Ana Rojas-Gabriel, Solidaridad intern Union. Support. Fuerza. Poder. Empowerment. These are words that I associate when I think of Solidaridad both as a term and a program. My participation in Solidaridad this year has allowed me to continue advocating for social justice while also providing space to learn about educational equity. It has been incredibly... [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.
The actions we take matter
– Nathaly Trinidad Flores, Solidaridad intern This poster can be found in the hallways of the W.G. Pearson Center, home of SAF's office. Every week when I go get my lunch from the kitchen I pass by it and most times I stop to re-read it. ‘Hayti’ is a central part of history in North... [Read more]
We are talking about basic human rights
– Tony Nguyen, Solidaridad intern “I am so out of my element.” That is a thought I often have when doing work for SAF. The reason why I wanted to work here was because I knew that I needed experience on the policy, justice, and non-profit side of things with respect to the sustainable agriculture... [Read more]
That Kind of Love Sustains Our Movement
– Julianna Rennie, Solidaridad intern As SAF’s policy intern, I’ve had the privilege to work with organizers who are fighting for social justice. These people are passionate and tireless. Many of them have been part of the movement for decades. They are my heroes! But sometimes I wonder where they find the energy to keep... [Read more]
A Typical Day at SAF
– Jazlin McDowell, Solidaridad intern A typical day for me at SAF as an outreach and program management intern includes making flyers, sending out emails, reaching out to alumni, finding housing for the Into the Fields internship program as well as proofreading the application and helping with the application process. My favorite experience with SAF... [Read more]
We cannot pull out all of the roots in one day
– Lucy Thames, 2021 Cosecha fellow Oppression is at the core of our systems. We’ve seen it in the fields, from the labor of enslaved people to migrant farmworkers. We’ve seen it in our neighborhoods, from blatant segregation to redlining. We’ve seen it even in the changemaking spaces that many of us love, from a... [Read more]
Awareness, Reflection, Regulation
– Selena Ibarra, 2021 SAF Cosecha fellow One of the issues reinforced for me at the Cosecha retreat in October was the need for self-care in the workplace because we, as leaders, are a part of a great movement for social justice. One of the workshops that stood out to me from the retreat focused... [Read more]
Present, Inquisitive, and Participating
– Kirsten Alfaro, 2021 SAF Cosecha fellow “Am I present? Did I finish what I said I was going to finish? I wish I could be like them. What if people think I’m a complete fai--" Stop. Big Issue: Life is hard. Leading is hard. It’s messy, it’s complex, it’s human. I’m HUMAN!!! I’m realizing... [Read more]
A Treadmill Under My Desk
– Rachel Wright Junio, 2021 SAF Cosecha fellow A treadmill under my desk. That's what my life had come to. Don't get me wrong – I love this treadmill, and I have found several benefits to moving more while at work. But this treadmill is a symbol. It's a symbol of overwork. It's a symbol... [Read more]
I want to make change in my community
Emily Velazquez, SAF Levante Leadership Institute youth member My name is Emily Velazquez and I am a very strong person. The circumstances I had to go through have shaped me into the person I am today. My parents are originally from Michoacan, Mexico. I try to visit each year to see my family and spend... [Read more]
I've been in the fields
Vicente Guzman, SAF Levante Leadership Institute youth member My experience with SAF has been amazing. We have been able to meet new people and talk about our lives. I’ve loved to talk about how to help farmworkers, especially in these hard times with the pandemic and this hot weather. I’ve been in the fields and... [Read more]
I remember being in their shoes
Ana Rojas-Gabriel, Solidaridad intern The following prompts are simple questions yet complex to answer: who am I? and where do I come from? I am Ana Rojas-Gabriel, a first-generation student at UNC-Chapel Hill. I come from my parents' hard work and their American dreams. I come from “echale ganas mija” and “sí, se puede”. From... [Read more]