Ufw Foundation

THE UFW FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE HUMAN DIGNITY.

EMERGENCY RELIEF SERVICES: UFW FOUNDATION PROVIDES EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF TO FARM WORKER AND LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN NEED IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE AND IN A CULTURALLY FAMILIAR CONTEXT. IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE COVID (2020-2022) PANDEMIC ONSET AND IN THE INTERVENING YEARS WHERE NEED WAS THE GREATEST, UFW FOUNDATION PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING ASSISTANCE: -EMERGENCY RELIEF-889,624 TOTAL SERVED -COVID TESTS ADMINISTERED: 37,326 -FARM WORKERS ASSISTED: 125,362 -COVID-19 VACCINATIONS: 40,307 -MASKS DISTRIBUTED: 2,823,260 -HAND SANITIZER DISTRIBUTED: 65,982 -FOOD BOXES DISTRIBUTED: 142,727 -WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN MEALS DISTRIBUTED: 247,825

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: DIGITAL INITIATIVE: THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL SERVICES AND TOOLS, WE ARE SEEKING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO RESOURCES, INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT ALLOW FOR GREATER FARM WORKER AGENCY, EMPOWERMENT, AND PROGRESS. DATA AND RESEARCH: THE DATA AND RESEARCH TEAM ARE GENERATING DATA AND ANALYSIS THAT IS: -INFORMING FARM WORKER PRACTICES AND POLICIES IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE; -CONTRIBUTING FARM WORKER EXPERIENCES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE; -BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH ACADEMIA AND OTHER NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVANCE JUST AND EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS AND INNOVATIONS RELATED TO FARM WORKERS; -DOCUMENTING AND MAPPING OUR REACH AND IMPACT. KEY DATA AND RESEARCH TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: PRESENTED THE FINDINGS OF A FARM WORKER HEAT SURVEY - UFW FOUNDATION PRESENTED THE FINDINGS OF ITS FARM WORKER HEAT SURVEY-WHICH EXPLORED THE HEAT CONDITIONS, HEAT ILLNESS, WORKPLACE CONDITIONS, EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, AND KNOWLEDGE OF RELATED RESOURCES WITHIN THE AGRICULTURAL WORKER COMMUNITY. A TOTAL OF 6,025 SELF-IDENTIFIED AGRICULTURAL WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, OREGON AND ACROSS FIFTEEN OTHER STATES WERE ASKED QUESTIONS RELATED TO WORKPLACE CONDITIONS AND HEAT EXPOSURE. ADVOCACY ON CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS UPON FARM WORKERS - THE FOUNDATION HAS ALSO SPOKEN OUT ABOUT THE IMPACT CLIMATE CHANGE HAS HAD WITH RESPECT TO WILDFIRES THAT HAVE BECOME COMMON DURING THE HEAT SEASON IN CALIFORNIA AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST RURAL FARM WORKER COMMUNITIES. THE DATA AND RESEARCH DEPARTMENT PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED HEAT MAPS, VIA VARIOUS PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGNS, THAT OVERLAY THE PRESENCE OF FARM WORKERS IN RELATION TO THE CALIFORNIA WILD FIRES. THIS PROVIDED A TELLING AND IMPACTFUL VISUAL REGARDING THE TRUE DEGREE TO WHICH FARM WORKERS ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THE WILD FIRES AND IN WHAT NUMBERS.

COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT AND OUTREACH SERVICES ARE COMPRISED OF DIRECT SERVICES THAT ADDRESS IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES AMONG FARM WORKER POPULATIONS AND MEANS FOR IMPROVING LIVES AND WELL-BEING. SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT IN THE IMMEDIATE AND INTERMEDIATE TERM, STRENGTHEN, AND EMPOWER. SERVICES PROVIDED: -LEGAL IMMIGRATION SERVICES; -EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS; AND -EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE/RELIEF LEGAL IMMIGRATION SERVICES - PROVIDING LEGAL IMMIGRATION SERVICES CENTERS IS AT THE ORIGINS OF THIS ORGANIZATION'S ESTABLISHMENT. WE BEGAN PROVIDING IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES IN 2008 AND HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND ACCREDITED TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES BY THE OFFICE OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SINCE 2009. TODAY, LEGAL IMMIGRATION SERVICES RANGE FROM DACA RENEWALS, TO NATURALIZATION, TO ADJUSTMENT, AS WELL AS POLITICAL ASYLUM, DEPORTATION DEFENSE/RELIEF, VAWA PETITIONS, U VISAS AND SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE VISAS (SIJC) PETITIONS. OUR LEGAL IMMIGRATION SERVICES ENCOMPASS A BROAD RANGE OF LEGAL PROTECTIONS AVAILABLE TO FARM WORKERS AND IMMIGRANT WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. UFW FOUNDATION HAS BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST PROVIDERS OF IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES IN RURAL CALIFORNIA. KEY PROGRAMMING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: -844 DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS (DACA)APPLICATIONS/RENEWALS -381 NATURALIZATION APPLICATIONS -489 INDIVIDUALS ASSISTED WITH DACA RENEWAL/NATURALIZATION FILING FEE, MAKING THE IMMIGRATION LEGAL REMEDY ACCESSIBLE -518 OTHER IMMIGRATION LAW REMEDIES-FAMILY PETITIONS, WAIVERS, U VISA, SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE VISAS, ETC. -67 REMOVAL DEFENSE CASES FOR ADULTS -70 UNACCOMPANIED MINORS REMOVAL DEFENSE CASES -1,921 LEGAL IMMIGRATION CONSULTATIONS UFW FOUNDATION ALSO CONDUCTS A COMMUNITY COLLEGES PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES IMMIGRATION LEGAL CONSULTATION AND ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS WITH IMMIGRATION-RELATED NEEDS. UFW FOUNDATION OFFERED ITS SERVICES ON 16 CAMPUSES DURING 2022, PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTS: -ASSISTED 1,000 STUDENTS, STAFF OR FACULTY WITH IMMIGRATION LEGAL INFORMATION/SERVICES; -ENGAGED 7 STUDENT OUTREACH FELLOWS IN PROVIDING OUTREACH AND EDUCATION RELATED TO IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES; -EXPANDED REACH TO 3 ADDITIONAL COLLEGE CAMPUSES IN 2023. EDUCATION/OUTREACH-OFFERED INFORMATION AND WORKSHOPS TO RESPOND TO LEGAL, LABOR, HEALTH, AND RELATED HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICE NEEDS. -43,306 SERVED THROUGH A RANGE OF INFORMATION SESSIONS, TRAININGS, WEBINARS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS.

SYSTEMIC CHANGE: SYSTEMIC CHANGE ENCOMPASSES THE ORGANIZATION'S EFFORTS TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS TOWARD SOCIAL JUSTICE. OUR SYSTEMIC CHANGE DEPARTMENT SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF FARM WORKERS AND LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANT WORKERS THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, ORGANIZING CAMPAIGNS, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS THAT HELP ACTUALIZE JUST AND EQUITABLE PRACTICES, POLICIES, AND INSTITUTIONS. -REACHED AND ENGAGED OVER 100,000 FARM WORKERS IN IMMIGRATION REFORM EVENTS THAT INCLUDED OUTREACH TO MIGRANT FARM WORKER CAMPS; INFORMATION SESSIONS AT LOCAL CHURCHES, COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES, COMMUNITY EVENTS, HOUSE MEETINGS; AND LEGISLATIVE VISITS, CALL CAMPAIGNS, AND RELATED ADVOCACY ACTIONS. -UFW FOUNDATION LED MULTIPLE ADVOCACY VISITS TO WASHINGTON, D.C. INVOLVING A TOTAL OF 75 FARM WORKERS FROM 9 KEY FARM WORKER STATES-CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, OREGON, MICHIGAN, ARIZONA, COLORADO, GEORGIA, IDAHO AND TEXAS- TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FARM WORKER MODERNIZATION ACT. THIS RESULTED IN THE INTRODUCTION OF THE AFFORDABLE AND SECURE FOOD ACT, THE SENATE VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION. WHILE OUR EFFORTS TO GAIN PASSAGE WAS EVENTUALLY STALLED BY SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, WE DID MAKE SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND SUPPORT BUILDING AND WERE ABLE TO PREVENT TITLE 42 AND OTHER MISGUIDED BORDER ENFORCEMENT FROM BEING INCLUDED IN THE OMNIBUS BILL. -GEORGIA H-2A ABUSES-IN JULY AND OCTOBER 2022, DIANA TELLEFSON TORRES, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AND FARM WORKERS MET WITH SECRETARY OF LABOR MARTY WALSH IN GEORGIA AND D.C. RESPECTIVELY TO DISCUSS THE H-2A ABUSES IN GEORGIA. -PESTICIDE PROTECTION-CALLED FOR FEDERAL LEVEL PESTICIDE PROTECTIONS WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE BAN ALL NEUROTOXIC ORGANOPHOSPHATE PESTICIDES FROM OUR FOOD ACT (H.R. 8765), INTRODUCED BY REP. NYDIA VELAZQUEZ (D-NY) IN AUGUST 2022. -LABOR PROTECTIONS-ADVOCATED FOR THE PASSAGE OF FEDERAL LEVEL OVERTIME PROTECTIONS FOR ALL FARM WORKERS THROUGH THE FAIRNESS FOR FARMWORKERS ACT OF 2022. CURRENTLY, CALIFORNIA IS THE ONLY STATE THAT PROVIDES FOR OVERTIME PAY FOR FARM WORKERS AFTER A 40-HOUR WORK WEEK. -HEAT PROTECTIONS-PETITIONED FOR FEDERAL LEVEL EMERGENCY HEAT RULES AND MORE IMMEDIATE STATE PROTECTIONS, ALIGNED WITH FEDERAL STANDARDS, TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM HEAT ILLNESS AND DEATH.