Lupe Gonzalo, Jean Claude Jean, and Marcos Martins of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers offers a workshop on the CIW's campaign and organizing work as part of the "Growing Justice, Creating Community" college-community symposium organized by the Oberlin College Food Studies Program.
Lupe Gonzalo worked primarily in tomato and other vegetable fields for twelve years. As a worker, she experienced various types of abuse, but when she first heard about rights, she learned about the Fair Food Program at one of the tomato farms. Now, Ms. Gonzalo provides worker-to-worker rights training. She participated in a CNN Freedom Project series on preventing modern slavery and was named a Community Pioneer by Equal Voice magazine. Presently, Ms. Gonzalo continues organizing workers in her community and educating consumers nationally about the Worker-Led Social Responsibility model.
Jean Claude Jean was born in Haiti. He moved to the United States in 1992 and joined the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in 1993. He has four kids, two boys and two girls. He enjoys educating his community and bringing more farmworkers into the Fair Food Program.
Marcos Martins is a campaign coordinator and faith organizer for the CIW. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts and Communications. He is also working on his Master of Divinity degree, which is how he got involved with the work of the CIW. The CIW was recommended to him by both his pastor and his professor. He is passionate about the way that university students and people of faith have come together in the past to seek justice for farmworkers. He believes that together we can work towards a world in which every person is treated with dignity and respect.
Open to all members of the public
