News From Rural Migrant Ministry!!

Youth Arts Group YAG
To our Graduates 2008

Youth Arts Group YAG members: Itzel Fernandez, Zack Oxford, Precious Newkirk , Ovet Mendoza, and Jonathan Lima Dear YAG members: On behalf of all the members of the Youth Arts Group, the staff of Rural & Migrant Ministry and myself (Andrés Chamorro), I offer our deepest gratitude for your valuable and outstanding performance, hard work, positive leadership, lasting contribution, and most importantly, your friendship. You are a great positive example for other teens in the community. You will always be a part of our YAG family. We wish you the best in your future endeavors. Thank you for sharing your valuable and important time with us.

Sincerely,

Andres Chamorro

Youth Arts Group Coordinator

Youth Arts Group (YAG) NEWS!!

" The Summer Youth Leadership Program at St. John's Episcopal Church in Monticello, Sullivan County was a wonderful opportunity to create new allies, friends, and introduce RMM to the community in Sullivan County .
During these two weeks we had four terrific interns: two interns from Vassar College , Roberto and Leanne , and two Youth Arts Group YAG interns, Josafat and Gabriela .
During the program the four interns showed maturity, enthusiasm, hard work, patience, and commitment.

I'm glad to have had the opportunity to participate in this camp. It was truly a diverse group of 28 children, ages 11-14. They participated in some dynamic and important workshops, which culminated in an impressive presentation by the campers. The workshop presenters included Jordan Wells , representing Labor-Religion Coalition and RMM, who introduced the group to the Sweat-Free Campaign and Globalization. Also, Christina Clausen from the UFCWU presented Organizing and How Unions Work. RMM interns, Roberto and Leanne , along with Rev. Richard Witt , guided the campers to focus on an issue relevant to them, a campaign to promote fair-trade foods and better nutrition in their schools. What an interesting and empowering experience for all involved!

Thank you to all the many people who made this program possible, especially the Kairos Group from St. John's Episcopal Church in Monticello , who supported the camp in numerous ways. Without their involvement the program would not have been possible. Also, a special thanks to Marta Zalkin for her valuable contributions. Special thanks also to Zaida Chasi, Hudson River Health Care, Inc., Paco Mazo, Valentina Gonzalez for translation and the Rev. Ninon Hutchinson."
-Andrés Chamorro

New York's Harvest of Shame

Gov. Paterson minces no words in declaring that New York farmworkers deserve the same labor rights as everyone else, including a 40-hour week, overtime pay, a day off per week and the right to organize and bargain collectively. The other day, Paterson recalled his support as a legislator for full labor rights for field hands, and said growers "are running a system ... analogous to what it was in 1880."
He has no animus toward the state's growers, having approved $40 million in aid to them. But, he said, "We're going to come back and start talking to them about wages that were fought for in 1910." Way to go, gov.
"My feeling," said Paterson, "is that if [growers] want help from us, then they can get into the 21st century. ... If they are appalled that we're asking them to give workers a day off or let them have health coverage ... well, I'm sure the employers were appalled in the 19th century."
The Assembly is with Paterson, as are most senators, including the Senate Labor Committee. Majority Leader Dean Skelos needs to let the bill come to the floor. It's 100 years overdue. NY Daily News