2 Awardees Announced by Farmworker Justice for 2010

Written by Bruce Goldstein Wednesday, 10 March 2010 18:36

Farmworker Justice is pleased to announce the recipients of two of its three annual awards, which will be presented at the Farmworker Justice Award Reception on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 in Washington, D.C. at the Mayflower Hotel.

The Shelley Davis Memorial Award will be presented to Patti Goldman, Vice President for Litigation, at Earthjustice.  Patti collaborated with our late Deputy Director, Shelley Davis, on advocacy and litigation to reduce farmworkers' exposures to toxic pesticides, and has continued to work with Farmworker Justice and farmworker organizations to improve the Environmental Protection Agency's policies, practices and enforcement efforts.  Earthjustice (founded as the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund) is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth, and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment.  Patti received her undergraduate and law degrees at University of Wisconsin, and was editor-in-chief of the law review.  She works from the Seattle office.  This will be the first year of presenting an award in honor of Shelley Davis, an extraordinary advocate for farmworkers, who died of breast cancer in December 2008.

The Irma Flores Gonzales Award will be presented to Joel Davis.  Joel helped Farmworker Justice establish and build the Shelley Davis Memorial Fund to carry on the creative work of his sister, Shelley Davis, our late Deputy Director.  Joel is Shelley's oldest brother.  He is retired from a career as a corporate executive.  Working with other members of his family, Joel led efforts to ensure that Farmworker Justice's tremendous loss when Shelley died would not mean the end of the kind of advocacy, litigation and empowering of farmworkers for which Shelley was beloved.  Irma Flores Gonzales died in 2005 at age 62 while a member of our Board of Directors.  A leader in the Latino community at the national level, through her work as Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Council of La Raza, she helped build Farmworker Justice into an institution of greater impact.  The award has been presented to Cecilia Munoz, Charles Kamasaki, Ellen Widess and the Rosenberg Foundation for their assistance in building Farmworker Justice.

The recipient of the Farmworker Justice Award for 2010 will be named soon.  Previous winners include Dolores Huerta, Raul Yzaguirre, Arturo Rodriguez, Baldemar Velasquez, Linda Chavez-Thompson, Rep. Howard Berman, Rep. George Miller, Joseph T. Hansen, Sen. Edward Kennedy and Maria Echaveste.

You can support Farmworker Justice and enjoy a wonderful evening at the Reception on May 11 by becoming a sponsor.  More information is available on our website's Special Events page.

55th Birthday Wish -- Support the Cause of Farmworker Justice

Written by Bruce Goldstein Tuesday, 16 February 2010 18:59

On February 25th, FJ's Executive Director will turn 55.  His birthday wish is your donation of $55 to Farmworker Justice so that it can continue to provide the litigation, advocacy, and capacity-building assistance that farmworkers need and deserve to improve their wages, working conditions, occupational safety and health, and access to justice.  Just in the last week, Farmworker Justice was quoted in the New York Times about the collaborative advocacy that won new, higher wage rates and other protections in the nation's agricultural guestworker program, and its successful litigation as co-counsel for forestry workers (a $2.75 million settlement) was reported in an AP wire story.  There is a lot more to do.  And we can't do it without you.

You can join Bruce in donating by visiting his birthday wish Facebook page, or using the donation button on this page (or by sending a check, of course).  Thank you.

Support FJ and the Socially Responsible Wine Tasting, Dec. 2

Written by Bruce Goldstein Friday, 27 November 2009 08:36

There is still time to support Farmworker Justice by sponsoring the 8th Annual Socially Responsible Wine Tasting, or purchasing a ticket ($90), to this enjoyable event for a great cause. See the list of our sponsors so far. Join us Wednesday, December 2, at the AFL-CIO's Samuel Gompers Hall, 816 16th St., NW, at 6 pm to 8:30 pm. Pay with a credit card online, send a check, or just show up. We'll be thanking volunteer farmworker lawyers Jim Leonard (10 years at Farmworker Justice) and Jack Gallon (40 years donating his time to Farm Labor Organizing Committee). http//www.farmworkerjustice.org/SpecialEvents.htm

Join this Impressive Group of Farmworker Advocacy Supporters

Written by Bruce Goldstein Tuesday, 10 November 2009 18:40

You want vigorous effective advocacy for agricultural workers, and you know that Farmworker Justice's work on labor, immigration, health and pesticides delivers the goods for farmworkers.  Your support makes our work possible.  Become a sponsor of our annual Socially Responsible Wine Tasting.  Join the growing list of sponsors by visiting our website's special events page to make an online donation, or send a check.  We look forward to seeng you on Wednesday, December 2, at 6 pm to 8:30 pm, at the AFL-CIO.  We'll taste wine from vineyards that treat farmworkers decently and where they have a voice, and we'll also honor James B. Leonard and Jack Gallon, two labor attorneys who have volunteered their considerable skills for the cause of farmworker justice.  Join our list of sponsors, or buy an individual ticket for $90.

Magnum ($5,000)

 

Premier Cru ($2,500)
Joan S. Leonard and James B. Leonard

Harvester ($1,000)

Barbara C. Somson and Ross E. Eisenbrey

Katz,  Marshall & Banks, LLP

Nueva Vista Group, LLC

Rural Housing Inc.

Cultivator  ($500)

Bari Lee Schwartz and Barry M. Hager

Lois A. Good and Dale E. Good

Kit Gage and Steve Metalitz

Frances W. Stevenson

Gallon, Takacs, Boissoneault & Schaffer Co., L.P.A.

Monica Gallagher

O’Donoghue & O’Donoghye, LLP

Robin Talbert and Bruce Goldstein

The Raben Group

UMOS

Taster ($250)

Alan Houseman

Beth and Philip Goldstein

California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation

Causey Law Firm

Deborah A. Bombard

Elizabeth Toll Davis and Joel P. Davis

Gina Rabai Clair and Edward P. Clair

Housing Assistance Council

Karen C. Coe

Christine L. Owens