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Fall/Winter 2011                     COALICION-RURAL-COALITION NEWSLETTER
Volume 1, Issue 1


                                                                        PLOW to PRINT
                                                                 Rural News that Penetrates the Surface



                                  Producers struggle with climate disasters in MA and OK
                                  Outreach Coordinator: Angela Adrar
                                  Climate disasters have increased    to recover some crops to have
Inside this issue:                in intensity and frequency as       ready for Thanksgiving. High
                                  scientists have predicted; with     Tunnels are a NRCS tool for
Policy Shop                  2    droughts, hurricanes, storms and    conservation, Rural Coalition
                                  floods wrecking rural livelihoods   worked very hard to have them
                                  and along with them the possibil-   included in the 2008 Farm Bill
New Technology:              2    ity for our small farmers and       and implemented at Flats Men-
                                  ranchers to stay afloat in this     tor Farm. But it is unjust to
                                  economic market.                    see that there is no insurance
USDA Program Profile         3
                                                                      product that can make up
                                  Two of our members organiza-
                                                                      these end of season losses in
                                  tions; Flats Mentors Farm in
Cultural Corner              3                                        specialty crops for these hard       Farmer at Flats Mentor Farm in Lan-
                                  Massachusetts and the Oklahoma
                                                                      working producers.                   caster, Massachusetts
                                  Black Historical Research Project
                                                                                                           Credit: www.telegram.com
                                  (OBHRP) are working hard to         In August, disaster declarations
Rural Youth                  4
                                  recover respectively, from floods   were announced for 67 coun-
                                  and droughts in the United                                               As a result, OBHRP, which has
                                                                      ties in Oklahoma due to the
Members Report               6    States.                                                                  served Oklahoma producers for
                                                                      heat and a combination of
                                                                                                           more than a decade, is coordinat-
                                  In September, tropical storm Lee    drought, hail, and most re-
USDA Discrimination          8                                                                             ing an effort to bring emergency
                                  sent enough rain to wipe out        cently fires that have resulted
Cases: An update                                                                                           relief to African American, Ameri-
                                  most year end production at         in very little hay available in
                                                                                                           can Indian and other small-scale
Events Calendar              10   Flats Mentor Farm with most         the state. Producers are unable
                                                                                                           producers in Oklahoma. Our
                                  farmers totally devastated. Pro-    to feed cattle and are losing
                                  ject Director, Maria Moreira                                             unstoppable board member,
                                                                      animals or are being forced to
International Solidarity     10   stated, “only two farmers are                                            Willard Tillman of OBHRP in coop-
                                                                      sell livestock at very low prices.
                                  able to sell at the Farmers Mar-                                         eration with Randall Ware and
                                                                      These losses have caused se-
                                  ket.” They are working on more                                           the Kiowa Nation
                                                                      vere economic damage and
   RSVP TODAY                     flood control improvements.         harm the producer’s ability to
                                  High tunnels are being used now                                          (continued on pg. 5)
                                                                      rebuild herds in the future.
 WASHINGTON, DC

      Winter Forum
     Nov 30th and Dec 1st         Nothing Grows from the Top Down
    United Methodist Building     Executive Director: Lorette Picciano
  Annual Gala Dinner              Fall has come (well, maybe          and human family around the          and your contributions, on the
                                  winter also) and with it,           country, and now also in El          hay lift for rancher in Okla-
       December 1, 2011
                                  Mother Earth reminds us of          Salvador and South Asia and          homa who experienced the
       National Press Club        the beauty in change and gives      Turkey, so negatively affected       hottest summer on record.
                                  us pause and reflection on the      by natural disasters this year.      Our National Rural Gathering
RC Member’s Meeting               season past. The year has been      Our board member Willard             in Shawnee, OK was a summer
     December 2nd, 2011           filled with many moments of         Tillman continues his hard           highlight with over 250 partici-
     More Info: Page 8            gratification in our work, but      work, with support from Farm         pants. (continued on pg. 9)
                                  also prayers for our members        Aid, Family Farm Defenders
Page 2                       PLOW to PRI NT                                                               Volume 1, Issue 1




                             Policy Shop: From Field to Policy
                             Policy Advisor: Tracy McCurty
                             As the Fall Equinox ap-           ted numerous Comments to            revision of land management
                             proaches, it is an appropriate    the United States Department        plans.
                             time to reflect on Rural Coali-   of Agriculture (USDA) regard-       One of our primary recom-
                             tion’s collective work and pol-   ing proposed regulations that       mendations involved the devel-
                             icy accomplishments this har-     would impact the rural farm         opment of a detailed frame-
                             vest season. Like our member      families and communities we         work to ensure the protection
                             farmers and farmworkers, the      serve. In May, the Rural Coali-     of cultural and historic re-
                             Rural Coalition has been active   tion with our partners drafted      sources; management of areas
                             planting and harvesting           and submitted Comments to           of tribal importance; protec-
                             through our policy, advocacy      the USDA Forest Service Plan-       tion of wilderness, wild and
                             and fieldwork.                    ning Committee regarding revi-      scenic rivers; and other uses
   Tracy McCurty,                                              sions to the Forest Planning
   Rural Coalition           Notable Rural Coalition                                               that protect the cultural vi-
                             Comments                          regulations to ensure the par-      brancy of indigenous commu-
   Policy Advisor                                              ticipation of historically under-
                             This past season, the Rural                                           nities. We further recom-
                                                               served populations in the de-       mended that the framework
                             Coalition drafted and submit-     velopment, amendment and            (continued on page 6)




                             New Technology: Get Involved for ACTION
  “With over 600 million     Outreach Coordinator: Bryn Bird
  FaceBook users and 2
  billion videos streamed    Only a few years ago social       here to stay and has an incredi-    Tube, social media is an engine
  every day on YouTube,      media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter,    bly powerful impact on the          for social change.
 social media is an engine
                             Youtube) was a platform for       world we live in. The Univer-
     for social change.”
                             youth to share their daily life   sity of Washington has pub-         Rural Coalition is working to
                             and gossip with each other.       lished a study finding that so-     harness this form of communi-
                             For many, this type of commu-     cial media played a central role    cation and community organiz-
                             nication seemed to be a fad       in organizing the political de-     ing asks you to join us!
                             and a free form of entertain-     bate surrounding the 2011           Please “fan” us on Facebook.
                             ment.                             Egyptian Revolution. With           Follow us on Twitter
                             However, over the past year       over 600 million Facebook           View our videos on Youtube.
                             we have seen social media is      users and 2 billion videos          Share Pictures on Flickr.
                                                               streamed every day on You-          (continued on pg. 5)




                             Staff Highlight: American Sustainable Business Council’s (ASBC)
                             Sustainable Agriculture Intern : Marguerite Conroy
                             A= Angela Adrar                   summer here at the Rural            working with the Latino Farm-
                             RC Outreach Coordinator           Coalition. Every time is a          ers and Ranchers as well as
                                                               new experience and today I          Rural Coalition.
                             M=Marguerite Conroy ASBC          am speaking to…
                             Sustainable Agriculture Intern                                        A: Tell us a little bit about
                                                               M: My name is Marguerite            what you have been working
 ASBC                        A: Okay, so we’re here actu-      Conroy. I am a student at the       on, between ASBC ,
 Sustainable Agriculture     ally preparing for our first      College of Charleston. I am in      NLFRTA and the Rural
 Intern:                     newsletter and we wanted to       my last year and I am interning     Coalition.
 Marguerite Conroy           showcase some of the amaz-        here with American Sustain-
                             ing talent that we get every      able Business Council and I am      (continue on pg.6)
PLOW to PRI NT                                                                Volume 1, Issue 1                                    Page 3




Cultural Corner: Language Access (English and Español)
Language Access Specialist: Laural Valdes
Communication is key in            ally. This past June I had the      ing in Shawnee, Oklahoma. It
bridging gaps; when communi-       privilege of attending an           was a very gratifying experi-
ties and organizations can re-     ‘Interpreting for Social Justice’   ence; not only did I learn more
late their struggles and accom-    training by Roberto Tijerina        about the movement, but I was
plishments without language        from the Highlander Research        able to facilitate others’ under-
being an impediment, progress      and Education Center in Flor-       standing as well.
ensues. The Rural Coalition        ida along with other volunteer
has been a pioneer organiza-       interpreters from the Farm          La comunicación es clave para
tion in ensuring language ac-      Worker Association of Florida,      formar redes fuertes; cuando la
cess to build solidarity and       where we gained insightful          comunidades y las organi-
fortify our movement. My ex-       training/tips of successful in-     zaciones pueden unir sus lu-
                                                                                                           Laura Valdes is Rural
perience working with the Ru-      terpreting. I applied this          chas y logros sin que el idioma
                                                                                                           Coalition’s, Language
ral Coalition this summer has      knowledge at the Rural Coali-                                           Access Specialist
                                                                       (continued on page 5)
helped me to grow profession-      tion’s National Rural Gather-




USDA Program Profile: APHIS
The Animal and Plant Health            markets and promoting           stock and poultry. APHIS
Inspection Service (APHIS)             trade; and                      veterinarians also help to con-
may not be a familiar house-                                           trol/eradicate certain domestic
                                   •   Limiting the damage wild-
hold name to all Americans,                                            diseases like brucellosis in cat-
                                       life can cause to farms and
but this agency of the U.S.                                            tle, low pathogenic avian influ-
Department of Agriculture              ranches.                        enza in poultry, and scrapie in
provides a vital function for      APHIS has staff in all 50           sheep and goats.
producers and growers: helping     States, several Territories, and
                                                                       When a foreign animal disease
to keep their animals and crops    more than 40 countries world-
                                                                       outbreak is detected, APHIS           APHIS programs help
healthy and safe from foreign      wide. APHIS employees in-           establishes quarantines—in            ranchers and farmers
diseases and pests.                clude scientists, veterinarians,    cooperation with State offi-        safeguard the health of
                                   biologists, insect experts, and                                          livestock, poultry, and
APHIS serves the agricultural                                          cials—to help prevent the
                                   plant specialists. They work                                               crops in addition to
community in many ways, in-                                            spread of the disease to unaf-
                                   with growers, producers, and
cluding:                                                               fected producers and to pro-             helping combat
                                   trade organizations; State, local   tect their access to local and          invasive species.
•   Safeguarding the health of     and Tribal governments; and
                                                                       international markets. APHIS
    livestock, poultry, and        other stakeholders to find solu-
                                                                       has successfully eradicated
    crops;                         tions to farm animal and plant      foreign animal disease out-
                                   health issues.
•   Combating invasive spe-                                            breaks in the United States
    cies;                          APHIS works to protect and          such as classical swine fever,
                                   improve the health, quality,        exotic Newcastle disease, and
•   Working with other Fed-        and marketability of farm ani-      highly pathogenic avian influ-
    eral, State, and local part-   mals, animal products, and          enza.
    ners to respond to agricul-    veterinary biologics. APHIS
    tural pest and disease out-                                        For crop producers, APHIS
                                   specialists monitor and identify
    breaks, as well as natural                                         safeguards plants and trees
                                   threats to animal health, and
    disasters like hurricanes                                          against risks associated with
                                   work with State and local offi-
    and floods;                                                        the entry, establishment, or
                                   cials to respond to foreign
•   Opening new international      disease outbreaks in U.S. live-     (continued on pg. 4)
Page 4                      PLOW to PRI NT                                                               Volume 1, Issue 1




                            Rural Youth: We All Belong to Mother Earth
                            Poem recited at the 2011 National Rural Gathering by Farmworker Youth
                            We all belong to Mother Earth,                       When I’m standing, leaning, bend-
                            Mother Earth does not belong to us.                  ing, kneeling under the hot sun,
                                                                                 working in the field trying to bring
                                                                                 some sustenance.
                            There’s No Borders, We don’t need a
                            piece of paper to feel we belong.                    Words can cause a lifetime of pain
                                                                                 and prejudice. We Just want
                            Color of skin makes no difference.                   Justice!!!
                            Stereotypes tear us down,
                            stifles, cripples the human race can’t               We all are Equal. We all are Human
                            you see the pain,                                    Beings. We all exist all together
                            the look on my face?                                 upon our majestic Earth Mother.


                            USDA Program Profile: APHIS
                            (continued from pg. 3)
                                                               Americans value many kinds of      help with a wildlife damage
                            spread of invasive plant pests     wildlife found in our country.     management issue, please call
                            and diseases, as well as harmful   But as farmers and ranchers        the Wildlife Services toll-free
                            foreign weeds. To carry out        know, wild animals can also        number at (866) 487-3297.
                            this mission, APHIS surveys        damage their crops, kill their
                            for pests in the United States                                        East of the Mississippi River
                                                               animals, and even pose risks to    and want to discuss or report a
                            and monitors data from             humans. APHIS’ wildlife ex-
 Rural Coalition is         around the world to develop                                           pest or disease detection or
                                                               perts can provide farmers and      learn about requirements for
 working in partnership     strategies to keep pests out of    ranchers with effective and
                            the United States, and to con-                                        agricultural import/export, you
 with APHIS ;                                                  environmentally safe solutions
                            trol or eradicate those that do                                       may contact the Eastern Re-
                                                               to problems with wildlife.         gion Veterinary Services office
 Join our animal health
                            gain entry. At ports of entry      APHIS also monitors and sur-
 team by emailing           across the country, APHIS                                             at (919) 855-7250 or the Plant
                                                               veys for wildlife diseases such    Protection and Quarantine
 Bryn@ruralco.org           works with Department of           as highly pathogenic avian in-
                            Homeland Security officials to                                        Eastern Region office at (919)
                                                               fluenza, West Nile virus,          855-7300.
                            inspect agricultural imports       chronic wasting disease, and
   We are submitting        and treat any shipments that       Lyme disease. In addition,         West of the Mississippi, please
 comments on the APHIS      might introduce a pest of con-     APHIS works to prevent the         contact the Western Region
    proposed rule on        cern. APHIS’ scientists and        spread of wildlife rabies in the   Veterinary Services office at
   Animal Traceability      specialists develop scientific     United States. APHIS also          (970) 494-7400, or the Plant
   send your input to       methods to prevent, detect,        helps to protect and preserve      Protection and Quarantine
   Tracy @ruralco.org       identify, and control or eradi-    our Nations’ natural re-           Western Region office at (970)
                            cate these pests. When an          sources—such as wetland habi-      494-7500.
 by December 1st, 2011
                            invasive pest or disease does      tats, forests, and threatened      You can also find APHIS and
                            manage to enter the country,       and endangered species—from        its activities on the Internet at
 Find out more click here   early detection is the key to      wildlife damage.                   www.aphis.usda.gov
                            preventing it from becoming
                            established and spreading.         APHIS stands ready to be of
                                                               service to you. If you need
PLOW to PRI NT                                                                Volume 1, Issue 1                                 Page 5




Producers struggle with climate disasters in OK and MA
(continued from pg.1) are playing    to producers across the State      and Other Feed Sup-
a coordinating role to distrib-      that are in need.                  plies may be delivered to our
ute hay to surrounding com-                                             central distribution point at
munities, and have established       Donating Funds: Funds are          2620 Coltrane Rd., Oklahoma
a central distribution point.        urgently needed to cover distri-   City, OK 73121 c/o OBHRP,
                                     bution costs. All donations are    Inc.
On August 26, 2011– the first        tax deductible. Please make        Donate online at:
of the hay lifts arrived in Okla-    checks out to OBHRPI with          http://ruralco.org/
homa, with thanks to Farm            the memo "Disaster Relief
Aid, Family Farm Defenders           Fund" and send to Oklahoma
                                     Black Historical Research Pro-     Or Contact:
and other groups. Hay and                                                                                  Willard Tillman.
                                     ject, 2505 N.W. 118th Street,      Willard Tillman
funds for transport of hay are                                                                             Executive Director
                                     Oklahoma City, OK 73120 or         Executive Director-OBHRP
still urgently needed and will                                                                             OBHRP
                                     donate on line from the link       (405) 201-6624
continue to provide assistance
                                     from the ruralco.org site Hay      Wtillman2@cox.net




New Technology: Get Involved for ACTION
(continued from pg. 2)               to policy items, farm team ac-     Twitter, or other social media
Rural Coalition is also creating     tions, USDA deadlines, and         outlets yet? Please ask us and      JOIN OUR CELL PHONE
a Cell Phone Action Net-             other action opportunities. If     we will be happy to walk you        ACTION NETWORK:
work                                 you can text, joining the Cell     through a tutorial. Don’t be
                                     Phone Action Network is sim-       afraid, we all had to ask once      Text: RuralCo
Over 86% of Americans own a          ple!! Helping to create change     too!                                to number: 77007
cell phone, and 75% text daily.      doesn’t get easier than this!!
Texting is a great way for Rural                                        Contact Bryn@ruralco.org or         and follow the prompts
Coalition to send out “action        Text: RuralCo to number:           Angela@ruralco.org for a help-      sent to you in a
alerts” quickly. By joining the      77007 and follow the prompts       ing hand or assistance with cell    message to get
network you will receive in-         sent to you!!                      phone action alert set-up.          involved!!
stant text messages alerting you     Have you joined Facebook,




La Esquina Cultural: La Comunicación es Clave (Español)
(continued from page 3) les sea un   para la Justicia Social,’ con      pretar exitosamente. Yo apli-
impedimento, el progreso se          Roberto Tijerina del Centro        qué este conocimiento en la
puede realizar. Mi experiencia       Highlander Research and Edu-       Asamblea Rural Nacional de la      Check out the short
trabajando con la Coalición          cation, en Florida junto con       Coalición Rural en Shawnee,        “Born in the USDA”
Rural este verano me ha ayu-         otros interpretes voluntarios de   Oklahoma. Honestamente fue         culture and language
dado a crecer profesional-           la Asociación de los Traba-        una experiencia genial; no solo    access video created by
mente. Este junio pasado tuve        jadores del Campo de Florida,      aprendí más acerca del             our members at the 2011
el privilegio de atender el en-      donde adquirimos un entre-         movimiento, pero también           National Rural Gather-
trenamiento ‘Interpretando           namiento útil de cómo inter-       logre facilitar la comunicación.   ing.. Click here
Page 6                 PLOW to PRI NT                                    Volume 1, Issue 1




CENTER FOLD: MEMBERS REPORT




                       1264 Apopka Boulevard ● Apopka, FL 32703
                         (407)886-5151 phone ● (407)884-6644 fax
                                www.floridafarmworkers.org


                           REPORT ON OKLAHOMA TRIP

FARMWORKER ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA
RURAL COALITION’S NATIONAL RURAL GATHERING
OKLAHOMA – JUNE 2011

From June 21-25, 2011, the Farmworker Association of Florida took a delegation of 56
comprised of community leaders, Board members, youth, and staff, to the Rural Coali-
tion’s National Rural Gathering. Farmworker leaders were organized from 6 different
agricultural communities throughout Central and South Florida to represent their com-
munities and participate in this important event.

The workshops that the leaders participated in include: USDA outreach to socially
disadvantaged farmers, food sovereignty, energy alternatives, land use and access,
revisions to the Farm Bill, and youth in today’s agriculture. The delegation also partici-
pated in small group work where they discussed protecting the land, local food sys-
tems, saving seeds and culture, genetic modification, farmer-worker solidarity on agri-
culture and immigration issues, struggles and dignity of rural peoples, and climate and
energy crises.

The youth participated in the National Youth in Today’s Agriculture Youth Assembly,
where they put together a short film showing the realities that they face in their com-
munities, including peer pressure, drugs, alcohol, and domestic violence in their com-
Page 7                 PLOW to PRI NT                                  Volume 1, Issue 1



munity, home, and school. Also, youth supported simultaneous translation needs dur-
ing the conference.

Two FWAF staff members conducted a session on USDA claims and processes with
Latino small farmers. Another FWAF staff member participated on a panel about local
food systems, and provided details about how FWAF’s community farm in Fellsmere
began and has evolved into an exemplary project led by farmworker families who are
committed to increasing the local supply of fresh food in their community. Participants
also had the opportunity to learn about the challenges facing farmworkers, farmers,
and rural peoples in Honduras, Cameroon, and Brazil from representatives from those
countries.

We appreciate the support from Rural Coalition which enabled us to have a large Flor-
ida delegation participating in this important event.
Page 8                                PLOW to PRI NT                                                              Volume 1, Issue 1




                                      Policy Shop: From Field to Policy
                                      (continued from page 2)           Farm Credit System institu-        these committees, institutions,
                                      be developed with the input of    tions are not accessible to the    and organizations to assist in
                                      representatives from indige-      underserved farmer and have        the development of marketing
                                      nous communities and that the     failed to conduct outreach to      plans. Furthermore, we rec-
                                      value of their scientific and     our communities to educate         ommended that the final rule
                                      traditional knowledge be rec-     them regarding the institution’s   should emphasize the impor-
                                      ognized. Additionally, we rec-    programs and services. In the      tance of allowing institutions
                                      ommended that the proposed        words of Rudy Arredondo,           to use discretion in determin-
                                      regulation be expanded to in-     President of the National La-      ing whether farmers are credit-
                                      clude specific language regard-   tino Farmers and Ranchers          worthy and eligible to borrow.
Randolph County, Indiana              ing the manner in which Fed-      Trade Association and RC           If the Farm Credit System in-
(1910)                                erally Recognized Tribes will     Board Member, “The Farm            stitutions want to make signifi-
                                      be engaged in the monitoring      Credit System is further be-       cant strides in serving histori-
                                      process and what funds would      yond the reach of the farmer       cally underserved farming
                                      be identified to encourage this   than a commercial bank. We         communities, these institutions
                                      specific outreach and engage-     never felt this was a source of    must recognize that their credit
                                      ment.                             assistance.”                       requirements should be more
                                      In July, the Rural Coalition      Despite this reality, the Rural    flexible.
                                      with our partners drafted and     Coalition is committed to dis-     For a copy of the Comments submit-
                                      submitted Comments to the         mantling all forms of institu-     ted by the Rural Coalition, email
                                      Farm Credit Administration        tional racism and recom-           Tracy McCurty, Policy Advisor, at
  “the Farm Credit                    regarding amendments to its       mended that the Farm Credit        tracy@ruralco.org. In the near
  System is further                   regulations to require each       System institutions cultivate      future, all of our Comments will be
  beyond the reach of                 Board of Directors of each        meaningful relationships with      made available on our website.
  the farmer than a                   Farm Credit System to adopt a     the USDA Minority Farms
  commercial bank,                    human capital plan as well as a   Advisory Committee author-
                                      marketing plan within its over-   ized by the 2008 Farm Bill and
  We never felt this was              all operational and strategic     now established, community-
  a source of assistance.”
                                      plan that emphasized diversity    based organizations that serve
  - Rudy Arredondo                    and inclusion. In preparing       socially disadvantaged and
  President of the National           our Coalition’s Comments to       limited resource farmers, 1890
  Latino Farmers and Ranchers         the proposed rule, we spoke to    and 1994 Land Grant Colleges
                                      several members about the         and Universities, and grantees
                                      Farm Credit System and there      under the 2501 Outreach and
                                      was a universal perception        Technical Assistance Program
                                      amongst our members that the      as well as identify persons from



                                      USDA Discrimination Cases an Update
                                      Policy Advisor: Tracy McCurty
                                      Garcia and Love Update            within our coalition that the      the $50,000 cap on damages
                                                                        settlement agreements involv-      from discrimination, omission
                                      At this year’s Rural Coalition                                       of USDA guaranteed loans as
                                      Assembly in Shawnee, Okla-        ing the Latino and Women’s
                                                                        discrimination cases were de-      part of the debt forgiveness,
                                      homa, the Assembly adopted a                                         and the absence of an appeals
                                      “Resolution to Support Equita-    veloping in a manner that was
                                                                        devoid of equality, justice and    process.
Latino Farmers from the 1930s Photo   ble Treatment for Farmers in
Courtesy of WhatCom of History and    the Garcia, Love, Keepseagle      dignity. The most problematic
Art.                                  and Pigford Cases.” The Reso-     aspects of the current settle-     On July 18th, the RC Resolu-
                                      lution was produced out of a      ment agreement are the lack of     tion and an accompanying
                                      deep sentiment of chagrin         comparable class treatment for     letter were sent to President
                                                                        Latino and Women farmers,          (continue on page 7)
PLOW to PRI NT                                                                      Volume 1, Issue 1                                        Page 9




USDA Discrimination Cases an Update
(continued from page 6)                 attended the Pigford II Fair-        support from Class Counsel.
Barack Obama, U.S. Attorney             ness Hearing that was held in        Tracy Lloyd McCurty, Policy
General Eric Holder and                 federal court and presided by        Advisor for the Rural Coali-
USDA Secretary of Agriculture           Judge Paul Friedman. The             tion, formally read the state-
Thomas Vilsack. To date, the            purpose of the hearing was to        ment prepared by the Rural
Rural Coalition, National La-           discuss the various aspects of       Coalition and our members to
tino Farmers and Ranchers               the proposed settlement and to       the Court. The Rural Coalition
Trade Association, the Colo-            afford farmers, community-           strongly supported the recom-
rado Latino Farmers and                 based farming organizations,         mendations of the Federation
Ranchers Organizing Commit-             and other interested parties the     of Southern Cooperatives and         Bureau of Indian Affairs Here is
tee, the Federation of Southern         opportunity to make formal           also urged the Court to give         Louie Pierre, a farmer on the Flathead
Cooperatives/Land Assistance            remarks to the Court regarding       due consideration to the pro-        Reservation in Montana around
Fund, Land Loss Prevention              their objections, recommenda-        grammatic relief incorporated        1920.
Project and the Minority Agri-          tions or modifications to the        in the Keepseagle Consent
cultural Producers continue to          proposed settlement. The             Decree as well as the equity
communicate directly with               hearing was a poignant culmi-        provisions in the 2008 Farm
Latino producers as well as             nation for Black farmers and         Bill. Specifically, the Rural
community based farming or-             their long battle against the        Coalition urged the Court to
ganizations comprised of La-            USDA, an institutional force         consider incorporating the
tino producers regarding the            that has sought to destroy the       creation of an USDA Om-
ever shifting posture of the            Black farmers’ right to exist as     budsperson and the establish-
Garcia case.                            well as erode Black rural land-      ment of a Loan Council, both
                                        ownership. For hours, Black          key programmatic components              “An injury to one
The Rural Coalition will con-           elder farmers and their descen-
tinue to work with all the farm-                                             of the Keepseagle settlement,            is an injury to all.”
                                        dants (some of whom traveled         into the final Pigford II settle-
ers and ranchers we serve until         to Washington, DC from as far                                                 -Latina labor union
all the outstanding claims are                                               ment.
                                        as Mississippi and Louisiana),                                                leader and Activist
settled for every producer who          shared their personal and fa-                                                 Luisa Moreno
has been subjected to unfair            milial narratives of their experi-   Furthermore the Rural Coali-             (Congreso de los
treatment. In the words of              ences with USDA over decades         tion recommended that the                Pueblos) 1910-1922
Luisa Morena, "An Injury to One         and how their families suffered      settlement agreement specifi-
is An Injury to All."                   immeasurably by being forced         cally compel USDA agencies
                                        from the land.                       serving African American and
Pigford II Update                       Ralph Paige, Executive Direc-        other socially disadvantaged
                                        tor of the Federation of South-      producers to regularly collect
I see why there is such a thing as      ern Cooperatives/Land Assis-         and provide the racial, ethnic,
ancestor worship. I could not love my   tance Fund, spoke on behalf of       and gender participation rate
                                        the Federation of Southern           data required under Section
sharecropping ancestors more if I had                                        14006 of the Food and Agri-
                                        Cooperatives as well as the
created them myself. That black         Network of Black Farm                culture Act of 2008 and to also
Southerners still love nature and       Groups and Advocates. Paige          utilize this data as required
revere the earth is the legacy of a     offered three recommenda-            under Section 14007 of the Act
                                        tions to the Court regarding         to proactively access civil rights
people whose innate elegance and                                             compliance and to investigate
                                        the proposed settlement: Im-
dignity was always expressed in the     plementation of an Appeals           strategies to improve participa-
essentials.                             Process, Extension of the 180-       tion of African American pro-
                                        Day Claims Process and Ex-           ducers in all programs serving
-Alice Walker
                                        pansion of the Pigford II class      producers. Recognizing that
On September 1, 2011, Rural             to include all groups of farmers     the Black farmer will never be       1910 Black Farmer in the US
Coalition Executive Director,           that were left out of the “Late      made whole from a meager
Lorette Picciano, Policy Advi-          Claim” settlement agreement.         settlement fund, the Rural Coa-
sor, Tracy McCurty, and nu-             Unfortunately, none of these         lition also urged the Court to
merous RC Board members                 recommendations garnered any         address Black rural land loss.
Page 10                            PLOW to PRI NT                                                                      Volume 1, Issue 1




                                                 November/December 2011 Events
                                                 • 11/3 : USDA Minority Farmers Advisory Committee
                                                   Meeting Albuquerque , New Mexico
 Rural Coalition’s Winter Forum                  • 11/4: 1st Annual Planning Workshop, MD Small Farms Pre-Conference
                                                   UMES, Eastern Shore, Maryland.
          & 6th Annual Gala
                                                 • 11/6: 2:15-3:45pm: 15th Annual CFSC Conference Workshop Advocating Be-
                                                   yond Food : Building Unity for a Just and Sustainable Food/Farm System, Oakland Cali-
   BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!                         fornia.

This is a time to observe how far we have        • 11/9: United States Food Sovereignty Alliance Assembly, Farmer and Farmworker
come while working towards continued suc-          break out Sessions Chinese Presbyterian Church, Oakland, California
cess in the future, all while having a great
time. We will be discussing Farm Bill priori-    • 11/9-12: Walking in Many Worlds, Spirit of One, American Indian Mothers
ties and action in farm and rural teams, tech-     Conference, Shannon, North Carolina
nology for community based agriculture com-
merce risk protection, uniting coalition ef-     • 11/17: Food Justice Series; Environment, Food, and Health, Busboys and Poets,
forts, and taking a look at our long history.      Washington, DC

Please don’t forget to mark your calendar and    • 11/18: Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project Small Farms Conference,
keep an eye out for more information regard-       Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
ing the Winter Forum, Gala Dinner and
Annual Meeting.                                  • 11/30-12/2: Rural Coalition Winter Forum, Gala, Board &Members Meeting
                                                   Washington, DC
 Contact: winterforum@ruralco.org and
check our website ruralco.org for registration
                                                 • 12/4-6: Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC) Tuskegee Univer-
information and program updates
                                                   sity, Alabama

   BOOK BY NOVEMBER 25th, 2011                   • 12/5-9 : Intertribal Agricultural Council (IAC) 25th Anniversary Symposium,
                                                   Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada


                                       International Solidarity:
                                       Interview with Franck Bieleu Film Director of “The Big Banana”
                                       Outreach Coordinator: Angela Adrar

                                       During our National Rural       Cameroun and uses the people, a         very hard to produce banana that is
                                    Gathering, we caught up with       type of modern slavery. They use        sold in Europe and they do not
                                    Cameroonian Director               employees to produce bananas and        make a very good living. There is
 The National Latino
                                    Franck Bieleu, to talk to him      this corporation remunerates these      use of chemical agents that are really
 Farmers and Ranchers
                                    about his controversial film,      employees very badly.                   bad for the environment and the
 Trade Association
                                    “The Big Banana,” censored         A: Does this “corporation”              company really doesn’t care about
 (NLFRTA) hosts a
                                    in Cameroun. Franck had            have a name?                            using this chemical agent in the
 monthly networking
                                    been invited by Agricultural                                               country polluting therefore the envi-
 Happy Hour at the                                                     F: Yeah, PHP, Plantacion Haut
                                    Missions, to speak on a panel                                              ronment and bringing a very big
 National Press                                                        Penja. Owned by a French Com-
 Club in
                                    on International Land Grabs                                                risk for the population that or the
                                    and to screen his new movie.       pany, Companie Frutiere and Dole,
 Washington, DC.                                                                                               population
                                                                       Dole owns 40% of Companie
 Email:                             A: What is The Big Ba-             Frutiere, basically it owns PHP.        A: How about the issues of
                                    nana about?                        The documentary is about banana         Land Grabs because we
 Ramona@ruralco.org to
 get on the invite list!            F: Big Banana is about a corpo-    exploitation and the effect it has on   were talking about that here.
                                    ration that exploits bananas in    the local population. So people work    (continue on page 9)
PLOW to PRI NT                                                                        Volume 1, Issue 1                                       Page 11




Nothing Grows from the Top Down
Executive Director: Lorette Picciano
(continued from pg. 9)                can American, Latino and                DC 20005, about a block from
The delegations included 70           Women’s claims against the              one of the Occupy DC sites.
Youth in Today’s Agriculture          USDA -- Claims processing for           We hope any future travel you
members, who visited a rodeo          the Keepseagle (American In-            have to DC includes a stop in
and a ranch, and joined us for        dian producers) case is now             to visit with us. We have been
our visit to historic Wewoka,         underway through December).             enjoying a small population
seat of the Seminole Nation, to       Our policy team has been                explosion within the Rural
study the history and culture of      holding regular conference              Coalition with Tracy’s newest
the Seminole and the Black            calls every week to discuss             son Tumari joining us on In-
Seminole communities. We              various pending USDA regula-            ternational Woman’s Day in
reviewed our project work and         tions and gather member input           March, and we are now anx-
had fun using role-playing to         for comments. We have re-               iously awaiting the birth of
better understand how rela-           cently completed a letter relat-        baby Kingston to outreach
                                      ing to the upcoming 2012                coordinator Angela Adrar!               Ms. April 2011
tionships and interactions can
                                      Farm Bill and ensuring socially         We also welcome Ayisah                  Rural Coalition
and should look. With the
                                      disadvantaged farmers and               Yusef, our intern, and Ramona           Vice Chairperson:
strong support from USDA
                                      ranchers and farmworkers have           Martinez, who has come on               Georgia Good
Oklahoma State Rural Devel-
opment and other USDA staff,          a seat at the table. Much of the        board to manage programs for
                                      shape of that debate may be             National Latino Farmers and             South Carolina African
we collaborated on skit called
                                      determined by the pending               Ranchers Trade Association.             American History Calendar
“Born in the USDA.” Our
CBO leaders took on the roles         deficit reduction talks in the          And we celebrated in October
of USDA in the past, with             US Congress, but our close              with our Vice Chairperson,
current USDA staff modeling           attention and action are                Georgia Good, who was hon-
the future. Click this link to        needed. You are most welcome            ored as “Ms. April” on the
enjoy the first 9 minutes that        to join our “Farm Teams” for            South Carolina African Ameri-
                                                                                                                        join our Farm Teams
were captured on film: http://        these calls, by emailing                can History Calendar.
                                                                                                                        and/or policy calls by
www.youtube.com/watch?                bryn@ruralco.org, or to sign            We look forward to seeing                 emailing:
v=PrTe9M_Iojo.                        up for action alert from the            everyone here in DC at our
                                      link on our website.                                                              bryn@ruralco.org
Our policy advisor Tracy Lloyd                                                Winter Forum and annual din-
McCurty was Rural Coalition’s         And if all of that was not              ner on November 30-
voice during the Pigford II           enough, we moved offices as             December 1, with a short an-              or sign up for action
settlement hearing, testifying        well! We are now around the             nual meeting on the morning               alert from the link on
for the fair resolution of Afri-      corner at 1029 Vermont Ave              of December 2 for all our                 ruralco.org website.
                                      NW Suite 601 Washington,                members.


International Solidarity: “The Big Banana”
(continued from pg.8)                 the local farmers, the small farmers    officials, congressmen, ministers and
Are they actually grabbing            but now a days that the European        they help the company to grab the
land from the local                   Market is growing PHP needs to          land from the people.
producers?                            have more land because they need to     Watch the full interview with
F: Yes that is actually what is       provide more bananas to the Euro-       Franck via this YouTube link.
                                      pean Market. To make more ba-                                                     Check out the Trailer for “the Big
happening basically what happens in                                           Be forewarned; after you watch            Banana:
Cameroun, there is a lot of land in   nanas they need more land. They
                                      take that land from the local pro-      the film you will find it hard to         http://vimeo.com/23024167
Cameroun, problem is that the land                                            buy bananas that are not                  To screen the film in your commu-
is owned by the government. The       ducer with the help of the government
                                      because within PHP there are elected    labeled fair trade.                       nity contact:
government has rented this land to                                                                                      franck@thebigbananamovie.com
BECOME A MEMBER
 RURAL COALITION has moved!
                                                                The Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural is an alliance of farmers,
                                                                farmworkers, indigenous, migrant and working people from the
1029 Vermont Avenue                                             United States, Mexico, Canada and beyond working together to-
Suite 601
Washington                                                      ward a new society that values unity, hope, people and the land.
DC, 20005
Phone: 202-628-7160                                               Together we work to:
Fax: 202-393-7160                                                 • Educate rural communities to influence and ACT on policy.
E-mail: ruralco@ruralco.org
                                                                  • Bring equitable access and fair returns for our diverse small farmers, ranch-
                                                                    ers, and rural communities.
                                                                  • Establish just and dignified working conditions for farmworkers.
Check our Webpage for updates!
                                                                  • Care for the earth & bring safe and healthy food to consumers.
http://ruralco.org                                                • Build unity & beneficial relationships in this country and beyond.

          www.facebook.com/RuralCoalition                       With strong roots in the movements for human, civil, indigenous
                                                                and Farmworker rights, Rural Coalition members share the belief
          youtube.com/user/ruralcoalition                       that rural communities everywhere can have a better future.
          @ruralco                                              The Rural Coalicion Newsletter: “Plow to Print” is published
                                                                several times annually. Share your comments and suggestions with
           flickr.com/photos/ruralco                            angela@ruralco.org. We want to hear from you and share your
                                                                stories.


                                       Staff Highlight : American Sustainable Business Council’s (ASBC)
                                       Sustainable Agriculture Intern
                                       (continued from pg. 2)            to speak on behalf of farmers          M: Oh definitely. I think one
                                                                         when the up coming Farm Bill           of the nicest things about
                                       M: With the Rural Coalition I     comes to debate. So that’s             working for Rural Co. is: yes,
                                       have been working a lot with      what I have been doing.                you get some intern work…
                                       organizing a lot of their meet-                                          doing copying, you know of-
                                       ings. They had the assembly,      A: So cool, tell me how it felt        fice stuff, but there are actu-
                                       out in Oklahoma, which was a      to spend the summer with               ally… each one of the women
                                       large success and they are also   this coalition of rural folks,         I have worked with has indi-
                                       preparing for their Gala, which   in an urban city.                      vidually come up to me and
                                       is coming up in December.                                                made sure I was enjoying my
                                       I’ve been working on a lot of     M: We are an office of all la-         experience, making sure that I
                                       small projects for them includ-   dies here, which sounds terrify-       got to do something that I
                                       ing some research on hy-          ing, but it’s actually really great.   found was interesting, which
  Interns: Marguerite Conroy’s and     drofracking as well as research   We have a great group of               for me was going on the Hill.
  Laura Valdes End of Internship       for industrialized hemp. With     women. We all get along and            So, I got sent to as many hear-
  Staff Lunch, Washington, D.C.        American Sustainable Business     it’s been so much fun. We had          ings as Tracy could dig up. So,
                                       Council, I have been working      such, I have had such a great          I’ve had a great summer here.
  (Left to Right: Marguerite Conroy,   with them on their Sustainable    summer here and I’m going to
  Lorette Picciano, Tracy McCurty,     Agriculture policy and princi-    miss everybody.
  Rudy Arredondo, Mapy Alvarez,        ples, which is really how that                                           For more on this interview
  Laura Valdes and Angela Adrar)       over laps into Latino Farmers     A: Are you going to recom-             check out the YouTube video:
                                       and Ranchers and Rural Coali-     mend it to future interns to           http://bit.ly/qMFT4p
                                       tion. We are trying to come up    come through?
                                       with a strong group of voices

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2011 RC Newsletter PLOW to PRINT

  • 1. Fall/Winter 2011 COALICION-RURAL-COALITION NEWSLETTER Volume 1, Issue 1 PLOW to PRINT Rural News that Penetrates the Surface Producers struggle with climate disasters in MA and OK Outreach Coordinator: Angela Adrar Climate disasters have increased to recover some crops to have Inside this issue: in intensity and frequency as ready for Thanksgiving. High scientists have predicted; with Tunnels are a NRCS tool for Policy Shop 2 droughts, hurricanes, storms and conservation, Rural Coalition floods wrecking rural livelihoods worked very hard to have them and along with them the possibil- included in the 2008 Farm Bill New Technology: 2 ity for our small farmers and and implemented at Flats Men- ranchers to stay afloat in this tor Farm. But it is unjust to economic market. see that there is no insurance USDA Program Profile 3 product that can make up Two of our members organiza- these end of season losses in tions; Flats Mentors Farm in Cultural Corner 3 specialty crops for these hard Farmer at Flats Mentor Farm in Lan- Massachusetts and the Oklahoma working producers. caster, Massachusetts Black Historical Research Project Credit: www.telegram.com (OBHRP) are working hard to In August, disaster declarations Rural Youth 4 recover respectively, from floods were announced for 67 coun- and droughts in the United As a result, OBHRP, which has ties in Oklahoma due to the Members Report 6 States. served Oklahoma producers for heat and a combination of more than a decade, is coordinat- In September, tropical storm Lee drought, hail, and most re- USDA Discrimination 8 ing an effort to bring emergency sent enough rain to wipe out cently fires that have resulted Cases: An update relief to African American, Ameri- most year end production at in very little hay available in can Indian and other small-scale Events Calendar 10 Flats Mentor Farm with most the state. Producers are unable producers in Oklahoma. Our farmers totally devastated. Pro- to feed cattle and are losing ject Director, Maria Moreira unstoppable board member, animals or are being forced to International Solidarity 10 stated, “only two farmers are Willard Tillman of OBHRP in coop- sell livestock at very low prices. able to sell at the Farmers Mar- eration with Randall Ware and These losses have caused se- ket.” They are working on more the Kiowa Nation vere economic damage and RSVP TODAY flood control improvements. harm the producer’s ability to High tunnels are being used now (continued on pg. 5) rebuild herds in the future. WASHINGTON, DC Winter Forum Nov 30th and Dec 1st Nothing Grows from the Top Down United Methodist Building Executive Director: Lorette Picciano Annual Gala Dinner Fall has come (well, maybe and human family around the and your contributions, on the winter also) and with it, country, and now also in El hay lift for rancher in Okla- December 1, 2011 Mother Earth reminds us of Salvador and South Asia and homa who experienced the National Press Club the beauty in change and gives Turkey, so negatively affected hottest summer on record. us pause and reflection on the by natural disasters this year. Our National Rural Gathering RC Member’s Meeting season past. The year has been Our board member Willard in Shawnee, OK was a summer December 2nd, 2011 filled with many moments of Tillman continues his hard highlight with over 250 partici- More Info: Page 8 gratification in our work, but work, with support from Farm pants. (continued on pg. 9) also prayers for our members Aid, Family Farm Defenders
  • 2. Page 2 PLOW to PRI NT Volume 1, Issue 1 Policy Shop: From Field to Policy Policy Advisor: Tracy McCurty As the Fall Equinox ap- ted numerous Comments to revision of land management proaches, it is an appropriate the United States Department plans. time to reflect on Rural Coali- of Agriculture (USDA) regard- One of our primary recom- tion’s collective work and pol- ing proposed regulations that mendations involved the devel- icy accomplishments this har- would impact the rural farm opment of a detailed frame- vest season. Like our member families and communities we work to ensure the protection farmers and farmworkers, the serve. In May, the Rural Coali- of cultural and historic re- Rural Coalition has been active tion with our partners drafted sources; management of areas planting and harvesting and submitted Comments to of tribal importance; protec- through our policy, advocacy the USDA Forest Service Plan- tion of wilderness, wild and and fieldwork. ning Committee regarding revi- scenic rivers; and other uses Tracy McCurty, sions to the Forest Planning Rural Coalition Notable Rural Coalition that protect the cultural vi- Comments regulations to ensure the par- brancy of indigenous commu- Policy Advisor ticipation of historically under- This past season, the Rural nities. We further recom- served populations in the de- mended that the framework Coalition drafted and submit- velopment, amendment and (continued on page 6) New Technology: Get Involved for ACTION “With over 600 million Outreach Coordinator: Bryn Bird FaceBook users and 2 billion videos streamed Only a few years ago social here to stay and has an incredi- Tube, social media is an engine every day on YouTube, media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, bly powerful impact on the for social change. social media is an engine Youtube) was a platform for world we live in. The Univer- for social change.” youth to share their daily life sity of Washington has pub- Rural Coalition is working to and gossip with each other. lished a study finding that so- harness this form of communi- For many, this type of commu- cial media played a central role cation and community organiz- nication seemed to be a fad in organizing the political de- ing asks you to join us! and a free form of entertain- bate surrounding the 2011 Please “fan” us on Facebook. ment. Egyptian Revolution. With Follow us on Twitter However, over the past year over 600 million Facebook View our videos on Youtube. we have seen social media is users and 2 billion videos Share Pictures on Flickr. streamed every day on You- (continued on pg. 5) Staff Highlight: American Sustainable Business Council’s (ASBC) Sustainable Agriculture Intern : Marguerite Conroy A= Angela Adrar summer here at the Rural working with the Latino Farm- RC Outreach Coordinator Coalition. Every time is a ers and Ranchers as well as new experience and today I Rural Coalition. M=Marguerite Conroy ASBC am speaking to… Sustainable Agriculture Intern A: Tell us a little bit about M: My name is Marguerite what you have been working ASBC A: Okay, so we’re here actu- Conroy. I am a student at the on, between ASBC , Sustainable Agriculture ally preparing for our first College of Charleston. I am in NLFRTA and the Rural Intern: newsletter and we wanted to my last year and I am interning Coalition. Marguerite Conroy showcase some of the amaz- here with American Sustain- ing talent that we get every able Business Council and I am (continue on pg.6)
  • 3. PLOW to PRI NT Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 Cultural Corner: Language Access (English and Español) Language Access Specialist: Laural Valdes Communication is key in ally. This past June I had the ing in Shawnee, Oklahoma. It bridging gaps; when communi- privilege of attending an was a very gratifying experi- ties and organizations can re- ‘Interpreting for Social Justice’ ence; not only did I learn more late their struggles and accom- training by Roberto Tijerina about the movement, but I was plishments without language from the Highlander Research able to facilitate others’ under- being an impediment, progress and Education Center in Flor- standing as well. ensues. The Rural Coalition ida along with other volunteer has been a pioneer organiza- interpreters from the Farm La comunicación es clave para tion in ensuring language ac- Worker Association of Florida, formar redes fuertes; cuando la cess to build solidarity and where we gained insightful comunidades y las organi- fortify our movement. My ex- training/tips of successful in- zaciones pueden unir sus lu- Laura Valdes is Rural perience working with the Ru- terpreting. I applied this chas y logros sin que el idioma Coalition’s, Language ral Coalition this summer has knowledge at the Rural Coali- Access Specialist (continued on page 5) helped me to grow profession- tion’s National Rural Gather- USDA Program Profile: APHIS The Animal and Plant Health markets and promoting stock and poultry. APHIS Inspection Service (APHIS) trade; and veterinarians also help to con- may not be a familiar house- trol/eradicate certain domestic • Limiting the damage wild- hold name to all Americans, diseases like brucellosis in cat- life can cause to farms and but this agency of the U.S. tle, low pathogenic avian influ- Department of Agriculture ranches. enza in poultry, and scrapie in provides a vital function for APHIS has staff in all 50 sheep and goats. producers and growers: helping States, several Territories, and When a foreign animal disease to keep their animals and crops more than 40 countries world- outbreak is detected, APHIS APHIS programs help healthy and safe from foreign wide. APHIS employees in- establishes quarantines—in ranchers and farmers diseases and pests. clude scientists, veterinarians, cooperation with State offi- safeguard the health of biologists, insect experts, and livestock, poultry, and APHIS serves the agricultural cials—to help prevent the plant specialists. They work crops in addition to community in many ways, in- spread of the disease to unaf- with growers, producers, and cluding: fected producers and to pro- helping combat trade organizations; State, local tect their access to local and invasive species. • Safeguarding the health of and Tribal governments; and international markets. APHIS livestock, poultry, and other stakeholders to find solu- has successfully eradicated crops; tions to farm animal and plant foreign animal disease out- health issues. • Combating invasive spe- breaks in the United States cies; APHIS works to protect and such as classical swine fever, improve the health, quality, exotic Newcastle disease, and • Working with other Fed- and marketability of farm ani- highly pathogenic avian influ- eral, State, and local part- mals, animal products, and enza. ners to respond to agricul- veterinary biologics. APHIS tural pest and disease out- For crop producers, APHIS specialists monitor and identify breaks, as well as natural safeguards plants and trees threats to animal health, and disasters like hurricanes against risks associated with work with State and local offi- and floods; the entry, establishment, or cials to respond to foreign • Opening new international disease outbreaks in U.S. live- (continued on pg. 4)
  • 4. Page 4 PLOW to PRI NT Volume 1, Issue 1 Rural Youth: We All Belong to Mother Earth Poem recited at the 2011 National Rural Gathering by Farmworker Youth We all belong to Mother Earth, When I’m standing, leaning, bend- Mother Earth does not belong to us. ing, kneeling under the hot sun, working in the field trying to bring some sustenance. There’s No Borders, We don’t need a piece of paper to feel we belong. Words can cause a lifetime of pain and prejudice. We Just want Color of skin makes no difference. Justice!!! Stereotypes tear us down, stifles, cripples the human race can’t We all are Equal. We all are Human you see the pain, Beings. We all exist all together the look on my face? upon our majestic Earth Mother. USDA Program Profile: APHIS (continued from pg. 3) Americans value many kinds of help with a wildlife damage spread of invasive plant pests wildlife found in our country. management issue, please call and diseases, as well as harmful But as farmers and ranchers the Wildlife Services toll-free foreign weeds. To carry out know, wild animals can also number at (866) 487-3297. this mission, APHIS surveys damage their crops, kill their for pests in the United States East of the Mississippi River animals, and even pose risks to and want to discuss or report a and monitors data from humans. APHIS’ wildlife ex- Rural Coalition is around the world to develop pest or disease detection or perts can provide farmers and learn about requirements for working in partnership strategies to keep pests out of ranchers with effective and the United States, and to con- agricultural import/export, you with APHIS ; environmentally safe solutions trol or eradicate those that do may contact the Eastern Re- to problems with wildlife. gion Veterinary Services office Join our animal health gain entry. At ports of entry APHIS also monitors and sur- team by emailing across the country, APHIS at (919) 855-7250 or the Plant veys for wildlife diseases such Protection and Quarantine Bryn@ruralco.org works with Department of as highly pathogenic avian in- Homeland Security officials to Eastern Region office at (919) fluenza, West Nile virus, 855-7300. inspect agricultural imports chronic wasting disease, and We are submitting and treat any shipments that Lyme disease. In addition, West of the Mississippi, please comments on the APHIS might introduce a pest of con- APHIS works to prevent the contact the Western Region proposed rule on cern. APHIS’ scientists and spread of wildlife rabies in the Veterinary Services office at Animal Traceability specialists develop scientific United States. APHIS also (970) 494-7400, or the Plant send your input to methods to prevent, detect, helps to protect and preserve Protection and Quarantine Tracy @ruralco.org identify, and control or eradi- our Nations’ natural re- Western Region office at (970) cate these pests. When an sources—such as wetland habi- 494-7500. by December 1st, 2011 invasive pest or disease does tats, forests, and threatened You can also find APHIS and manage to enter the country, and endangered species—from its activities on the Internet at Find out more click here early detection is the key to wildlife damage. www.aphis.usda.gov preventing it from becoming established and spreading. APHIS stands ready to be of service to you. If you need
  • 5. PLOW to PRI NT Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 5 Producers struggle with climate disasters in OK and MA (continued from pg.1) are playing to producers across the State and Other Feed Sup- a coordinating role to distrib- that are in need. plies may be delivered to our ute hay to surrounding com- central distribution point at munities, and have established Donating Funds: Funds are 2620 Coltrane Rd., Oklahoma a central distribution point. urgently needed to cover distri- City, OK 73121 c/o OBHRP, bution costs. All donations are Inc. On August 26, 2011– the first tax deductible. Please make Donate online at: of the hay lifts arrived in Okla- checks out to OBHRPI with http://ruralco.org/ homa, with thanks to Farm the memo "Disaster Relief Aid, Family Farm Defenders Fund" and send to Oklahoma Black Historical Research Pro- Or Contact: and other groups. Hay and Willard Tillman. ject, 2505 N.W. 118th Street, Willard Tillman funds for transport of hay are Executive Director Oklahoma City, OK 73120 or Executive Director-OBHRP still urgently needed and will OBHRP donate on line from the link (405) 201-6624 continue to provide assistance from the ruralco.org site Hay Wtillman2@cox.net New Technology: Get Involved for ACTION (continued from pg. 2) to policy items, farm team ac- Twitter, or other social media Rural Coalition is also creating tions, USDA deadlines, and outlets yet? Please ask us and JOIN OUR CELL PHONE a Cell Phone Action Net- other action opportunities. If we will be happy to walk you ACTION NETWORK: work you can text, joining the Cell through a tutorial. Don’t be Phone Action Network is sim- afraid, we all had to ask once Text: RuralCo Over 86% of Americans own a ple!! Helping to create change too! to number: 77007 cell phone, and 75% text daily. doesn’t get easier than this!! Texting is a great way for Rural Contact Bryn@ruralco.org or and follow the prompts Coalition to send out “action Text: RuralCo to number: Angela@ruralco.org for a help- sent to you in a alerts” quickly. By joining the 77007 and follow the prompts ing hand or assistance with cell message to get network you will receive in- sent to you!! phone action alert set-up. involved!! stant text messages alerting you Have you joined Facebook, La Esquina Cultural: La Comunicación es Clave (Español) (continued from page 3) les sea un para la Justicia Social,’ con pretar exitosamente. Yo apli- impedimento, el progreso se Roberto Tijerina del Centro qué este conocimiento en la puede realizar. Mi experiencia Highlander Research and Edu- Asamblea Rural Nacional de la Check out the short trabajando con la Coalición cation, en Florida junto con Coalición Rural en Shawnee, “Born in the USDA” Rural este verano me ha ayu- otros interpretes voluntarios de Oklahoma. Honestamente fue culture and language dado a crecer profesional- la Asociación de los Traba- una experiencia genial; no solo access video created by mente. Este junio pasado tuve jadores del Campo de Florida, aprendí más acerca del our members at the 2011 el privilegio de atender el en- donde adquirimos un entre- movimiento, pero también National Rural Gather- trenamiento ‘Interpretando namiento útil de cómo inter- logre facilitar la comunicación. ing.. Click here
  • 6. Page 6 PLOW to PRI NT Volume 1, Issue 1 CENTER FOLD: MEMBERS REPORT 1264 Apopka Boulevard ● Apopka, FL 32703 (407)886-5151 phone ● (407)884-6644 fax www.floridafarmworkers.org REPORT ON OKLAHOMA TRIP FARMWORKER ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA RURAL COALITION’S NATIONAL RURAL GATHERING OKLAHOMA – JUNE 2011 From June 21-25, 2011, the Farmworker Association of Florida took a delegation of 56 comprised of community leaders, Board members, youth, and staff, to the Rural Coali- tion’s National Rural Gathering. Farmworker leaders were organized from 6 different agricultural communities throughout Central and South Florida to represent their com- munities and participate in this important event. The workshops that the leaders participated in include: USDA outreach to socially disadvantaged farmers, food sovereignty, energy alternatives, land use and access, revisions to the Farm Bill, and youth in today’s agriculture. The delegation also partici- pated in small group work where they discussed protecting the land, local food sys- tems, saving seeds and culture, genetic modification, farmer-worker solidarity on agri- culture and immigration issues, struggles and dignity of rural peoples, and climate and energy crises. The youth participated in the National Youth in Today’s Agriculture Youth Assembly, where they put together a short film showing the realities that they face in their com- munities, including peer pressure, drugs, alcohol, and domestic violence in their com-
  • 7. Page 7 PLOW to PRI NT Volume 1, Issue 1 munity, home, and school. Also, youth supported simultaneous translation needs dur- ing the conference. Two FWAF staff members conducted a session on USDA claims and processes with Latino small farmers. Another FWAF staff member participated on a panel about local food systems, and provided details about how FWAF’s community farm in Fellsmere began and has evolved into an exemplary project led by farmworker families who are committed to increasing the local supply of fresh food in their community. Participants also had the opportunity to learn about the challenges facing farmworkers, farmers, and rural peoples in Honduras, Cameroon, and Brazil from representatives from those countries. We appreciate the support from Rural Coalition which enabled us to have a large Flor- ida delegation participating in this important event.
  • 8. Page 8 PLOW to PRI NT Volume 1, Issue 1 Policy Shop: From Field to Policy (continued from page 2) Farm Credit System institu- these committees, institutions, be developed with the input of tions are not accessible to the and organizations to assist in representatives from indige- underserved farmer and have the development of marketing nous communities and that the failed to conduct outreach to plans. Furthermore, we rec- value of their scientific and our communities to educate ommended that the final rule traditional knowledge be rec- them regarding the institution’s should emphasize the impor- ognized. Additionally, we rec- programs and services. In the tance of allowing institutions ommended that the proposed words of Rudy Arredondo, to use discretion in determin- regulation be expanded to in- President of the National La- ing whether farmers are credit- clude specific language regard- tino Farmers and Ranchers worthy and eligible to borrow. Randolph County, Indiana ing the manner in which Fed- Trade Association and RC If the Farm Credit System in- (1910) erally Recognized Tribes will Board Member, “The Farm stitutions want to make signifi- be engaged in the monitoring Credit System is further be- cant strides in serving histori- process and what funds would yond the reach of the farmer cally underserved farming be identified to encourage this than a commercial bank. We communities, these institutions specific outreach and engage- never felt this was a source of must recognize that their credit ment. assistance.” requirements should be more In July, the Rural Coalition Despite this reality, the Rural flexible. with our partners drafted and Coalition is committed to dis- For a copy of the Comments submit- submitted Comments to the mantling all forms of institu- ted by the Rural Coalition, email Farm Credit Administration tional racism and recom- Tracy McCurty, Policy Advisor, at “the Farm Credit regarding amendments to its mended that the Farm Credit tracy@ruralco.org. In the near System is further regulations to require each System institutions cultivate future, all of our Comments will be beyond the reach of Board of Directors of each meaningful relationships with made available on our website. the farmer than a Farm Credit System to adopt a the USDA Minority Farms commercial bank, human capital plan as well as a Advisory Committee author- marketing plan within its over- ized by the 2008 Farm Bill and We never felt this was all operational and strategic now established, community- a source of assistance.” plan that emphasized diversity based organizations that serve - Rudy Arredondo and inclusion. In preparing socially disadvantaged and President of the National our Coalition’s Comments to limited resource farmers, 1890 Latino Farmers and Ranchers the proposed rule, we spoke to and 1994 Land Grant Colleges several members about the and Universities, and grantees Farm Credit System and there under the 2501 Outreach and was a universal perception Technical Assistance Program amongst our members that the as well as identify persons from USDA Discrimination Cases an Update Policy Advisor: Tracy McCurty Garcia and Love Update within our coalition that the the $50,000 cap on damages settlement agreements involv- from discrimination, omission At this year’s Rural Coalition of USDA guaranteed loans as Assembly in Shawnee, Okla- ing the Latino and Women’s discrimination cases were de- part of the debt forgiveness, homa, the Assembly adopted a and the absence of an appeals “Resolution to Support Equita- veloping in a manner that was devoid of equality, justice and process. Latino Farmers from the 1930s Photo ble Treatment for Farmers in Courtesy of WhatCom of History and the Garcia, Love, Keepseagle dignity. The most problematic Art. and Pigford Cases.” The Reso- aspects of the current settle- On July 18th, the RC Resolu- lution was produced out of a ment agreement are the lack of tion and an accompanying deep sentiment of chagrin comparable class treatment for letter were sent to President Latino and Women farmers, (continue on page 7)
  • 9. PLOW to PRI NT Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 9 USDA Discrimination Cases an Update (continued from page 6) attended the Pigford II Fair- support from Class Counsel. Barack Obama, U.S. Attorney ness Hearing that was held in Tracy Lloyd McCurty, Policy General Eric Holder and federal court and presided by Advisor for the Rural Coali- USDA Secretary of Agriculture Judge Paul Friedman. The tion, formally read the state- Thomas Vilsack. To date, the purpose of the hearing was to ment prepared by the Rural Rural Coalition, National La- discuss the various aspects of Coalition and our members to tino Farmers and Ranchers the proposed settlement and to the Court. The Rural Coalition Trade Association, the Colo- afford farmers, community- strongly supported the recom- rado Latino Farmers and based farming organizations, mendations of the Federation Ranchers Organizing Commit- and other interested parties the of Southern Cooperatives and Bureau of Indian Affairs Here is tee, the Federation of Southern opportunity to make formal also urged the Court to give Louie Pierre, a farmer on the Flathead Cooperatives/Land Assistance remarks to the Court regarding due consideration to the pro- Reservation in Montana around Fund, Land Loss Prevention their objections, recommenda- grammatic relief incorporated 1920. Project and the Minority Agri- tions or modifications to the in the Keepseagle Consent cultural Producers continue to proposed settlement. The Decree as well as the equity communicate directly with hearing was a poignant culmi- provisions in the 2008 Farm Latino producers as well as nation for Black farmers and Bill. Specifically, the Rural community based farming or- their long battle against the Coalition urged the Court to ganizations comprised of La- USDA, an institutional force consider incorporating the tino producers regarding the that has sought to destroy the creation of an USDA Om- ever shifting posture of the Black farmers’ right to exist as budsperson and the establish- Garcia case. well as erode Black rural land- ment of a Loan Council, both ownership. For hours, Black key programmatic components “An injury to one The Rural Coalition will con- elder farmers and their descen- tinue to work with all the farm- of the Keepseagle settlement, is an injury to all.” dants (some of whom traveled into the final Pigford II settle- ers and ranchers we serve until to Washington, DC from as far -Latina labor union all the outstanding claims are ment. as Mississippi and Louisiana), leader and Activist settled for every producer who shared their personal and fa- Luisa Moreno has been subjected to unfair milial narratives of their experi- Furthermore the Rural Coali- (Congreso de los treatment. In the words of ences with USDA over decades tion recommended that the Pueblos) 1910-1922 Luisa Morena, "An Injury to One and how their families suffered settlement agreement specifi- is An Injury to All." immeasurably by being forced cally compel USDA agencies from the land. serving African American and Pigford II Update Ralph Paige, Executive Direc- other socially disadvantaged tor of the Federation of South- producers to regularly collect I see why there is such a thing as ern Cooperatives/Land Assis- and provide the racial, ethnic, ancestor worship. I could not love my tance Fund, spoke on behalf of and gender participation rate the Federation of Southern data required under Section sharecropping ancestors more if I had 14006 of the Food and Agri- Cooperatives as well as the created them myself. That black Network of Black Farm culture Act of 2008 and to also Southerners still love nature and Groups and Advocates. Paige utilize this data as required revere the earth is the legacy of a offered three recommenda- under Section 14007 of the Act tions to the Court regarding to proactively access civil rights people whose innate elegance and compliance and to investigate the proposed settlement: Im- dignity was always expressed in the plementation of an Appeals strategies to improve participa- essentials. Process, Extension of the 180- tion of African American pro- Day Claims Process and Ex- ducers in all programs serving -Alice Walker pansion of the Pigford II class producers. Recognizing that On September 1, 2011, Rural to include all groups of farmers the Black farmer will never be 1910 Black Farmer in the US Coalition Executive Director, that were left out of the “Late made whole from a meager Lorette Picciano, Policy Advi- Claim” settlement agreement. settlement fund, the Rural Coa- sor, Tracy McCurty, and nu- Unfortunately, none of these lition also urged the Court to merous RC Board members recommendations garnered any address Black rural land loss.
  • 10. Page 10 PLOW to PRI NT Volume 1, Issue 1 November/December 2011 Events • 11/3 : USDA Minority Farmers Advisory Committee Meeting Albuquerque , New Mexico Rural Coalition’s Winter Forum • 11/4: 1st Annual Planning Workshop, MD Small Farms Pre-Conference UMES, Eastern Shore, Maryland. & 6th Annual Gala • 11/6: 2:15-3:45pm: 15th Annual CFSC Conference Workshop Advocating Be- yond Food : Building Unity for a Just and Sustainable Food/Farm System, Oakland Cali- BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!!! fornia. This is a time to observe how far we have • 11/9: United States Food Sovereignty Alliance Assembly, Farmer and Farmworker come while working towards continued suc- break out Sessions Chinese Presbyterian Church, Oakland, California cess in the future, all while having a great time. We will be discussing Farm Bill priori- • 11/9-12: Walking in Many Worlds, Spirit of One, American Indian Mothers ties and action in farm and rural teams, tech- Conference, Shannon, North Carolina nology for community based agriculture com- merce risk protection, uniting coalition ef- • 11/17: Food Justice Series; Environment, Food, and Health, Busboys and Poets, forts, and taking a look at our long history. Washington, DC Please don’t forget to mark your calendar and • 11/18: Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project Small Farms Conference, keep an eye out for more information regard- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ing the Winter Forum, Gala Dinner and Annual Meeting. • 11/30-12/2: Rural Coalition Winter Forum, Gala, Board &Members Meeting Washington, DC Contact: winterforum@ruralco.org and check our website ruralco.org for registration • 12/4-6: Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC) Tuskegee Univer- information and program updates sity, Alabama BOOK BY NOVEMBER 25th, 2011 • 12/5-9 : Intertribal Agricultural Council (IAC) 25th Anniversary Symposium, Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada International Solidarity: Interview with Franck Bieleu Film Director of “The Big Banana” Outreach Coordinator: Angela Adrar During our National Rural Cameroun and uses the people, a very hard to produce banana that is Gathering, we caught up with type of modern slavery. They use sold in Europe and they do not Cameroonian Director employees to produce bananas and make a very good living. There is The National Latino Franck Bieleu, to talk to him this corporation remunerates these use of chemical agents that are really Farmers and Ranchers about his controversial film, employees very badly. bad for the environment and the Trade Association “The Big Banana,” censored A: Does this “corporation” company really doesn’t care about (NLFRTA) hosts a in Cameroun. Franck had have a name? using this chemical agent in the monthly networking been invited by Agricultural country polluting therefore the envi- Happy Hour at the F: Yeah, PHP, Plantacion Haut Missions, to speak on a panel ronment and bringing a very big National Press Penja. Owned by a French Com- Club in on International Land Grabs risk for the population that or the and to screen his new movie. pany, Companie Frutiere and Dole, Washington, DC. population Dole owns 40% of Companie Email: A: What is The Big Ba- Frutiere, basically it owns PHP. A: How about the issues of nana about? The documentary is about banana Land Grabs because we Ramona@ruralco.org to get on the invite list! F: Big Banana is about a corpo- exploitation and the effect it has on were talking about that here. ration that exploits bananas in the local population. So people work (continue on page 9)
  • 11. PLOW to PRI NT Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 11 Nothing Grows from the Top Down Executive Director: Lorette Picciano (continued from pg. 9) can American, Latino and DC 20005, about a block from The delegations included 70 Women’s claims against the one of the Occupy DC sites. Youth in Today’s Agriculture USDA -- Claims processing for We hope any future travel you members, who visited a rodeo the Keepseagle (American In- have to DC includes a stop in and a ranch, and joined us for dian producers) case is now to visit with us. We have been our visit to historic Wewoka, underway through December). enjoying a small population seat of the Seminole Nation, to Our policy team has been explosion within the Rural study the history and culture of holding regular conference Coalition with Tracy’s newest the Seminole and the Black calls every week to discuss son Tumari joining us on In- Seminole communities. We various pending USDA regula- ternational Woman’s Day in reviewed our project work and tions and gather member input March, and we are now anx- had fun using role-playing to for comments. We have re- iously awaiting the birth of better understand how rela- cently completed a letter relat- baby Kingston to outreach ing to the upcoming 2012 coordinator Angela Adrar! Ms. April 2011 tionships and interactions can Farm Bill and ensuring socially We also welcome Ayisah Rural Coalition and should look. With the disadvantaged farmers and Yusef, our intern, and Ramona Vice Chairperson: strong support from USDA ranchers and farmworkers have Martinez, who has come on Georgia Good Oklahoma State Rural Devel- opment and other USDA staff, a seat at the table. Much of the board to manage programs for shape of that debate may be National Latino Farmers and South Carolina African we collaborated on skit called determined by the pending Ranchers Trade Association. American History Calendar “Born in the USDA.” Our CBO leaders took on the roles deficit reduction talks in the And we celebrated in October of USDA in the past, with US Congress, but our close with our Vice Chairperson, current USDA staff modeling attention and action are Georgia Good, who was hon- the future. Click this link to needed. You are most welcome ored as “Ms. April” on the enjoy the first 9 minutes that to join our “Farm Teams” for South Carolina African Ameri- join our Farm Teams were captured on film: http:// these calls, by emailing can History Calendar. and/or policy calls by www.youtube.com/watch? bryn@ruralco.org, or to sign We look forward to seeing emailing: v=PrTe9M_Iojo. up for action alert from the everyone here in DC at our link on our website. bryn@ruralco.org Our policy advisor Tracy Lloyd Winter Forum and annual din- McCurty was Rural Coalition’s And if all of that was not ner on November 30- voice during the Pigford II enough, we moved offices as December 1, with a short an- or sign up for action settlement hearing, testifying well! We are now around the nual meeting on the morning alert from the link on for the fair resolution of Afri- corner at 1029 Vermont Ave of December 2 for all our ruralco.org website. NW Suite 601 Washington, members. International Solidarity: “The Big Banana” (continued from pg.8) the local farmers, the small farmers officials, congressmen, ministers and Are they actually grabbing but now a days that the European they help the company to grab the land from the local Market is growing PHP needs to land from the people. producers? have more land because they need to Watch the full interview with F: Yes that is actually what is provide more bananas to the Euro- Franck via this YouTube link. pean Market. To make more ba- Check out the Trailer for “the Big happening basically what happens in Be forewarned; after you watch Banana: Cameroun, there is a lot of land in nanas they need more land. They take that land from the local pro- the film you will find it hard to http://vimeo.com/23024167 Cameroun, problem is that the land buy bananas that are not To screen the film in your commu- is owned by the government. The ducer with the help of the government because within PHP there are elected labeled fair trade. nity contact: government has rented this land to franck@thebigbananamovie.com
  • 12. BECOME A MEMBER RURAL COALITION has moved! The Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural is an alliance of farmers, farmworkers, indigenous, migrant and working people from the 1029 Vermont Avenue United States, Mexico, Canada and beyond working together to- Suite 601 Washington ward a new society that values unity, hope, people and the land. DC, 20005 Phone: 202-628-7160 Together we work to: Fax: 202-393-7160 • Educate rural communities to influence and ACT on policy. E-mail: ruralco@ruralco.org • Bring equitable access and fair returns for our diverse small farmers, ranch- ers, and rural communities. • Establish just and dignified working conditions for farmworkers. Check our Webpage for updates! • Care for the earth & bring safe and healthy food to consumers. http://ruralco.org • Build unity & beneficial relationships in this country and beyond. www.facebook.com/RuralCoalition With strong roots in the movements for human, civil, indigenous and Farmworker rights, Rural Coalition members share the belief youtube.com/user/ruralcoalition that rural communities everywhere can have a better future. @ruralco The Rural Coalicion Newsletter: “Plow to Print” is published several times annually. Share your comments and suggestions with flickr.com/photos/ruralco angela@ruralco.org. We want to hear from you and share your stories. Staff Highlight : American Sustainable Business Council’s (ASBC) Sustainable Agriculture Intern (continued from pg. 2) to speak on behalf of farmers M: Oh definitely. I think one when the up coming Farm Bill of the nicest things about M: With the Rural Coalition I comes to debate. So that’s working for Rural Co. is: yes, have been working a lot with what I have been doing. you get some intern work… organizing a lot of their meet- doing copying, you know of- ings. They had the assembly, A: So cool, tell me how it felt fice stuff, but there are actu- out in Oklahoma, which was a to spend the summer with ally… each one of the women large success and they are also this coalition of rural folks, I have worked with has indi- preparing for their Gala, which in an urban city. vidually come up to me and is coming up in December. made sure I was enjoying my I’ve been working on a lot of M: We are an office of all la- experience, making sure that I small projects for them includ- dies here, which sounds terrify- got to do something that I ing some research on hy- ing, but it’s actually really great. found was interesting, which Interns: Marguerite Conroy’s and drofracking as well as research We have a great group of for me was going on the Hill. Laura Valdes End of Internship for industrialized hemp. With women. We all get along and So, I got sent to as many hear- Staff Lunch, Washington, D.C. American Sustainable Business it’s been so much fun. We had ings as Tracy could dig up. So, Council, I have been working such, I have had such a great I’ve had a great summer here. (Left to Right: Marguerite Conroy, with them on their Sustainable summer here and I’m going to Lorette Picciano, Tracy McCurty, Agriculture policy and princi- miss everybody. Rudy Arredondo, Mapy Alvarez, ples, which is really how that For more on this interview Laura Valdes and Angela Adrar) over laps into Latino Farmers A: Are you going to recom- check out the YouTube video: and Ranchers and Rural Coali- mend it to future interns to http://bit.ly/qMFT4p tion. We are trying to come up come through? with a strong group of voices