ASB Farmworker and Immigrant Health Blog Post by Ritu Belani
“¡Échale ganas!” Diana, the Director of Communications at the California Farmworker Foundation, left us with this piece of advice. We spent the whole day traversing Central California with Diana: learning about their programs in their Fresno office, touring their Family Resource Center at Chesnut High School in rural Huron, and volunteering passing out fresh produce to residents in need at their Richgrove Food Distribution. Finally, we learned that Diana’s grandfather always encouraged her with this phrase that roughly translates to “give it your all.” This expression encompasses the spirit of the ASB Farmworker and Immigrant Health trip, and it’s forever seared into our group’s memory.
As a Chicana/o/x-Latina/o/x Studies major, I applied for this trip to hear firsthand perspectives on challenges farmworkers and immigrants face and learn about solutions that community organizations and policymakers are implementing. I’m also a Bay Area native, and I’ve often passed through Central California during annual road trips to Los Angeles. While driving by fields, you see the endless rows of trees and vines, but you don’t necessarily see the workers or understand their living and working conditions. Through our organization visits and conversations with farmworkers and community leaders, this trip has made visible what was previously invisible to me. Here are my top three highlights from ASB:
1. You gain insights being in-person, on-site that you can’t find out from online research.
During our winter quarter class, we read reports that surveyed farmworkers and touched on the language gap for Indigenous language speakers. However, I didn’t fully understand the unique needs of Indigenous workers until we visited the Street Level Health Project in Oakland. A Mayan Mam staff member discussed how growing up in Oakland, she never went to the doctor: the Mayan Mam community is unfamiliar with the American healthcare system because they didn’t have access to this kind of system in Guatemala. Instead, they historically rely on traditional healing methods including herbal recipes. That’s why in addition to helping members access healthcare services, Street Level Health Project hosts workshops including non-Western medicine to reach Mayan Mam families, a growing population in Oakland. In 2024, Street Level Health Project’s years-long advocacy culminated in the passage of CA Bill SB 1016, which will disaggregate Indigenous Latinx data from Latinx data to spotlight Indigenous health disparities and inform future policy decisions serving Indigenous communities.
During ASB, I’ve learned that passing a law doesn’t guarantee that employers honor it. Lourdes, a United Farm Worker (UFW) union member, shared that once an employer illegally asked her to work in the fields right after they sprayed pesticides. Lourdes asserted her right not to work, but someone unfamiliar with the law might have gone to work and been exposed to dangerous chemicals. When we visited California Rural Legal Assistance in Salinas, we learned about their process for submitting complaints to OSHA about workplace safety and compliance.
2. You meet inspiring, passionate people who care about your ideas.
Like Linda, the Fresno coordinator of UFW. The day we visited, Linda had not one, but two radio interviews! But she still carved out five hours to spend with us, giving us a tour of the UFW office, moderating a roundtable discussion of farmworkers, delivering a Know Your Rights presentation, and platicando over pizza. Nancy, the state director, drove over one hour from UFW’s Delano headquarters to join us. If you go on ASB, know that the organizations take you seriously. They value your suggestions and are excited to collaborate with Stanford students — several members of our trip are following up with them about summer opportunities.
3. You still get a spring break!
ASB isn’t just about learning and service. We also got to partake in relaxing and fun activities. After org visits, we’d watch/trashtalk a movie (or two) at the Airbnb. One night, we collaborated to prepare a home-cooked dinner, which turned out scrumptious, though we may or may not have set off the fire alarm. My favorite moment: on our last day, we spontaneously voted to go to Sky Zone, where we bounced on trampolines, created our own American Ninja Warrior episode, and lost a game of dodgeball to an 11-year-old. Shoutout to our amazing trip co-leads Eva and Esme for creating a wonderful environment for us to bond as a group.
ASB equipped me with the critical lens to understand the multifaceted challenges farmworkers face. Now the next time I drive by a field, I’ll be looking out the window with questions in mind: do farmworkers have access to portable bathrooms and shade? Is there enough illumination for farmworkers in the fields at night? Do farmers have access to long tools, or are they limited to short tools that lead to long-term back pain? I'm leaving this trip committed to staying engaged and finding meaningful ways to support farmworker communities.
So what are you waiting for? ¡Échale ganas!