Welcome to my fundraising page for my participation as Program Assistant in the
Into the Fields Internship Program! 

Dear Family, Friends, and Supporters:

This summer I have been selected to serve as Program Assistant to a leadership-building internship with Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF).

Every year SAF coordinates a ten-week summer internship and leadership development program that creates opportunities for college students to work in migrant education programs, rural health clinics, legal aid organizations, adult education programs, and with community and labor organizing groups in the Southeast.

The summer after I graduated from college I was selectd to participate in the "Into the Fields" internship. I was thrilled for a variety of reasons.  Beyond the small-scale satisfaction of being accept to my first non service-industry job, the ITF internship was the purest extension of my honors senior thesis, "Latino Farmworkers in North Carolina: Processes of Creating, Maintaining, and Believing in 'Home.'"  Even so, I could not comprehend the progessional, personal, and social development that this internship would require of me. Gratitute saturates my reflections on that short summer and the exponential growth that I experienced.

The ITF internship forced me to confront a multitude of long-ignored deficiencies in my character. My participation in ITF was inspired by my underlying desire to be a cog in the wheels of change for a small community, and I yearned for specific tasks to be assigned to me. The reality of my placement was a stark contrast to my "ideal" owrking environment. I often worked along in an office, adn there were few tangible reponsibilities to tackle and complete. Consequently, I developed responsibility for defining and completing my own goals, both for day-to-day work and for my overall work as an intern.

Beyond the professional development that the ITF position inspired, my comfort and personal identity was put under scrutiny. Prior to my internship it was very eay for me to identify "the enemy" of whatever cause I supported. However, during my internship I was given the valuable gift of living with a genuine loving family, and this situation necessarily mandated recognition of my personal bias. In theory, I was "living with the enemy" simply because the family were white community members who misunderstood and under-acknowledged the immigrant population in their midst.  Living with that family was one of the most beneficial aspects of my internship. I was working with a population that they regarded with caution, yet they embraced me and actively support my work. They showed me the value of making an effort to comprehend the truth and reality to both sides of the coin. My host family experience molded and strengthened my outlook on immigration topics in the US, reminding me of the benefits of a holistic perspective.

I eagerly jumped at the opportunity to work with SAF again this summer in the managerial position of Program Assistant to this year's summer interns. I am responsible of conducting site visits, mentoring, and maintaining strong communication with ITF interns throughout the summer. Additionally, I will be coordinating the Mid-summer orientation and End of Summer Celebration, and conducting a community presentation on farmworkers.  I am excited for the opportunity to put to work the skills that I have accumulated through my past year working as an AmeriCorps* volunteer at College Forward.  My experience in the classroom and with responsibilities to upwards of 40 high school students have prepared me to mentor and support 2011's interns.

SAF combines my interest and passion for US-Latin America relations, direct action, and education in a balanced fulfilling manner. I am confident that my involvement in SAF this summer will unequivocally contribute to my professional growth as I prepare for my long-term goal of attaining a Masters Degree in International Relations (with a regional emphasis in Latin America).  Further, it is a chance for me to ensure that this year's ITF interns have the irreplacable experience that I was granted.

SAF will provide me with travel, training, a daily per diem, housing and an academic scholarship.  I am required to raise a minimum of $650 to defray these costs.  I would like to ask you to consider making a tax-deductible contribution to support our work with farmworkers.

I am truly excited and appreciative of this position that allows me the opportunity to support for those who are taking direct action in the Southeast Community to promote education and understanding about the food processing industry.  My commitment to SAF this summer allows me to give back to the organization that directed and specified my goals for the future, and continue my efforts in promoting social justice. The success of this endeavor will rely on the generosity of congregations, academic departments, small businesses, and individuals who will kindly consider a donation to make my participation in this internship possible.  I am grateful for any and all donations, whether it be $1 or $25!  Thank you for your financial support and encouragement!

Below is the link to the donation page where you can make a contribution online.

 
Donate Today to support my participation!

Student Action with Farmworkers is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to bring students and farmworkers together to learn about each other’s lives, share resources and skills, improve conditions for farmworkers, and build diverse coalitions working for social change.

SAF works with farmworkers, students, and advocates in the Carolinas and nationwide to create a more just agricultural system. Since 1992, we have engaged thousands of students, farmworker youth, and community members in the farmworker movement.
 

Learn about the Into the Fields Internship Program
 

Learn about the Sowing Seeds for Change Fellowship Program
 

Learn about the Student Organizing School