Watsonville Campesino Appreciation Caravan -Update

On Episode 92, our co-host, Jasmine Nájera had the opportunity to talk with Joanne Sanchez and Ruby Vasquez from the Watsonville Campesino Appreciation Caravan for an update on the groups work. The volunteers have continued to visit farms each week, sometimes more to appreciate, support and connect farm workers with essential needs and donations.

You can thank campesinos/farm workers for the fruits and vegetables you consume on a daily basis. During this pandemic, they work at risk of contracting Covid-19 for the the lowest wages in the country and under the most dangerous conditions to get these nutritious foods to your table.

If you would like to support the work of the caravan and make a meaningful donation, please click here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/LaborEsencial

Joanne Sanchez was the Watsonville Community reporter at the Santa Cruz Sentinel before moving on to focus her energy in the non-profit sector. She was the Public Relations manager at CASA of Santa Cruz County, serves on the Board of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, and is a founding member of the Watsonville Campesino Appreciation Caravan. Joanne was instrumental in the creation of the Digital NEST.

Ruby Vasquez is the daughter of loving parents who worked the fields, safeguarded traditions, served others, and emphasized the importance of education and familia. These values have shaped who she is and how she serves her community.

After earning a BA in American studies with an emphasis on Chicano studies and a bilingual teaching credential from UC-Santa Cruz, Ruby started working at Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) in 1987 and eearned a master’s in educational leadership at Mills College in Oakland.

Ruby began dancing Mexican folk dance at the age of 6. Dance made her more aware of her cultural heritage and helped her develop a strong sense of pride and self confidence. She joined Esperanza del Valle (EDV), a Watsonville adult Mexican folk dance group in 1987 and now serve as assistant director. EDV promotes pride and an understanding of Mexican culture through traditional dance forms rooted in the merging of indigenous, European, and African heritages.

In 2006 she founded Estrellas de Esperanza, a 40+ member dance group for students ranging in the ages of 5 to 18. Estrellas is committed to projecting a positive image of Mexican culture and ensuring that local students learn about their heritage.

Ruby's involvement goes beyond the arts. As a parent education trainer for PVUSD, she works with colleagues to engage parents in their children’s schooling. More recently, she helped to form the Watsonville Campesino Appreciation Caravan, dedicated to agricultural campesinos (fieldworkers). At the onset of the pandemic, they were left out of the “essential workers” narrative. What began as a caravan of cars driving past local agricultural worksites with messages of gratitude in Spanish and Mixteco Bajo has transformed into Adopt a Cuadrilla, where the group distributes personal protective equipment and household supplies. This work and everything else that she does is offered with respect to our local community.

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