Apuntes de campo es el blog donde los estudiantes de Estudiantes en Acción con Campesinos (SAF) comparten historias de su trabajo directo en el campo con los trabajadores, el trabajo organizativo de base y las actividades de defensoría. Y también donde los trabajadores agrícolas comparten sus propias historias y esperanzas de cambio, escribiendo en el lenguaje que les resulte más cómodo a cada uno.
I was like the lotus seed, needing a specific environment to grow
A couple of weeks ago, we attended a workshop focused on mental health. The goal was to grind the outer layer of a lotus seed, providing it with the right environment to grow. At first, some of us found it a bit silly; we’d never heard of a seed needing help to sprout. Coincidentally, this workshop took place during one of my depressive episodes. I dreaded getting out of bed and felt like I wouldn’t contribute much that day. Initially, I didn't give the activity much thought—until I realized how difficult it was. The seed wouldn’t budge, and we all…
Continue Reading I was like the lotus seed, needing a specific environment to grow
It gave me a space where I could just reflect and feel safe...
The workshop that stood out to me the most was the one we had the week after the inauguration. It stuck with me because it gave me a space where I could just reflect and feel safe. I remember feeling so many emotions—pain, anger, confusion—but that day helped me realize I wasn’t alone. Other people felt the same way, and that was comforting. What really stood out to me was when new people from Duke showed up. They didn’t have to really immerse themselves, but they did anyway, and that meant a lot. It reminded me that even in tough…
Continue Reading It gave me a space where I could just reflect and feel safe...
Magnolia's Journey
After graduating with a Bachelor's in Mathematics and Biology, along with a minor in Art and Chemistry, I found myself facing my first summer without academic commitments. I decided to apply for the Into the Fields internship and was offered a position with the South Carolina Department of Education. Initially, I had hoped to work at a health clinic, as it aligned more closely with my goals at the time. However, given my previous experience working with migrant students, I chose to accept the position. That decision proved to be a pivotal moment in shaping my career path. The internship provided me…
My participation in SAF also had a profound impact on me personally.
During my time with SAF, one of the biggest issues that was revealed to me was Wendy's refusal to sign the Fair Food Program (FFP). The FFP is a program that is designed to improve the working conditions and wages for tomato harvesters in Florida, a community that has been historically underserved and marginalized. The FFP was created by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), a worker-led organization that seeks to improve the lives of farmworkers. Wendy's was one of the few major food companies that had not signed on to the program, citing concerns about the program's cost and…
Continue Reading My participation in SAF also had a profound impact on me personally.
US citizenship is based on luck.
My mother wanted to be a teacher. She loved school and learning, but in Mexico, her parents couldn’t afford to send her beyond the sixth grade. She was a derived US citizen though. Her mother, my grandmother, was born in San Antonio in 1912. My grandmother’s father, my great grandfather, Catarino Zúñiga Ordóñez, was born in Laredo, Texas in 1894. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in which the United States of America took vast territories, including Texas, from Mexico to was signed in 1848, only 46 years before Catarino was born. Sylvia's Family in South Padre Island, TX This means a whole generation…
Sin título
Hello! My name is Ashley Nuñez-Saenz. I'm currently a junior double majoring in Political Science and Science, Technology and Society, as well as an Environmental Science minor at North Carolina State University. It is truly an amazing opportunity to serve as a Solidaridad intern this academic year. I first learned about Students Action with Farmworkers through my involvement with Students for Immigrant Rights and Equality, the advocacy club at NC State, where I proudly serve as Vice President. This internship offers an exciting opportunity to not only deepen my engagement in advocacy and human rights work but also to build…