On the last Saturday of March, more than 40 volunteers flooded Petaluma Bounty Farm to participate in our annual Day of Service in honor of Cesar Chavez & Dolores Huerta. Volunteers helped clear the orchard of pruned branches, spread wood chips on the farm, paint signs, and more. 

Rohnert Park City Council member Jackie Elward was among those volunteers. Elward said Huerta is one of her “favorite women,” who inspires her. “She is an inspiration that many of us, especially women of color in the political world, look up to.” 

“Dolores has been fighting for the Latino community for many many years. And we’ve seen the change, right? On a national level and, on the local level,” Elward said. “If we can have many, many. Doloreses, that is the way to go.”

Elward also expressed her respects for immigrants who are farmworkers. “We need to protect them because the job that they do every day brings food the table every single day.” 

“As a first generation immigrant, I really understand the need to protect immigration.”

VIDAS leads conversation

Vital Immigrant Defense Advocacy and Services (VIDAS) staffers not only participated in the workday but led a discussion afterwards about farmworkers, especially those facing immigration-related pressures.

Petaluma Bounty staff and volunteers reflected on the hard and often invisible work farmworkers perform to keep our region’s wine industry going; health risks farmworkers face in light of the bird flu threat; conditions they endured during the Covid-19 pandemic, and more. 

VIDAS shared that their work to support immigrants has become increasingly challenging under the current administration. 

“It’s been really difficult … because things change daily. And every day, we’re getting memos and emails of executive orders coming down that are making our work more difficult. But we know it’s worth it because people here are a part of our community.”

Some ways to help include:

• Bilingual volunteers can help the North Bay Rapid Response Network
• Legally observe in the case of an an ICE enforcement action and ask questions, especially if you are a citizen. 
• Show up at demonstrations, “especially if you’re a citizen, especially if you’re white.”

Undocumented people are showing up at these actions despite the high risk and it’s important to show up “in allyship and in solidarity.” 

Visit VIDAS’ website to learn more about their work.