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Catholic Migrant Farmworker Network
By Elisa Maldonado
A.
Title of agency or organization?
CMFN operates with the support and collaboration of the office for
the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees of the U.S. Catholic
Conference
B.Where is home base (city/state/country)?
United States, I wasn’t able to find any specific home base for this
organization. I know that they operate throughout the country,
mostly in Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Florida
C.Date founded?
Founded in1986
D.Names of key spokespersons/officers
Hector R. Rodriguez
E.What/who
is key constituency or audience?
3-5 million farmworkers
F.What are the agency’s main activities?
1. Regional workshop, for catechists and pastoral leaders in the
communities of migrant and seasonal farm workers
2. En March workshop, for farm workers on the subject of
evangelization and the sacraments
3. Leadership Formation, courses for farmworkers given in the winter
months
4. Orientation Programs, for pastoral agents beginning a ministry
with farmworkers
5. National and regional conferences, of organizations and agencies
working with farmworkers to share resources and to promote greater
collaboration
6. Annual Retreats for pastoral minister involved in ministry with
farmworkers
G.Mission statement? (you may quote mission statement if available;
use quotation marks!)
“Seeking justice for farmworkers”
H. What are the key im/migration issues of concern to this agency?
Housing may be unavailable to migrant worker due to their status.
Farmworkers health Dermatitis and respiratory problems caused by
chemicals used in the farming such as natural fungi, dust, and
pesticides. Education and childcare, due to their circumstances farm
workers are constantly moving making it hard for the children to
complete their education. Labor organization, equals rights for farm
workers and Pastoral issues.
I. As best as you can determine, on what
evidence/sources/research/community does this agency base its
informational statements issued, press releases, reports, etc.?
Yes, Quarterly Newsletter, annual directory, and a bilingual manual
for reflection groups in migrant communities, network news, and
periodic legislative updates.
J. Any publications? (what types, sample titles; if online, give
links)
Farm labor organizing committee united farm workers (www.cmfn.org)
K. Give at least one citation about this agency from a newspaper
article (preferably an Arizona newspaper). Use a citation index to
research this e.g., Lexis Nexis, available from the Migration Course
Web Page made by the Fletcher Library:
http://library.west.asu.edu/subjects/SOC/soc331.html
Briefly state what the article is about, and provide a quote from
the article that includes the agency’s name and gives a good idea of
this agency’s perspective on im/migration. Note: not a quote from
agency’s own web site!
The Article talks about how a local businesswoman Elizabeth
Gonzalez-Gann accepted an award for national minority female
entrepreneur of the year. The daughter of first generation of
migrant farm workers from Mexico now overseas her own million dollar
company and is chairwomen of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce.
“This year they’re all overachievers” (The Arizona Daily Star,
http://www.azstarnet.com)
Another article talks about the co-founder of the United Farm
Workers, Dolores Huerta, who gives a speech to students at a College
auditorium holding more than 100 students, professors and migrant
health workers. Dolores Huerta talked about how better pay and
working conditions, worker comp and unemployment can benefit and
ensure good quality of life.
“Que viva los estudiantes! Que viva la paz! Que viva la justicia!”
Hurray for students! Hurray for peace! Hurray for justice!” (The
Monitor newspaper,
http://themonitor.com)
L. Any other issues of interest about the agency?
Collaborates with the migrant farm workers apostolate and also acts
an a advisory
M. Is the agency noticeably pro or con immigration? (You may need to
determine this from “reading around” in its position papers, press
releases, news reports, etc)
Pro immigration, the Catholic migrant farm worker network, is for
the people and for immigration rights.
N. Web
site? Give URL
www.cmfn.com
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