America Juarez-Maldonado, SAF Solidaridad intern My typical day at SAF always starts my morning with ease. Every time I start my work or have SAF team meetings I get excited to see some of my mentees and other SOL interns. I open my laptop to start the day, and start planning or message the Levante... [Read more]
Field Notes
Field Notes is a blog where Student Action with Farmworkers students share stories of their outreach, organizing, and advocacy work, and where farmworkers share their own stories and hopes for change, writing in the language they feel most comfortable.
To access our archive of past blog posts, visit our Field Notes Tumblr site here.
A Sense of Normalcy
Tyme Nunn, SAF Solidaridad intern As we all know, working during the COVID-19 pandemic has been nothing short of life-changing and strange. My pre-COVID workspace is now confined to the four walls of my on-campus apartment. It is safe to say that nowadays, the word “normal” seems loaded. Like many others, the act of navigating... [Read more]
Shedding Light on my Family History
Omar Alejandro Ibarra, SAF Solidaridad intern I went on my annual trip to Mexico this past December with my family. This time it was an entirely different experience as the matriarch of my big family, my abuelita, passed away from COVID-19 in late 2020. It was difficult to be cheery like we usually were around... [Read more]
What does it mean to you to be an essential worker?
Roberto, NC Farmworker, 2020 During the pandemic, we’ve worked and contributed with our labor in farm work. As essential workers, we’ve also been worried since we’re also vulnerable because of the pandemic… we keep working, trusting God and helping with our labor in this country. Many of the people in this country know how important... [Read more]
What do you need to feel safe and be safe?
Roberto, NC Farmworker, 2020 Being in this country that is very different than mine… it’s like a strange country since there’s a different language, a different culture… there are organizations that help me feel safer—such as Vecinos. Vecinos has been here to help with medicine, doctors’ appointments, translations, and even more so during this global... [Read more]
What do you think about when you’re at work?
Roberto, NC Farmworker, 2020 I mainly think of God each day, for many reasons… I’ll mention a few: Thanks to Him I have food on my table; work hasn’t let me down, despite the current situation; my family is safe and I’m in touch with them; and I’m healthy to keep working in this country…... [Read more]
A big reason I joined SAF
Rafael Vasquez, SAF Levante Leadership Institute youth member Hey, my name is Rafael Vasquez and I am from North Carolina. My mom is from Mexico and came here before I was born. My mom has been working in the fields for a long time and I want to change that. A big reason I joined... [Read more]
I want to give back to people who, thanks to them, we have food on our table
Emily Velazquez-Alvarado, SAF Levante Leadership Institute youth member Hello! My name is Emily Velazquez-Alvarado, I am 16 years old and I attend early college high school. My family is originally from Michoacán and they migrated from Mexico more than 20 years ago. I live with my younger brother and mom. Growing up, I had an... [Read more]
How 2020 is going for me
Jesús Cabrera, SAF Levante Leadership Institute youth member I am from a family of four, and I am the youngest sibling out of two. I have been part of SAF to gain knowledge about farmworker rights and social justice. I am excited about doing more activities with other people and as of right now I... [Read more]
Farmworker Rights
Angel Araiza, SAF Levante Leadership Institute youth member My name is Angel Araiza. I am from Guadalajara, Jalisco. I moved from Mexico when I was 3. I am excited to work with SAF to spread more awareness of farmworker rights and how they are treated unfairly at times. I am most afraid of farmworkers not... [Read more]
The more time passes, the more I learn about myself
America Juarez-Maldonado, SAF Solidaridad intern My name is America Juarez-Maldonado, I am a Mexican-American, first-generation college student. I attend the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, double majoring in Environmental Studies and Public Policy. I am a brown girl that represents the mix of what future America will look like in the next years to... [Read more]
A community that reminds me of home
Tyme Nunn, SAF Solidaridad intern My name is Tyme Nunn and I am a junior at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina. When I chose to attend a college in Raleigh, it was a drastic change from the environment I grew up in. I was born and raised in Hamlet, North Carolina. Being in that... [Read more]