True power comes from individuals who have lived through very difficult times and are tired of experiencing repetitive disappointment. Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF) is an organization built on the belief that bringing our future generation of leaders, social advocates, and professionals together with farmworkers to learn about each other’s lives will bring about common social change. It is important to put students at the forefront of the movement to amplify the voices we hear from the fields that tend to get lost, drowned out by the noise of injustice.
The farmworker community should not be stranger to us all; rather, it is the main skeletal structure of the agricultural system. As an organization, the dedicated staff, students, volunteers and supporters of SAF have created programs that enlighten us about the lives of farmworkers and encourage us to remember our sacred ties to the earth as well as our debts to those who carry out essential agricultural work for low wages or for no wages at all.
Student Action with Farmworkers is dedicated to empowering farmworkers and students by providing educational opportunities to break down barriers to higher education and promote social justice. The organization recognizes the significant challenges farmworker communities face. The primary problems identified include the lack of access to higher education for farmworker youth, insufficient paid leadership development opportunities for students (especially farmworker students), a lack of mentorship and leadership opportunities for young activists, and the need for increased outreach and public support to improve conditions for farmworkers. Additionally, farmworkers need dignified living and working conditions.
Through its unique strategic programs, SAF addresses these educational gaps and nurtures future leaders committed to farmworker rights and social justice.
These programs include Into the Fields, Solidaridad, Levante Leadership Institute, and From the Ground Up. Each program is designed with specific inputs, activities, outputs, and intended outcomes, contributing to meaningful and long-term change.
Into the Fields
The Into the Fields program is primarily designed to enhance education exchange among farmworkers and students interested in social justice. By engaging 25 college student interns, the program offers hands-on experiences that deepen their understanding of farmworker issues and develop crucial leadership, advocacy, and direct outreach skills. Educational activities include leadership training, mentoring, and popular education sessions that cover farmworker rights and community engagement.
Students involved in the program participate in overnight retreats and various service, advocacy, and direct actions, including theater and documentary projects that target labor camps and include participation with farmworkers. These activities not only provide practical learning experiences but also encourage students to explore educational paths aligned with social justice careers.
The educational impact of the Into the Fields program is significant. The students gain vital leadership skills that are essential for engaging in farmworker advocacy. As a result of the program, students make informed decisions about their educational and career paths in social justice fields, ultimately leading to increased enrollment in the farmworker movement and a sustained commitment to education and empowerment.
Solidaridad
The Solidaridad program aims to nurture educational and leadership skills among college students, focusing on farmworker issues and public advocacy in the non-profit sector. It involves college student interns in leadership training sessions, where they learn to communicate effectively and advocate for social justice. The program emphasizes popular education methodologies that equip students with the knowledge to engage in farmworker rights campaigns and public presentations. The program includes training sessions, public presentations, and the creation of blog posts, providing students with practical experience in advocacy and public speaking. This approach not only enhances students’ understanding of social justice but also prepares them for future roles as advocates for farmworker rights. Students become more knowledgeable about farmworker issues and develop essential skills for public advocacy. Medium-term impacts include students choosing educational and career paths in social justice, while the long-term outcomes involve alumni supporting farmworker justice, both personally and professionally.
Levante Leadership Institute
The Levante Leadership Institute serves farmworker youth and their families, providing a nurturing educational environment that encourages leadership development and beginner advocacy skills. The program offers resources such as community space, program funding, and popular education – an approach that fosters agency and self-confidence. Young participants are considered experts of their own experience, which are recognized and valued, contributing to their empowerment.
The Levante Scholars participate in leadership training, mentoring, service, advocacy, and direct actions that support farmworker rights. Participants engage in cultural arts presentations, theater and documentary projects, and college visits, enhancing their understanding of social justice and the importance of higher education. The program also allows for overnight retreats, monthly training sessions, conferences, college tours, and workshops for parents, all designed to foster a comprehensive educational experience. The program’s impact is evident in the youth’s increased awareness and leadership skills, which leads to informed academic and career decisions.
From the Ground Up
The From the Ground Up program is an extension of SAF's commitment to engaging SAF alumni and encouraging continued engagement in farmworker justice activities. The program’s focus is continued interchangeable support between alumni and SAF through activities such as public presentations, participation in coalitions, and communication strategies. The program aims to increase alumni involvement in SAF activities and broaden public awareness of farmworker issues including, mobilizing 15,000 allies during National Farmworker Awareness Week and producing documentary exhibits and publications to reach wider audiences. The From the Ground Up program has a significant impact on alumni, who continue gaining knowledge and engaging in farmworker justice efforts with SAF.
In sum, all of these programs help us to see how crucial it is to create a space for our essential workers. For everyone at SAF, it has been invaluable to be able to work directly with youth, future leaders and farmworkers, and witness how these communities interact and support each other to foster greater understanding and a better livelihood for all.
About the author
Maria Juarez, the Youth Organizing Director for Levante Leadership Institute at Student Action with Farmworkers- is of Mexican descent and comes from a farm-working background. Originally from Idaho, she earned a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Idaho. With a family working in agriculture, she has been a part of SAF since her participation as a summer intern in the Into The Fields program in 2021.
