California
CalAgrAbility staff attended the monthly RISE collaborative meeting in Esparto, CA. This collaborative meeting brings agencies from all over Yolo County to learn and participate in events, programs, and resources that are located in the county. Agencies that attended were Yolo County Library, Department of Rehabilitation, National Association of Community Health Centers, and many more. CalAgrAbility and DOR seized the opportunity to review joint farmer cases. Nancy Pacheco from Yolo Reads Program presented on a program serving adult residents of Yolo county that provides free tutoring in reading, spelling, computer skills, and job applications in rural areas. Pacheco explained that there is a lack of tutors with over 75 people on a waiting list.
CalAgrAbility staff reached out at the Veteran Farmers Outreach Day to veterans in the Elk Grove area that are or were thinking about becoming farmers. Veterans learned about resources available to them from agencies such as VBOC, USDA FSA, USDA NRCS, and many others. Farmer Veteran Coalition gave a presentation on veteran resources. A representative from Small Business Administration also gave a presentation on economic development in farming. Agencies at the event were also able to do networking with many representatives learning more about AgrAbility.
Staff sent outreach packets to CEOs of partner clinics and other partner medical centers throughout California. A total of 34 packets were sent out with some clinics contacting back for more brochures and information on CalAgrAbility. Outreach packets were also sent out to 24 FFA and 4-H chapters around Northern California.
CalAgrAbility joined Migrant Education Region 2 to do outreach at various migrant centers. Workers stay at these centers for about three weeks while they harvest pear orchards. Staff spoke to about 200 workers, with many of them migrating through the western stream harvesting pears, cherries, oranges, and other orchard fruits. A larger number of youth are migrating to find work during their high school summer breaks.
Submitted by Sara Wat