AFOP Screens New Film by Executive Producer Eva Longoria on Child Labor in the U.S.

July 1, 2011 By Ayrianne Parks Leave a Comment

Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs Presents a Screening and Panel Discussion of “The Harvest/ La Cosecha,” Hosted by the National Council of La Raza

Washington, D.C.—The start of the summer marks the beginning of the harvest season in America’s fields. On July 7, at 9 a.m., the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP) will present a screening of “The Harvest/ La Cosecha,” a new documentary on child labor in America at the Raul Yzaguirre Building in Washington, D.C. Following the film, a group of leading advocates will explore the plight of farmworker children working in U.S. agriculture and discuss what people can do to help.

“Most people are surprised when they find out that it is perfectly legal for children as young as 12 years old to labor in agriculture for an unlimited amount of hours outside of school, using dangerous farm equipment and working in an environment that continually exposes them to poisonous pesticides,” notes Norma Flores López, AFOP’s Children in the Fields Campaign Director and former migrant child farmworker. “These are conditions that are deemed illegal in every other industry and that can lead to serious injury or even death.”

”The Harvest/La Cosecha,” a new film by Shine Global, Director U. Roberto Romano and Executive Producer Eva Longoria, examines the lives of child migrant laborers.  It focuses on three Latino youths who are among the estimated 400,000 to 500,000 children who work under frequently brutal conditions on America’s farms, at the expense of their health, education and social development.  The film will be released theatrically in Los Angeles and in New York in July, along with special screenings in 30 cities nationally. For more information about the film, visit www.theharvestfilm.com.

The discussion following the film will be moderated by López and panelists will include: Jo Becker, Human Rights Watch; Roger Rosenthal, National Association of State Directors of Migrant Education; Reid Maki, National Consumers League; Levy Schroeder, AFOP; and Cleo Rodriguez, Jr., National Migrant & Seasonal Head Start Association.

For more information on child labor in U.S. agriculture, visit www.afop.org/children-in-the-fields/.

About the Children in the Fields Campaign:

The Children in the Fields Campaign is a project of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP), a national federation of non-profit and public agencies that provide job training and services for America’s farmworkers. The campaign strives to improve the quality of life of migrant and seasonal farmworker children by advocating for enhanced educational opportunities and the elimination of discriminatory federal child labor laws in agriculture. For additional comment or interview from an AFOP expert, please contact Ayrianne Parks at 202.579.7445 or Parks@AFOP.org.

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Filed Under: Member News, Newsroom

Local Youth Council Educates Legislators on Child Labor

May 20, 2011 By Ayrianne Parks Leave a Comment

Children in the Fields Campaign Youth Council Will Travel to the Capitol to Discuss the Plight of Farmworker Children and Witness a House Resolution

McAllen, Texas—The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP) announced today that its Children in the Fields Campaign Youth Council in Mission, Texas has been invited by State Representative Sergio Muñoz, Jr. to the Texas State Capitol on May 26, 2011.  State Representative Muñoz will introduce a House Resolution on “Year of the Farmworker Child.” Four of the youth council members will be invited to be on the House floor behind the Speaker’s podium while the Resolution is read, and will have an opportunity to meet with multiple State Representatives after.

“I am very happy that the ‘Year of the Farmworker Child’ is being recognized by Texas.  I knew from the beginning that we needed to go beyond the community awareness, that we needed our elected officials to get on board with our advocacy,” stated Zeke Chapa, a Mission Youth Council member.

The Mission Youth Council began strategizing last month on ways they educate others on the hardships faced by farmworker youth and promote “Year of the Farmworker Child.”

“Zeke, who first brought up the idea to take the youth council’s campaign to promote ‘Year of the Farmworker Child’ from a local level to a state level, was instrumental in challenging his fellow youth council members to think bigger,” notes Noemi Ochoa, Texas Regional Coordinator for AFOP’s Children in the Fields Campaign. “We are thankful to Representative Muñoz for helping these youth realize their goal and giving them the confidence to continue to think and dream big.”

AFOP staff in Washington, D.C. are also helping to draw more attention through the dedication of the “Year of the Farmworker Child,” events, and national media interviews. On Sunday, May 22, Norma Flores López, AFOP’s Children in the Fields Campaign Director, and a native of San Juan, Texas, will appear on CBS’s 60 Minutes at 8:00 p.m. Central Standard Time.

Chapa added, “I think it is important that we exercise our Amendments and help those that have the same destiny as we have.  Though some of us are graduating soon, we can’t forget about those that come behind us.”

About the Children in the Fields Campaign:

The Children in the Fields Campaign is a project of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP), a national federation of non-profit and public agencies that provide job training and services for America’s farmworkers. The campaign strives to improve the quality of life of migrant and seasonal farmworker children by advocating for enhanced educational opportunities and the elimination of discriminatory federal child labor laws in agriculture. For additional comment or interview from an AFOP expert, please contact Ayrianne Parks at (202) 828-6006 x140 or Parks@AFOP.org.

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Filed Under: Children in the Fields Campaign, Member News, Newsroom

Unemployment Rate Falls, But Growth Is Mired By Decline in Public Sector

April 1, 2011 By Ayrianne Parks Leave a Comment

Washington, D.C.— Today the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics released its employment figures showing the unemployment rate fell to a two-year low of 8.8 percent in March. The Bureau cited the addition of 216,000 in the private sector as the catalyst responsible for this positive change amidst the deepest and longest economic recession since the 1930s.

The addition of 216,000 jobs that led to the full percentage drop, the largest since 1983 according to NPR, are laudable,” said David Strauss, Executive Director of AFOP. “But, they do not give us an entirely accurate picture of the employment situation.”

State government hiring leveled this month after four months of layoffs, but with the federal government poised to make serious budget cuts a reality over the next few weeks it is a certainty that more public jobs will be lost.  These layoffs are very unlikely to be offset by the private sector as individuals and families around the country struggle to deal with those budget cuts. The elimination of funds for many of the job training providers, resulting in the potential closure of 3,000 One-Stop Workforce Centers throughout the U.S. that served an estimated 8 million jobseekers last year, will also likely have a chilling, if not devastating, effect on this progress.

The unemployment rate also does not include people who are unemployed and have stopped searching for jobs due to the recession or those who are underemployed and seeking full-time positions.

The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs is a non-profit, national federation of 52 non-profit and public agencies that provide training and employment services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for all farmworkers and their families through advocacy, education, and training. For additional comment or an interview, please contact Ayrianne Parks at 202.828-6006 ext. 140 or Parks@AFOP.org

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Filed Under: Newsroom

Dangerous Exposure: Farmworker Children and Pesticides

March 31, 2011 By Ayrianne Parks 1 Comment

AFOP’s Health & Safety Programs Releases a Report Examining Pesticide Exposure and Its Effects on Farmworker Children

Washington, D.C.—Today, just one year after the President’s Cancer Panel released its groundbreaking report highlighting environmental causes of cancer, the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP) released Dangerous Exposure: Farmworker Children and Pesticides. The report, authored by AFOP’s Health and Safety Programs, is the first volume in The Fields, a new annual publication series that will center on farmworker health and safety issues. Dangerous Exposure: Farmworker Children and Pesticides is focused on farmworker children, examining birth defects, neurological and behavior disorders, respiratory disease, as well as leukemia and other childhood cancers and their connections to pesticides.

“The weight of evidence described in our report, Dangerous Exposure: Farmworker Children and Pesticides, is overwhelming, if not conclusive,” notes Levy Schroeder, Director of Health & Safety Programs at AFOP.  “The risk is high for farmworker children whose lives are surrounded by dangerous agricultural toxins.”

In a ten-month immersion in evidence-based findings on pesticide exposures, farmworker children and various illnesses, including cancer, the AFOP Health & Safety team reviewed primary scientific research published in professional medical and public health journals. In an effort to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the issue of pesticide exposure to farmworker children, the team also conducted focus groups and interviews with farmworker parents around the country. The parents shared stories of exposure, of having to make choices they know are not healthy for their children, of their fears for their families, and of hope that one day things will change.

The Fields, Volume 1, 2011, Dangerous Exposure: Farmworker Children and Pesticides is available for download on the AFOP website at http://afop.org/newsroom/publications/. A hard copy can also be obtained by sending a request via email to Valentina Stackl at stackl@afop.org

The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs is a non-profit, national federation of 52 non-profit and public agencies that provide training and employment services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for all farmworkers and their families through advocacy, education, and training. For additional comment or an interview, please contact Ayrianne Parks at 202.828-6006 ext. 140 or Parks@AFOP.org

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Filed Under: Newsroom

Children in the Fields Campaign Joins NCL and Advocates to Reflect on the Push to Roll Back Workers’ Rights

March 21, 2011 By Ayrianne Parks Leave a Comment

Child Labor in the U.S. Continues As We Mark the 100th Anniversary of the Historic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and Many States Are Seeking to Further Weaken Protections

Washington, D.C., March 21, 2011—Today, the National Consumers League held a symposium calling on Congress to take steps in the next 100 days to preserve, protect, and bolster labor laws in the United States. The call to action takes place following moves by several states’ legislatures to pass laws that work roll back hard-earned workers’ rights. The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs’ (AFOP) Children in the Fields Campaign Program Director Norma Flores López served as a panelist discussing the current state of child labor in the United States.

In the panel today, Flores López stated, “The U.S. needs to strengthen and equalize the child labor laws for the safety of all children, not take steps backward.”

During the event she noted that despite agriculture being one of the most dangerous industries (the U.S. Department of Labor statistics consistently rank it in the top three along with mining and construction), lawmakers exempted children working in agriculture from nearly all of the protections called for in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Currently, farmworker children as young as 12 are allowed to work an unlimited amount of hours outside of school, many times in jobs that require them to use sharp tools and that expose them to dangerous chemicals. Children are also allowed to perform hazardous work in agriculture at the age of 16, including operating heavy machinery, work that is deemed illegal in all other industries. According to the 2011 Fact Sheet on Childhood Agricultural Injuries, between 1995 and 2000, there were 695 total farm-related youth fatalities on U.S. farms.

Now, legislators in Missouri and Maine are seeking to erode current protections for all working youth. On February 7, Missouri State Senator Jane Cunningham (R-St. Louis) introduced SB222, which would revoke parts of the current Missouri child labor laws. The bill will allow younger children to work and remove the restrictions on the number of hours they are allowed to work in addition to removing the need for a work permit. If the bill is passed into law, schools will lose the ability to pull a permit if a child’s academic performance begins to suffer. The bill would also “remove the authority of the director of the Division of Labor Standards to inspect employers who employ children and to require them to keep certain records for children they employ,” and “repeal the presumption that the presence of a child in a workplace is evidence of employment.” Last year alone, the department issued 872 child labor violations across the state, with time and hour violations as the second most common type of citation. On February 10, the bill was referred to the Senate General Laws Committee and did not have a set hearing date yet.

Maine’s State Senator Debra Plowman (R-Hampden) is backed by Gov. Paul LePage in a bill allowing highschoolers to work longer hours and more often during the school year. Those pushing to repeal the child labor protections enacted in 1991 for the changes include industry groups such as the Maine Restaurant Association, arguing that current laws are too strict compared to other New England states.

“The Triangle fire reminds us that the welfare and protection of workers – their wages, benefits and their safety and health – must be high on our agenda,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director, National Consumers League. “Five thousand workers die on the job every year – that’s far too many. We can and we must do better. This symposium will help us to focus and to redouble our efforts to enhance and improve worker safety and health.”

About the Children in the Fields Campaign:

The Children in the Fields Campaign is a project of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP), a national federation of non-profit and public agencies that provide job training and services for America’s farmworkers. The campaign strives to improve the quality of life of migrant and seasonal farmworker children by advocating for enhanced educational opportunities and the elimination of discriminatory federal child labor laws in agriculture. For additional comment or interview from an AFOP expert, please contact Ayrianne Parks at (202) 828-6006 x140 or Parks@AFOP.org.

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Filed Under: Member News, Newsroom

Migrant Farmworker Art and Photography Exhibit Coming to McAllen, Texas

February 8, 2011 By Ayrianne Parks Leave a Comment

The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs’ (AFOP) Children in the Fields Campaign, Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Teaching & Mentoring Communities, and Workforce Solutions / Lower RGV have partnered to bring “Nuestra Cultura, Nuestras Manos,” a migrant art and photo exhibit, to the Rio Grande Valley.  The event is scheduled for February 17, 2011 at the Tower Club in McAllen from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

The art and photography displayed at the exhibit will showcase the farmworker lifestyle as documented and depicted by local migrant student artists and other members of the community.  The Children in the Fields Campaign and their associates invite the public to come and marvel at this display of local talent, and help raise funds for the Texas Children in the Fields Youth Coalition through a silent auction of the artwork displayed.

The organizers of the “Nuestra Cultura, Nuestras Manos” exhibit have also teamed with the Children in the Fields Youth Council from the University of Texas Pan-American (UTPA) to plan a student conference entitled “From Harvest to Harvard”. The student conference is scheduled for February 16, 2011, the day before the exhibit, and will be held in UTPA’s Annex Building at 2412 South Closner Boulevard in Edinburg.  This conference is designed to develop a resolve among stakeholders and foster a culture of commitment to higher education for students in Texas public schools.

About the Children in the Fields Campaign:

The Children in the Fields Campaign is a project of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP), a national federation of non-profit and public agencies that provide job training and services for America’s farmworkers. The campaign strives to improve the quality of life of migrant and seasonal farmworker children by advocating for enhanced educational opportunities and the elimination of discriminatory federal child labor laws in agriculture. For additional comment or interview from an AFOP expert, please contact Ayrianne Parks at (202) 828-6006 x140 or Parks@AFOP.org.

About Workforce Solutions / Lower RGV:

Workforce Solutions / Lower RGV is one of 28 local workforce development boards located throughout the state. This Board serves Starr, Hidalgo and Willacy counties through a network of partners in the tri-county region. The primary goal of Workforce Solutions / Lower RGV is to respond to the needs of employers, workers and job seekers, and provide the resources needed to succeed in an ever-changing world. All eligible employers, workers and job seekers are encouraged to take advantage of these services. Workforce Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program.

About the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:

The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce represents the Small Business Community from Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy Counties.  Its main focus is to assist the small business community and all other issues that affect the Hispanic community such as Education, Health, Women’s Issues, International Trade, Government Issues and Cultural Events.  The RGVHCC welcomes all residents and business owners of the Rio Grande Valley.

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Filed Under: Children in the Fields Campaign, Newsroom, Uncategorized

AFOP Announces Dedication of 2011 as “Year of the Farmworker Child”

January 13, 2011 By Ayrianne Parks Leave a Comment

Today the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP) announced they have designated 2011 the “Year of the Farmworker Child.” Starting in January, AFOP will devote twelve months to raising awareness about the hardships faced by migrant farmworker youth. In addition, AFOP and other supporters of the “Year of the Farmworker Child” will seek to increase public knowledge concerning the discriminatory agricultural exemption in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which regulates child labor in the U.S.

“Children in agriculture labor longer and under more hazardous conditions than they are permitted to do in almost any other American industry,” said AFOP Executive Director David Strauss. “In 2011, we will work with our members, other organizations, and communities to help promote a greater understanding of the impact this kind of life has on children’s safety, health and education, as part of our ongoing effort to help today’s farmworker youth create better futures for themselves.”

According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, agriculture is currently the third-most dangerous industry in the United States, in terms of injuries and fatalities recorded on the job. For children, it is the most dangerous. Boys and girls as young as 12 years old are legally allowed to labor in agriculture for an unlimited amount of hours outside of school, using dangerous farm equipment and working in an environment that continually exposes them to pesticides—conditions deemed illegal in every other industry and that can lead to serious injury or even death. Farmworker youth are also excluded from the “hazardous work” protections imposed in all other industries, allowing children as young as 16 to operate heavy machinery and perform other dangerous functions that are strictly reserved for adults in every employment field except in agriculture.

Migrant farmworker youth working long days in the fields frequently see their educational opportunities curtailed as a result. The migratory nature of farm work means that parts of the school curriculum often have to be repeated or skipped. We have evidence that more than half of these children will not finish high school and fewer still will go on to college, forcing them to continue the cycle of poverty.

AFOP will begin the “Year of the Farmworker Child” by seeking assistance from supporters to help illuminate the issues raised by the campaign. Among the activities slated to increase awareness is AFOP’s Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Children’s Essay & Art Contest, which will begin accepting entries next month. AFOP’s Children in the Fields Campaign will conduct a variety of regional activities in support of the initiative, starting in February at the “From Harvest to Harvard” migrant student conference in Texas. AFOP’s Health and Safety Programs will also be releasing their annual publication focused on the effects of pesticides on children. For additional information on how you can become a supporter of the “Year of the Farmworker Child,” please contact Ayrianne Parks at parks[at]afop.org.

The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs is a non-profit, national federation of 52 non-profit and public agencies that provide training and employment services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for all farmworkers and their families through advocacy, education, and training. For additional comment or an interview, please contact Ayrianne Parks at 202.828-6006 ext. 140 or Parks(at)AFOP(dot)org

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2010 Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Children Essay and Art Contest Winners

December 3, 2010 By Ayrianne Parks Leave a Comment

Washington, D.C.— The winners for the annual Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs’ (AFOP) Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Children Essay and Art contest have been chosen. The theme for the 2010 contest was Harvesting the Dreams of my Future, which drew entries depicting how these writers and artists from farmworker families envision their future.  Vanessa Ayala Sanchez of Mecca, California won first place for her poster entry, in the age category 10-13; Alejandro Rosas of Faribault, Minnesota won first place for his poster entry, in the age category 14-18; Alma Hernandez of West Grove, Pennsylvania won first place for her essay entry, in the age category 10-13; and Israel Rodriguez of Manson, Washington won first place for his essay entry, in the age category 14-18.They have all been invited to present their winning entries at AFOP’s 2010 National Conference, December 7-9 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Children across the United States, ranging in ages from 10-18 submitted descriptive essays or telling posters about how working in the fields and migrating have affected their dreams. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place entries for each category appeared in AFOP’s December issue of the Washington Newsline.

The essays and artwork will also be compiled along with other selected entries in a booklet to be presented to key members of Congress.  The goal of this booklet will be to share a piece of the lives of migrant and seasonal farmworker youth in order to raise awareness of the discriminatory agriculture exemption in the current federal child labor law. As the result of the antiquated exemption, children as young as 12 are legally allowed to work for an unlimited amount of hours outside of school in our nation’s fields and orchards. Despite agriculture being consistently ranked the most dangerous occupation in America for children, there are an estimated 300,000-500,000 children working to harvest the fruits and vegetables that end up on our tables. Burdened with an overload of school and work responsibilities and health injuries related to pesticide exposure, musculoskeletal problems, and the prevalence of accidents with farm machinery their future often looks a lot like their present. AFOP gives these children a chance to have their voices heard in their annual Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Children Essay contest, which expanded this year to include an Art contest.

First Place Entries for the 2010 Essay and Art Contest

About the Children in the Fields Campaign:

The Children in the Fields Campaign is a project of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP), a national federation of non-profit and public agencies that provide job training and services for America’s farmworkers. The campaign strives to improve the quality of life of migrant and seasonal farmworker children by advocating for enhanced educational opportunities and the elimination of discriminatory federal child labor laws in agriculture. For additional comment or interview from an AFOP expert, please contact Ayrianne Parks at (202) 828-6006 x140 or Parks@AFOP.org.

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Filed Under: Newsroom, Uncategorized

John R. Hernandez Inducted into Farmworker Advocate Hall of Fame

December 3, 2010 By Ayrianne Parks 1 Comment

A Long-Time Advocate for Michigan’s Farmworkers and Active Board Member Honored Posthumously

Washington, D.C.—The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP) announced they will induct John R. Hernandez as the 27th member of the Farmworker Advocate Hall of Fame.  Hernandez served as the State Director of Telamon Corporation in Michigan for the past 19 years until his death on November 6, 2010.  Additionally, he served as an AFOP Board Member, actively bringing Michigan’s issues to the national stage and continually seeking out innovative ideas to bring back to Michigan.

“John was a committed advocate who believed in helping provide our nation’s farmworkers with the support they needed to better their futures,” said David Strauss, AFOP Executive Director.  “His work as a farmworker advocate impacted many farmworkers and their families throughout his years of service and he will be greatly missed by the AFOP Community.”

The Award will be presented to Hernandez’s son, Juan Hernandez at the 39th Annual AFOP National Conference, which is being held December 7-9 in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Marriott New Orleans Hotel.

The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs is a non-profit, national federation of 52 non-profit and public agencies that provide training and employment services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for all farmworkers and their families through advocacy, education, and training.  For additional comment or an interview, please contact Ayrianne Parks at 202.828-6006 ext. 140 or Parks@AFOP.org.

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Filed Under: Member News, Newsroom

Fight to End Child Labor Continues in America: What You Can Do

November 3, 2010 By Ayrianne Parks Leave a Comment

AFOP’s Children in the Fields Campaign to Present at International House Davis

Davis, California—The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs’ (AFOP) Brandon Louie, California Regional Coordinator for the Children in the Fields Campaign, will present on the child labor in America on Tuesday, November 9, at 5 p.m.  The event, held at the International House Davis, aims to educate the audience on the discriminatory agriculture exemption in the U.S. child labor law.

 “Most people are surprised to find out that children as young as 12 are legally allowed to work for an unlimited number of hours outside of school with dangerous farm equipment in a work environment that continually exposes them to poisonous pesticides, conditions deemed illegal in every other industry,” said Louie. 

 During the presentation, Louie will discuss the physical, educational, and financial impact farm work has on migrant and seasonal farmworker children, most of whom are Latino. He will describe the efforts the Children in the Fields Campaign has made to advocate on behalf of farmworker children, including supporting policy changes to eliminate the discriminatory agriculture exemption, promoting a living wage for farmworkers, and helping form coalitions of farmworker youth and community members to educate the public.  Additionally, Louie will offer advice to the audience on how they too can make a difference.

 About the Children in the Fields Campaign:

The Children in the Fields Campaign is a project of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP), a national federation of non-profit and public agencies that provide job training and services for America’s farmworkers. The campaign strives to improve the quality of life of migrant and seasonal farmworker children by advocating for enhanced educational opportunities and the elimination of discriminatory federal child labor laws in agriculture. For additional comment or interview from an AFOP expert, please contact Ayrianne Parks at (202) 828-6006 x140 or Parks@AFOP.org.

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Filed Under: Newsroom