Rural Migrant Ministry held an interfaith open house Saturday to celebrate its new Long Island Rural Worker Education Center in Riverhead and to highlight the success of the programs put in place by the Center for Alliance, Solidarity and Accompaniment (CASA), a project that has operated there since September.
The Long Island Rural Worker Education Center — located on Roanoke Avenue at the former Grace Episcopal Church and lent by the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island — is the newest of three centers operating in New York State under Rural Migrant Ministry. Rural Migrant Ministry is a nonprofit organization supported by five different church denominations that looks to improve the living and working conditions for farmworkers and day laborers, developing rural leaders and empowering their children and families through programs, workshops and legislation.
“We are very proud of all that we have accomplished,” said CASA community liaison Noemi Sanchez. “We have worked hard so we can empower and educate the workers and their families, and we will continue to do so.”
Myra Garnes, of the Canon for Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Episcopal Dioceses of Long Island, said the purpose of the open house was to “spread good news of the ministry and the work happening in Riverhead.”
“Through this event we wanted to reach parts of the community that has not heard about CASA and the wonderful work they do and how to connect us further,” Garnes said.
“Rural Migrant Ministry’s goal is to fight for justice and safety for all members of the community, as well as legislation to support it,” she said. “We are here because Riverhead is the hub, where people live and work and they need the support here.”
Since its inception in September, CASA has developed a series of free and accessible programs and workshops with the goal of giving rural workers on the East End the necessary tools to improve their lives and become more civically engaged. From English as a second language classes, to computer literacy classes, as well as sexual harassment and labor rights workshops, among others, all programs have been well-attended and well-received by the community, said Sanchez.
“Through this center we have created a community of people who feel safe, united and committed,” said CASA board member Juan Antonio Zuñiga. “It’s amazing seeing how far we have come. It was just an idea and a dream a few years back and now we can see the positive results of our efforts and see them reflected on this event.”
A number of Long Island community and church leaders attended Saturday’s event and were visibly impressed by the center and CASA’s efforts, and applauded and cheered throughout the evening during the different presentations.
“This is a community who is surrounded by affluence, but where workers are struggling day to day,” Garnes said. “All faith leaders represented here today want to collectively stand up and say no to hatred, bias and oppression. We are a country of immigrants and of faith,”
The goal now is for other organizations across Long Island to bring their resources to the center in Riverhead, so all workers here can benefit as well from programming that are isn’t readily available, or accessible, in the area.
“This center was very much needed and it is tremendously important to have somewhere where workers can go and learn about their rights and how to educate themselves about the issues,” said Housing Help Inc. executive director Pilar Moya who is planning to start a housing workshop in the next few months.
Long Island Educational Opportunity Center at Farmingdale State College executive director Elsa-Sofia Morote also expressed an interest in bringing to the Riverhead center some of their vocational training and workshops, “tailored for East End workers.”
“This is the perfect opportunity for us to impact communities that we normally can’t reach,” said United States Department of Labor community outreach and resource planning specialist Nano Bustamante, who attended the open house. “Our goal is to provide information and working knowledge of federal law to workers so they know what their rights are. The East End is an untapped area where we can be of service and this center is perfect to provide that knowledge.”
The open house opened with a meet and greet of Rural Migrant Ministry officials, CASA members, church leaders and local families. Then an interfaith “justice liturgy” was held in the church’s chapel followed by a dinner and presentation of Rural Migrant Ministry’s mission and CASA’s programs and services.
The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, as well as the Setauket Presbyterian Church presented CASA with a donation of over $13,000 “with $2,000 more on the way,” in support of their efforts and to help fund future programming, said Sister Helen.
The event ended with Sanchez and another performer dancing a folk Mexican dance for the invitees who applauded profusely and a formal farewell for now-former Rural Migrant Ministry Long Island coordinator Nathan Berger who is stepping aside to pursue a master’s degree at an upstate university.
Garnes said that all organizations and denominations represented — from Episcopalian to Presbyterian, Jewish, Catholic and Unitarian Universalists, among others — want to collaborate and are finding ways to encourage the community to get involved and participate by volunteering or help providing resources, which are needed and always welcomed, she said.
Future programming will also include youth leadership training, summer camps and others, Rural Migrant Ministry executive director Richard Witt said.
“We want for all people to know that they are loved, that they will be protected and we will fight for sanctuary and protect those who are mistreated,” Garnes said.
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