In this issue:
1. 2009 Achievements
We want to thank you for your support during the year of 2009! Thanks to YOU we have been able to organize and to participate in many events, presentations, rallies and projects to support farm workers!
You have already been a part of this struggle. Perhaps you sent a postcard, participated in a rally, signed-on to a letter, sponsored a speaker or
attended a presentation. We thank you for your solidarity.
Now we ask that you take another step and support the work of the National Farm Worker Ministry and its Youth and Young Adult Network with your financial contribution. Thanks to your support, this year…
- YAYA organized a series of immersion trips for youth and young adults with the purpose of educating them about farm worker issues and inspiring them to become part of the farm worker movement. These trips included an Alternative Spring Break for University of Florida students in North Carolina, an immersion trip to Homestead and Immokalee for middle school students in Miami, and an immersion trip where Orlando YAYA leaders visited farm worker communities and got organizing training.
- YAYA organized 12 events in Gainesville, Orlando and Winter Park for Farm Worker Awareness Week. Some activities included gleaning, fixing and delivering bicycles to farm workers, bringing speakers to schools and churches, distributing literature, circulating petitions, and using art, film and music to spread awareness.
- YAYA worked on immigration issues by lobbying for AgJOBS and Comprehensive Immigration Reform. We also participated in a meeting about 287g with Lake County Sheriff Gary Borders and organized a presentation about immigration reform at UCF. Our members also joined a conference call about immigration reform with Congressman Luis Gutierrez and sent letters and pictures of their families to President Obama.
- YAYA supported the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) by attending this year’s action at RJ
Reynolds’ Shareholders meeting and by attending FLOC’s 11th Constitutional Convention. YAYAs also distributed fliers at Florida International University, where an RJ Reynolds’ executive is a member of the board of trustees, and organized a rally outside of a University of Florida Foundation meeting, where Susan Ivey (CEO of Reynolds) is a director.
- YAYA supported the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) by distributing fliers at Food Inc movie
screenings that were sponsored by Chipotle and by attending and mobilizing people for rallies in Orlando and Lakeland in support of the CIW’s fair food campaign against Publix Supermarket. - YAYA continued to collect, fix and deliver bicycles for farm workers that can’t get driver’s licenses due to their immigration status or that cannot afford to buy a car due to low wages. To date we have delivered more than 200 bicycles!
- YAYA organized presentations about farm workers and their communities with the purpose of inspiring action and participation among the attendants. These events included a conference in California about heat deaths and the history of the farm worker movement, an open mic night in Winter Park, and a presentation about CIW and FLOC in Orlando.
- YAYA connected with thousands of people by participating in events
like the Harvest of Hope Festival or the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering. - YAYA also collected hundreds of signatures for petitions and post cards that supported farm worker campaigns and efforts to protect their rights.
- YAYA launched its new website and t-shirt and sticker designs!
All of this was only possible because of your support. Thank you. We depend on people like you to continue our mission.
Today we need your help more than ever. Please make a contribution today.
1. Take Action!
- Help Protect Children From Toxic Pesticides. Take Action.
- Tell Nature’s Partner’s affiliates what Giumarra is up to. Take
Action. - Oppose Methyl Iodide in California. Take Action
- Stop Siddiqui in the Senate. Take action
- This Christmas bring toys, clothes and food to the closest farm worker organization! All of these organizations are celebrating Posadas (Mexican Celebrations) this month and they need your help.
- Alliance of Active Women: 2110 N US Hwy 17 Seville Fl. 32190, Volusia County.
For more information contact Ana Bolanos. - Farm Worker Association Apopka: 1264 Apopka Boulevard, Florida 32703.
For more information contact Jeannie Economos - Farm worker Association Homestead: 450 Davis Parkway, Florida City, FL, 33034.
For more information contact Elvira Carvajal.
3. YAYAs in Action!
Check out what we have been up to lately!
- Orlando YAYAs took an immersion trip to Homestead, Immokalee and Belle Glade. Read More.
- YAYA presentation about FLOC and the CIW in Orlando. Read More.
- YAYA joined the CIW at a rally in Orlando’s Publix Supermarket. Read More.
- YAYA organized a rally in support of FLOC. Read More.
- The Exploitation That Feeds Our Nation: Our Food, Farmworkers, and the Urgency of Immigration Reform. Read More.
- Taking action for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Read More.
- 30 YAYAs joined the CIW in the March for Farm Worker Justice in Lakeland. Read More.
- For more pictures on these and all of our events please visit our page on facebook.
4. YAYAs Online!
Visit our YAYAs in Action blog to learn more about our most recent projects and events.
