An upcoming comedy show will help raise money to support immigrant families in Long Beach.
Órale, a local immigrant rights organization, will be hosting its “Stand Up for Immigrant Justice” comedy show this month, and all proceeds raised through ticket sales will be used to provide financial assistance to local immigrant families.
The comedy show will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 20, at Jordan High School’s Auditorium, 6500 Atlantic Ave.
The event will bring the community together for an evening of laughter featuring local comedians, and the headliner will be critically acclaimed comedian Aida Rodriguez. There will also be music, a silent auction, and it will also serve as a birthday celebration for Órale’s executive director, Gaby Hernandez, organizers said.
Each year, Hernandez transforms her birthday into an opportunity to raise crucial funds for the nonprofit’s initiatives. However, this year’s event proceeds will be going directly to local immigrant families through the organization’s Solidarity Fund.
The fund provides financial assistance to immigrant families directly impacted by the ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and detentions, according to the nonprofit’s website.
“Right now in Long Beach, families are navigating uncertainty and fear,” the organization says. “When work is interrupted, when a parent is detained, when income suddenly disappears, the Solidarity Fund provides immediate relief so families can meet their basic needs.”
Since last summer, Órale has shifted to do critical rapid response to federal immigration raids. That work includes activating rapid responders to monitor ICE sightings and share verified alerts, emergency food deliveries to impacted immigrant families, “Know Your Rights” education for families, workers and small businesses, court and ICE check-in accompaniment to keep families safe and visible, and more.
Órale is dedicated to ending the criminalization of immigrants, and it also works to foster opportunities for civic engagement, secure protections, and fight for policies that will positively impact the immigrant community in Long Beach and across Southern California. The nonprofit envisions a world where immigrant communities “live in dignity, feel safe and have opportunities to thrive,” according to its website.
The comedy show intends to strengthen the nonprofit’s capacity to support immigrant families, organizers say. The show will feature comedians including Jesus Sepulveda, Martin Urbano, Jesus Trejo, and John Luna. There will also be a performance by The Killing Floors – a Los Angeles-based rock band.
The evening’s headliner will be comedian, writer, actress, and producer Aida Rodriguez. A comedian of Puerto Rican/Dominican descent, Rodriguez is best known for her appearances as a contestant on the eighth season of “Last Comic Standing” and as a commentator on “The Young Turks.”
Attending the comedy show is one way that the Long Beach community can show support for the immigrant community. Community members can also support by attending future events, donating directly to the solidarity fund, or becoming a volunteer, according to Órale’s website.
Tickets for the “Stand Up for Immigrant Justice” comedy show are $50 and can be purchased at bit.ly/oralecomedy26.