Health
For pregnant farmworkers, prenatal exposure to pesticides can have harmful effects on babies’ neurological development. Yet many mothers often can’t afford to take time off from work because of lost wages. In California, WKKF grantee the Center for Worklife Law has been helping pregnant farmworkers make use of the state’s disability insurance program to replace their income so they can take time off work. This initiative was highlighted in a story by The 19th, which also quoted Elizabeth Gedmark, vice president of WKKF grantee A Better Balance: “Accessing preventative measures so that individuals can maintain a healthy pregnancy is absolutely essential to maternal and infant health.”
Racial Equity
Congratulations to our partner Dillard University. Its Center for Racial Justice recently received the Equity and Social Justice Advocacy Award from the National Association for Multicultural Education in Montgomery, Alabama. The Center for Racial Justice is working to change the way people of color and their communities are policed through education, community relationship-building, civic engagement training, services, partnerships and use of relevant resources.
Monica Garrison’s love for cycling was rekindled during a challenging period in 2013, leading her to start Black Girls Do Bike (BGDB), a nonprofit with over 100 chapters globally. BGDB aims to introduce the joy of cycling to women, particularly those of color, serving as both a cycling club and a safety and support organization. Garrison believes that cycling, as a positive force in her life, can be a powerful remedy against racism, providing stress relief and fostering healing, while also challenging stereotypes and increasing the visibility of Black women in the cycling community. Word in Black covers Monica’s story in their racial healing series supported by WKKF.
Michigan
In Michigan’s remote and sparsely populated Keweenaw Peninsula, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) is striving for food sovereignty, aiming to strengthen local food systems and reduce reliance on larger distribution networks. Disruptions in food supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for increased local food production. KBIC’s efforts, with support from WKKF grantee, the Michigan Good Food Fund, include a community garden, workshops on traditional skills and the development of a commercial kitchen to support the fishing industry and enhance the overall health and well-being of the community.
