RMM NOTES

              (News From Rural & Migrant Ministry)

                               April 2008
 
 
 
 
In this RMM Notes:
  • Faircloth Foundation 
  • Farmworker Advocacy
  • Just Us Conference
  • Summer Appeal
 
 

Rural and Migrant Ministry

POSITION OPENING:
Social Justice Education Coordinator
 
Rural and Migrant Ministry (RMM) is looking for a progressive individual to direct and expand a unique education program that brings together rural and migrant peoples and allies who seek to create a more just rural community in New York. The Education program seeks to strengthen the leadership skills of the participants of the Accompaniment and Youth Empowerment programs.  

Responsibilities include:

  • Expand and coordinate the education program.
  • Design intensive experiential educational programs that nurture consciousness and leadership capacity of program participants and allies.
  • Work directly and collaboratively with the Accompaniment and Youth Empowerment Teams to strengthen their program
  • Work with faith communities

Experience

  • Commitment and comfort in working directly with grass-roots communities.
  • Familiarity with and commitment to social transformation pedagogy
  • Working directly with grass-root educational programs
  • Listening and networking skills
  • Experience in bridging diverse communities
  • Experience in working with faith communities
Requirements
  • Full Bi-Lingual in Spanish and English
  • Able to work irregular hours
  • Driver's license and a hearty willingness to drive across New York to implement the program
  • Willingness to be based in the Hudson Valley of New York 

At the moment this is a part-time position, which will grow into a full-time position.

 

Please send a letter of introduction and resume to:

 

The Education Committee

c/o The Rev. Richard Witt, Executive Director, RMM

PO Box 4757

Poughkeepsie, NY 12602
 
 
We Sure Could Use Your Help!!
  • We are hard at work planning a remarkable array of summer programs for our youth. However, we need funds to make them possible. Please consider a campership, or underwriting a guest artist or trip. For further information, please call Laura Lecour at 845-485-8627
  • House Parties!
    Want to host a House Party to help spread the good word about RMM's Mission and to help raise funds to put that Mission into action?
    Call Laura at 485-8627 or email rmmllecour@optimum.net   
    We will help co-host and will provide educational handouts, DVDs/VHS and will also do a short presentation on the work of Rural & Migrant Ministry in general, or on a particular aspects of our Mission.
    We have parties planned in Cornwall, Westchester, Albany, Stone Ridge, Rochester and Buffalo and are looking forward to spreading the word about RMM!
    Call and find out about the opportunities waiting for you!
 
Volunteers Needed
  • Got a few extra hours and enjoy writing?? We need writers to help us tell RMM's story. We have a lot of important things happening and we need to get the news out!
  • Help in the office call Laura @ 845-485-8627
  • Drivers to help our Youth Arts Group get around
  • The Justice for Farmworkers campaign needs an online venue, i.e. website, where folks can visit to learn more about and connect with our work.  We are seeking a volunteer with website skills to work with the Justice for Farmworkers campaign in developing this important tool.  If you are interested please call us at 845-485-8627 or e-mail Jordan at farmworkerjustice@gmail.com.
 
 

 

 

Sister Organization Links
 
CONTACT US 
 
 
Eastern New York
 
Address:
P.O. Box 4757
Poughkeepsie, NY12602
Phone:
(845) 485-8627
Fax:
(845) 485-1963
 
 
 
Western New York
 
Email:
Address:
14 State Street
Brockport, NY 14420
Phone:
(845) 637-8360
Fax:
(585) 637-8362
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mission

Rural and Migrant Ministry works for the creation of a just rural New York State by:
  • Nurturing leadership
  • Standing with the disenfranchised, especially farmworkers and rural workers
  • Changing unjust systems and structures
 
Meditation
 
"Summer Camp is home for me.  The rest of the year, people go out of their way to make it clear I don't belong - in the camps, at the school, in the town. 
You go out of your way to make it clear I do belong."  (Ivan)

News/Analysis

Dear Friends,
 
I ask for your prayers for Ruth and Max Faircloth and Rosa Faircloth.  Their son, and Rosa's husband, T was in a terrible car accident on April 10th and is on life support at Westchester Medical Center.  On April 11th their house was struck by lightening and burned to the ground.  Fortunately the family was in a hotel room at the hospital.
 
Ruth has long been a part of Rural and Migrant Ministry: she founded the Overnight Camp, Daughters of Sarah and has been the coordinator of the Rural Women's Conference.  Her husband Max is a pastor who has long volunteered with many aspects of the Overnight camp.  Rosa and T have also grown up in the RMM program and volunteered at the Camp. They have all given tirelessly of themselves to our community, and now our prayers and support are needed desperately by them.
 
We ask your support for two things:
  • Please keep the Faircloths in your prayers and your congregation's prayers
  • Rural and Migrant Ministry has set up a Fund to help the Faircloth's regain a sense of balance. Cheques may be sent to:

Rural Migrant Ministry, P.O. Box 4757, Poughkeepsie, NY 12602 Att: Faircloth Funds

In Peace                               
 
Richard Witt
 
                       
 
 

SPRING APPEAL

Dear Friends,

For the past eighteen years RMM has nurtured hundreds of children in rural New York as they have sought to overcome social and economic barriers. Many times we have taken great pride in witnessing their successes; other times we have shared in their frustration and pain as they encountered another barrier. Always the question becomes, will they have the energy, determination and hope to carry forward? 

The fact is that many of the children in Rural & Migrant Ministry's youth program struggle with cultural barriers and prejudices. Yet, when given the chance, when given the resources and the support, they thrive! There are many of these children - facing doors, determined to walk through them, committed to opening them in their communities and to strengthening a world to which they have so much to give.

For many of these youngsters, the ability to succeed begins with our summer youth leadership programs. Each year we serve over two hundred children. With your support of these programs we can begin to help them open doors and make a difference - in their lives and in ours.

Thank you for helping us make these opportunities available to these special young people.

In Peace,

Richard Witt

 
 
Farmworkers and Allies go to Albany!

On February 25 and March 4, farmworkers and their allies journeyed to Albany to sound their call for justice and equality.  March 4th in particular was an inspiring day of movement building, leadership development, and legislative advocacy.  Farmworkers joined allies from Albany and from Domestic Workers United (DWU) for a full day of events, including a press conference, procession, vigil (shortened by rain), lobby visits, and a debriefing/exchange exercise at the end of the day.  The bill made it out of the Assembly Labor Committee and we added yet another co-sponsor, but maybe the most important part of the day was the mutual inspiration generated by sharing with the domestic workers from New York City, whose struggle is rooted in some of the same historical events as ours.  
 
Legislative Update

In partnership with our allies from the AFL-CIO, we called for the establishment of a new $50 million agri-business fund to be postponed until farmworkers are finally given the rights they deserve.  While supporting agriculture is important, as taxpayers and people of conscience we feel that lavishing funds on an industry that stubbornly denies its workers the same rights as workers is wrong.  Ultimately, our concerns were heard, but only partially heeded, as the AFL-CIO put it in a recent memo, "This appropriation was reduced to $40 million. Reducing the appropriation doesn't do anything for farm workers one way or the other. The whole appropriation should have been eliminated."  Now that the $40 million subsidy is in the pipeline, it is time for some parity.  Legislators must act to abolish the labor exclusions so that farmworkers may share in the agricultural industry's bounty.

After last month's RMM Notes, several congregations and other organizations contacted us for background materials to write to their state legislators in support of the Farmworker Fair Labor Practices Act (A7528/S3884).  These letters demonstrate the broad support for farmworker equality that exists among New Yorkers.  Contact Jordan Wells at farmworkerjustice@gmail.com to get involved!

 

Justice for Farmworkers Campaign Gains "Pride of NY" Support

 

Last month we reported that the campaign was reaching out to potential allies in the food system to challenge the stubborn determination of the agricultural establishment, particularly the NY Farm Bureau, to deny farmworkers equal rights.  We are ecstatic to report that EATS Gourmet Marketplace (www.eatsalbany.com) has become the first official Pride of NY restaurant to stand with New York farmworkers by endorsing the campaign! 

 

We cannot have a genuine Pride of NY Program while the shameful labor exclusions born from Jim Crow-era racism persist, so we are inviting Pride of NY restaurants who want to honor the contributions of all people involved in NY agriculture, to show their support for farmworkers by displaying a sign stating, "This establishment supports equal rights for farmworkers."  If you are a Pride of NY member interested in participating, or you want to help reach Pride of NY members in your area, please contact Jordan Wells at farmworkerjustice@gmail.com
 
Youth Arts Group News!
 
Katie Hansen, an intern from Vassar College, is helping to organize a fundraising event with Vassar to help cover the stipends for YAG summer internships.  This event will be a tag sale on May 25-26, 2008, in Poughkeepsie.  If you would like to donate furniture or electronics in good condition, please contact Andres.
 
Youth Arts Group is planning a summer long Leadership Academy which will meet twice weekly for presentations, workshops, and educational trips.  We will be applying for a grant from the National Self-Development of the People Committee.  For more information contact Andres Chamorro, YAG Coordinator @ 845-485-8627.
 
 
 

Mark Your Calendar

 

  • Each year, the Youth Arts Group organizes the Just Us Youth Conference which empowers local youths to promote social change. YAG cordially invites you to our Fifth Annual Conference which will be held on: Date: May 3rd, 2008 at The Reformed Church of New Paltz, NY  9:30 am to 4:00 pm.Registration Fee: $ 5.00 in advance, and $10 at the door (per person- includes lunch)The Conference will include guest speakers, workshops, breakfast, lunch, and an art exhibit. We hope to not only educate, but empower and enlighten youth. We will be addressing many important issues in a fun and interactive manner.

                     

Last year's Just US Conference

 

  • May 18-19 Labor-Religion Coalition of New York Full Circle for Economic Justice Conference The Youth Arts Group will participate in Sunday's activities and will be honored Sunday night.  A workshop on Monday will feature the Justice for Farmworkers Campaign.  Register by May 9th at the latest!  Contact marthas@labor-religion.org for more information