2012 Steering Committee Meets in Immokalee

Plans made for powerful Trader Joe's and Publix mobilizations,
student and youth organizing in the supermarket campaign,
and strengthening SFA for the long haul!

Immokalee played host this past weekend to the annual face-to-face meeting of the Student/Farmworker Alliance Steering Committee (SC).

2012 Steering Committee

The SC is SFA's main leadership and regional organizing body, comprised of some of the best and brightest young organizers from across the country fighting for farmworker justice and to transform the food system!

Over the course of three intense days in the birthplace of the Campaign for Fair Food, SC members built strategy and mobilization plans for the upcoming Trader Joes and Publix actions, built connections with CIW members and learned firsthand about the amazing transformation underway in Florida's fields, developed plans for continuing leadership development and organizational development within SFA, and recharged their batteries — and their spirits — for the work ahead.

Following the face-to-face, the Steering Committee emerged stronger and more committed than ever to carry the fight for fair food through to victory!

As we explored the crucial role of students and youth in the struggle for farmworker justice today, we reflected often on the memory and legacy of Nan Freeman, an 18-year old New College freshman who was fatally struck by a farm truck during a farmworker protest in Belle Glade forty years ago. In a moving tribute to Nan's memory, student activists at New College organized a candlelight vigil last week and circulated a letter to Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw, criticizing Florida's largest grocer for "[shrugging] off abuses." The letter read, in part:

As New College students and members of the Sarasota community, we write to you to convey our tremendous disappointment with your company's refusal to partner with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to advance human rights for Florida tomato pickers...

Today, on the 40th anniversary of Ms. Freeman's martyrdom for the cause of farmworker justice, we recommit ourselves with greater tenacity and dedication than ever before, to carry her torch forward and do all we possibly can to create a more just, more humane agricultural industry, and that entails bringing your company, Florida's predominant grocer, onto the right side of history... (click here to read the full letter)

This spring, SFA is poised to build upon the deep student organizing tradition set in motion by those who have gone before us. We'll start things off in two weeks with a major Trader Joe's mobilization in Naples, echoed by 33 solidarity demonstrations across the nation.

AND stay tuned for a big Publix action announcement in just a few short days!

With all this momentum on our side, it's looking like Publix and Trader Joe's had better rethink their strategy...

-The Immokalee Crew

P.S. In case you were unable to view it last week, check out the 2011 Year in Review Video!

So you live near a Trader Joe's? That's Great! (Sum of Us, 02/01) Read More >

New College to honor student activist (Hearald-Tribune, 01/24) Read More>

Trader Joe's should join the Campaign for Fair Food (Daily Pilot, 01/20) Read More >

Farmworkers to bike from Immokalee... (Press Release) Read More >

Sign the Trader Joe's Petition
Click Here >

SFA's 2011 Year in Review Video
Watch Now >


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We are: Student/Farmworker Alliance
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 603, Immokalee, FL 34143
Telephone: (239)-657-8311