Farmworkers on the Front Line with CATA – The Farmworkers Support Committee

This webinar will focus on the historic exclusion of farmworkers and how it has been exacerbated by the pandemic. The Sankofa Series is a monthly webinar series sharing the wisdom from past NESAWG conferences to help change the food system.

Presenters

Jessica Culley

Jessica Culley has been working with CATA since the year 2000, starting as an intern and now working as CATA’s General Coordinator. She is responsible for coordinating CATA’s work throughout southern New Jersey, southeastern Pennsylvania, and the Delmarva Peninsula. Jessica is originally from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania but has lived in the Philadelphia area for 20 years. In her former life, she studied Environmental Science in Northwestern, PA, lived and worked in rural Honduras, and studied massage therapy. Her favorite farm produce is a slice of watermelon on a hot day in July.

Edgar Aquino-Huerta

Edgar Aquino Huerta was born in Puebla, Mexico, in a small town called San Nicolas Tolentino. At the age of two, his mother carried him over the border in search of better opportunities. He is the son of immigrant farmworkers, and he always knew he wanted to create change when he grew up because of the corruption, mistreatment, and humiliation his mother went through. At the age of 13, his mother got too ill and returned to Mexico for treatment because she could not afford to be treated in America. Edgar began working in the fields and packing houses over his summers to send money to his mother and for himself to survive as well. He became a farmworker and finally understood the poor conditions his mother faced. Luckily in 2012, he was introduced to DACA and had the choice of working in a “normal” job during the summers or stay in the fields/packing houses. He chose the fields/packing houses because he saw its beauty and started a family with the people who raised him while his mother was away. After High School, he attended community college and Rowan University to pursue a degree in film. He has become one of the many voices for his community through his story, and CATA has allowed him to hear and share farmworkers’ unheard voices by doing outreach.

His favorite thing about working with CATA is helping farmworkers find their voice and encouraging them to use it because they have their own power. Edgar enjoys listening to their stories. They are heartbreaking, inspiring, and powerful. He knows he is an avenue to their stories.

Meghan Hurley

Meghan Hurley began working for CATA – The Farmworker Support Committee in 2012, first as Communications Coordinator and currently as the Policy and Advocacy Organizer. She manages CATA’s community radio station and coordinates their advocacy work on local, state, and national issues impacting the immigrant community. Before starting at CATA, Meghan spent two years living in Peru as a volunteer with the Good Shepherd Volunteer program working with youth and indigenous communities around Cusco. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Communication and a Master’s Degree in Global Development and Social Justice.

Kendra Prat

Kendra started as a Farmworker Organizer with CATA in August 2020. She has a background in community organizing and performance arts and graduated from New York University with a degree in Performance and Civic Engagement. She is currently a Philadelphia resident and is always looking for ways to use the arts (music, theatre, movement) to support building strong, liberated communities and connections across social movements.

One of her favorite things about working with CATA is the focus on popular education. The notion that as a Farmworker Organizer, she doesn’t show up to “help farmworkers.” She shows up to support workers’ reflections, build conversations, share skills and information, and support their action plans!