Unity Through Service: “One down, the struggle continues,” is a service-learning project where we have a meaningful conversation about the farm worker’s movement after gleaning * at the Harvest Solutions Farm in Irvine. We encapsulate the history of both the Latine(x) and Pilipino farm worker movements of California. This lucha (fight) will preserve the historical legacy and stories of many leaders important to the movement such as Dolores Huerta, Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz, Cesar Chavez, Gilbert Padilla, and many more. This is nuestro hogar (our home) of living in the state of California, in which we all rise to challenge the ongoing fight to preserve the stories of those before us!
*gleaning – “the act of collecting excess fresh foods from farms, gardens, farmer’s markets, grocers, restaurants, state/county fairs, or any other sources in order to provide it to those in need.”
Fall 2024 at The Giving Farm
Volunteers participated in a 2 hour service shift at The Giving Farm planting strawberry seeds
In collaboration with In collaboration with the Latinx Resource Center, Cross-Cultural Center, Sustainability Resource Center, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MEChA), Pilipinx-Americans in Social Studies (PASS), & Kababayan
When asked what they found valuable about the event, participants shared:
“The most valuable thing about this experience is that we were able to sympathize and understand physically about the hard work that farmers do. It taught me and reminded me to be better appreciative for farmers”
“hearing the impact of the community service and how it connects to past and current farmworkers movements”
(Responses gathered from our post event survey)
Fall 2023 at the Harvest Solutions Farm in Irvine
Participants engaged in a 2 hour service at the Harvest Solutions Farm in Irvine harvesting butternut squash
In collaboration with the Latinx Resource Center, Cross-Cultural Center, Sustainability Resource Center, College Corps, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MEChA), Anakbayan, Pilipinx-Americans in Social Studies (PASS), Kababayan, & Hermanas Unidas
Common Themes as a result of the event:
Majority of participants enjoyed the hands-on experience of harvesting butternut squash
Majority of attendees found learning about the Farm Worker’s Movement valuable because they were able to form a connection to their daily lives
Pilot Launch Spring 2023
Volunteers took part in a 2 hour service shift at the Harvest Solutions Farm in Irvine uprooting weeds
In collaboration with the Latinx Resource Center
Outcomes found from our post event survey:
100% of survey participants agree that they are familiar with the term gleaning and are knowledgeable about the farmworkers’ movement as a result of this event
100% of survey participants agree that they can now identify 4 figures and impacts of the movement as a result of this event
100% of survey participants agree that they understand the impact of the farmworkers’ movement and how to contribute to communities moving forward
