Recently, Ed and Norma Rodriguez provided an update on the PRIDE Card to members of the Plymouth Common Council. PRIDE stands for Plymouth Resident Identification Endorsement, and it is essentially a city-issued ID that was launched in 2020.
La Vos Unida is a local 501 (c) (3) organization in Plymouth that focuses on the needs of the communities, without distinguishing race, origin, or religion, based on empathy and integrity to advance towards developing a better community.
Rodriguez said the organization has been working hard because of the political climate that is happening in the country. He said La Vos Unida is a resource for the local community, helping with translation and interpretation, trying to bridge the community. They also advocate on several issues they feel are important to the entire community, including public safety, transportation, education, health, immigration, and economic development.
Rodriguez said in the spring, they offered conversational Spanish classes to English speakers with three teachers who volunteered their time. Several police officers, teachers, and community leaders participated. Funds from the fee for the course allowed La Vos Unida to provide 6 high school scholarships to students wanting to get a post-secondary education.
The PRIDE Program is an identification card that allows immigrants an official form of identification so they can obtain a library card, enter a school building, and fill a prescription. They cannot qualify for an Indiana ID Card mainly because they don’t have a Social Security card. Rodriguez said, “These folks are on the margins of society in our own community.”
Since 2020, over 600 PRIDE Cards have been generated for local residents. La Vos Unida has purchased its own printer with help from the Knights of Columbus and can produce the cards in Plymouth. People who apply undergo a multi-step process that includes presenting documents that verify their identity, paying $25 for the card, and then having their picture taken and their intake information verified. He said Logansport and Bremen are both asking for assistance in helping to offer identification cards for those communities.
Rodriguez said they continue to work to pass a driving privilege card bill proposal. Having acquired 15 resolutions from various cities in support, including Plymouth.
Rodriguez is thankful for Mayor Listenberger’s support in creating the Empowerment Committee, which meets monthly with ideas to help build a bridge in the community.
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