Student Action with Farmworkers

Into the Fields Internship:Twenty-four Into the Fields students conducted outreach to nearly 3,000 farmworkers and their families in labor camps and communities. Students worked on site and lived in the communities they were serving. Training workshops and retreats were conducted in-person. The students worked with legal, health, education, and organizing partners. They informed workers of their rights, taught ESL, mentored migrant students and out-of-school youth, and did health outreach. They created videos, newsletters, and social media posts and shared their experiences with the larger public through blogs.

Levante Leadership Institute:Ten youth from Eastern NC participated in the Levante Leadership Program, engaging in trainings, retreats, and events. The youth focused on learning about heat stress and presenting what they learned to their families and communities. They participated in workshops and wrote college essays and scholarship applications and did a college visit. Three graduating high school seniors continued to higher education. The program adapted to the pandemic by conducting virtual and in-person meetings and training.

From the Ground Up:SAF staff and interns conducted virtual presentations on issues ranging from child labor to food security. We had 38 partners for Farmworker Awareness Week, and we showcased the history of Black labor in our agricultural system, as well as the powerful influence of union and student activism. We co-coordinated community events, both in person and some virtual, including Grown with Black hands, our first event for Black History Month. Four alumni participated in our new Cosecha fellowship program for alumni working in social justice in NC. SAF worked with the Farmworker Advocacy Network to advocate for protections for field workers and meat processing workers during the pandemic.

Solidaridad:Five Solidaridad interns worked with SAF during the academic year to educate, advocate, and organize in support of farmworker justice on their campuses and the larger community in NC. Interns updated the Conectate Carolina app, recruited and interviewed Into the Fields applicants, co-mentored Levante youth, did a clothing drive for farmworkers, created communications materials, and conducted policy research. The program adapted to the pandemic by students having a hybrid schedule in their work and trainings.