– Estefany Barajas Valadez, 2022 SAF internNC Farmworkers' Project Por generaciones mi familia ha trabajado como trabajadores del campo. Hoy en día mi padre y madre continúan trabajando en una granja en la cual cultivan fresas, elotes, sandías, tomate y mucho más. Ellos me enseñaron el valor del trabajo con el sudor de su frente... [Read more]
Apuntes de campo
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 feel certain in the direction my feet are carrying me
– Grace May, 2022 SAF internUnited for a Fair Economy This prompt is deceptively easy as I am 20 and still have no idea who I am. I know the basics… my name is Grace, I’m from Virginia, I have purple hair, I like pineapple on pizza. When I start going deeper, I become unsure... [Read more]
My future, perseverance, and values are who I am
– Yadira Paz-Martinez, 2022 SAF internNC Justice Center In second grade, students start to learn the rule of stacking numbers to multiply. As I was given this assignment, I struggled. I did not understand how other students comprehended a topic so complicated. Observing another classmate, I asked her, “How did you learn to multiply so... [Read more]
I was opened up to a whole new world
– José Duran, 2022 SAF Intern, NC Farmworkers' Project Who would’ve thought just an average man from a small town in Idaho would be all the way on the eastern side of the United States working towards farmworker justice? I never imagined I would be in this position doing something so impactful. Let me tell... [Read more]
I’m sent by myself and the desires of my heart
– Claire Burke, 2022 SAF InternPiedmont Health Services When I told people that I was going to be interning with Student Action with Farmworkers as a health intern, I was met with disapproval. Some of my family and friends thought that the internship was a joke or an odd cause. I had people ask me... [Read more]
My mother's influence
– Alejandra Geronimo, 2022 SAF InternPiedmont Health Services I am the daughter of a single immigrant farmworker mother. A woman who came to the United States from Veracruz, Mexico, seeking the American dream. A woman who dreams of a better life and opportunities for her children. I am a first-generation college student at Valdosta State... [Read more]
A beautiful movement
– Maria Juarez, 2022 SAF Program Assistant Who am I? Hmm. I am still trying to figure that out too. My name is Maria Juarez, and I am from Burley, Idaho. I am the daughter of two Michoacanos and the youngest sibling of 5. We are part of the population of 3 million farmworkers in... [Read more]
Messages of justice, confidence, and hope
– Nathaly Trinidad Flores, Solidaridad intern When I learned about SAF and the current conditions farmworkers work in, I was mainly confused on why this is a topic that was never mentioned in my almost 8 years in agricultural education. Especially considering how in North Carolina children as young as 12 are able to work... [Read more]
All of life is connected.
Tony Nguyen, Solidaridad intern All of life is connected. That is what I will take with me after I finish my time here with SAF. Human beings, farm work, workers’ rights, land, land ownership, sustainability, and ethicality—it’s all connected. I came into SAF with a background in sustainable agriculture and Christian ethics. I already knew... [Read more]
The big issue that was revealed to me: Heat Stress
Jazlin McDowell, Solidaridad intern As a Solidaridad intern with SAF this year, the big issue that was revealed to me was heat stress. Concerns about the health and safety of working populations have grown as global temperatures and heat waves continue to rise as a result of climate change. Among farmworkers, heat stroke is the... [Read more]
Our stories and ideas matter
Julianna Rennie, Solidaridad intern Through working with Student Action with Farmworkers this year, I learned that the farmworker justice movement needs everyone! It’s normal to feel too small or unimportant to contribute to a cause. But when we come together, we become unstoppable! I began to internalize this realization during the final retreat for the... [Read more]
Union. Support. Fuerza. Poder. Empowerment.
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]