By Kurt Gibbon, Petaluma Bounty volunteer

On April 1, after a fulfilling morning of working alongside other volunteers in preparation for the growing season at the farm and the upcoming plant sale, it was a pleasure to gather with a small group to discuss the work and legacy of Cesar Chavez.

First, we shared our own reflections on our knowledge of his decades-long work, the struggles and opposition he faced, and the progress that was made because of Cesar’s selfless efforts. In that short discussion, I learned more about Chavez than I ever had been taught in school. I also became more aware of the work of civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, who often partnered closely with him. (We will be celebrating her on April 15 at the farm!) We discussed many of the hardships they endured in their fight for workers’ rights as well as the dedication of their families and wider support network that made their activism even possible.

We then turned our attention to the present day, discussing that as far as we’ve come, there is still so much more to do. We shared our own reflections and observations of issues still facing farm workers here in Sonoma County, including the impact of recent wildfires and other weather-related events that immediately sever the income that the workers and their families rely on. Through this discussion I learned of the current work of numerous grassroots organizations, including the North Bay Jobs With Justice, which have organized safety patrols in nearby vineyards, observing worker conditions and access to basic needs, especially during the busy harvest season.

I left the farm that day not only more educated about trailblazers like Cesar and Dolores but filled with gratitude for them and all those that have continued to stand up for the safety and basic rights of the workers who perform the critical work that literally allows food to be on our tables. The day also revealed we still have such a long way to go, and motivated me to educate myself further on these urgent issues, raise more awareness of them at every opportunity, and find ways where I can have an impact. We are all in this together and the time is right now.