya said.
Maya was instrumental last June with Bowling Green City Council’s expansion of its anti-discrimination laws in response to the Waffle House incident.
When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, La Conexion was awarded a grant to help essential agricultural workers who had been forgotten. Maya pointed out that many farm workers have no health insurance and live in crowded conditions, so the funding was used to provide emergency assistance to agricultural workers in the Northwest Ohio region.
Last September, Maya 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.
This past November, La Conexion members were back at Latta’s office. They have made repeated requests to meet with Latta over the past three years – but have never been placed on the congressman’s schedule.
“He’s never willing to meet with us,” Maya said.
A letter by Latta and other Republican members of Congress, published in newspapers, used rhetoric that is inaccurate, criminalizes immigrants and incites the general public against immigrants, according to La Conexion.
Members of La Conexion asked that Latta work on solutions rather than harmful slogans.
“We are used to his constant use of language demonizing the immigrant community,” Maya said. “It creates animosity and tension against our community. Language has an impact. We want him to stop using that language.”
A native of Argentina, Maya was recognized as Bowling Green Female Citizen of the Year in 2021.
Also last year, Maya was presented the Spirit of Wood County Award for liberty through law/human freedom. She was recognized for improving the lives of immigrants, educating the public and government officials about immigration, and effecting change at all levels of public policy.
“Beatriz leaves no stone unturned to support immigrants, improve lives and create non-discrimination policies to benefit everyone,” said Linda Lander.
To do that, Maya has created 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.
Known for her collaborative approach, she worked with the BG Police Division to develop new training for employees of late night establishments to prevent incidents of discrimination.
“She is a leader, a thinker, a helper, a doer and a dreamer,” Lander said.
In accepting the award Monday evening, Maya said it was a big honor and places a great responsibility on her to continue the work of La Conexion.
