It’s been a win-win for the last 25 years—local residents who need to hire workers and workers who need to find work both gain by coming together at the Malibu Community Labor Exchange. The community-created nonprofit organization’s mission is to provide a safe, organized and supportive place for the people of Malibu to hire and be hired. Located on county property at 23595 Civic Center Way, the labor exchange’s on-site bilingual director, Oscar Mondragon, has been with the nonprofit since it began in 1993.
The labor exchange site has a trailer, picnic tables and portable restrooms, and functions as a day labor hiring site where males and females come to find work, and local residents and contractors come to find workers. The workers are independent and the exchange is not an employment agency—there’s no charge to employers or workers. The Malibu Community Labor Exchange depends on charitable donations and grants to continue operating.
The long history of the exchange began May 5, 1990, with a hiring site at Zuma Beach across from Busch Drive. The official history says: “The Zuma site was the brainchild of Connie Fox, former nun; and Honey Coatsworth, founder of the Artifac Tree. The two created the Coalition for Homeless and Dayworkers along with LA County Sheriff Captain Don Mauro, LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and actor Martin Sheen. They opened with great hopes, a lunch program, English classes and dedicated volunteers.”
Early in its history, the organization hit a stumbling block, closing in 1991 due to community complaints.
“In late 1991, Malibu City Council voted unanimously to sanction a new location, and encouraged the formation of a volunteer board of directors made up of community and religious leaders and city council appointees,” the history blurb continued. “The first officers were Rev. Larry Peacock, president; Mona Loo, VP; Lieutenant Mike Moore, secretary; and Dan Wallace, treasurer. The [exchange] opened its doors at its present location on Aug. 31, 1993.”
Peacock, who served as minister at Malibu United Methodist Church for 20 years, told The Malibu Times that the early board “considered ways to deal with the workers on various street corners and the need for day laborers in the community. “Martin Sheen was a big help for some early fund raisers,” Peacock continued. “Oscar was a wonderful hire and his experience with the United Farmworkers gave him the patience and skills to navigate the sometimes bumpy relationships in the often vocal town.”
When the Labor Exchange moved to its present location, Peacock said, the site seemed problematic.
“The front of the police station seemed like an unlikely spot at first, given the cautions of the workers, but with the hiring of [Mondragon] and the support of the sheriff and city council, it moved forward and became an asset to the community and to the workers,” he said. “It was also an opportunity to support the workers with language skills, help negotiate a fair wage, and invite the community to celebrate with special meals and programs.”
Throughout the years, there have been workers who have beaten the odds and fulfilled the nonprofit’s goal of building “independence and self-sufficiency through work.”
Luis Manzano first came to the Zuma Beach hiring site and found work back in 1990 at the age of 22. He came from extreme poverty in Mexico, and with the exchange, as well as other positions, he was able to return to Mexico, earn a degree in dentistry from Oaxaca U.R.S.E. and return to Malibu. He has been employed as a dental assistant at the Malibu Dental Group (29350 PCH) for the past 17 years.
MCLE Board Member Cindy Miller-Perrin said Martin Sheen was behind the upcoming 25th anniversary celebration. She hopes the open house will encourage members of the community to come by and “learn about us and want to help support us,” as well as dispel any misperceptions about what happens there.
Anyone needing to hire one or more workers can come to the site in person, call Mondragon or fill out an online form. Typically, anyone hiring a day laborer pays them in cash at the end of each work day, and provides drinking water, toilet facilities and lunch. Employers have the option of choosing specific workers by name, by sight, through interviews or by lottery.
Anyone is welcome to attend the free 25th Anniversary Celebration Party, Saturday, Aug. 25, from 6-9 p.m. at 23595 Civic Center Way.
