Celebration brings hope amid challenges

The North Kern Chapter of Líderes Campesinas hosted CampesinXmas at the Wasco Woman's Club on Friday, featuring a traditional Mexican posada. Over 250 toys were distributed, bikes and gift cards were raffled, and members of the organization prepared a homemade birria dinner.

"It was a packed house, and the room was full of joy," Líderes Campesinas Executive Director Suguet Lopez said. "We were blessed to have had the support of all our sponsors, and we are so happy we could share this special time with our farm-working family, for whom we are incredibly grateful. Farmworkers feed the nation, and during this holiday season, it's nice we can celebrate them."

The event featured an interactive forum for the farm working community to share their concerns and hopes following the 2024 elections. Topics discussed included workplace health and safety, immigration, healthcare, personal finance and financial literacy. The United Farm Workers Foundation's director of immigration legal services, Ambar S. Tovar, gave a "Know Your Rights" presentation, explaining what workers should do if they encounter Border Patrol or ICE agents. Guests were encouraged to ask questions, share comments, and discuss key takeaways. Representatives from Building Healthy Communities of Kern, CHIRLA, Californians for Pesticide Reform, Kern Family Health Care and the Agricultural Labor Relations Board attended.

CampesinXmas not only provided a safe space for farmworkers to share their concerns and hopes for the new year, particularly about the outcomes of the election, but also offered valuable information. While there has been significant progress in areas such as farmworkers' rights, housing assistance, healthcare access, immigration, domestic violence and sexual harassment in the workplace, Lopez shared her worries: "The question is whether these supports will remain accessible under the incoming administration or if they will become harder to access. That's why we're partnering with state agencies and private organizations to bring them to our events, so they can share available resources and let the community know these services are here. Our hope is that people will continue to have access to these services. We understand that some adjustments will be necessary in the new year to continue providing these services, but we are committed to staying connected."

Regarding the new Trump-led government, she said they are planning for the worst but hoping for the best, adding that much has been said about deportation and terminating specific programs that benefit the immigrant community. "We just don't know, though our state has committed to be a sanctuary state. But people can't help but hear the comments, including those from some local authorities, especially when they embrace the National Guard and the militarization of our borders. It sounds very threatening to our community."