On Friday, May 11th, members of YAYA visited Wendy Dormal’s Service Learning class at Timbercreek High school in Avalon Park to discuss farm worker conditions. Four members of YAYA came to the class to give a presentation on farm worker issues and were there for three class periods in the morning. We were welcomed with open arms into the classroom and our presentation was well received by the students and the instructor.
The presentation that we gave the high school students was about what farm worker conditions, YAYA’s solidarity worker, and farm worker organizations we work with. We talked to the students about the solidarity work YAYA does with farm worker organizations such as the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). I shared my experiences with the class about the immersion trip to North Carolina that I went on with YAYA to support FLOC’s campaign against R.J. Reynolds. A lot of the students asked questions about the treatment of farm workers, and if the government really turns a blind eye to these people. Unfortunately, the answer is yes, they do. It is important to go to schools and talk about these issues with the students because many people are not aware of the mistreatment of farm workers. These people are hidden from the public eye. More people need to know about the injustices that are happening in our very own cities.
Nicole Elinoff
Orlando YAYA
