Interviewee: Anna Jensen
Interviewer: Ana Quirino
Ana Quirino: What first brought you into farmworker justice work, and how did your 2007 SAF internship shape your path?
Anna Jensen: So, SAF is really what brought me into farmworker justice work. I came to the SAF internship because I was looking for something meaningful to do that summer. I was a Spanish major, and I wanted to use it in the real world, for something useful. I had a general idea that I wanted to go into nonprofit or community work, but I didn’t really know what I was getting into when I joined the internship.
It was life-changing. I grew up in North Carolina, but I didn’t know anything about farmworkers or farmworker communities. I grew up in the suburbs, and while there were rural areas around me, I didn’t spend much time there. The internship completely reshaped the way I thought about my future.
It really sparked a passion. I realized that farmworker justice work touches so many things I cared about—food systems, immigration policy, and how communities live and work together. I was drawn to these issues, especially growing up during a time when there was a lot of increased immigration from Spanish-speaking countries, which is why I wanted to learn Spanish in the first place.
Through the internship, I came to appreciate just how essential farmworkers are and how much their work impacts everything—from labor policies to public health to the economy. I also loved the outreach part of it: driving around rural areas, talking to farmworkers, and learning from them. I knew right after the internship that I wanted to focus on outreach.
Ana Quirino: From outreach in North Carolina to research in California, what experiences have most influenced your approach to this work?
Anna Jensen: The SAF internship didn’t just introduce me to farmworker justice work—it really changed how I think about systems of oppression and anti-oppression work. One of the most important things I learned was about popular education. That concept really stuck with me.
Through SAF, I was introduced to InAction Theater, which uses theater to teach and engage people. I was part of that theater group, and it showed me how powerful it is to teach and learn through shared experiences. We’d put on skits about farmworker issues, and it wasn’t just us telling people what they should know—it was about creating an interactive space where workers could share their own experiences.
It was a back-and-forth exchange, not a one-way street. It really opened my eyes to how you can use art and education as tools for connection and organizing. I’ve carried that with me in everything I’ve done since.
Then, when I was in California for grad school, I did research with farmworkers. The landscape there was very different—different crops, different working conditions, and a different demographic. California has more established Spanish-speaking immigrant communities, so there were more resources in some ways. But it was also marked by greater segregation—entire towns that were mainly farmworkers and had very few resources outside of agriculture.
One conversation I had with a farmworker there really shaped how I think about research and knowledge. This woman, who had worked in agriculture for over 30 years, told me, “We already know what pesticides do to our bodies and our communities. We’ve lived it. But if you need data for people in power to believe us, we’ll participate.”
That really stuck with me. It taught me that farmworkers already have the knowledge—they just need someone to listen. Research often doesn’t bring new information—it just packages what communities already know in a way that the people in power will listen to.
Ana Quirino: Looking back on your time as program director, what accomplishments or moments make you proudest?
Anna Jensen: Honestly, I think this is a tough one because I don’t feel like I can take credit for the accomplishments of the program—it’s such a group effort. But if I had to say, I’m most proud of being part of the students' journeys.
I think about students who came into the program wanting to go to med school or PA school, and now they’re in those programs, doing exactly what they dreamed of. I think of students who came in with the goal of serving their communities and now want to go back to rural areas to work in health, education, and community organizing. Watching them reach their full potential is really fulfilling for me.
Ana Quirino: What do you hope SAF students carry forward as they step into their own leadership journeys?
Anna Jensen: I hope they leave with the understanding that they have something valuable to contribute. I think a lot of students come in feeling like they’re not enough or they don’t have enough knowledge, especially since this may be their first professional experience. But I’ve seen firsthand that all of the students we accept into the internship bring invaluable knowledge from their own life experiences. From what they’ve studied, to what they’ve done, and the communities they come from.
So, what I really hope is that they leave knowing their knowledge is valuable and that they have something unique to offer wherever they go next.
Ana Quirino: What do you look for when selecting students for the Into the Fields program?
Anna Jensen: We don’t look for one specific type of student. We look for people who are passionate about farmworker justice, and that passion can look different for everyone.
Some students want to go into healthcare and work in rural communities. Others come from farmworker families and want to support people from communities like their own. Some students don’t have direct experience with farmworkers but believe deeply that farmworkers deserve the same rights as anyone else.
We also look for students who have an idea of what they want to get out of the internship. It doesn’t have to be specific, but it helps if they have a general sense of what they want to learn—whether that’s practicing Spanish, learning about community organizations, or just figuring out where they fit in this movement.
Ana Quirino: What has this role taught you about leadership and about yourself?
Anna Jensen: I’ve learned a lot about leadership, especially when you’re not from the community you’re serving. I’m not from a farmworker background, and I’ve had to learn when it’smy time to step up and lead, and when it’s my time to step back and let others lead.
One of the things SAF does really well is collaborative leadership. It’s never been just me making decisions. There’s always been room for feedback, whether from coworkers, alumni, or people who have closer experiences to the students we’re serving.
It’s made me really reflect on the importance of knowing when to listen and when to lead. I ask myself that even now: Is this a space where someone else needs to guide the work? What role do I play in this?
Ana Quirino: As you transition out, what gives you hope about the future of SAF?
Anna Jensen: What gives me hope is the people. Every year we get incredible students coming through, and it’s been really special to watch people return as program assistants—interns from years ago stepping into leadership roles.
We also see alumni staying involved in the work. They keep showing up, offering support, and giving back to the program. There’s a real sense of continuity in the SAF community, and that gives me a lot of hope for the future.
Ana Quirino: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Anna Jensen: I’ve talked a lot about students, but I want to make sure to recognize the staff. I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with such an amazing team, many of whom were SAF interns themselves. I’ve learned so much from everyone, both students and staff.
SAF fosters an inclusive and supportive community, and I’ll always be grateful for that. It’s hard to leave, but I know I’ll stay connected. Nobody ever really leaves SAF.
Ana Quirino: Thank you, Anna. It’s been wonderful talking to you. I'm sure your work and insights will continue to inspire many who have come through SAF and will in the future.