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.
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…
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…
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…
Farmworker Generosity
A memorable day that has stayed with me ever since was when I was visiting a new camp house with my advisor, Maria. This was only my second week of work, as the orientation process had delayed things for my intern partner and me. Naturally, I felt a bit nervous and anxious about making mistakes or errors with the health assessments. I remember it being a Wednesday since we did outreach, and we arrived a few minutes earlier than usual. We decided to wait for the farmworkers to return home, which meant a wait of about 20 to 25…
Into, Into the Fields!
Hello SAF community! My name is Nicole Murashima and I feel unbelievably fortunate to be a part of the 2024 Into the Fields intern cohort! I am a rising senior undergraduate student at UNC Chapel Hill with a major in Hispanic Literature and Global Studies, as well as a minor in Environmental Sciences and Studies. This summer I have been placed with the Hispanic Federation, where I will do a range of work to support and work alongside the Hispanic community in Mount Olive, NC. A family picture from 2008. I was born in California but I have lived in…
From ROTC to Public Health: A Journey of Service & Advocacy
My name is Kétlye Gurrola and I'm from Fayetteville, NC. I am a recent graduate of East Carolina University with a major in Public Health. I grew up in a military household with my mother, father, and grandparents being in the Army. When I first came to ECU, I was a Middle Grades Education major while enrolled in Air Force ROTC with aspirations to become an officer in the military. While transitioning from ROTC, I’ve gained many skills from the program and from my prior major. While I’m still fairly new to the public health field, my ultimate goal…
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My parents have always stressed the importance of being in touch with our roots and who we are.
Hola, Yo soy Sara Rugama Artola, a Political Science student at the illustrious North Carolina Central University. Fun fact aside majoring in Political Science I also minor in Spanish. My reason for minoring in Spanish even though I am already fluent is to learn how to express myself as well as I do in English. My parents have always stressed the importance of being in touch with our roots and who we are. For me, that means speaking Spanish and continuing to expand my communication skills. By nature, I am a curious person, so I enjoy exploring and being spontaneous.…
Being part of Student Action for Farmworkers reaffirmed my commitment to public service
Throughout my time as a Solidaridad intern, I was reinforced in how labor, citizenship status, and health access contribute to the progress of immigrant communities and the urgent need for policy implementation to protect individuals working in spaces such as farmwork. SAF provided me the opportunity to be more interactive with my interests in labor advocacy, going beyond what academia often provides, and supported me in attending a conference where the majority of individuals were workers organizing against their employers for fair, safe, and equitable working environments. While not everyone originated from farm working backgrounds, many shared similar challenges and inequities…
As I left the workshop, I carried with me a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by farmworkers
The Introduction to Farmworker Advocacy Workshop was a transformative experience that opened my eyes to the often-overlooked heroes working tirelessly to uplift farmworkers and their communities. One particular moment during the workshop left an impact on me where various experts and advocates shared their insights and experiences in the realm of farmworker advocacy. The room was filled with passion, dedication, and commitment to addressing the challenges faced by those who work in the fields to put food on our tables. El Futuro Es Nuestro was one of the organizations that participated on the panel to speak on the work they…
With this lesson in mind, I felt more pride in telling the story of my farmworker family
At one of our most recent workshops, we had a farmworker advocacy panel that consisted of a legal professional, a non-profit organizer, an education advocate, and a farmworker. The most impactful story from the panel came from Doña Leti, who is a grassroots activist and farmworker who has dedicated the past years to empowering and advocating for her community. Her voice was strong and clear as she began to tell us the story of a group of farmworkers who were being forced to adhere to a poor meal plan by their grower. It was a stressful and frightening journey as…
SAF provides a way for students to interact with other students with similar goals
I recently had the opportunity to attend Levante’s mid-retreat. On this retreat, I realized how much older I have gotten. On this particular day, SAF brought along a Latina therapist who had a group session with the youth program members. I realize that some of these students had some deep stories. Some of them wanted to continue their education to give themselves and their family a better life while others wanted to focus on working for themselves. They also talked about the negative comments they had received in the past and the effect such comments had on their morale. This…
Continue Reading SAF provides a way for students to interact with other students with similar goals
I continued to reflect on how I could translate my renewed inspiration for social justice work into my own hometown
Last December, I traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, for COSHCON. While the weather was dreary and grim, the energy I felt at the conference was full of love, energy, and solidarity among the attendees. COSHCON is a yearly conference hosted by the National Council for Occupational Health and Safety. Its purpose is to create a space where academics, organizations, and, most importantly, workers can meet, speak, and act on the injustices they face in the workplace. Last year, the theme revolved around Workers' Health and Safety. As I journeyed on the trip alone, a group of hardworking Latina women adopted me (or…