YAYA

YAYA is the (Youth and Young Adult Network of the National Farmworker Ministry), a national network of young people actively working to change the oppressive social, political and economic conditions of farm workers.

Inspired by the principles of nonviolence of the farm worker movement, YAYAs support a variety of national and local campaigns led by farm workers. These campaigns seek to improve the oppressive conditions faced by the workers who harvest our food.

YAYA targets WaWa

According to Shelby Radcliffe of Orlando YAYA, on Sunday December 9th, 2012, thirty-five members of the Orlando community convened outside the Wawa station at 7030 South Orange Blossom Trail around 1 p.m to hold a rally organized by Orlando YAYA which takes action to support farm workers and farm worker organizations. The rally was held after repeated efforts made by YAYA members and supporters to meet with Wawa Regional Manager Charlene Marko-Heim went unaddressed. YAYA would like to meet with Wawa management to discuss Wawa’s role in the tobacco supply chain, and their accountability to their consumers to ensure that the company is taking all necessary action to hold RJ Reynolds responsible for their treatment of tobacco pickers

YAYA member Brian Luft kicked off the rally by explaining to the group why were were there and to get us energized to spend the next hour under the hot Florida sun. Four people went inside the Wawa to perform a letter drop. Melissa Maniau delivered the letter to the manager and was able to briefly, with poise, explain why we were there. The manager was not receptive and asked us to leave the property, so we took to the sidewalks!

Outside, the demonstration was painted with posters in the shape of leaves and short, powerful messages painted on them made by YAYA members. FLOC provided the rally with black and red flags that read “HASTA LA VICTORIA” and a banner that read, “Wawa consumers demand human rights for farmworkers,” which was held up by James Quill and Jonathon Alingu. When traffic would slow down at the intersection, people would run out in the street to hand out flyers to drivers and passengers. Josh Leclair stood at the entrance and exit of the Wawa to hand out flyers there and talk to customers. On the sidewalk, Nicole Godreau, YAYA Orlando president Emily Helm, and Curtis Hierro led chants and everyone sang along with passion.

Orlando YAYA was supported by members from Jobs with Justice, Hope Community Center, Dream Defenders-UCF, Student Labor Action Project-UCF, and AFL-CIO.

Ali Castro took photos.

YAYA member Melissa Maguire-Maniau, was also involved.

Immigration forum

The Asociación Boriqueña de la Florida Central (Puerto Rican Association of Central Florida) hosted United States House Representatives Alan Grayson and Luis Gutierrez (a long time immigrant rights supporter) on Friday March 1, 2013 at 11:30 am, for the “Time is Now for Immigration Reform Panel and Press Conference.”

After the conference, the politicians, the panel, and others in the audience left for Haines City to have lunch and to talk with farm workers. This event brought media such as Univision, Telemundo, and local Fox Channel 13. There were between 200 to 250 audience members.

The NFWM/YAYA members in attendance were Nico Gumbs, Emily Helm, Melissa Maniau, Ana Maria de la Rosa, and Miguel Rodriguez. Melissa was also a panelist and eloquently spoke of her own family’s dealings with immigration authorities, because her husband is an undocumented immigrant.

​Representative Alan Grayson unequivocally called Arizona’s anti-immigrant law “racist” several times. He is determined to make a national immigration reform law so the Arizona law could never exist anywhere in this country. Representative Gutierrez was equally adamant, and added that a new immigration reform law must also include the ability to bring immediate family members into this country and to keep the family unit together.

​That is why YAYA is involved in the struggle for fair and comprehensive immigration reform. Most farm workers are undocumented and nearly all of them, whether documented or not, are abused and exploited through unfair labor practices and subservient wages. Immigration, like workers’ rights, is a human rights issue. YAYA understands that, as Elie Wiesel (Jewish holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace laureate) stated, “Indifference to human suffering is not an option.”

​We are dealing with people’s lives, family unity, and human dignity. In every election cycle, and even recently, politicians use immigration reform as a political pinball. It seems like it’s a game to them. One day they may appeal for legalization without citizenship. The next day it’s back to citizenship, but let’s make it difficult. Yet other politicians believe that allowing anyone to stay amounts to amnesty. There is no law that binds desperation born out of human suffering.

Thankfully, the undocumented have politicians like Grayson and Gutierrez on their side. Together, with organizations like YAYA and with people from all walks of life, we are all standing up for justice and human rights. Hasta la victoria! Until victory!

Miguel Rodriguez Orlando YAYAh Template:TOCnestleft YAYA

FLIC and allies

Florida Immigrant Coalition April 21 2018:

Powerful experience and powerful connections with members and guests from Farmworker Association of Florida, YAYA - National Farm Worker Ministry, Florida Student Power Network, QLatinx, UNITE HERE Central Florida, Central Florida AFL- CIO, We Are All America, Organize Florida, FL HeretoStay, SEIU Florida, WeCount, Coqui Language Collective, Palm Beach County Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Miami Workers Center, Florida KIDS COUNT and more! — with Aashutosh Pyakuryal, Curtis Hierro, Tomas Kennedy, Isabel Sousa-Rodriguez, Mike Thom, Mike V. Cocco, Denise Diaz and Tessa Petit in Apopka, Florida.

References

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References

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