The mission of the Farmworker Advocacy Network (FAN) is to improve the living and working conditions of field and poultry workers in NC through coordination of administrative advocacy, leadership development of workers and young people, implementation of a comprehensive legislative advocacy campaign, and mobilization of allies to support farm labor struggles. Since 2016, the Farmworkers’ Project has led the coordination of FAN and forms an important connection to farmworker communities for the advocacy community.
Background
FAN holds community meetings with workers to discuss their concerns and ways in which we can work together. We collaborate with researchers to gather information on living and working conditions that can impact laws. With this collaborative approach, we combine the best research and policy recommendations with the daily lives of workers across North Carolina.
FAN meets with representatives from state and federal administrative agencies to identify and address deficiencies in their enforcement schemes. We work with elected officials to introduce key bills focused on worker health and safety. We conduct participatory workshops with worker leaders, which included information about FAN, Harvest of Dignity, worker rights and policy advocacy, as well as opportunities for workers to give input to our legislative agenda.
Harvest of Dignity
In 2011, we worked with Minnow Media to produce a half-hour documentary video highlighting the conditions of farmworkers in NC today, 50 years after the famous Harvest of Shame documentary aired on national television. The Harvest of Dignity documentary aired on public television and we have held film screenings for thousands of people throughout the state. FAN has also effectively used social media to garner support for increased protections for farmworkers and their families from the general public.