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The purpose of the Center for Farmworker Families is to promote awareness about the difficult life circumstances of binational families while proactively inspiring improvement in binational family life both in the United States and in Mexico.
We realize this purpose by engaging in the following activities:
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promoting the educational advancement of farm workers and their family members working in agriculture, as well as family members who are living on their farms of origin in the west central Mexico countryside.
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supporting projects in both Mexico and California designed to sustainably promote financial and nutritional well-being and independence.
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examining the federal and state legal structures that govern the lives and well-being of farmworkers and promoting the changes necessary for improved livelihood and well-being.
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research and education
has been researching binational farmworkers and working in the Watsonville and Salinas farmworker communities since 1997. Her research addresses the human side of the binational migration circuit from the subsistence and small producer farms of west central Mexico to employment in California’s corporate agribusiness in the post-NAFTA economy.
Dr. López’ findings while interviewing central California farmworker families and family members in Mexico were fundamentally disturbing and life-transforming. As a result, she and others are actively attempting to create awareness about the human rights abuses that are endemic to every juncture of the migrant circuit. She has initiated many projects on both sides of the border designed to provide information about and alleviate some of the inordinate suffering experienced daily by migrant farmworkers and their family members in Mexico.
Dr. López has a Ph.D. degree in environmental studies from UC Santa Cruz and has taught biology and environmental science courses at San José City College for many years.
Scott is currently a fourth-year student, working on an undergrad degree in Sociology at San Jose State University. He was introduced to the plight of migrant farmworker families, Dr. Ann Lopez, and the Center for Farmworker Families in 2009 while on a Farmworker Reality Tour. Having the opportunity to meet farmworker families face to face and establish a personal connection on such an intimate and deeply human level changed his life forever. Since then he has been honored to spend much of his time working with adults and children in Watsonville. His primary area of interest in working with farmworker families in promoting educational programs designed to meet the unique needs of the community and built as part of a collaborative partnership with the families we serve. In the future he plans to continue working with CFWF and developing and expanding educational programs while pursuing a doctorate in Sociology.
Sami Monsur is multi-lingual, bi-cultural, and holds a B.A. in Spanish with a minor in Latin American Studies. She is a Resource Analyst in the College of Education at San José State University. She is very active in San José neighborhood projects. She is President of the McKinley/Bonita Neighborhood Association and offers her front yard to low-income nearby apartment dwellers to grow some of their own food. She is also on the steering committee for Garden to Table (G2T). Garden to Table is an organization supporting community in growing produce, providing locally harvested food to those in Need, increasing social interactions among community members and developing an educational garden for all ages.
Cynthia Burnham was born and raised in Mexico. She holds an MA in Mathematics from UC Berkeley and teaches community college mathematics with an emphasis on helping Latinos achieve academic success. Cynthia joined the team in 2010 and uses her strong advocacy, background in education, and bilingual skills to promote our projects.
A student, Marina Moro founded a chapter of Student Peace Alliance and a student government position in which she encourages civic responsibility at her school. She also organized a block of curriculum about the environmental and ethical implications of pesticides as the teacher assistant of a 9th grade environmental science class. Marina is thrilled to be a part of the CFWF team!
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