Every meal we enjoy is thanks to farm workers who are out in the fields day after day during the Covid19 pandemic. These farm workers deserve essential benefits. #WeFeedYou / Cada comida que comemos es gracias a los campesinos que están en el campo día tras día durante esta pandemia de Covid19. Estos trabajadores merecen beneficios esenciales. #SoyEsencial
The United Farm Workers: Working for a safe and just food supply
"Begun in 1962 by Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Gilbert Padilla and other early organizers, the United Farm Workers of America is the nation’s first enduring and largest farm workers union. The UFW continues organizing in major agricultural sectors, chiefly in California. Recent years have witnessed dozens of UFW union contract victories protecting thousands of farm workers, among them agreements with the some of the largest berry, winery, tomato, dairy and mushroom companies in California and the nation." https://ufw.org/about-us/our-vision/
Read
Read or listen to the book Harvesting Hope by Kathleen Krull. It is a story about Cesar Chavez, one of the early organizers for farm workers' rights. A video of it can be found at: Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDw7IVxblBU
Art
The slogan or chant of the United Farm Workers Association was Si Se Puede which means “Yes We Can!” Get out of a blank piece of paper and think about a movement you care about. Maybe it is making sure everyone has enough food to eat or keeping the earth clean and healthy. Then make a slogan or a poster on a blank piece of paper for that organization or movement.
UFW
What else can you find out about the UFW? Did you know they are still active today to insure justice for the people who harvest our food? Check out these links for photos, stories and more!
Democracy and Organizing
What connections do you make between organizing for action and democracy? With your adult, find other human rights that were won because people organized and worked hard for those rights.
Other People Who Make a Difference
Cesar Chavez was just one person but he made a big difference for a lot of people. Look up another person if your choice who started an important movement and write down a few interesting facts about them!
Faith in Action
Where do you see injustices today? Ask your adults to help you learn about a problem you think needs to be solved and talk about ways people in your community are helping to solve it.
United Farm Workers and Cesar Chavez
Create!
Once you think through these questions, find a way to express yourself. Maybe you want to write about it, build a sculpture, act it out, or paint, draw, color your thoughts! I'm hoping for interpretative dance or puppet shows!
Share!
If you can capture your ideas in paint, in crayon, on film, or in another way, we would love to see what you've made! Post on the Share Ur Stuff (blog).