Dorothy Mokua from World Farmers |
Jessy explained that at World Farmers, the organization looks to New Americans to learn from them what is important in terms of their needs and the direction for the organization’s day-to-day work. This approach reminded me of MAP; at MAP, we look to the community and individuals we work with to determine our work and direction. We believe this is how we will see the greatest impact.
World Farmers provides immigrants and refugees with resources and support to get started developing their farm businesses. They provide New Americans with access to land and an opportunity to build a business. She said, “For the first year, the new farmers can work the land, at no cost. Then after one year, the farmers pay World Farmers a small fee that covers the preparation of the land and minimal maintenance fees."
Flats Mentor Champions 2014 |
Jessy said, “At World Farmers, staff work with the farmers person-to-person. The work they do there is not just about mentoring beginning farmers, but also about supporting each farmer to be food sovereign and to provide their families with the food they need to feel the power of home.” This sentiment and style brought MAP to mind. This is the same way we work with MAP’s youth employees.
#MAPYouth on our farm |
Jessy Gill, World Farmers |
In short, at NESAWG I met in Jessy, a passionate young woman, committed to essential ideals and now the new Program Director at World Farmers, an organization doing important work in the northeast US. In an e-newsletter article published by her former workplace at the Community Food and Justice Coalition in Oakland, Jessy recognized her own identity and privilege being a “young white middle class” woman. She mentioned her experience with Paolo Friere’s Popular Education practices, and dropped her involvement in Occupy, a movement which was gaining traction in the Bay area when she arrived on the scene in Oakland in 2011. In a following conversation, Jessy reiterated all she learned from engaging in that work, and how much more she has to learn.
Jessy and the programming at World Farmers embody an acknowledgment and understanding that people are worth-it, and that everyone has something critical to offer our communities. Our work, which involves going deep with people, is necessary to redefining the food system, offering economic opportunities, and ensuring healthy food for all.
To learn more about World Farmers, visit www.worldfarmers.org.
This post was written by Rebekah Williams, MAP's Youth Education Director.
To learn more about World Farmers, visit www.worldfarmers.org.
This post was written by Rebekah Williams, MAP's Youth Education Director.
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