At the beginning of August I had the amazing opportunity of attending the National Farm Worker Ministry‘s board meeting in Ashborough, North Carolina. I did not realize what a rare and valuable experience I was being afforded when Veatch offered to cover the expense of my trip. At the weekend-long meeting, I was able to view first hand the national network of dedicated communities of faith that fuels National Farm Worker Ministry’s work to support farm workers in our local communities.
At the meeting, I shared with our board members in person about the work that our Orlando YAYA Chapter is doing on several farm worker campaigns, as well as our bicycle drive for farm workers, our lobbying efforts for immigration reform for farm workers, and our work training leaders within our group.
At the meeting, I shared with our board members in person about the work that our Orlando YAYA Chapter is doing on several farm worker campaigns, as well as our bicycle drive for farm workers, our lobbying efforts for immigration reform for farm workers, and our work training leaders within our group.
An important part of the weekend was the action we took with the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO, to apply more pressure in their campaign, demanding that tobacco company RJ Reynolds address the oppressive and sometimes fatal conditions that tobacco workers face. I was honored to participate in a prayer vigil in a tobacco field, and an action at the RJ Reynolds headquarters in Winston-Salem, NC, where we asked yet again that CEO Susan Ivey take responsibility for the conditions of the farm workers who make her rich by meeting with FLOC.
At the meeting, I was able to meet and learn from the National Farm Worker Ministry board members, many of whom are leaders who have been organizing in the farm worker movement for decades. Hearing their stories of organizing alongside Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, and learning from the strategies and tactics that they have developed over the years, are invaluable gifts to a young person who is organizing to support farm workers After attending the board meeting, I believe even more strongly that these connections between generations are crucial to sustaining our work to support farm workers as they make concrete improvements in their workplaces and communities.
– Dominique Aulisio
(Pictures courtesy of Lariza Garzon and Briana Connors)
