It’s that time of year again: July 1 marks the third
Celebraci
ón del Campo, a community event to honor the farm workers in our
county for their hard work. The first celebration was attended by
800 people. Last year, 1,000 more came, and this year, organizers
expect 4,000 people at the festivities at Christmas Hill Park.
t’s that time of year again: July 1 marks the third Celebración del Campo, a community event to honor the farm workers in our county for their hard work. The first celebration was attended by 800 people. Last year, 1,000 more came, and this year, organizers expect 4,000 people at the festivities at Christmas Hill Park.
Because of the excellent leadership and organizing of the Work2Future South County staffs and the others in the Migrant Collaborative, a group of organizations that serve migrant and permanent farm workers, more and more organizations have joined the effort. (Work2Future is formerly known as SV WIN – Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Network, which operates the Gilroy and Morgan Hill “one-stop” centers for employment seekers).
Have you noticed the banners in downtown and other parts of Gilroy? That’s because this year, the group established a link with the Chamber of Commerce. Spanish-language media outlet Univisión, attracted by the group’s enthusiastic commitment combined with their ability to produce a satisfying event for the entire family, is one of the main sponsors and the reason organizers expect the large numbers this year.
As in past years, there will be food, arts and crafts booths, entertainment including Mariachis and Aztec dancing, music and children’s activities. However, having learned from past experiences, the day is even more impressive.
The children’s activities will be equal in quality to those offered at the Garlic Festival, as they are organized by a company with expertise and equipment in this area. Last year’s farmers market was underused, so this year, major agricultural distributors and Second Harvest Food Bank have partnered to offer fresh fruits and vegetables at no charge to all attendees.
In addition, the day includes some unique components:
The “children’s activities” have been expanded to include a special area to focus on teens, usually caught in the middle of the “no man’s land” between young children and adults at such events where there’s not much for them to do but tag along with the little ones or their parents. Headed by MACSA’s head of its youth employment services, the irrepressible David Montes, organizers have planned a number of activities for local teens, including popular music acts, sports competitions and other activities to engage them. Univisión’s Edgar Sotelo will be there. His program “La Kalle,” very popular with Latino teens, conveys a variety of positive messages for youth, including touting the benefits of education, encouraging them to do well in school and go to college. In fact, there will be six college scholarships awarded to local teens who are children of farm workers.
Jorge Isaza will be presented with the first “Farm Worker of the Year Award.” However, his accomplishments in a Work2Future program targeting migrant farm workers have led him to actually be a former farm worker. With training and skills instruction provided by Work2Future and its partners, Isaza became a licensed truck driver, more than doubling his income from $14,000 per year to $32,000. In addition, embodying the immigrant story that is possible in every generation, not just our forebears’, he is purchasing his own truck and establishing his own trucking company.
To help others join Izasa in improving the quality of their lives by helping farm workers increase their job prospects and their incomes, 35 employers will be in attendance, handing out information and talking to people interested in employment.
Finally, 22 health and human services organizations will be present to provide health screenings, dental care, and links to substance abuse recovery support, mental health support, quality child care, education assistance to help families send and keep their children school, and housing assistance.
However, though the event celebrates the contributions of farm workers, it is planned with the entire community in mind. You don’t have to be Latino or a low wage farm worker to benefit from and enjoy the many activities local organizations have in store for young children and teens, as well as entertainment and job links for adults and youths.
This celebration will be held on Sunday, the only day of rest for field workers, July 1 at Christmas Hill Park, 12pm-6pm. Spread the word as your way of saying thanks. Or better, come and see it for yourself!
