Enhancing the Capacity of Educators and Farm Leaders to work with Socially Disadvantaged Latino Farmers

View the project final report

• 2007 annual report

Commodities

Practices

• Sustainable Communities: ethnic differences/cultural and demographic change, leadership development, analysis of personal/family life, social networks

Even though USDA agencies, NGO’s, and educational institutions have the desire to promote a sustainable food and farming systems among Latino farmers, they lack human resource skills to reach these emerging farming groups. The purpose of this program is to enhance the capacity of educators and farm leaders to work with socially disadvantaged Latino farmers. The expected short-term outcomes: (1) changes in participants’ awareness of the needs, barriers, and challenges of Latino farmers; (2) increase knowledge and awareness of Latino farmers’ background in sustainable farming practices; (3) increase confidence and motivation to engage in multicultural educational programs. Intermediate outcomes: (1) plan and design appropriate educational programs with cultural sensitivity towards Latino farmers in sustainable agricultural systems; (2) accept and understand Latino farmers’ limitations; (3) establish mutually satisfying relationships with immigrant farmers. Long-term outcomes: (1) improve partnership and communication among Latino farmers and agricultural agencies, NGO’s, and farm leaders, (2) increase the effectiveness of educational programs with Latino farmers in a sustainable agricultural system in NCR; and (3) improve the economy, the environment and the social well being of Latino agricultural communities. The key activities: (1) develop and implement an ELC; (2) design and support a website on Latino farmer information; and (3) plan and organize 2, eight-day experiential learning field trips in Mexico. The success of this PDP will be measured by the change of knowledge, skills and attitudes of participants (pre-post survey). A follow-up study will measure the medium and long-term outcomes. Another criterion is the use of website.

The PDP’s objectives: (1) to enhance the capacity of educators and farm leaders to work with socially Disadvantaged Latino farmers; (2) to assist educators and farm leaders to become more capable in conducting sustainable food and farming outreach programs with socially disadvantaged Latino farmers; (3) to provide a unique reflective learning environment for the participants through a ELC; (4) to improve access to current and reliable information about Latino farmers by means of a new website