“Vida” creator Tanya Saracho, attending the “Vida” Los Angeles premiere on May 1, and “One Day at a Time” executive producer Gloria Calderon Kellett have organized a campaign encouraging their colleagues to donate to a nonprofit group that works to end family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border due to the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy. Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Starz.
More than 70 TV writing teams, including “Jane the Virgin,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” and “The Handmaid’s Tale,” have donated to a nonprofit group working to end family separation after two Latina Hollywood executives challenged their industry coworkers to help families and the 3,000 children ripped apart at the United States-Mexico border due to the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy.
‘ONE VIDA AT A TIME’
Dubbed “One Vida at a Time,” the campaign was organized by “One Day at a Time” executive producer and co-showrunner Gloria Calderón Kellett and “Vida” creator-showrunner Tanya Saracho. Both series feature Latino casts and writers. “Vida,” which is set in Boyle Heights, also features queer Latinx characters and stories. Saracho also identifies as queer.
Two weeks ago what started as an idea by @TanyaSaracho grew into a loving movement to help @RAICESTEXAS & #KeepFamliesTogether Thank you to all of the writers who continue to spread this message of hope! #onevidaatatime pic.twitter.com/XqbTLau5Pj
— Gloria Calderón Kellett (@everythingloria) July 3, 2018
The challenge began June 19 when the Netflix and Starz show executives went on social media and challenged their showbiz colleagues to donate to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), which has been on the front lines of the family separation issue. The nonprofit organization has helped link immigrant families separated by the Trump Administration’s “zero-tolerance” immigration policy. The group also offers legal assistance and works to help find and reunify children and parents.
FIGHTING FAMILY SEPARATION
“One Day at a Time and Vida are teaming up to end family separation at the border,” Calderón Kellett wrote on Twitter in mid-June. “In just 6 weeks, upon being detained at the border, 1,995 children have been separated from their families and now a tent city has cropped up in Texas built to detain immigrant children.”
Saracho took to her own Instagram account stating, “We have to do something.”
SUPPORTING RAICES
Since then, at least 77 writing teams from several shows have supported the cause and donated to RAICES.
“The Big Bang Theory,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Glow,” “Queen of the South,” “Queen Sugar,” “Supergirl,” “This Is Us,” and “Westworld” went on social media to announce their support for the cause and have donated.
Starz, the network that broadcasts “Vida,” donated $10,000 to RAICES.
