RMM Notes

May was an exciting month and June promises more of the same. Please join us on Saturday, June 6 for the Walkathon!

Mark your calendars for this fun event! Walk, eat, or both in support of the RMM summer program.

Twenty years ago the Rural & Migrant Ministry (RMM) Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) in Poughkeepsie established a free and unique summer camp program for the children of migrant workers and rural New Yorkers. On Saturday, June 6, beginning at 10 a.m. they'll ask friends to join a Walkathon in support of the camp and a barbeque lunch provided by the Chefs for Community Service of the Culinary Institute of America.

The Walkathon will begin and end at St. James Church, 4526 Albany Post Rd. in Hyde Park, and will cover the 2.5-mile Vanderbilt Loop at the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. You may choose to walk, eat lunch, or both. The barbecue alone is $10 per person. Marchers are asked to gather pledges for each mile they hope to walk. For Walkathon registration, lunch tickets, or donation information contact Laura Lecour or Jane Konitz at (845) 485-8627 or visit ruralmigrantministry.org.

Farmworkers and supporters rallied in support of the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act, a proposed bill that would grant farmworkers the same rights enjoyed by other New York workers. With 28 Senate cosponsors from both parties, the bill is just shy of a clear majority. Several other senators have pledged their vote. The Assembly has passed the bill several times in previous years.

Injustice for farmworkers was enshrined into law over 70 years ago, when the New Deal was enacted. President Franklin Roosevelt proposed wage and hour protections for both industrial and agricultural workers, but southern segregationists objected to putting farmworkers, who were mostly African American, on an equal footing with white workers. As a result, farmworkers fell victim to bias and political expediency and were left out of the New Deal and subsequent labor and employment protections. New York has perpetuated this injustice by explicitly excluding farmworkers from the definition of employees.

On Monday, June 4 the Senate Labor Committee took a critical step in our journey by voting to move the Farmworker Fair Labor Practices Act out of Committee. Two of our Sponsors, Savino and Breslin spoke passionately about the importance of finally giving farmworkers equality. Our efforts are having an impact!!!!! THANK YOU!. The challenge remains before us: to keep pressure on Senator Malcolm Smith to allow the Bill S2247 to come to the floor for a vote.We can't let up now! We still need your support! Contact RMM now for information on how you can help by putting pressure on your state senator at this critical time. SO, please keep those letters going to Senator Smith. Please take a moment and think of someone with some ooomph (you decide what this means!) and ask them to send a letter to Senator Smith urging him to bring S2247 to the floor for a vote. We can't let up now! We still need your support! Contact RMM now for information on how you can help by putting pressure on your state senator at this critical time.

Kerry Kennedy spoke, Kim and Reggie Harris sang, and hundreds marched in Albany!

On Sunday, April 12, YAG participated in a radio interview at WVKR 91.3 at Vassar College. This was a great opportunity for our group to promote our program and activities. Also, YAG made a statement about the importance of supporting farmworkers rights. A comment from a YAG college intern, John: "Nelson, Jessenia, and Elsa were interviewed for the show "Cool Meditations," broadcast on WVKR 91.3. They each spoke about YAG, the different goals and projects for the year, and also about what type of things we have planned for the future. They advocated for farmworker justice and for the advocacy day in Albany, and plugged the Art-a-Thon and Tag Sale. The hosts even invited RMM to send somebody to specifically address farmworker justice issues, what types of struggles these communities are facing, and how we might be able to address them. The three did YAG proud and helped spread the word about all of the wonderful things that RMM and YAG are doing."

On April 18th, YAG visited Vassar College to explore the college application process and the importance of education. Our interns Samantha, Kristina, and John hosted us.

On April 19th, YAG presented our program at the United Presbyterian Church of Middletown.

The Youth Arts Group (YAG) sponsored by Rural & Migrant Ministry, hosted a fundraising event to support scholarships for our members. On April 25, 2009 at the United Presbyterian Church of Middletown, YAG members, YAG parents, Miraval Sisters From New York City created art pieces for 10 straight hours highlighting important issues that are currently affecting our youth. Issues included racism, adultism, poverty, immigration, education, and human rights. We reached our goals and raise $1,050 for scholarships. Congratulations YAG, and thank you parents for your ongoing support!

On May 12, YAG and YAG parents participated at the Farmworkers Advocacy Day in Albany. At this event we presented our art for social change work such us giant puppets, a mural entitled "The Farmworker Student," sculptures with the theme of "Media," and a circle of hands with the title of "for the hands that feed us." Reflection about the Farmworkers Advocacy Day in Albany I have been in Y.A.G for two years, this being my final year. I felt honored when Richard and Andres asked me to say a few words during the rally and quickly jumped at the opportunity. Through my time with Y.A.G I consider myself the "go to" member that always tries to do more then what was asked of them when other members stray away from heavier responsibilities and felt at ease with giving the speech. Although the nerves kicked in after Richard mentioned a previous Y.A.G member that inspired everyone at the rally in a past year, I still stepped forward and tried my hardest at bringing the people back into the flow of the rally after they had begun to wander. Instead of being received with the dull yells of a weary crowd, I was greeted with energetic and mighty roars from a people waiting for someone a little more refreshing to speak. Being on the stage made me feel as if I was someone more than just a whisper in the passing breeze and gave me the courage and strength to push forward and take on future obstacles with the same dedication and fortitude. In the following years I hope Y.A.G, Richard, and Andres can look back and gain from what I have done and step forward with even greater power in the next events. The speech, although lasted around two minutes, will be carried with me as one of the my fonder memories of Y.A.G for a lifetime. ~Nelson Arroyo