Over the past two years, the National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM) has been reviewing its mission and program goals, which has led to the development of an organizational strategy approved by the NFWM Board at their January 2013 board meeting. Because of this, the difficult determination has been made that we will be closing our DeLand Florida office and ending our part-time Florida Organizer position effective March 28, 2013.
NFWM will continue to support our farm worker partners in Florida, including the Farmworker Association of Florida, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, and Allianza de Mujeres Activas and we will continue to provide education and action opportunities with our faith partners who have stood with NFWM and justice for farm workers for so many years. NFWM’s Orlando office as well as our Youth & Young Adult program will continue. NFWM’s long standing Pinellas Support Committee of the NFWM and the Sarasota Support Committee also continue to help carry out NFWM’s mission in Florida.
NFWM thanks Roberta (Bert) Perry for her many years of service to the National Farm Worker Ministry and La Causa. Bert has been a part of many of the major farm worker campaigns and victories, from the United Farm Workers’ 1984 organizing convention in Lakeland, Fl, through the Farm Labor Organizing Committee’s Campbell Soup and Mt. Olive boycotts, to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ historic month-long hunger strike in 1998. Through boycotts, marches, hurricanes, freezes, support committee meetings, and church meetings and presentations, Bert’s passion and tenacity have gained her the respect of many in Florida and around the country. The Board and staff honor Bert’s dedication and service to the cause of justice for farm workers and wish her well in the future. After March 28th, personal messages to Bert may be sent to her email address: genesis514@aol.com.
NFWM thanks our Florida supporters and looks forward to your continuing engagement in our work for farm worker justice.
To be in contact with the National Farm Worker Ministry, please contact Susan Alan, Associate Director (314-726-6470 or salan@nfwm.org or NFWM, 438 N. Skinker Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63130) or Nico Gumbs, FL NFWM/YAYA Organizer (386-801-1232 or ngumbs@nfwm.org).