Youth Organizing in Immigrant Communities

Submitted by hollybaker on April 27, 2007 - 5:19pm.
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This session will be on: June 29, 2007 - 1:00pm

It will be held at: Room 1207 room at the Westin Hotel

View schedule

Organization Description

The Farmworker Association of Florida (FWAF) is a grassroots membership-based organization whose mission is to empower farmworker and rural poor communities to respond to and gain control over the social, political, economic, workplace, health, and environmental justice issues affecting their lives. FWAF’s long-term vision is a social environment where farmworkers’ and immigrants’ contribution, dignity, and worth is acknowledged and valued through economic and social justice. This vision includes farmworkers and immigrants treated as equals, not discriminated against based on race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. Toward this goal, FWAF’s programs and activities build leadership and activist skills among low-income communities of color who are disproportionately affected by environmental and health problems, racism, exploitation, and political under-representation. FWAF activities include leadership development; pesticide safety and environmental health education and training; community organizing to improve farmworker housing, wages, working conditions, and transportation; immigrants’ and workers’ rights advocacy; sustainable economic development initiatives; disaster preparedness and response; vocational rehabilitation for farmworkers; HIV/AIDS prevention education; peer support and education for pregnant and post-partum farmworker and minority women; partnering in community/academic research studies that focus on farmworker health concerns; and participating in local, statewide, regional, and national coalitions and collaborations to develop common ground on pertinent issues to work for progressive change.

Proposal Demographics

identify as women
identify as people of color
are 25 years old or younger
are immigrants (not born in U.S.)

Session Description

It is essential to engage youth in addressing social, economic, political, and environmental problems. The Farmworker Association of Florida and the Office for Farmworker Ministry have found that youth organizing has been particularly helpful in organizing adults, as well, in immigrant farmworker communities. Latino youth leaders from each of these organizations will share their experiences learning about current issues, pending legislation, and the impacts on low-income immigrants. They will engage participants in a discussion about the role that youth can play in getting adults involved in civic participation activities and other community actions.

This workshop and any handouts will be bilingual – English/Spanish. The event connects to the following USSF crosscutting themes: neoliberalism, imperialism, institutionalized racism, connecting past and current struggles, and ideas for building “another world”.


First Name

Holly

Last Name

Baker

Contact E-mail

hollybaker23@aol.com

Proposing Organization

Farmworker Association of Florida, Inc.

Organization Website

thefarmworkerassociationofflorida.org

Position or Title

Grants Coordinator

Contact Telephone

321-322-8159

Alternate Telephone

321-433-9442

Event Day

Friday, June 29th (Visioning / Envisioning Another World)

Contact Address

815 S. Park Avenue

Format

small group discussion, role play

Contact City

Apopka

Keywords

Communities
Immigrant Rights
Youth

Audience Number

25-50 people

Contact State

FL

Contact ZIP

32703

Person Reviewing

mbj