Image source: Aljazeera

On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the immigration reform legislation officially known as the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744) by more than a 2-to-1 margin.

“We thank Senators from both parties, especially Sen. Diane Feinstein, who repeatedly led the push back against amendments aimed at making the path to legalization a mirage,” said United Farm Workers President Arturo S. Rodriguez. “The legislation is a truly bipartisan effort that calls for a path to citizenship for the estimated 11million undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S.”

The proposal includes agricultural provisions negotiated by the UFW and major grower associations.

“We deeply appreciate the work of Senators Feinstein, Rubio, Bennet, and Hatch who worked in the agricultural provisions of the proposal and we look forward to continuing to work with them to pass immigration reform in Congress. For hundreds of thousands of farm workers their dream to one day reunite with their families is a step closer to becoming a reality,” Rodriguez said.

“Under the new immigration process that is being proposed, farm workers would be able to work in the fields without fear of getting deported immediately and can be reunited with their families in a relatively short period of time. The bill would give professional farm workers temporary legal status and the right to earn a green card in the future by continuing to work in agriculture,” he said.

There are approximately two million women, men, and children who labor on our nation’s farms and ranches across America harvesting our fruits and vegetables and caring for our livestock. At least 600,000 of these farm workers are U.S. Citizens or permanent legal residents.

The bill is now expected to go to the full Senate for a vote in June.

Last week, members of the National Farm Worker Ministry’s staff, board, and Youth and Young Adult Network accompanied over 100 farm workers in Washington, DC as they made their case for immigration reform through the halls of the House and the Senate. Hard working in the fields and hard working in the city – from dawn to dusk, farm workers shared their stories and the urgent need for reform.

This week, we heartily welcome the introduction of the new Senate bill for immigration reform, “The Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013”. We particularly applaud the agricultural provisions of the bill which provide undocumented farm workers, whose labor we benefit from daily, the opportunity to swiftly obtain legal immigration status for themselves and their families. The bill also includes new protections for future agricultural guest workers. The agricultural component was negotiated by the United Farm Workers and agricultural industry representatives.

We recognize that the Senate bill is a compromise that does not fully meet our hopes for a society that genuinely follows the biblical mandate to “welcome the stranger” or “to love our neighbors as ourselves”.  But having witnessed the fear and isolation experienced by undocumented farm workers, we know that this bill will make a huge difference in their lives and the lives of their families. It has been a long time coming.

We look forward now to working with our farm worker partners for swift passage of legislation that enables farm workers to come out of the shadows and to participate freely in their work, family, and community life.

NFWM will continue to update you and provide opportunities for action as work progresses on the Senate bill, and a future bill in the House.

Si Se Puede!

Virginia Nesmith,

Executive Director

Learn More:

• Farm Worker Justice’s Preliminary Summary of Farmworker Provisions of the Senate Immigration Bill (.pdf)
• California farmworkers may win fast track to legal residency, by Peter Hecht
• Salinas Valley farmworkers, growers hail Senate bill, by D. L. Taylor and Valentin Mendoza

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 28^th, 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).

In Salinas, CA, hundreds of farm workers welcomed Rep. Luis Gutierrez, who spoke about the urgency of legalizing undocumented workers. “Today, 1,400 people were deported. Yesterday, also, 1,400 people were deported. Tomorrow, another 1,400 people will be deported,” he said in Spanish. “Those who say ‘there’s no hurry’ means they’re [sic] not suffering the consequences of deportation.” Read More>>

• Farm workers from Florida, Oregon, and California were among those who joined the Keep our Families Together bus tour. The participants traveled from state to state meeting with legislators to tell them their personal stories about their families and the need for immigration reform. NFWM believes that the workers who provide food for families in the US should not have to endure long separations from their own families.

• Members of YAYA, the Youth and Young Adult Network of the National Farm Worker Ministry, attended the “Time is Now for Immigration Reform Panel and Press Conference”in Orlando, Florida. The event was attended by United States House Representatives Alan Grayson and Luis Gutierrez. Read More>>

Stay tuned for more information!

Please contact us with any questions.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

NFWM is a faith-based organization committed to justice for and empowerment of farm workers.   Since its organization in 1971, the ministry has worked with farm workers in their struggle for justice and equality and supported farm-worker-led efforts to improve wages and working and living conditions.  The organization has partnered and engaged with farm workers in their communities and campaigns with a focus on educating, equipping, and mobilizing member organizations, other faith communities and justice seekers for effective support of those efforts both regionally and nationally.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Executive Director is both the public face of NFWM and the senior manager of this geographically dispersed, small nonprofit organization.  The successful candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to social, economic, and racial justice through work with immigrant communities or other minority or marginalized groups.  Strong written and oral communication skills which include the ability to effectively communicate with people of diverse cultures, faiths, and advocacy perspectives are essential.  The successful candidate will have experience with faith communities, proven ability to expand constituencies and relationships, and a record of effective fundraising (especially from foundations and organizations).  The successful candidate should have a proven engaging, collaborative leadership style and be able to foster a positive and productive organizational culture and build community with both the staff and Board.   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is required.  Prior experience with farm worker unions or farm-worker-led advocacy organizations is highly desirable, as is fluency in Spanish.

LOCATION

NFWM recently has completed a thorough review of its strategy and structure.  We are at the beginning of the process of relocating national headquarters to Eastern or Central North Carolina and restructuring staff responsibilities and assignments.   The new Executive Director will play a central role in those transitions.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applications should include a letter of interest and a current resumé which includes educational history, a record of employment with summary of duties and roles (indicate reasons for any gaps in employment), and at least three references with contact information. Interested candidates should submit their resumés to Susan Alan, salan@nfwm.org, as a Microsoft Word or pdf formatted document. The Search Committee hopes to have a candidate to propose for Board approval by mid-August 2013.

The National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM) Board of Directors announces the departure this summer of our esteemed Executive Director Virginia Nesmith.  For 15 years Virginia has been a relentless leader of NFWM, steering its staff, board and supporters through a whirlwind of victories, challenges and change in the pursuit of justice for and empowerment of farm workers. Virginia led NFWM’s support for numerous farm worker organizing campaigns, mobilizing national and international faith leaders, and establishing NFWM’s Youth and Young Adult Network (YAYA) to develop a new generation of activists for the work.  She has helped found and develop the Equitable Food Initiative, a groundbreaking initiative of farm worker groups, NGOs, growers and retailers who are working together to create a fairer and safer food supply.

We thank Virginia for her steadfast commitment to lead people of faith in support of farm worker led efforts to improve their living and working conditions.  In a recent communication she said, “Farm workers captured my heart over 35 years ago and fortunately, never let it go.  I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to work with all of you who embody a ¡Sí se Puede! attitude and with farm workers who have taught me so much about faith and hope.”

Leadership transition can be both a challenging and exciting time for any organization.  NFWM, the current staff, board of directors and Virginia are looking forward to all of the possibilities that come with change and will work together to insure that the transition is accomplished as smoothly and effectively as possible.  To that end, a search committee and a transition team were appointed by the Board of Directors in January.  Both teams have begun their work.  The search committee is anticipating having a new Executive Director in place by the summer of 2013.  Virginia and other staff will work closely with the transition team to prepare for the new director.

As always, NFWM remains committed to our mission. We know we can count on your continued support and engagement in our work for farm worker justice during this time of transition.

For questions about the search for a new director, please contact the chair, Sylvia Campbell at targd@juno.com or NFWM Associate Director, Susan Alan at salan@nfwm.org.

In Solidarity,

Felix Garza, NFWM Board President

Let us pray for our legislators, for farm workers, and for others whom we have indentured by borders, laws, and our demand for cheap labor. Let us pray that they may be set free to work without fear, to travel home without risk, and to be treated with the respect deserved by all.

• We pray, God, for  your help in tearing down the borders we have built around our own hearts, that we may see you in each person, and that we may learn to love and welcome each of your children as members of one people, one world, and of one God.

• Father of the poor, God of love, you made us all your children; we praise You and thank You. Full us with a sense of justice. Help us in your work, to take the side of the lowly, to defend the newcomer, to welcome the stranger. Help us now to befriend the friendless, protect the weak children, and work for the rights of all. Lord, on our journey home, bring us together in peace, in justice, and in love, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
  National Conference of Catholic Bishops