Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilt Project

Happy Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

2012-01-18T07:48:00.000-08:00

“Let us remember those who have died for justice, for they have given us life.” Cesar Chavez

In the 44 years since the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we as a country have come a long way; however, the fight and struggle for justice and equality are far from over. While Dr. King was most outwardly an advocate for the African-American community during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, his voice and his message resonate throughout the country as a whole. All people who have been oppressed or discriminated against or victimized can take Dr. King’s words as a voice of inspiration. We are all in the struggle for equality together and we must all work together to ensure that everyone is free.

As January 16, 2012 marked the 26^th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Day, with events going on across the country ranging for parades and rallies as far as an “Occupy the Dream” movement, the Farmworker Association of Florida made sure to be a part of the remembrance. A cross-cultural group of men, women, and children from the African-American, Hispanic, and Haitian communities were all brought together as one, to remember our family, friends, and heroes that have allowed us all to be where we are today. In the farmworker communities across Florida, we remember the men and women who dedicated their life to the fields, greenhouses, and nurseries, despite fear and victimization. As Martin Luther King Day comes to a close once again, we must all remember that we will all overcome the injustices of our world.

“Believe in yourself and believe that you are somebody. As I said to a group last night, nobody else can do this for us, no document can do this for us. No Lincolnian emancipation proclamation can do this for us, no Kennsioan or Johnsonian civil rights bill can do this for us. If the Negro is to be free he must move down into his inner resources of his own soul and sign with a pen and ink of self-asserted manhood his own emancipation proclamation… Be proud of our heritage. As somebody said earlier tonight, we don't have anything to be ashamed of. Somebody told a lie one day… They made everything black ugly and evil… something degrading and low and sinister… But I want to get the language right tonight. I want to get the language so right that everybody here will cry out, ‘Yes I am black. I'm proud of it. I am black and beautiful.’”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

What will 2012 bring for Lake Apopka farmworkers?

2011-12-19T12:55:00.000-08:00

For decades, the health and safety of farmworkers seems to have been placed on the back-burner in the minds of politicians and the general public. This sentiment could not be more true for the former Lake Apopka farmworkers.

Last May, Florida’s Governor Rick Scott vetoed a $500,000 budget appropriation that would have given former Lake Apopka farmworkers much needed medical attention. The allocated funds would have allowed the Apopka Family Health Center to hire medical specialists, including rheumatologists, dermatologists, endocrinologists, and nephrologists. The individuals are needed in the Apopka community as many people, including former farmworkers who were exposed to toxic pesticides have serious health issues.

On December 14, the Committee on Agriculture in the Florida Senate released an interim report entitled “Status of Health-Related Consequences of Muck Farm Workers in the Lake Apopka Region.” This report, prepared at the request of Senator Gary Siplin of Orlando, will raise awareness of health problems faced by the Apopka community, and hopefully, bring the much needed funding.

A Global Call for Environmental Justice and Human Rights

2011-12-05T08:14:00.000-08:00

Over the past 50+ years, former Lake Apopka farmworkers, as well as current Apopka farmworkers have been exposed to highly toxic and debilitating chemical pesticides. Cancer, lupus, diabetes, and even death, now all plague the community of Apopka, Florida.

But through the community’s struggles and never-ending fight for environmental justice, the Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilts were born! Dedicated to remembering and honoring those who gave their lives to feed America, the Quilts and the stories that every square tells is being heard across the globe!

From December 3 through December 6, the “Big 6” agrochemical trans-national corporations—Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, BASF, Dow, and Dupont—will be put on trial by the Permanent People’s Tribunal in Bangalore, India for their alleged crimes against humanity, including basic rights to life, livelihood, and health. Representing specific toxic sites across the globe, including the former farmlands surrounding Lake Apopka, the Pesticide Action Network International is fighting against the abuses committed by these corporations.

But for former Lake Apopka farmworkers Geraldean Matthew, a leading activist with the Apopka community, and Linda Lee, the primary creator of the Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilts, the Permanent People’s Tribunal means that the stories and the struggles of their community will resonate throughout the entire world.

Through dedication and endless persistence, Ms. Matthew and Ms. Lee hope that this will spark change in US environmental and agricultural policy that will now, and forever in the future, protect farmworkers and give them the dignity they deserve.

One step closer to food justice!

2011-11-23T10:22:00.000-08:00

The Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilts once again brought to the forefront the issue of responsible food and food justice for all! Amongst tents upon tents of organic and locally produced foods at the Winter Park Harvest Festival on November 20, the Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilts made sure that the plight of farmworkers was remembered too. While purchasing and eating organic foods is one way of ensuring that farmworkers will not face pesticide exposure, it does not solve the problem faced by the thousands of workers working on conventional farms.

By spreading the word about farmworkers so close to this Thanksgiving Holiday, the Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilts helped spread information and allowed individuals to remember what is important to be thankful for: farmworkers and responsible food for everyone!

The Farmworker Association of Florida would also like to extend a big “Thank you!” to John Rife, the founder of the Winter Park Harvest Festival, for once again allowing us to spread our message with the community!

This Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for? We’re thankful for farmworkers!

2011-11-17T12:05:00.000-08:00

On November 16, the Farmworker Association of Florida brought back a much-missed event… Giving Thanks to Farmworkers Celebration and Dinner! Held at St. Margaret Mary Church in Winter Park, over 100 people came to celebrate the dedication Florida Farmworkers show on a daily basis. But best of all, the Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilts made an appearance!

Bringing color and excitement into the room, the Quilts were able to draw attendees into the issues, and help them remember what it truly means to be a farmworker. The Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilts allowed everyone to take the time and pay a much deserved tribute to all Farmworkers.

The Farmworker Association of Florida would like to warmly thank Whole Foods, Wild Ocean Seafood Market, the Fresh Market, and Ethos Vegan Kitchen for their generous donations to our event.

Barry Estabrook speaks about Lake Apopka at TEDxFruitvale!

2011-10-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

On October 14, 2011, Barry Estabrook, author of the critically acclaimed book Tomatoland, spoke at the TEDxFruitvale Conference held at Mills College in Oakland, California. Mr. Estabrook discussed the history of Lake Apopka, from its beginnings as a bass fishing haven to the eventual purchase of the surrounding farm land by the State of Florida. Additionally, Mr. Estabrook spoke about the greater implications that plagued the area, such as years of pesticide usage and the long-term health consequences faced by former farmworkers, their families, and their children. Mr. Estabrook follows the money trail to determine who profited off of the labours of Lake Apopka farmworkers, and who was left dry.

Thank you Mr. Barry Estabrook and TEDxFruitvale for bringing awareness to the social, health, and environmental injustices associated with the Lake Apopka and its former farmworkers.

Barry University School of Law Environmental Justice Summit

2011-10-24T11:06:00.000-07:00

Barry University School of Law hosts 3^rd Annual

Environmental Justice Summit

Memorial Quilts Featured

On Friday, October 21, 2011, the Center for Earth Jurisprudence at Barry University School of Law held their 3^rd Annual Environmental Justice Summit entitled “Serving People and the Planet.” Making an appearance at this year’s summit were the Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilts.

Along with the quilts, former Lake Apopka farmworkers provided members of the panel discussions and the audience with first-hand accounts of what it means to be a farmworker and what the health consequences of environmental injustices are. Keynote speaker, Majora Carter, inspired the group with her presentation on the great strides she has made in her community in New York, turning environmental injustice into community successes. Thank you so much Barry University School of Law for hosting the Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilts and supporting farmworkers!

World Food Day Celebrated by Gleaning Corn with Area Students

2011-10-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

On Saturday October 15, the Farmworker Association of Florida partnered with Volunteer UCF for Knights Give Back day and with the Society of St. Andrew in order to celebrate World Food Day and to help feed those in need in the Apopka Community. With over 20 volunteers working for three hours, students from the University of Central Florida in Orlando harvested close to 6,500 pounds of the famous area Zellwood sweet corn from Long and Scott Farm in Zellwood. Of that, nearly 1,000 pounds of that sweet corn was donated to the Farmworker Association of Florida to be distributed to those in need in the farmworker and minority community in Apopka.

Thank you UCF College Democrats for providing the pictures!

Students were able to receive a first-hand experience of what Florida farmworkers must do every day in order to feed themselves and their families. Americorps volunteer, Vinny Cannizzaro spoke about the reality of the men and women that harvest our food, and spent the morning gleaning with the students. Long & Scott Farms is the only farm of the former Lake Apopka farms that is still in operation. Thank you VolunteerUCF for showing your support to Florida Farmworkers and helping feed those who feed us all!

Thank you Orlando Weekly!

2011-10-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Jeff Gore of the Orlando Weekly for publishing this wonderful article about the toxic tours offered by the Farmworker Association of Florida!

Toxic avengers

Learn about one of Central Florida's most polluted bodies of water on a Toxic Tour of the Lake Apopka area

by Jeff Gore

Published September 29, 2011 in the Orlando Weekly

It used to be that Lake Apopka wasn’t an oddity, but rather, a trophy. The lake, the third-largest in Florida, was considered a world-class fishing destination before the World War II. But as Central Florida’s population grew, so did the abuses the lake endured. Beginning in the 1940s, nutrient-rich wetlands on the lake’s north shore were utilized for agriculture (such operations eventually encompassed 20,000 acres); in the ensuing decades, the lake would become a repository for chemical runoff not only from farms but nearby citrus-processing plants as well. By the 1980s, Lake Apopka was considered the state’s most polluted large lake.

But it’s not just the environmental aspect of this tragedy that motivates Jeannie Economos, the wild-haired environmental health project coordinator of the Farmworker Association of Florida, to offer her singular “Toxic Tour” of the Lake Apopka area. It’s also the serious – and somewhat mysterious – health problems of many former farmworkers who worked for decades on Lake Apopka’s so-called muck farms. This is the third year of the Toxic Tour, and judging by the almost jittery level of energy emanating from the 58-year-old Economos, we imagine it’ll be around for many more.

Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilt gets some added publicity!

2011-09-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

Edible Orlando, a community-based publication that promotes the local food, farms, and cuisine of Orlando, paid tribute to the Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilt! In the Fall 2011 edition, Edible Orlando published the story “Stories of Struggle, Square by Square” on their “Signing Off” page. Edible Orlando is dedicated to the local community and those that put food on our tables every day. Thank you Edible Orlando for your support of Lake Apopka Farmworkers and bringing to light the struggle and adversity that they continue to face!

To view the Fall 2011 edition of Edible Orlando, please visit http://www.onlinedigeditions.com/publication/?i=79516&l=&m=&p=&id=4804.

Spending Labor Day with Christ Church Unity

2011-09-13T06:01:00.000-07:00

Instead of spending their day at the beach or pool, members of the Christ Church Unity embraced the ideals of Labor Day by spending quality time with the Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilt. For years, the workers on Lake Apopka had been instrumental in ensuring that food was on our tables every night; however, their diligent, dangerous, and unwavering labor to support themselves and their families took great tolls on their own lives. The Congregation was able to obtain a deeper understanding of the terrible working conditions and residual physical, mental and emotional effects that plague the entire community.

To finish up the day, members of the Church were able to put their new knowledge to good use, working together to create a quilt square to commemorate the labor done on Lake Apopka. Small group collaboration in the joint creation of gratitude quilt squares has become an integral part of the reflection process for viewers of the Quilt and for those participating in Lake Apopka Toxic Tours. The thoughts and feelings that this creative process evokes deepen the collective understanding and learning experience of participants. The activity has proven to be a growth experience for all involved.

Lake Apopka Quilts Travel to Detroit for Environmental Justice Conference

2011-09-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

Detroit was the site of a gathering of environmental justice communities from around the country who came together to share the stories of their tragedies and their successes. In solidarity with others who are exposed to contamination in their communities, quiltmaker Linda Lee and FWAF staff traveled with the quilt to Michigan, joining filmmaker Jim Berry, for an unforgettable experience and an empowering conference that celebrated communities's resilience. The Blue Quilt was on display, as was a poster presentation created by Rollins College student intern Michael Barrett. (Thank you, Michael!) Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, the convener of the conference, along with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, were present to hear directly from the communities as they advocated for stronger protections, a commitment to clean up, and a change in 'business as usual' in addressing contamination issues. EPA Administrator, Lisa Jackson, has made it a priority to incorporate environmental justice as a priority for the agency. The communities deserve no less.

Farmworker successes and struggles in politics

2011-07-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

Senate Agriculture Committee to study plight of Lake Apopka Farmworkers

The Senate Agriculture Committee plans to study the plight of Lake Apopka farmworkers following Gov. Rick Scott's veto of a related $500,000 appropriation.

Portions of Lake Apopka north of Orlando were diked and drained during World War II to provide for vegetable farming. Farmworkers say they were routinely exposed to pesticides prior to 1998, when the state purchased and closed the muck farms to restore Lake Apopka water quality.

Read more here.

Lake Apopka Farmworkers lose out on hope for increased healthcare coverage – use quilts to promote cause

APOPKA — The former farmworkers of Apopka lost something they never had recently – the possibility of adequate, community-wide health care. But they still have their quilts, and are using them to promote their cause. At one point, the new state budget had a $500,000 item devoted to the special health needs of this predominantly African-American community, courtesy of state Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando. Butr that money got cut out of the budget on May 26, the day Gov. Rick Scott signed it into law during a ceremony in The Villages. But the community still has its quilts.

Read more here.

Quilt Project Inspires NEW Quilt Project

2011-06-29T07:17:00.000-07:00

12 Middle School Students

1 Summer Camp

2 Quilts

A Bundle of Creativity

When most adults picture a room full of middle school students, their first instinct is not to equip them with paint, fabric, and freedom. But one AmeriCorps Volunteer at the Hope Community Center in Apopka, FL had that in mind when she began organizing a multi-week camp for 12-15 year old students.

The Quilt Project was asked to teach the group of eager students about Lake Apopka, farmworkers, and pesticide exposure as they began to dream up their own creative quilt project that symbolized their entire group.

Sarah Downs and Jenn Hollern led the group through a farmworker dress-up activity and showed the students a few media pieces to get the creative juices flowing, but these students did not need much assistance. Before long, they were creating painted quilt squares.

The project will continue to develop as the summer camp attempts to transform into a full-time youth group at the Hope Community Center.

Quilts Make Headlines (again)

2011-06-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

The Quilt Project has landed its name in black and white - again. Thanks to the passionate and persistent Chris Balogh of the Orlando Weekly, a front-page, 3-page article detailing the complex history of Lake Apopka and the progress of the Memorial Quilt Project was featured in the Orlando Weekly on Thursday, June 2nd.

Balogh printed an extensive interview with primary Quilt Maker, Linda Lee, who openly discussed her health problems, the challenges of her community, and her hope that the Quilt Project will draw light to farmworkers. In the article, Lee explains that "we just need help. Hopefully, the quilt will get people to start looking again."

The article is especially timely as the Quilt Project continues it's fundraising campaign in order to travel further and spread the word about farmworkers, pesticide exposure, and the deep history of Lake Apopka. Please share your comments, thoughts, and praise to Balogh and the Orlando Weekly on the article page or via email (bottom of article) to raise solidarity among our activist communities.

Quilt Project Featured in Sentinel

2011-05-02T12:40:00.000-07:00

News-flash! The Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilt Project has made headlines!

During the month of April, the Quilt Project travelled every weekend to festivals around Central Florida, including the Central Florida Earth Day Festival at Lake Eola. One of the many patrons who wandered into the Quilt's tent happened to be Joy Dickinson, a columnist for the Orlando Sentinel!

She was so captivated by the story of the Quilts and the history of farmworkers from Lake Apopka that she dedicated her historical column, Florida Flashback, to the Quilts in Sunday's newspaper!

You can view the wonderfully written article here. Joy mentions in the article that we will be displaying the Quilts every Monday in May at the Stardust Market - stop by tonight to say hi and help us fundraise!

Intern Returns to Share Research through Quilt Campaign

2011-04-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy weekend for the Quilt Family! One of our distance relatives, Sam Chillaron of New College in Sarasota, returned to Apopka to share his thesis research with the Rollins College community and his Apopka friends.

His research, entitled "Toxic Entanglements: Florida's Farmworkers and their Fight for Environmental Justice," discusses the history of the farms on Lake Apopka and the environmental, political, and health impacts pesticide exposure had on farmworkers. Prior to his arrival, the Olin Library at Rollins also featured the quilts as a week-long display, also promoting farmworker justice books, articles, and memorabilia, arranged by the Rollins College YAYA chapter (National Farmworker Ministry's Youth and Young Adults group).

Linda Lee and Sarah Downs, primary quilt makers, along with Jeannie Economos of the Farmworker Association were also invited by Senator Siplin to speak to the Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday after briefly meeting at a Community Hearing hosted by the Farmworker Association! Pictured above is Linda Lee standing before members of the Florida Senate.

The event was couched in the broader Quilt Fundraising Campaign that will define the life of the quilts for the next several months. In order to continue telling stories like that of Sam's research, the Quilt Project needs the help of it's supporters. Please help us to continue this unique and engaging memorial initiative by supporting the Project through whatever means you have - your dollar will go a long way with the Farmworker Association of Florida.

Support the Quilts. Please.

2011-03-31T11:14:00.000-07:00

For nearly 2 years, the Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilt Project has been educating youth, college students, and adults – anyone who will listen – about the tragic history of farmworkers in Central Florida. Health complications. Persistent exposure to pesticides. Discrimination. Injustice in the workplace. These are just a few of the challenges faced by hundreds of farmworkers who dedicated their lives to feeding America during the height of WWII and beyond.

When this forgotten population began passing away at remarkably young ages, the Quilt Project began in order to preserve the story of Lake Apopka farmworkers. And now, after challenging communities from Central Florida to Central Michigan to see the other side of the “Green Revolution,”

we are asking for your help.

In order to continue developing, showing, and teaching about the Quilt Project, we are humbly asking for the support of our friends and allies. In the next 7 months, until the end of October, the Quilt Project will embark on its first fundraising campaign. Help us to reach our goal of $10,000 to support our efforts for the next 3 years.

We know that your dollars are precious, but we think this is a pretty great cause. Here’s why:

Creating greener practices for a greener planet means being conscious of where our food comes from and how it arrives on our dinner plate. Our goal is to educate anyone we can find about the role of farmworkers in that process.
At least 95% of your donation will go directly to the Quilt Project. Our overhead fees are minimal because we have the support of incredible volunteers and a great organization – the Farmworker Association of Florida.
We’re small. What that means is that every penny you can muster up goes SO much further than donating to a huge organization with huge donors. You and your dollar are all we have.

Donating might be asking a lot, but we’re flexible. We need lots of help in a lot of ways:

Donate online
Donate in person at an upcoming event
Donate via your friends – organize a Quilt Project Party at your house, job, or church and we’ll do the rest.

Thanks for considering our plea. You’ll be hearing from us again very soon.

Black History Month Celebration in Apopka!

2011-03-15T10:18:00.000-07:00

On Monday, February 28^th, FWAF community members celebrated Black History Month with a program that featured the history of African-Americans in the Apopka area and the lives of the former farmworkers who used to work on the farms on Lake Apopka.

With artifacts from the past and a display of archival newspapers and magazines collected by a local community member and amateur historian, the program included music and songs by a husband and wife team, poems by local youth, testimony by noted leaders and respected community members, and a skit on the history of South Apopka by a known local activist.

The stories told were funny, empowering, reminiscent of years of organizing in the community, and revealing about the realities of racial discrimination in past decades. Through it all, the resilience and persistence and strength of the community was the unifying theme.

The Memorial Quilts were on display and the evening ended with everyone sharing a delicious meal prepared by a local woman leader and former farmworker. The rich history of the African-American community was a take-home message for all who attended.

The Quilts Infiltrate K-12!

2011-02-28T13:16:00.000-08:00

We have been to festivals.
We have attended conferences and summits.
We have visited colleges and universities.
But never before have the Quilts been inside of a K-12 school.
Until now!

We had the privilege of being part of PACE Brantley School's Black History Month celebration, educating students ages 5-18 about the history of Lake Apopka, the lives of farmworkers, and reality of environmental racism and pesticide exposure that exists in their backyard.

Students were enthralled by the stories of Linda Lee, primary quilt maker and 4th generation farmworker, and enjoyed playing the role of "Mr. Robinson," the farmworker portrayed in a read-aloud story that requested one student to dress as a farmworker.

Everyone then enjoyed the opportunity to pay gratitude to farmworkers, past and present, through a Gratitude Square that will later be sewn into the back of Red Quilt and Blue Quilt. The Quilting team is well on its way to a fully developed educational curriculum geared towards illuminating classroom discussions about food systems, social justice, environmental awareness, and so much more!

Celebrate Farmworker Awareness Week

2011-02-16T09:48:00.000-08:00

Farmworker Awareness Week is a national week of action for students and community members to raise awareness about farmworker issues on our campuses and in our communities. The Farmworker Association of Florida, along with other farmworker organizations around the country, is sponsoring FAW in order to draw attention to and support for farmworkers in the U.S. and the important contribution they make to our everyday lives. This year, FAW is being celebrated March 27-April 2, 2011 and coincides with the birthday of legendary farmworker leader, Cesar Chavez.

In past years, students on campuses across the country have organized actions and events, from marches and rallies, to panel discussions and film showings, to creative street theater and mini-dramas, that have brought to the attention of the public the realities of the living and working conditions faced by agricultural laborers. In Florida, churches and students at University of Florida, Stetson University, Rollins College and University of South Florida, have organized events in past years. Building on past successes, FAW 2011 is expected to involve thousands people.

Get creative! Get involved! Find out more by going to the Student Action with Farmworkers' website. If you would like to organize an event with FWAF, give us a call at 407-886-5151. Justice for Farmworkers!

Stories of a Quilt Square: John Johnson

2011-02-02T07:12:00.000-08:00

Earma Peterson honors her uncle, John Johnson, in this square that beautifully portrays him and his wife, Lula, hoeing peanuts and playing with a cat in their front yard.

Even after working all day on the muck farms of Lake Apopka, most farmworkers like Mr. Johnson returned to their homes and continued farming in personal gardens. Not only did this small amount of food supplement their own food supply, but it was a continuation of their passion for working the land and the satisfaction of providing for their families.

While doing yard work, Mr. Johnson is pictured wearing overalls and a hat that help to protect him from the hot sun during a day in the fields. What he doesn’t know is that resting in the fiber of his clothes, harmful elements of pesticides have travelled home with him from the muck farms.

For decades before the Environmental Protection Agency Worker Protection Standards were passed, farmworkers unknowingly brought home pesticides from the fields as residues on their clothes, potentially exposing their children, their homes, and themselves to these harmful chemicals. Like most farmworkers of his time, Mr. Johnson is unknowingly sharing these harmful chemicals with his wife and kids. Some of the chemicals used at that time were persistent organic pollutants, like DDT, that were eventually linked in scientific studies to alligator abnormalities and to the massive bird deaths on Lake Apopka. While money was allocated to wildlife studies on Lake Apopka, farmworkers with diseases like lupus, cancer, kidney failure and other chronic diseases, have received little to no attention to identify links between their health issues and exposure to pesticides.

Thanks to the quilt, the public has an opportunity to learn more about the lives of the Lake Apopka farmworkers, and to raise awareness about farmworkers and pesticide exposure.

A Piece of Gratitude

2011-01-25T10:27:00.000-08:00

"The Harvest" - A Poem of Gratitude by Dave DiBona

patch by patch

a story told ,

people , places & things,

seeds sown and cared

to a harvest full,

a gather of little windows

weaved frame by frame,

a view of those who built

the story on this quilt

MLK Celebrations

2011-01-19T09:30:00.000-08:00

The Quilts celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend in style with four events and viewings that brought to light the unfortunate injustices which still occur in a post-Civil Rights world.

Saturday morning, more than 40 volunteers from Rollins College and their extended Winter Park family paid tribute to Dr. King’s philosophy of community activism through a Day of Service to the community of South Apopka. Undertaking significant projects like a landscape overhaul and repairing a wheelchair ramp required the involvement of a wide variety of donors and sponsors like Bobby McLennan of McLennan Construction Group, Keller Outdoor, Thomas Lumber, Home Depot, and Rollins College Office of Community Engagement.

At the end of the experience, volunteers viewed the Blue and Red Quilts at the home of Ms. Linda Lee of Apopka, the lead designer and seamstress of the project. Rollins arrived at tail-end of a previous viewing by alumnae of Trinity College, in town for a reunion event. The two groups mingled and admired the quilt squares as Linda Lee and Sr. Ann Kendrick spoke of the significance of this project for the former farmworkers in Apopka.

Sunday, the quilts travelled to Winter Park for the 9^th Annual Unity Heritage Festival. The quilts were featured near the main stage for the almost two-day event (rain interrupted Day 2), inviting participants to learn more about the human costs of food production, pesticide exposure, and environmental racism in the backyard of Orlando. Later, Linda Lee and Geraldean Matthew along with Jeannie Economos of the Farmworker Association of Florida offered a discussion and screening of Out of the Muck, an account of farmworker issues in Apopka.

These first events of 2011 made large shoes to fill for the next several months as we embark on a fundraising campaign and expanding the reach of the Quilt Project to other areas of Florida and beyond.

2011-01-17T09:57:00.000-08:00

"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." ---Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Long live the Dream!

Stories of a Quilt Square: Annie Mae Coleman

2011-01-04T08:13:00.000-08:00

Mary Anne Robinson honors her mother, Annie Mae Coleman, in this piece of the “Blue” Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilt. This wonderful depiction opens up the world of farm work from a woman’s perspective – a story that is often untold.

The muck farms of Lake Apopka were created during the WWII era in order to supplement the country’s food supply. During this time, virtually no agriculture or labor regulations existed to protect classes of people like women or people of color. Farms also faced very little pressure to provide basic rights like access to restrooms, eating facilities, or clean water. So during long, hot days on the muck farms, workers like Annie Mae adjusted to the slave-like conditions and found ways to continue working without these basic amenities.

In the square, Annie Mae is depicted wearing a large blue dress that was functional in more ways than one. Women often used the skirts of their dress to hide themselves, providing privacy, to relieve themselves in the middle of a field (remember: bathrooms were not available for farmworker use). Large farm dresses were also used as a protective cover for children who often accompanied their mothers to the fields for work. Crop dusters which sprayed the fields with pesticides and other chemicals did not discriminate against the farmworkers or their children – they were sprayed along with the crops. To protect their children, mothers hid kids underneath the skirts of their dresses.

Agricultural Fraternity Students Brave Wet Weather to Learn abaout Lake Apopka Farmworkers

2010-12-21T08:43:00.000-08:00

Is this sunny Florida? Students from as far away as New York, Illinois, and California, and some from Florida, swooped into Apopka on a dreary, drizzly and wet Florida winter day on Saturday, December 18th.

Part of a week-long service learning activity coordinated with the Society of St. Andrew and their gleaning projects, the students came from a variety of universities, among them Cornell and the University of Florida. What they have in common is their membership in an honors agricultural fraternity and their interests in agricultural related studies, ranging from horticulture to plant biology and everything in between. Their beautiful energy, enthusiasm and excitement brought a ray of sunshine into the gray day, as they met at the Apopka office of the Farmworker Association, meeting and greeting each other, some for the first time!

Their first encounter with Apopka was to learn about the lives and working conditions of farmworkers and the environmental issues around Lake Apopka. Watching the video “Out of the Muck,” they heard the voices of community members who have been impacted by chronic exposure to persistent organic pesticides. After a discussion of the alligator studies, the bird deaths, and the struggle of the former farmworkers, they learned a little bit about the other sources of contamination in this low-income, minority community.

But, it was not all talk. After warming up and staying dry in the offices, all twenty-three students then piled into three vehicles to go see the area for themselves. Thus, they embarked on the Lake Apopka Toxic Tour, traveling to the former farmlands, en route passing a small labor camp, the Drum Chemical Company Superfund site, the cabbage fields of Long and Scott Farms, and the St. Johns River Water Management District Field Station. The rain stopped long enough for everyone to take a short walk on the former Duda Farms property, that now sports hiking trails and where they read a sign warning of DDT and pesticide contamination on the former farmlands. Of course, the trip would not be complete without a look at the lake itself.

Pulling into the parking lot at Magnolia Park, the windshield wipers tapping out a beat, the group shrugged off the rain to disembark and get a first-hand look at Lake Apopka. (See photo.) Through the fog and drizzles, and laughter and talk, everyone walked out onto the dock overlooking the lake they had just learned so much about. More questions and answers, and with spirits undampened, the group posed for photos before boarding their van and cars again to complete the trip.

The tour concluded with a drive past the county landfill and the medical waste incinerator, but by this time, the waning light and misty atmosphere revealed no more than outlines. Nonetheless, the trip had left an impression on all, and, in spite of the weather’s efforts to quell it, an energy and mutual appreciation was shared among all. We wish the students a great week as they engage in other projects during this magical week before Christmas.

Honoring the Last Harvest at the Harvest Festival

2010-11-29T12:16:00.000-08:00

Connecting the GRASS ROOTS with the DEEP ROOTS of local food ecology - sounds like the motto of the Memorial Quilts! The Farmworker Association was proudly featured in the First Annual Winter Park Harvest Festival on Saturday, November 20th. The day-long event boasted dozens of local farmers, gardeners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations who are doing incredible work in the Central Florida region.

Winter Park Harvest Festival Promotional Flyer

The Memorial Quilts, speaking a powerful message about the impact of pesticides and oppression on the human condition in Apopka, provided a unique touch to the fresh produce, fall crafts, and organization material that lined the West Meadow of Central Park. The event's huge success was marked by the hundreds of patrons throughout the day who spent time enjoying socially-minded conversation, great music, and workshops on topics spanning cooking and growing to advocacy.

As the first of its kind in the region, FWAF is certainly excited to see what John Rife and his incredible team will produce next fall as the Winter Park Harvest Festival continues to grow and become a stable in the lineup of progressive events we've come to crave.

Fabulous FAMU: Quilts Loved at Symposium

2010-11-17T06:43:00.000-08:00

The weather was beautiful on November 11 and 12 as folks gathered in Orlando from around Florida and from other states to attend the Environmental Justice Symposium of the Florida A&M University Law School and FAMU Center for Environmental Equity and Justice. FWAF was invited to participate and the Quilt Project was a sponsor of the event.

On Thursday evening, November 11^th, the Symposium welcomed and hosted a reception and dinner by and for the new Region 4 EPA Administrator, Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming, Esq., the first African-American woman administrator for the region. Keyes spoke to a group of over 60 attendees on her experience and motivation, her vision and priorities, and her commitment to addressing the environmental justice issues affecting communities in the Southeast U.S. Afterwards, she took questions from the audience. A FWAF staff member and a community member Linda Lee asked the Administrator what she could do to improve compliance and enforcement of pesticide regulations in Florida, a task that EPA authorizes the state Department of Agriculture to undertake. Keyes replied that she was new to the position, but that she would look into it. FWAF will continue to follow up with her and work to develop a working relationship with the Administrator to address both EJ and farmworker issues.

Thanks to Sarah and Jenn, the quilts were hung early Friday morning in time for all attending the symposium to see. After registration and opening remarks by FAMU faculty and students, guest speaker and noted community activist and author, Beverly Wright, gave a presentation that focused on her hometown of New Orleans and the environmental justice issues resulting from both Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill in that area. The afternoon events included panel discussions on Toxic Dumping and Brownfields, Impacts to Indigenous People and Wildlife, and a student led debate on environmental justice. Experts in different fields and issues conducted interesting and thought-provoking presentations. Presenters included representatives from various organizations and disciplines, from the Center for Biological Diversity to a professor from Seattle University School of Law, among others.

The most important part of the symposium was at the end, when, on Friday evening, the Listening Session began. Community members from an environmental justice group from Jacksonville were able to tell their own personal stories and that of their EJ community to several EPA representatives that were there to listen. The last item on the agenda was the Lake Apopka farmworker community. Geraldean Matthew, former FWAF staff member and community organizer, spoke from her heart about the impacts to her community from the exposure to pesticides on Lake Apopka and the other contaminating sites in the community. After she spoke, there was not a dry eye in the room. The story of the quilt had deeper resonance for everyone after hearing personal testimony by a member of the community.

A hopeful result of the symposium is that the Jacksonville community and EPA promised to embark upon increased dialogue and communication to work together to help find solutions and solidarity for their issues as we move forward together. The quilts, again, have proven to be an important tool for raising awareness about farmworker, pesticide and EJ issues.

Taking UCF By Storm!

2010-11-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

The Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilts greeted over 600 participants at the University of Central Florida’s Diversity Week Breakfast. While passing through the doors of the Pegasus Ballroom, professors, students, faculty, and staff experienced the stories of Red Quilt and Blue Quilt, as they have come to be called. Sarah Downs, one of the two driving forces in the creation of the quilts, had the opportunity to sit at the Diversity Affairs table and hear addresses from speakers like the Director of Diversity Initiatives and UCF’s President.

One of the organizers raved about the presence of the quilts, realizing that the Memorial Quilts are the first visual piece to accompany the Diversity Breakfast. The visual appeal and historical significance of the quilts added a common talking piece to events occurring across campus, Barbra Thompson, Assistant Director of Diversity Initiatives said. The Quilts, no doubt, will return to visit UCF.

The quilts continued their UCF journey to a panel discussion that highlighted issues in the farmworker community. The distinguished panel was moderated by Dr. Maria Santana. She managed to keep these feisty lions at bay:

Dominique Aulisio of the Youth and Young Adult Network from the National Farmworker Ministry who represented young activists who support the farmworker community;

Annabelle Conroy, an Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department at UCF who has been actively engaged in the creation of the Memorial Quilts;

Sarah Downs, one of 'quilt moms' who always brings the incredible perspective of a selfless ally for the farmworker community;

Jeannie Economos, the activist/pesticide expert/environmental justice guru who fired the audience up with roaring speeches about the history of the Lake Apopka toxicity;

Linda Lee who is, of course, the Mother Bee of Red Quilt and Blue Quilt and tells the moving story of her life working on the muck and renewed commitment to get the story of her community told;

And Bert Perry from the National Farmworker Ministry who has been a passionate organizer for over 30 years.

These outstanding women painted a great picture of how the environmental injustices of Apopka impact the farmworker community and greater population, leaving the audience with the profound realization that the dinner on America's proverbial table is not only laced with a taste of pesticide, but the hard work of rural farmworkers.

The Quilt on Display at Barry University Environmental Justice Symposium

2010-10-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

FWAF community members and volunteers attended the second annual Environmental Justice Symposium at Barry University School of Law on Friday, October 8th in Orlando. Linda Lee spoke on a panel focusing on the community members' experiences of environmental contamination in their communities and the work that they have been doing to organize for clean up and for health care. Geraldean Matthew also attended and shared comments about her own health conditions and her years of work in the Lake Apopka farmworker community. Mary Tinsley and Johanna of the Apopka Lupus support group attended, also, as well as two volunteers and a staff member.

Keynote speaker was non-other than Dr. Robert Bullard, the man known as Mr. Environmental Justice. Dr. Bullard has written 11 books and countless articles on the meaning of environmental justice, highlighting EJ communities in the United States. His seminal work in the mid-1980's with the United Church of Crist gave birth to the environmental justice movement that we know today.

The highlight for our community was the display of the Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilts both at the reception at the school on Thursday evening and all throughout the symposium on Friday. The quilts were quite a hit with everyone in attendance and served as the backdrop for many photos that were taken that day.

Our sincere thanks to Barry University and the Center for Earth Jurisprudence for jointly organizing and sponsoring this important and empowering event.

Indiantown Quilt Unveiling Energizes Community

2010-09-20T17:30:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, September 18, FWAF staff and volunteers made the trek from Apopka to Indiantown in South Florida to unveil the quilts (blue quilt and red quilt) to the community of former farmworkers there. Led by Linda Lee and Sarah Downs, two of the driving forces behind the creation of the beautiful quilts, the community was able to see for the first time the results of months worth of dedicated and creative work. Over 40 community members attended the activity, held at the Indiantown Civic Center, and were treated to a potluck lunch, including homemade potato salad and rice and bean casseroles, in the afternoon.

In addition, new Americorps volunteer, Jenn Hollern, assembled photos and video footage into an impressive multi-media presentation about the steps along the way to the creation of the quilt. The community was engrossed in watching the presentation, which was projected on to the wall accompanied by music.

Linda Lee's granddaughters entertained the community with their impressive step dancing and the participation of the young girls inspired those in attendance to recognize the importance of their stories for the future generation.

Thanks, also, to our great volunteers, Rachel Harris and Anna Lee Kerlin. The quilts are truly collaborative efforts that solidify unity and promote justice for farmworkers.

Rollins College Students SPARC their interest in Lake Apopka

2010-08-27T11:49:00.001-07:00

Nineteen incoming, freshman students from Rollins College visited the Farmworker Association of Florida offices in Apopka on August 21st to learn about farmworkers and Lake Apopka. They were joined by two volunteers, Anna Lee Kerlin and Rachel Harris. Former farmworkers Linda Lee and Mary Ann Robinson talked to the students about their lives and experiences working on the farms on Lake Apopka. The class, with professor with Joe Siry, went on a Lake Apopka Toxic Tour of the area to view firsthand an environmental justice community and to learn about the conditions and health problems in the community. The SPARC Day event included the unveiling of the second, red quilt - to the awe and delight of all present! The day concluded with students making their own quilt squares that will be eventually incorporated into the quilt itself.

Thanks, Rollins College, for giving students these important community engagement opportunities and for your years of collaboration with the Farmworker Association of Florida.

Extra! Extra!

2010-06-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

Here is Linda Lee feature in the "Atlantic". The article is a peak into the personal lives of farmworkers and highlights the importance of the quilt project.

A Life Engulfed by Pesticides

Also, here are some photos from a recent visit to Rollins College. Linda Lee and Geraldine Matthews were able to display the quilt squares to visitors:

Our Last Trip to Indiantown

2010-06-02T18:26:00.001-07:00

On May 15th we took our last trip to Indiantown. We have now amassed enough squares to create a full quilt, and perhaps even two. The next stage is to finish the movie, put the quilt together, and create the brochures and written materials that will accompany it.

As we progress, we will keep everyone updated

Here are pictures from the trip

More Media From Indiantown

2010-04-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures from our March 13th visit to Indiantown. You can read more about it here. In these pictures you can get an idea of the insane amount of equipment Jim has to haul around with him, as well as the process of making squares, printing to cloth, feeding everyone, and the intricacies of organizing the community to accomplish this project.

Poverty in America - Lake Apopka Edition

2010-04-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

Sometime ago, Lake Apopka was feature in Asa Aaron's Poverty in America. This series of videos is a great way to learn about the history of Lake Apopka. The videos feature key people in the community who have been involved with the issue for over a decade now.

Media Majors Take Toxic Tour

2010-04-09T14:30:00.000-07:00

Critical Media and Cultural Studies professors Denise Cummings and Lisa Tillman accompanied Linda Lee and Jeannie Economos on a Toxic tour of Apopka. The tour was taken in order to educate students about important areas of environmental degradation and environemntal justice in Florida. Click here to learn more about the important event.

Our Latest Visit to Indiantown

2010-03-31T14:14:00.000-07:00

On March 13, we took a trip to Indiantown. Jim Berry flew down here all the way from Michigan to collect footage and music for the oral history documentary that will accompany the quilt. He stayed over night and was able to record some wonderful footage. He later returned to record some music for the documentary.

Turnout at the event was great. Christine did a great job of gathering folks, and her mother cooked us some delicious food that included sweet potato pie (which Sarah took a particular liking to), rice, beans, curry chicken, BBQ chicken, and deviled eggs.

Anaydia brought down her laptop and printer, and toiled very hard to transfer photographs of the farmworkers' loved ones to cloth. The meticulous process involves binding cloth to freezer paper with an iron, feeding everything through a printer, and cutting everything into the proper shape and size.

Anaydia's aunt was also graceful enough to let Jim stay overnight at her house. Thanks to her Jim was able to shoot some wonderful footage of a cemetery and of some crop dusters.

Linda Lee, as always, did an impressive amount of work. She helped many of her fellow former farmworkers sew their squares, explained to process to others, and did so many other things we don't even have room to list here.

Also, this time Jeannie joined us! She made sure everything ran smoothly and educated all of us on the issues surrounding Lake Apopka and the farmworkers. She also helped us spot a few rare birds along the way.

Sarah worked closelty with every single person that showed up, and walked everyone through the square making process, helped the farmworkers develop concepts for their squares, and helped cut and sew squares.

Below are a few pictures of the event. More to come soon. The pictures below include the "shopping area" where people pick what cloth they would like to use, some of the squares being made, and me taking a break from pictures to help someone with their square. Sarah later gave me some constructive criticism (read laughed at me) on how to use pins.

Lauren Austin Gives Tips to Our Artists

2010-03-25T09:01:00.000-07:00

In January, we visited the opening night of "Bigger Than a Scrapbook: The Talking Quilts of Lauren Austin". During the visit, our quilters had the opportunity to meet the artist. Here is a video of Lauren Austin talking to a few of the Lake Apopka Memorial Quilters, showing them her drawing pad, giving them advice on drawing, and the importance of persevering. The audio is not very good, but the video is definitely worth checking out. Hopefully we will have a cleaned up version up soon.

Linda's Quilt Squares and Johnny Mae Visit

2010-03-16T18:38:00.000-07:00

This is Linda Lee

Linda Lee used to work in the Lake Apopka muck farms. Today, she is active in church, active in the community, cooks for countless people during the holidays, works with a girl scout troop, helps take care of her grandchildren, babysits a two year old, is a speaker for several FWAF projects, does community outreach for the Lake Apopka Quilt Project, walks participants through the square making process, and just for the fun of it laughed in the face of her arthritis by sewing over 20 quilt squares by hand.

We once dropped by her house at 5 am to pick her up, expecting her to be at least a little tired, only to find her up and cooking (since 3:30 am).

On March 4th, me, Sarah and Linda Lee went to Johnny Mae's house to get pictures of the members of her family that she would like to memorialize. The slideshow below shows pictures of the many amazing quilt squares Linda Lee has produced, of our trip to the dollar store to find a stethoscope for one of Johnny Mae's squares, of Johnny Mae and her granddaughter, and of our pit stop at the Pizza Hut where Linda taught me a few hand gestures.

Johnny Mae is one of the nicest, kindest human beings I have ever met. This video is just a small glimpse of her personality.

The Quilt Makes an Appearance at the 6th Annual OCPS District Service Learning Conference

2010-03-03T20:47:00.000-08:00

On February 14, a group of people involved with the quilt project made their way out to promote the quilt and raise awareness about farmworkers issues for the annual orange county service learning conference.

We were invited by Wendy Doromal and the Service Learning Academy at Timber Creek High school, located in Orlando. Here are some pictures of the event.

Linda Lee and the others had a great time with the High School students.

For more information about the conference and the amazing work done by Timbercreek, visit their blog at http://servicelearningacademy.blogspot.com/

Farmworkers Awareness Week!

2010-02-18T12:12:00.000-08:00

Farmworker Awareness Week is a national week of action for students and community members to raise awareness about farmworker issues on our campuses and in our communities. This year events will take palce between March 28 and April 3.

Contact us at Farmworkerassoc@aol.com or Pzlopes@gmail.com if you would like to participate!

http://www.saf-unite.org/action/faw.htm

Bigger Than A Scrapbook: The Talking Quilts of Lauren Austin

2010-02-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

On January 15th we visited "Bigger Than A Scrapbook: The Talking Quilts of Lauren Austin". This is a quilt exhibition taking place in the Crealde School of art and the Hannibal Square Heritage Center.

The visit served several purposes; we went to learn new techniques, find inspiration, and to enjoy a nice evening out. Sam again made the trek all the way from Sarasota to join us, and this time he brought his friend Sarah with him. He even took a minute off from working on his thesis to dance a little bit to the rhythm of the steel drums that accompanied the Heritage Center portion of the exhibit.

Sarah Downs brought her new (awesome) camera, which allowed us to take several high quality pictures of the quilts. Hopefully these will come in handy during the stitching process.

Betty, Linda Lee, her daughter and grandchildren all came to learn from the show. One of the highlights of the night was a conversation with the artist. She shared her personal sketchbook with us, and emphasized to the former farmworkers working on the quilt the value of persistence. We do have this on video, so look forward to a great update on the near future.

Tomorrow (Thursday, February 4) and Friday we will be returning to the show with more farmworkers. Join us at:

Crealde School of Art

St. Andrews Boulevard
Winter Park, Florida 32792

Martin Luther King Day Parade

2010-01-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

The Farmworker Association joined the first ever Apopka MLK Day Parade this year. The Association addressed a variety of issues. In the pictures, we see Ana Treviño stressing the important role immigrants play in bringing food to our tables. Also pictured is Sarah's son, Ben, advocating for comprehensive immigration reform. And of course, the Lake Apopka Memorial Quilt team did not fail to impress.

As always, Linda Lee arrived with the cavalry. She brought with her our promotional quilt (made by her and Anayda in our last visit to Indian Town)and a team of determined youth to carry the banner.

Attendance at the parade was very good despite the chilly temperature, and we were happy to show our work to all of South Apopka.

Created with flickr slideshow.

A Martin Luther King day parade was a very suiting forum to promote our project. The quilt represents lives sometimes lost due to inequality, racism, and prejudice. The people being memorialized in this quilt represent several generations of farmworkers, some who worked the fields even before the civil rights movement and who struggled to have a voice, and others who faced our contemporary brands of discrimnation, environmental racism, and classism.

The dream lives on.

Our January 12th Workshop

2010-01-20T11:37:00.000-08:00

Yet another productive day of quilting and quilt planning. We were joined by Anayda, Erma, Martha, Linda, Karen, Ellen, Sam, and Sarah.

It was interesting to see Martha's square for several reasons. Besides the fact that it gives us a glimpse of what the quilt will look like, it also focuses on the theme of the farmworker's hand; a symbol of the pain, hard work, and generosity of these people. Quite literally the hand that feeds us.

Sam drove all the way from Sarasota to participate in the workshop - it's very inspiring to see his dedication to the community. It was also very nice to have Ellen, Sarah's daughter, help us out. Like her mother, Ellen's a gifted artist and had a lot of great ideas to contribute.

Created with flickr slideshow.