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.
Off the Grammys Stage: El Pueblo in Solidarity
By: Teresa Vazquez, SAF Staff Member & Alum "Hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So please, we need to be different. If we fight we have to do it with love. We don’t hate them. We love our people. We love our family, and that’s the way to do it: With love. Don’t forget that, please. Thank you." - Bad Bunny At first, my initial reaction to this part of Bad Bunny’s (or Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) 2026 Grammys acceptance speech for winning best música urbana album for his 2025 album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS was “How can I love someone who hates me?” As I continued watching the show on someone’s random TikTok livestream, I…
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Growing the Future: Why Farmworker Justice Begins with Youth Leadership
By: Ramon Zepeda, SAF Alumni Introduction I first became involved with SAF in 2005. At the time, I was a young person trying to understand my place in the world, my family’s struggles, and the systems that shaped our lives. Over the years, I stayed connected—as an alum, a board member, a staff member, and now as someone doing economic justice work in Virginia. No matter where life has taken me, SAF has remained a constant part of who I am and how I understand leadership, justice, and community. My journey with SAF eventually led me to join staff in…
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Youth Voices on Farmworker Justice
By: 2025 Levante Leader Institute Youth Members Miranda Sophmore, Johnston County Farmworker justice starts with youth leadership because young people carry both the lived experiences and responsibility of shaping a more stable future and refuse to let those experiences be ignored. Many of us grow up witnessing the sacrifices workers make every day, long hours, physical exhaustion, and being undervalued despite the work that farmworkers are expected to give everything while receiving so little in return. These experiences shaped my voice early on and pushed me to speak up, even when it feels uncomfortable or challenging. I speak not only for myself,…
“Maybe I Am Not Equal to the Task”: A Thanksgiving Reflection
by Sylvia Zapata, Political Scientist, SAF Executive Director Doubt, Deadlines, and Touching Bottom Ty Herndon’s 1999 release I Can’t Do It All explores the fear of falling short. While Ty was singing about losing out on romantic love, that phrase, along with all its accompanying lyrics, made me think about how I felt that verse in my soul and how I have often thought, “Maybe, I am just not equal to the task.” Maybe the fear and anxiety that has me staring down the calendar, and the clock, with my mind racing and my hands frozen until “just the right time” triggers frenzied movement and submissions at 11:59 pm for a midnight…
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This Shaped Who I am Today...
My name is Jacqueline, [I am] a daughter of immigrants and former farm workers. My parents originally Mexico, later migrated to the United States. I was born and raised in North Carolina with my ten siblings. Growing up, there wasn’t always much to do [especially when] many of my older sisters often went out with their friends, and the large age gap made it harder for me to be included. [So], I spent most of my time playing active games with my brothers. Before we had access to WiFi, those games became our main source of fun and creativity. Because…
This Is Not The End
I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to be part of the 2025 ITF summer cohort. It has been a well rounded experience full of both ups and downs. My placement was National Black Worker Center where I learned the art of organizing. It’s one thing to be part of a movement, but it’s definitely another thing to organize it. From meetings, paperwork, getting people to signup/ register, securing space, securing funding and most importantly, delivering the message to the people. These are all exciting “behind” the scenes work that I enjoyed. A very important lesson that…
Their Courage to Travel So Far From Home
[Editor’s Note: The following sentence has been added for context to clarify which experience the student is reflecting on in response to the prompt.] One day that truly stuck with me during my placement was when we visited the farmworker camps. I'd have to repeat that the visits themselves are the most memorable moments. Talking with farmworkers who just came back from hard work under the sun, some having been at the camp decades, others just days. Hearing their courage to travel so far from home in order to provide more for their families. Hearing their aspirations for the future,…
First Outreach Experience
I recently had the privilege of attending my first outreach experience with El Futuro es Nuestro (one of the coolest organizations ever!!). That day, we visited a flea market, and our job was to go up to people, introduce ourselves, and share the goals of El Futuro. Afterwards, we visited a house where multiple farmworkers live to lead a workshop on the dangers of heat. I remember the heat that day was intense, which made me even more alert and tuned in as we went through the workshop. We happened to be accompanied by the Executive Director of SAF, who…
First Week!
Hi! I’m Grace Herman, a rising junior at UNC Chapel Hill studying Public Health and Public Policy. I’m thrilled to join the SAF 2025 ITF cohort and will be working this summer with the NC Farmworkers Project alongside my intern partner, Johana. Last week, at SAF orientation, I learned about the farmworker justice movement through popular education and had the incredible opportunity to meet fellow ITF interns who I now call my friends and hear their inspiring stories. I have also spent a lot of time reflecting on my journey here and my place within this movement. My passion for health equity…
Summer Into the Fields
Hello, I am currently a third-year student at UNC Wilmington, majoring in Spanish. I’m excited to be interning with Student Action Farmworkers (SAF). I grew up in Florida a small town best known for its strawberry fields and the annual Strawberry Festival. I also spent part of my childhood in North Carolina, a small town which I often describe as living in the woods surrounded by deer. Coming from a family of fieldworkers, agricultural work was my first job as well. As a child, I didn’t fully understand what my mother meant when she said I was lucky to have the…
Our history and struggles are not something to hide; they are the reason to push forward.
At our first retreat, we were asked to share personal experiences that shaped who we are. I did not expect to open up that day; I don’t like to speak up in a large group, but the room felt safe and supportive. So, I talked about how I have worked on a chicken farm from a young age. I shared how it made me appreciate and understand some of the daily challenges my parents had to face. Waking up early, working in the heat, and realizing how little companies care about their employees. It made me feel invisible like my labor…
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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
Untitled
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…
The reason I decided to apply to be a SOL intern
Holaaa! My name is Liz Sarabia and I am a first generation student at North Carolina State University! I am currently double majoring in Criminology & Political Science with a concentration in Law & Justice; plus I have a minor in Forensic Science! I am from a small town called Henderson which is in the northern part of North Carolina, however my roots are from Guerrero and San Luis Potosí, México. The reason I decided to apply to be a SOL intern was because growing up my mom worked in tobacco fields and I would see how she struggled working…
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Who am I? What am I doing here?
At 22, I’m a proud graduate of Campbell University with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, a reflection of my deep connection to my Colombian roots. Growing up as a second-generation American, I’ve navigated the rich tapestry of two cultures, which has profoundly shaped my identity. My family’s vibrant traditions and values instilled in me a strong sense of community and resilience, while my education has allowed me to bridge cultural gaps and embrace diversity. As an interpreter, I’ve had the privilege of facilitating communication for individuals from diverse backgrounds, which has illuminated the barriers many face in accessing essential services.…
The Roots of My Journey: From NYC to North Carolina
Written by: Melanie Cabrero The busy streets of New York City, the subway rides that once filled me with fear, the public schools that shaped my way of thinking, and the honor of bearing my grandmother Melania's name have all contributed to who I am today. Hello! My name is Melanie Cabrero, the eldest of three siblings, born to Angel from Puerto Rico and Joselin Cabrero from the Dominican Republic, and raised in the vibrant heart of New York City. Growing up in an urban environment, often called the epicenter of diversity, has shaped my identity. From an early age, exposure…
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"We need more doctors, nurses, and dentists that speak the language of the underserved"
Now that I have completed the Into the Fields internship, I am now more informed about the issues surrounding preventative care. At the NC Farmworkers Project (NCFWP), we have coordinated the scheduling of appointments, but at times, the farmworkers tell us at the last minute that they can no longer attend the appointments. One cannot help but think about the two contrasting needs: attending the appointment or continuing to work. It is disheartening to learn there is more value in working in extra work hours, than to attend the appointment that could help the issues caused by the wear and…
La Cucaracha, La Cucaracha!
I cannot be the only one that is in disbelief that we are halfway through our ITF summer, right? Time surely flies when you’re having fun. But you know what else flies? Cockroaches. And sometimes, they fly right into farmworker’s ears, and the moment to spur into action and resolve the situation presents itself! On my second day at my placement, Prospect Hill Community Health Center, my advisor Sophie and I were walking through the waiting room after picking up a farmworker when we were waved down by the front desk. The receptionist introduced us to a farmworker who’d…
Reflections from farmworker outreach
ITF interns and farmworkers playing a game of volleyball during a theater visit. For over a month now I have spent my days driving across the state to visit H-2A workers at their housing. By my own estimation I have been able to speak individually with over 300 farmworkers. These workers are primarily men from ages 18-68 who hail from various states in Mexico and work primarily in el tabaco [tobacco], camote [sweet potato], as well as pepino [cucumber], sandia [watermelon], cangrejo [crab], and more. I want to express my gratitude to the health providers, organizers, farmworkers, and organizations who…
I am glad to be part of one of the many programs that serves the farm worker community and recognizes their struggles as strengths.
Working with the South Carolina Migrant Education Program (Migrant Ed) has reinforced some privileges that I have taken for granted. Every day since I started this internship has been memorable because of the nature of the job and work we do. The interactions I have with farm workers are meaningful in their own unique way; everyone has a story to tell, and some are more specific than others, but each has a reason as to why they work in agriculture. Whether their story was short or long, it was interesting to hear about their backgrounds and where they came from.…
The Strongest People
This month was incredible for me. It helped me open my eyes and realize what the life of people who came as "Hired" was like. The conditions in which they live could be better; for example, they don't have privacy or air conditioning, sometimes they don't have transportation, and sometimes they don't have a washing machine or dryer. These are basic things in every person's life, but sometimes they don't have them. In an occasion , your employers sometimes violate your rights as workers. For example, a man I spoke to tell me that as soon as they finished spraying…