Monthly Youth Meetings House Farm Workers! is meeting monthly with the youth at One Step a la Vez in Fillmore. During these monthly meets, our executive director engages the already-advocating youth with an activity or community guest speaker to provide them with information about the need for affordable, safe, and stable housing. Topics include the process of developing housing, and how to advocate for it in their community and all communities in Ventura County. Check Out Who Has Presented Here >> From Harvest To Home De la Cosecha al Hogar (From Harvest to Home) City Committees House Farm Workers! has established committees that cover the unincorporated county, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo and Moorpark. These volunteer-driven committees are the heart of the organization and have played a critical role in advocating on behalf of the farm worker community since 2004. The city groups mobilize public support, engage public officials, and collaborate with other grassroots organizations to ensure affordable housing for farm workers. What We Do Testify in support of farm worker developments and favorable policies. Present our documentary, “From Harvest to Home,” to community members. Inform the community and honor farm workers through “From Field to Fork” events. Inspire action through our countywide summits. Click Here To Find Out How To Get Involved The Santa Paula Affordable Housing Task Force The Santa Paula Affordable Housing Task Force (SPAHTF) is a diverse group of Santa Paula residents and affordable housing experts from throughout Ventura County. It was formed in 2018 by House Farm Workers! to address housing needs in Santa Paula where overcrowded households abound and the average median income is $55,000. The Task Force, which works closely with the Santa Paula City Planners, has given effective input to the General Plan and Housing Element updates and in 2024 will advocate for revisions to zoning codes and other housing policies, regulations and fees. The Fillmore and Piru Task Force The Fillmore and Piru Task Force (FPTF) is a diverse group of Fillmore and Piru residents, community members, affordable housing developers, and housing experts. It was formed in 2022 by House Farm Workers! to address the Fillmore Housing Element 2021-2029 Update. Farm Worker Immersion Project Photo by HFW!, Immersion 2022 House Farm Workers! and the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Center for Community Engagement have partnered with Reiter Affiliated Companies and Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. to provide an immersion opportunity for CSUCI students focused on the farm worker experience, agriculture, and farm worker housing. The goal of this program is to deepen students’ understanding of farm worker issues by experiencing, if only for a day, the working and living conditions of some farm worker families in Ventura County. During the immersion, students have the opportunity to pick and pack produce in the fields, as well as tour a farm worker housing development and speak with farm worker families about what access to affordable, safe, and stable housing. The Ellen Brokaw House Farm Workers! Scholarship is awarded each year to college-bound or current college students whose parents are farm workers in Ventura County. This scholarship reflects our commitment to making sure our farm worker families can thrive. The scholarship is named in honor of Ellen Brokaw, founding chairwoman of House Farm Workers! A prominent member of Ventura County’s agricultural community, involved in production of lemons, avocados and nursery stock, she has been an inspirational leader in the long campaign to improve the lives of farm workers and their families. The winners will receive the scholarship at our annual fund-raiser, “From Field to Fork.” Applications open March 20, 2024, and close May 6, 2024. Submit your application today! Only complete applications with all required supporting documentation will be accepted. To check the status of your application, email event@housefarmworkers.org Past scholarship winners Congratulations to our 2023 Scholarship winners! In 2023,Ventura County non-profit House Farm Workers! awarded four $3,000 scholarships. Please meet the Ellen Brokaw House Farm Workers! Scholarship recipients. Yeni Gonzalez A graduate from Channel Islands High School in 2023, Yeni will be attending UCLA. “It will show me that the pain and sweat, I see every time [my parents] come back from work has been worth it.” – Yeni Gonzalez Jesus Martinez A graduate from Hueneme High School in 2020, Jesus is currently attending UC Berkeley. “I hope to be an inspiration for the youth, and the farm workers in my community.” – Jesus Martinez Judith Bautista A graduate from Pacifica High School in 2023, Judith will be attending CSULB. “Understanding how I can help people move on from trauma is what I look forward to studying.” – Judith Bautista Magaly Dominguez A graduate from Hueneme High School in 2023, Judith will be attending UC Riverside. “I have the courage to grow as a student with the goal of helping people.” – Magaly Dominguez The scholarship is awarded each year to college-bound or current college students whose parents are farm workers in Ventura County and reflects our commitment to making sure our farmworker families can thrive. If you would like to donate towards next year’s scholarship recipients, please visit: https://housefarmworkers.org/donate/ 2022 Mireya Avila Mejia Fillmore High School, 2019 Currently attending CSU, Channel Islands 2022 Vanessa Magana Santa Paula High School, 2019 Currently attending California Lutheran University 2022 Martha Maldonado-Arias Hueneme High School, 2022 Currently attending CSU, Channel Islands 2021 Bryan Rodriguez Oxnard High School, 2020 Currently attending Ventura College 2021 Litzy Hernandez Hueneme High School, 2017 Currently attending University of California, Berkeley 2021 Jesus Martinez Hueneme High School, 2020 Currently attending University of California, Berkeley 2020 Paola Gonzalez Santa Paula High School, 2016 Currently attending CSU, Channel Islands 2020 Bryan Navarrete Channel Islands High School, 2020 Currently attending CSU, Long Beach 2020 Rosita Lopez Channel Islands High School, 2018 Currently attending CSU, Monterey Bay 2019 Marlen Garcia Cano Fillmore High School, 2019 Attended Ventura College 2019 Emilia Contreras Channel Islands High School, 2018 Attended CSU, Channel Islands 2019 Erik Magaña Fillmore High School, 2019 Attended University of California, Santa Barbara 2018 Monica Cisneros Santa Paula High School, 2018 Attended University of California, Santa Barbara 2018 Lorenzo “Anthony” Palomera Fillmore High School, 2018 Attended University of California, Santa Barbara 2018 Felix Cruz Rio Mesa High School, 2018 Attended University of California, San Diego 2017 Alma Monjaraz Tapia Rio Mesa High School, 2017 Attended Cal State University, Fresno 2017 Litzy Hernandez Hueneme High School, 2017 Attended University of California, Berkeley 2017 Osvaldo Ambriz Santa Paula High School, 2017 Attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo 2015 Ayari Palencia Hueneme High School 2015 CSU, Channel Islands Alumni 2016 Viviana Avelar Santa Paula High School 2016 Attended UC Santa Barbara 2016 Daniel Garcia Channel Islands High School 2016 Attended UC Riverside 2016 Juan Magaña Santa Paula High School 2016 Attended UC Irvine Su Voz Campesina Farmworker Group The Su Voz Campesina Farmworker Group was created by our Executive Director, Gabrielle Vignone, to ensure that we are connecting with the population we aim to serve. Su Voz is a group of Ventura County farmworkers who gather every three months to discuss farmworker housing and share their thoughts on new or current developments. Su Voz welcomes any farmworker who would like to attend; contact us at events@housefarmworkers.org to attend the next meeting. El Grupo de Trabajadores Agrícolas Su Voz Campesina fue creado por nuestra Directora Ejecutiva, Gabrielle Vignone, para garantizar que estamos conectando con la población a la que aspiramos a servir. Su Voz es un grupo de trabajadores agrícolas del condado de Ventura que se reúnen cada tres meses para hablar de la vivienda de los trabajadores agrícolas y compartir sus opiniones sobre los desarrollos nuevos o actuales. Su Voz da la bienvenida a cualquier trabajador agrícola que desee asistir; póngase en contacto con nosotros en events@housefarmworkers.org para asistir a la próxima reunión.