Somos Siembra, meaning “we are sowing” in Spanish, is a left-of-center immigration-activist group located in North Carolina. The group is the charitable partner of the lobbying and electoral advocacy group Siembra NC. The group works among illegal and legal immigrants in a variety of ways related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention, legal assistance, and support in the event a working member of a family is detained. Notably, the group uses “Latine,” a left-of-center gender-neutral term for people of Hispanic origin, in its messaging. ¹

Founding and History

Somoes Siembra and Siembra NC were both formed in 2017 in response to the election of President Donald Trump. Both groups received tax exempt status in 2022. ^{2 3}

Financials

In 2022, Somos Siembra reported $2,032,448 in revenue, of which the entire amount stemmed from contributions and grants. It reported $259,187 in expenses, of which $183,489 was allocated to salaries, wages, and other compensation. It ended the year with $1,773,261 in net income, and $1,773,261 in net assets. ⁴

Partner Organization

Somos Siembra is the charitable partner of the lobbying and electoral advocacy group Siembra NC. Siembra NC is a left-of-center activist organization that seeks to mobilize minority groups to advance political changes. One of its repeated points is the claim that its constituency of sexual, gender, and racial minorities is the true supermajority of the state of North Carolina and that everything that Republican legislators do is therefore undemocratic. ⁵

The group also makes available online what it terms to be a “children’s book” on North Carolina politics. The book portrays the Republican leaders of the state legislature as being small, scared children who feel the need to have guns because they are threatened by sexual and racial minorities whom they oppress. ⁶

Organization Philosophy

Somos Siembra holds left-of-center views and works to advance them through activism and educational programs. It states that it works towards racial and social justice. ⁷ Its partner 501(c)(4) group Siembra NC is even more blunt in its left-of-center outlook and aims, stating that conservative politicians in North Carolina lack democratic legitimacy. Siembra NC states that it is working to empower a “supermajority” of minorities in the state. ⁸

Projects and Initiatives

In addition to efforts to mobilize and register left-of-center voters, Somos Siembra also administers a variety of community programs. These include efforts to connect Latino families to economic and legal resources, activism education, and an “ICE Watch” program in Latino neighborhoods. ⁹

Leadership

Kelly Morales is the co-executive director of Somos Siembra and its partner organization Siembra NC, a position she has held since 2021. She previously worked as the director of the NC Immigrant Rights Program of the American Friends Service Committee of North Carolina. ¹⁰

Nicole Marin is the co-executive director of Somos Siembra and its partner organization Siembra NC, a position she has held since 2022. She previously worked as the director of loans and business development at the Southern Reparations loan Fund, which was specifically focused on Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) businesses in the American South. ¹¹

1. Somos Siembra. “Somos Siembra | Home.” Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.somossiembra.org/#what.
2. “Siembra NC | About Us.” Siembra NC. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.siembranc.org/about-us.
3. Somos Siembra. “Somos Siembra | Home.” Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.somossiembra.org/#what.
4. Somos Siembra, Return of an organization exempt from taxation (Form 990) Part I, 2022.
5. “Siembra NC | About Us.” Siembra NC. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.siembranc.org/about-us.
6.  “A Story of Tim and Phil: Two Very Scared Boys.” Siembra NC. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://assets.website-files.com/6010fd8d489384a67990c796/648083e50c4032e529e3aca1_A%20Story%20of%20Tim%20and%20Phil%20Two%20Very%20Scared%20Boys%20(4)_compressed.pdf.
7. Somos Siembra. “Somos Siembra | Home.” Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.somossiembra.org/#what.
8. “Siembra NC | About Us.” Siembra NC. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.siembranc.org/about-us.
9. “Siembra NC | About Us.” Siembra NC. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.siembranc.org/about-us.
10. “Experience | Kelly Morales.” LinkedIn.com. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-morales-09aa49100/details/experience/.
11. “Nikki Marín Baena.” LinkedIn.com. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-mar%C3%ADn-baena-a7009a185/.