Farmworker Women Leaders Beat Back COVID-19, Build Nationwide Network

Where: Wolcott & Syracuse, NY

When: — Tuesday, September 12th, and Wednesday, September 13th,

What: Alianza Nacional de Campesinas visits two of its member organizations (Mujeres Divinas and Workers Center of Central New York) to highlight the success of the Farm and Food Workers Relief Grant Program (FFWR).

In October 2022, Alianza was awarded a substantial $48.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Farm and Food Workers Relief Grant Program (FFWR). Months into administering the program, Alianza is visiting two of its partners- the Workers Center of Central New York and Mujeres Divinas - to highlight the ongoing struggles of farmworker women in the face of the pandemic and discuss next steps.

The FFWR program guarantees workers $600 in relief funds that are designed to alleviate the costs associated with essential personal, family, or living expenses directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These expenses encompass the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), expenditures associated with dependent care, and out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 testing among other things.

Leaders from the Workers Center of Central New York and Mujeres Divinas have exhibited unwavering dedication to make sure that relief funds get to the hands of farm and meatpacking workers who have borne the financial burden of pandemic-related health and safety expenses.

In administering payments, Alianza has collaborated with four of its member organizations—Campesinos Sin Fronteras, Líderes Campesinas, Rural Coalition, and the Workers' Center of Central New York—alongside a valuable ally, the Migrant Clinicians Network. Together, they plan to provide relief funds to over 64,000 farm and meatpacking workers who have faced pandemic-related health and safety costs.

Alianza and its partners have brought together a network of more than 100 community health workers from across 14 states and 30 municipalities in Puerto Rico.

Relief payment efforts will continue for the months to come. Leaders of Alianza are also planning visits with groups in Florida, Alabama, Oregon, Arizona, California and other states around the country to lift up the voices of people who have benefited from receiving the relief fund and those who are leading public health efforts to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Campesinas Derrotan al COVID-19 y Construyen Una Red Nacional

Dónde: Wolcott y Syracuse, Nueva York

Cuándo: — Martes 12 de septiembre y miércoles 13 de septiembre,

Qué: Alianza Nacional de Campesinas visita dos de sus organizaciones miembras (Mujeres Divinas y Workers Center of Central New York) para resaltar el éxito del Programa de Alivio Económico para Trabajadores Agrícolas y de Alimentarios (FFWR).

En octubre de 2022, Alianza recibió una subvención sustancial de $48,2 millones del Departamento de Agricultura de los EE. UU. (USDA) en el marco del Programa de Alivio Económico para Trabajadores Agrícolas y de Alimentarios (FFWR). Meses después de administrar el programa, Alianza está visitando dos de sus socios - el Centro de Trabajadores del Centro de Nueva York y Mujeres Divinas - para resaltar las luchas actuales de las campesinas frente a la pandemia y discutir los próximos pasos.

El programa FFWR garantiza a lxs trabajadorxs $600 en fondos de ayuda diseñados para aliviar los costos asociados con gastos personales, familiares o de subsistencia esenciales directamente relacionados con la pandemia de COVID-19. Estos gastos abarcan la adquisición de equipo de protección personal (EPP), gastos asociados con el cuidado de dependientes y costos de bolsillo para las pruebas de COVID-19, entre otras cosas.

Líderes del Centro de Trabajadores del Centro de Nueva York y Mujeres Divinas han demostrado una dedicación inquebrantable para garantizar que los fondos de ayuda lleguen a manos de lxs trabajadorxs agrícolas y empacadorxs de carne que han soportado la carga financiera de los gastos de salud y seguridad relacionados con la pandemia.

En la administración de los pagos, Alianza ha colaborado con cuatro de sus organizaciones miembras: Campesinos Sin Fronteras, Líderes Campesinas, la Coalición Rural y el Centro de Trabajadores del Centro de Nueva York, junto con un valioso aliado, la Red de Médicos Migrantes. Juntos, planean proporcionar fondos de alivio a más de 64,000 trabajadorxs agrícolas y empacadorxs de carne que han enfrentado costos de salud y seguridad relacionados con la pandemia.

Alianza y sus socios han reunido una red de más de 100 trabajadoxs de salud comunitarios de 14 estados y 30 municipios de Puerto Rico.

Los esfuerzos de pagos de alivio continuarán en los próximos meses. Líderes de Alianza también están planeando visitas a grupos en Florida, Alabama, Oregón, Arizona, California y otros estados del país para elevar las voces de las personas que se han beneficiado al recibir el fondo de alivio y de aquellxs que lideran los esfuerzos de salud pública para ayudar a que comunidades se recuperan de la pandemia de COVID-19.

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Farmworker Women Show Strength in the Face of Climate Challenges, Call for Congress to Act

This year, as we honor and celebrate the farmworkers who are the bedrock of our nation's economy, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas will have a week of action to address recent natural disasters, especially in the aftermath of tropical storm Hilary that devastated farmworker communities in Southern California. In the wake of another current storm in Florida, Hurricane Idalia, we welcome this opportunity to underline the unequal burden that the ongoing climate crisis has on our communities.

In every aspect of the agricultural process, farmworker women play an indispensable role. From nurturing crops to reaping the literal fruits of their labor, they lead the way in ensuring that all of us receive a continuous supply of fresh, nourishing sustenance. Their work is not merely physically demanding; it requires a profound connection to the land and an intimate understanding of nature's intricate rhythms.

However, even as we celebrate their contributions on this Labor Day, we must acknowledge the formidable challenges confronting farmworkers, especially women, in the wake of recent natural disasters. The impacts of events such as tropical storm Hilary, which left many farmworkers in Southern California grappling with power outages, impassable roads, food insecurity, and fields damaged from mud and water. The recent landfall of Hurricane Idalia has caused similar situations in Florida. Climate change has exacerbated the difficulties faced by farmworkers, placing their livelihoods and well-being in jeopardy as extreme heat is increasingly common, and natural disasters destroy workplaces and homes. That many farmworkers are undocumented compounds these problems, mainly as federal assistance goes primarily to citizens.

To confront such challenges, Alianza will be urging our membership to call their representatives and encourage them to pass the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act. We will also pressure our representatives to incorporate undocumented people into federal relief programs.

This Labor Day, support and amplify farmworker womens' asks, especially in the face of climate challenges. Their contributions, strength, and determination deserve our unwavering recognition and respect.

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Farmworker Women Leaders Beat Back COVID-19, Build Nationwide Network

Campesinas Derrotan al COVID-19 y Construyen Una Red Nacional

Farmworker Women Show Strength in the Face of Climate Challenges, Call for Congress to Act

Campesinas Muestran Fortaleza Frente a los Desafíos Climáticos y Piden que el Congreso Actúe