The people were just as warm. As soon as we entered their office everyone was greeted with hugs, besitos, and a table full of fresh cut fruit, cookies, and cafe’. Everyone took a seat facing one another, and introduced themselves, some in Spanish, and English speakers in broken Spanish.

Yolanda and Daniel, members of the community and the Farm Worker Association of Florida, shared stories of struggles their community faced, including past town legislation that disallowed gardening tools to be in the front yards of houses without expensive fences to be built in an effort to shield their “dirty” gardening tools from view; stories about how they built a relationship with the town administration, many of them now on the committee board, to repeal acts that could negatively impact themselves like the one aforementioned; and the momentous victories they achieved,  now managing four community gardens to help educate locals about how to grow their own food while also planting the seed of knowledge so a sustainable community can prosper. These accounts made me realize the importance of speaking up, of working together in order to create the changes we wish to see. The more I listened to their stories the more excited I became to be a part of this community.

The first stop after the office was at stop at local animal farm just down the road where we saw chickens, and rabbits for sale. Then, it was on to one of the four community gardens. It was a small plot, but beautiful, complete with a greenhouse where tomatoes were shaded from the sun, circular stone raised beds, and long rows of newly sprouting lettuce, green beans, and other organic delights.

There was a lot to do, but plenty of helping hands to help. Families even brought their children to help water, and collect weeds. YAYA and the Fellsmere community alike pulled out dollarweed, harvested carrots, crushed plant-eating-worms, while some gathered horse manure from nearby. Later Christine, a local farm intern, showed everyone how to create rich, organic soil using the permaculture  methodology she is studying. First, we laid down cardboard on top of the plowed dirt; then we spread manure to cover all the cardboard; lastly, we covered the manure with hay to protect it from losing nutrients under the scorching Florida sun, and watered it to keep it moist. In three months, with periodic watering, this manure would be nutrient rich soil (because we all know Florida dirt is really sand). We were all learners then, and knew there is so much more we can learn from each other.

After five hours of light labor in the community garden we had dinner back at the office prepared for us by the families we toiled with. There were rice, beans, homemade spicy salsa—and yes, even the rabbit we saw earlier. One YAYA member, Abi, had never tasted rabbit, and so a family purchased the rabbit from the animal farm we visited earlier, killed, cleaned and cooked it just for her to have some. As we ate and debriefed, there was an almost overwhelming sense of gratitude and thanks from all: the farm workers for our help, and support; and for YAYA, their welcoming of us into their community and treating us like family.

Since I am newly involved with YAYA, it is inspiring for me to see a group of youth not just fighting for improvement through voicing concerns – which has a place, but is only one element in the big picture – but also taking direct action in the communities themselves, building relationships with farm workers and learning from their experiences first hand.

Join YAYA next time and get out and garden with us. The farm workers community of Fellsmere showed us how to create gardens like theirs in our own communities, and we can show them we will always be there wholeheartedly supporting their work. Now, back to our homes, let us look for ways to provide our communities through the relationships we build in other communities, so we are all continually empowered with solutions that provide them with long-term labor and cost savings. Let’s join together to research systems of permaculture, aquaponics, and other techniques of sustainable design so we can learn with them ways we can all increase our agricultural self-sufficiency. Farming will only prosper if we continue to join hands like we did that day.

Won’t you come with us?

Eden Wetherell
Orlando YAYA

Fifty farmworkers and their allies — faith leaders, students, and community leaders from across Florida and across the country — will come together in a six-day fast, in the hope of raising awareness of Publix’s refusal to work with the CIW.

On March 10th, Day Six of the fast, Fair Food allies will converge on Lakeland for a protest at a Publix location followed by a 3.5-mile procession leading to Publix headquarters, where they will join the fasters in a ceremony to break the fast.

YAYA will provide transportation to Lakeland from the city of Orlando.

We will leave town at 9:30 am (more details will be announced soon)

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

RSVP on Facebook

Florida YAYA Organizer

(Orlando, Florida)

The National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM) is a faith-based organization committed to justice for and empowerment of farm workers.  YAYA is NFWM’s youth and young adult network.

NFWM/YAYA educate, equip and mobilize member organizations, other faith communities, groups and individuals to support farm worker led efforts to improve their living and working conditions.

In the US, nearly 2 million farm workers work in our orchards and fields, plant nurseries, dairies and feedlots. Even though we depend on farm workers’ labor to eat, farm workers earn very low wages, suffer exposure to pesticides, and in extreme cases, are victims of modern day slavery. Isolated and excluded from some of the laws protecting other workers, farm workers rely on the solidarity of concerned consumers and allies to achieve a measure of justice in the fields.

You can help change the food industry so that farm workers are safe and can live with dignity. Join our team of dedicated organizers and supporters!

The chief responsibility of the Florida YAYA organizer is to educate, equip and mobilize youth and young adults in Florida regarding farm worker issues. To accomplish this, this person will:

• Connect with youth through:
  • Denominational youth and young adult programs (post-high school),
  • College campuses,
  • Social justice organizations,
  • Congregations,
  • Community organizations,
  • Seminaries.

• Organize youth and young adults into YAYA chapters:
• Provide immersion and person-to-person experiences with farm workers;
• Provide trainings, materials and support so that YAYA members can educate, equip and mobilize others to support farm worker campaigns and organizations;
• Facilitate YAYA in establishing relationships with farm worker communities and participating in farm worker related campaigns, projects and events;
• Assist YAYA members in carrying out fundraisers for YAYA chapters.

• Establish a state network of YAYAs who are not in chapter areas; provide them with educational materials related to farm workers and opportunities to participate in actions.

• Coordinate events in support of farm worker campaigns, including actions, presentations and meetings, educational delegations to elected officials, volunteer opportunities with farm workers, and letter writing campaigns.

• Provide input for national YAYA communications including e-newsletters, YAYA website reports and social network outreach.

• Plan an annual YAYA gathering in Florida.

• Work with the national office of NFWM in cooperative efforts that further the work of YAYA and NFWM in Florida.

Job Requirements:

• College degree preferred
• At least two years organizing experience in social justice arena
• Passion for social justice issues and commitment to NFWM mission
• Fluency in English and Spanish preferred
• Ability to relate to young adults and people of diverse cultures and faiths
• Experience in public speaking and excellent writing skills
• Computer literate, experience using social networking
• Have a vehicle and driver’s license; willing to travel in Florida and occasionally out of state
• Willing to work nights and weekends
• Ability to work with others and as part of a state and national team
• Able to adapt to changing work situations and needs; flexible; positive attitude

Salary:  Based on experience.  Benefits included.

To Apply:

• Send a cover letter, resume and references to nfwm@nfwm.org  by Wednesday February 8th, 2012. Put “Florida YAYA Organizer Job” in subject line.
• If you have any questions regarding this position e-mail nfwm@nfwm.org

We also need donations! If you, your family or your friends have any movies, music, electronics, decorative objects, furniture, books, or any other nice or useless stuff that you might want to get rid of, contact us!

We can arrange to pick up your donation. All the funds raised will support our work in support of farm worker justice! If you want to help with the yard sale or if you want to buy a few things… join us!

RSVP on Facebook

We hope to see you there!

When: Saturday, February 18, 2012 (6:00 am – 2:00 pm)

Where: 702 Hillcrest Street Orlando FL 32803

When

Volunteer to work in the community garden of the farm worker community of Fellsmere. Join us for a day of community building, education and fun!

Transportation will be provided from Orlando
RSVP on Facebook

Tentative Agenda:

• 8 am Depart Orlando
• 10 am Arrive To Fellsmere
• 10:15 am Welcome, introductions and instructions
• 10:45 am Gardening begins!
• 1:00 pm Lunch (PLEASE BRING YOUR LUNCH)
• 2:00 pm Back to gardening!
• 4:00 pm Community meeting (Please bring $7 for dinner)
• 5:30 pm Debrief
• 6:00 pm Depart Fellsmere
• 8:00 pm Arrive to Orlando

What to Bring:

• Gardening gloves
• Lunch
• $7 for dinner (vegetarian options available)
• Water bottle
• Sunscreen
• Comfortable shoes and clothes (that you don’t mind getting dirty)
• Insect repellent
• Hat
• If you have any, please bring gardening tools to donate ;-)

Join YAYA in Tallahassee to advocate for immigrants’ rights! 

Ask your representatives to support bills that will benefit Florida’s immigrants including an in-state tuition bill for undocumented students, a driving privilege card for undocumented immigrants and a bill to provide health care benefits for the children of permanent lawful immigrants.

Demand that harmful bills such as E-verify bills and bills against wage protection for employees are NOT passed

When: February 7th and 8th in Tallahassee

FREE Transportation available from Orlando.

Meet at the Hope Community Center at 9 am (1016 North Park Avenue Apopka, Florida 32712)

Advocacy training on Feb 7th.

Press conference and action on the 8th.

We will spend the night in Tallahassee. Floor space available at a local church. Bring a sleeping bag and a pillow!

Free breakfast provided on the 8th. Please bring money for the rest of your meals

We will come back from Tallahassee on the 8th at 5pm

Please contact us for more details! RSVP by calling (407) 739-0973

YAYA is a proud member of the “We are Florida” Campaign!!!
The “We are Florida” campaign will be selling t-shirts at this event.

Please bring money for food or any other expenses that you may encounter!

RSVP on facebook

There were grade school children playing in the adjacent field and many families from the community were present to receive donations of soccer cleats, balls, and jerseys, most of which were donated by  Peace Passers. The weather was mild and sunny-just perfect for playing.

To all of our friends and sponsors who couldn’t attend I really must try to paint you a picture. The fields are located near a State Park which houses one of Florida’s beautiful natural springs. This particular spring is actually the fabled Fountain of Youth encountered by Ponce de Leon. You yourself might have felt rejuvenated when seeing the children of the AMA organizers fashioning home-made bows from rubber bands and pine twigs and gallivanting in the shaded trails surrounding the fields shouting and playing. I myself made a few excursions into the scrub with my young friend Ricky as my naturalist guide. Our search for lagoons were tapered by the fear of Alligators and the game which was just beginning.

As I walked to the side of the field to check out the action, my senses were engulfed by loud raucous chants from some eager fans. YAYA members were taking turns engaging the small crowd in various soccer chants and there was always a hilariously precise announcer on the megaphone. Team AMA started off strong with a couple of goals. Seville’s youth were hot to trot- they played their positions well and definitely gave the Yaya team a work out. But as the first half drew to a close Team YAYA was definitely holding their own. The rag-tag mix of Yaya members, students, labor organizers, friends and allies gave Team AMA a run for their money.

During half-time every one hydrated and conversed. We joked around with our friends from AMA and played with the children. Some children from the community decided to join the game and made arrangements to substitute for players on the YAYA and AMA teams.

The second half of the game was just as exciting as the first. We saw some exciting interplay between players, as Team YAYA played their hardest, but alas, Team Ama prevailed (with a final score of 8-5). The players lined up to shake hands and it was off to shaded pavilion to eat the delicious pork tacos prepared by the organizers from AMA.

It was such a treat for me and other YAYA members to share food and converse with the women and children from this community, who we have been building relationships with for over four years. I feel very close to the organizers from AMA and their children, and I love to introduce them to new people from YAYA and to catch up with them personally.

With the help of many generous sponsors we were able to raise our goal of $3,000. For AMA this means that they can keep their office open until August of 2012 and that they will continue to receive the support of NFWM and YAYA.

This is a true blessing and I am confident to speak for AMA and YAYA by expressing our sincerest gratitude to everyone who made a donation to keep our organizing efforts alive. The issues and challenges that the members of AMA and the community of farm workers in Seville and elsewhere face are very real. Members of the community are working low paying jobs in isolated areas, often in a climate of underlying fear and violence. The only way we can continue to struggle for justice and equality with our brothers and sisters working in the fields is if we are able to organize, and the money raised and relationships made and nurtured at this event will help us tremendously in our continued fight.

Gracias a tod@s nuestras compañer@s de AMA & NFWM, como también a todos  nuestr@s compañer@s en la lucha. Se Si Puede!

Cole Lee
Orlando YAYA

[Show as slideshow]

Check out more pictures taken by AMA here

Since many of the farmworkers and children of farmworkers are undocumented, it was very important for all YAYA’s (including myself) to support this cause. A change to the legislation will get us closer to ending discrimination, and will ensure that the youth in the farmworker community is able to afford and attend school, opening the door to knowledge and opportunities.

Despite the rain, there was a great turn out of about 100 people. Several organizations worked together to plan this event, including ACLU of Florida, Central Florida Jobs with Justice, Farm Worker Association of Florida, Florida AFL-CIO, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Florida Immigrant Youth Network, FOCUS, Hope CommUnity Center, Central Florida LCLAA, National Farm Worker Ministry, Rollins College’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, United We Dream and YAYA.

Some of the YAYA’s tabled and gather signatures and petitions, during and after the event.

The program consisted of several speakers who reminded the audience that education is a right and that everyone, regardless of immigration status, should have access to it. The speakers included undocumented students, community organizers, faith leaders, teachers, allies, union members, government representatives and families.

In the categories of allies and families, the speakers included our own Cole Lee, Mellissa Maniau, and myself (Nadia). We received great feedback on all our speeches. The YAYA’s definitely made an impact during the event, as the speeches were sincere, heartfelt, and compelling.

It was very exciting to see a great diversity of people supporting the right to education and standing up for justice. The event culminated with a call to action to not only sign petitions but to continue the fight. I was proud to represent YAYA and to speak in support of all our undocumented brothers and sisters.

Nadia Garzon
Orlando YAYA

[Show as slideshow]

As the son of a former farm worker I knew about these poor conditions but never experienced them myself. At seeing this I was deeply saddened and enraged. It inspired me to participate more in YAYA and do my part to help improve conditions for field workers.

I believe that the screening of the movie was successful in informing the viewers about how hard the life of a migrant worker is. The characters struggled with their education, finances, health and family life because of their jobs as migrant workers. After the meeting, a few of the members gave short speeches to inform about petitions and other ways to help the cause.

There was also a short discussion about what it would take to improve conditions for farm workers. The consensus seemed to be that it even though it was important to change the way we grow crops in the United States, it was much more important to change the conditions of the farm worker first. It is also important to change the opinion of the title of farm worker so that is no longer seen as a undesirable job, to what it is, a honest, respectable way to make a living.

With over 40 people attending the screening there was plenty of networking being made. All in all the screening was a success and the group hopes to have much more events like this one.

Oscar Faustino Flores
Orlando YAYA

We would like to thank:

- The CWA for allowing us to use their office
- YAYA members and volunteers who helped plan this event

[Show as slideshow]

Being part of a progressive group of members of labor and community organizations was a great experience.

During the parade we chanted, distributed candy and information about our organization and celebrated the legacy of MLK.

MLK’s words are relevant today and the apply to the struggle of farm workers and immigrants in the U.S. Like MLK we must continue to fight for justice, for our communities and for the well being of those who put food on our tables.

[Show as slideshow]