Hello from your site leaders!
Explore this page and follow us on Instagram @impact.immokalee.fl to learn more about immigration, farmworker justice, and your site leaders!
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Vivian Dao
She/Her/Hers
3rd Year
Vivian.Dao@uga.edu
Fun Fact:I went to a BTS concert before listening to their full album and still had a blast!
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How did I get involved with IMPACT?I went to IMPACT’s Open House my first year on a whim and fell in love with the energy of the site leaders. Each person I spoke to was knowledgeable about their trip focus and gave me a sense of excitement of what was to come. I went on the Gender Appreciation trip to Nashville that spring and found a loving group of people to call my friends. The service we did each day opened my eyes to the different aspects of gender identity and reproductive justice while the nights were filled with heartfelt reflections. I came home from spring break with enough stories to write a book - but I didn’t stop there! My first IMPACT experience was so amazing that I applied for site leader and led the Youth Empowerment trip to Orlando last year. Serving as a site leader has been a fulfilling experience and I’m happy to be back with IMPACT for my third year :)
Why Immigration Awareness and Farmworker Justice?I was initially drawn to this trip focus because while my own parents are immigrants, immigration itself is such a multifaceted issue that is there is no singular experience. I was familiar with stories of my parents making a new home in America, but I did not know much about other immigrants’ own stories. This past spring, I was a tutor at Oasis Católico Santa Rafael, where I got to work with students with mixed background statuses. While conversations about immigration have become heavily polarized in the current political climate, my experience interacting with the community members at Oasis allowed me to see this issue through a more personal lens. I’m excited to go on this journey with Jocelyne and our participants and hope to gain more perspective on the intersecting identities and experiences that shape the lives of immigrants and farmworkers.
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Jocelyne Roblero
She/Her/Hers
3rd Year Communication studies Major and Film Minor
jr03000@uga.edu
3rd Year Communication studies Major and Film Minor
jr03000@uga.edu
How did I get involved with IMPACT?
I first heard about IMPACT my sophomore year and spontaneously signed up for a trip. My first IMPACT trip was to New Orleans, Louisiana for Environmental Justice. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, but the trip was an experience that went beyond expectations. We focused on the meaning and intersectionality of environmental justice, and what environmental justice looks like in the communities that surround us. The trip allowed me to learn a lot about myself and about communities that are different from my own. IMPACT created a safe space where I could learn and grow to be mindful of the communities I interact with in my personal life.
Why Immigration Awareness and Farmworker Justice?Immigration is something that has always been a part of my life in one way or another. As a first-generation American, I wanted to learn more about immigration and deeply connect with the diverse experiences of immigrants who have intersecting identities. I also wanted to expand my understanding of farmworker justice. I feel like Immigration in the U.S is always changing, so it is important to always be mindful of the multiple circumstances and multiple identities it could portray. By understanding this diversity, I hope to learn more about the complexities of immigration in America and hope to be able to facilitate perspectives that will help break the social stigma surrounding immigrant communities.
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Fun Fact:
I enjoy painting and consuming chai lattes. Both on their own and at the same time.
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Key Terms
Braceros Program - The Braceros program was a labor agreement between the US and Mexico that brought over immigrants to do agricultural labor. The program existed between 1942 to 1964 and brought over 4 million immigrants to the US.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) - DACA is a program that was created in 2012 by President Barack Obama through an executive order. Under the executive order, immigrants who entered the country under the age of 16 and had resided in the US since 2010 were eligible to apply for the program. Applicants must also have never been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. In September 2017, President Donald Trump attempted to phase out the program. While it no longer accepts new applicants, current recipients can still re-apply as of September 2019.
Ethnocentrism - Ethnocentrism is the habit of overemphasizing one’s own culture as a template for assessing other cultures.
Farmworker Justice - Farmworker justice is a movement to amplify the voices of farm workers who are among the most vulnerable populations in the United States. The movement seeks to ensure that migrant and seasonal workers have fair living and labor conditions, access to healthcare, occupational safety, and immigration status.
Grassroots Movement - A grassroots movement is a type of campaign that mobilize members of a local community to impact social, political, and economic gain on the local, state, and national levels.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - ICE is a federal agency housed under the Department of Homeland Security. The agency has been tasked with “enforcing the law” pertaining to immigration and trade.
Migrant Worker - A migrant worker is someone who travels to another region or country to find seasonal or temporary work.
Narrative - A narrative a story that connects and explains a carefully selected set of supposedly true events, experiences, or the like, intended to support a particular viewpoint or thesis.
What is Farmworker Justice?
Farmworker Justice emerged as a way for farmworkers to advocate for their rights and raise awareness about the many injustices launched against them. Farmworker injustices are caused by an array of institutional oppressions against migrant workers and immigrants in America. These oppressions manifest in the form of economic, political, and social inequalities. Many migrant workers and their families don’t have access to quality education, experience a lack of proper healthcare and working conditions. The issue has been heavily politicized throughout history, which has caused the perpetual cycle of seeing immigration as a political issue. The word "Immigration" is one that takes many meanings. It is a complex social issue with several moving parts and layers. It holds a different meaning for different communities throughout the U.S. Immigration awareness should not be one that is used as an umbrella term for anything pertaining the topic of immigration, but one that acknowledges the uniqueness of each of the stories and struggles that make up immigrant communities.
Farmworker Justice in Georgia
In Georgia, there are several organizations and programs that aim to protect and aid the lives of migrant farmworkers and migrant workers in general.
The Georgia Department of Education established the Migrant Education Program (MEP), which aims to meet the educational needs of students from migrant communities.
The Farmworker Rights Division is a legal service program that is provided to low-income farmworkers in order to protect wages and working conditions.
Georgia Farmworker Health Program was created by the Georgia Department of Community Health in order to help provide primary healthcare through collaboration with local organizations.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) - DACA is a program that was created in 2012 by President Barack Obama through an executive order. Under the executive order, immigrants who entered the country under the age of 16 and had resided in the US since 2010 were eligible to apply for the program. Applicants must also have never been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. In September 2017, President Donald Trump attempted to phase out the program. While it no longer accepts new applicants, current recipients can still re-apply as of September 2019.
Ethnocentrism - Ethnocentrism is the habit of overemphasizing one’s own culture as a template for assessing other cultures.
Farmworker Justice - Farmworker justice is a movement to amplify the voices of farm workers who are among the most vulnerable populations in the United States. The movement seeks to ensure that migrant and seasonal workers have fair living and labor conditions, access to healthcare, occupational safety, and immigration status.
Grassroots Movement - A grassroots movement is a type of campaign that mobilize members of a local community to impact social, political, and economic gain on the local, state, and national levels.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - ICE is a federal agency housed under the Department of Homeland Security. The agency has been tasked with “enforcing the law” pertaining to immigration and trade.
Migrant Worker - A migrant worker is someone who travels to another region or country to find seasonal or temporary work.
Narrative - A narrative a story that connects and explains a carefully selected set of supposedly true events, experiences, or the like, intended to support a particular viewpoint or thesis.
What is Farmworker Justice?
Farmworker Justice emerged as a way for farmworkers to advocate for their rights and raise awareness about the many injustices launched against them. Farmworker injustices are caused by an array of institutional oppressions against migrant workers and immigrants in America. These oppressions manifest in the form of economic, political, and social inequalities. Many migrant workers and their families don’t have access to quality education, experience a lack of proper healthcare and working conditions. The issue has been heavily politicized throughout history, which has caused the perpetual cycle of seeing immigration as a political issue. The word "Immigration" is one that takes many meanings. It is a complex social issue with several moving parts and layers. It holds a different meaning for different communities throughout the U.S. Immigration awareness should not be one that is used as an umbrella term for anything pertaining the topic of immigration, but one that acknowledges the uniqueness of each of the stories and struggles that make up immigrant communities.
Farmworker Justice in Georgia
In Georgia, there are several organizations and programs that aim to protect and aid the lives of migrant farmworkers and migrant workers in general.
The Georgia Department of Education established the Migrant Education Program (MEP), which aims to meet the educational needs of students from migrant communities.
The Farmworker Rights Division is a legal service program that is provided to low-income farmworkers in order to protect wages and working conditions.
Georgia Farmworker Health Program was created by the Georgia Department of Community Health in order to help provide primary healthcare through collaboration with local organizations.
Educational Material
Below are a few resources for your perusal! Each one gives a closer look at what immigration and farmworker justice in America look like.
Articles
Videos
Articles
- How America's Idea of Illegal Immigration Doesn't Always Match Reality
- New York Times: To Stop Border Crossings, the US Made the Journey Deadlier
- Less Than 1 Percent of US Farmworkers Belong to a Union. Here's Why.
Videos
Intersectionality
Intersectionality is a term coined by feminist and legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw. It is how the identities one hold (be it race, class, gender, or more) overlap and systemically oppress that individual in a given context.
Here are articles that highlight the various social justice issues that intersect with farmworker justice:
Environmental Justice
- Farmworkers Are on the Frontlines of Climate Change. Can New Laws Protect Them?
- The article highlights the intersection between the issue of climate change and farmworker justice. Climate change is directly affecting farmworkers by increasing the risk of heat retaliated illnesses. The legislation, research, and third party programs are aiming towards highlighting this connection and actively working to protect farmworkers from the effects of climate change.
- Unworkable: Dangerous Heat Puts Florida Workers at Risk
- This document underlines how climate change has impacted the harsh working conditions of farm workers while calling for more protection for them.
- 700,000 Female Farmworkers Say They Stand With Hollywood Actors Against Sexual Assault
- The letter highlights the issue of sexual assault and the stigma that surrounds it which transcends class, gender, and race. Farmworkers stand in solidarity with the actresses that stood up and vocalized the issues of sexual assault.
- There's a Sexual-Harassment Epidemic on America’s Farms
- This article touches on the multiple obstacles that female farmworkers face when grappling with sexual harassment and/or sexual assault. Such obstacles include immigration status, financial burdens, and language barriers.
- Forbidden: Undocumented and Queer in Rural America
- This documentary touches on Moises Serrano’s journey to discovering and embracing his identity as a queer undocumented American. Through his story, the audience gains knowledge of the issues of the legalization process and the struggles of growing up queer in the South.
- Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas
- Jose Antonio Vargas shares his story about growing up Filipino, undocumented, and queer in the US. His story sheds a light on the obstacles that come with being undocumented, mental health, and the liberation of sharing a suppressed story.
- Promoting Health Care Access to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Farmworkers
- This is a great article that highlights the intersection of race, sexuality, and healthcare access. It notes the gaps between being and LGBTQ+ farmworker and access to a strong support system and access to equitable healthcare while also providing best practices to support members of this community.
- Short films touch on health, culture, and immigration
- These short films produced by the University of Southern California provide an insight into the language as well as the financial barriers between immigrants and proper health care.
- For Children of Migrant Farmworkers, High School Graduation Takes a Village
- This article focuses on different factors that pose as obstacles to migrant youths receiving higher education and how organizations are helping to bridge that gap. (This is a personal favorite for Vivian because education holds a place in my heart, and the stories featured provide hope for migrant youths and their families.)
- Education, Unsettle: Inside the Struggle to Keep Migrant Students in School and Out of the Fields
- This article includes a snapshot of how migrant youths moving between different school systems face barriers to attain a public education.
