1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha. I'm welcome to stuff 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: I never told your protective I heard you. And before 3 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,240 Speaker 1: we get into this episode, just a quick content warning. 4 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: We're not going to go into details or specifics or anything, 5 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: but we are going to mention sexual assault and murder, 6 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: so keep that in mind. 7 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 2: And welcome to an activist around the world. I still 8 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 2: am not one hundred percent with my voice. I feel 9 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 2: like this is the longest run in my voice being 10 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 2: this bad. 11 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: Yeah. I haven't known you your whole life or anything, 12 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: but for as long as I have known you, this 13 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 1: is definitely the longest. 14 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 2: Yes we were I think we're closing in on like 15 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: three weeks of me. Every time I think I'm getting better, 16 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 2: yeah I'm not. I don't know what it is, because 17 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 2: I feel like I'm even worse when I get on 18 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 2: Mike and Christina is doing all the magical work and 19 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 2: making sure that you don't hear me clearing my throat 20 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:18,560 Speaker 2: every three seconds. It's really gross. I'm so sorry, Happy 21 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,839 Speaker 2: Allergy season everyone, But with that, yes, the show must 22 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 2: go on sometimes, but today happens to be one of 23 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 2: those times. Because Annie's been running a tight ship even 24 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 2: without me and today, we wanted to talk about a 25 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,759 Speaker 2: legendary woman who's been working a majority of her life 26 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 2: to work for immigrants and micant workers in the US, 27 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 2: Rusalinda Gian. She's known as a farm worker and rural 28 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 2: justice leader. Gian has dedicated her life to fight for 29 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 2: the rights of migrant farm workers in the Pacific Northwest 30 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 2: and honestly all over. She's the current executive director of 31 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 2: Community to Community or C two S, which, according to 32 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 2: their site food Justice dot org, is an organization of 33 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 2: a woman of color and farm work led grassroots organization 34 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 2: dedicated to building movements towards a just transition. 35 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: And just a bit more about their information. Their mission 36 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: statement and vision is stated as this, we believe that 37 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: another world is possible, and we are active participants with 38 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 1: other self determined people's movements. We strive to reclaim our 39 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 1: humanity by redefining power in order to end structural racism 40 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: and all of its manifestations, including settler colonialism, capitalism, and 41 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: patriarchy and their external and internalized forms. 42 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 2: And continue saying this Towards this end, we confront racism 43 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 2: in existing power structures, empower underrepresented peoples to have an 44 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 2: equal voice in decision making. Processes, develop cross cultural awareness 45 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 2: with formacy on or information, restore justice to our food 46 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 2: land and cultural practices, promote community relationships towards self reliance, 47 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 2: work in solidarity with those that strive towards human rights 48 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 2: for all race engenders, demand and demonstrate that the value 49 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 2: of feminine intellect and leadership is recognized. And again they 50 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 2: end their whole page with the missions and visions saying this, 51 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 2: at the core of our programmatic work is the belief 52 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 2: in commitment to ecofeminism. Our program work is structured in 53 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 2: three major program areas, participatory democracy, food justice, and movement building. 54 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 2: The program areas are taken to action via projects that 55 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 2: are hands on, community based and lead their link to 56 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 2: each other and ecofeminism in an intersecting circular process. 57 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: And when she was asked about the organization, she said 58 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: this in an interview with Blue Heart Quote. Community to 59 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: Community was formed to try to gather resources for women 60 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: leadership and to give women and people of color and 61 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: impacted communities of voice. That was the main reason. Can 62 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: we form an organization that's led by women? What will 63 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: that look like? The core you see is food sovereignty 64 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: and farm worker rights and everything that intersects with food 65 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,119 Speaker 1: through the lens and leadership of farm workers. What we're 66 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: trying to do is build enough confidence and power within ourselves, 67 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: collective power and collective confidence to address fundamental reforms and 68 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 1: changes to the systems that are not working for us. 69 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 2: But back to Gian's origin story. She grew up in 70 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 2: a family of farm workers and even moved with her 71 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 2: family to Washington State, who were a part of the 72 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 2: migrant farm labor community from Texas, although before this she 73 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,479 Speaker 2: had been raised in Mexico. Here's a bit written about 74 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 2: her by Alejandro Aguilar from the University of Washington. They 75 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 2: write Gean is the eldest of eight children and was 76 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 2: born in Texas, but spent her first decade in Quawi. 77 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 2: Like Mexico, her family immigrated to Washington State in the 78 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,919 Speaker 2: nineteen sixties and she began working in the fields of 79 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 2: Skatget County at the age of sixteen. She worked alongside 80 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 2: her family until a bit later, where she started her 81 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 2: job at the Scadget State Bank, which actually was noted 82 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 2: as her being the first person of color to be 83 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 2: hired there by the way, and after sixteen years of 84 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: working there, she decided to change her path so In 85 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 2: nineteen eighty eight, she started working for the presidential campaign 86 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 2: of Reverend Jesse Jackson rip Here's a bit from her 87 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: interview with that blue Heart article we talked about, which, 88 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 2: by the way, was posted through medium. Yes, one of 89 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 2: the places that we have to go to for a 90 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,479 Speaker 2: lot of these articles. I was first recruited by an 91 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 2: organizer into the Rainbow Coalition for the campaign to elect 92 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 2: Jesse Jackson way back in the day. I resisted it 93 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 2: a lot. I wasn't political. I wasn't even registered to vote. 94 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 2: I was an operations officer in a local community bank. 95 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 2: We started forming the Watkin County Rainbow Coalition. During that campaign, 96 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 2: we conducted several electoral campaigns and then we were approached 97 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 2: by farm workers to support the Chateau Saint Michelle boycott, 98 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 2: and it was during this time she started her advocacy 99 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 2: work for migrant farm workers. She talked about how it 100 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 2: was in nineteen ninety three, after the death of Saesar Chavez, 101 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 2: that she quit her job at the bank and started 102 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 2: her full time career in my Rant Justice. She'd been 103 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 2: working with Rainbow Coalition for a while, and she then 104 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 2: would work as the lead in the boycott at the 105 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 2: Chateau Saint Michelle. 106 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 1: From that same interview quote, Chateau Saint Michel is the 107 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: largest winery in the state of Washington. There was a 108 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 1: group of farm workers that had been enduring sexual assaults 109 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: and poisonings with pesticides. One of the workers had actually 110 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 1: shot and killed a supervisor after the supervisor raped his wife. 111 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 1: It was awful. I was a former farm worker, so 112 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 1: I was assigned by the Rainbow as a lead on 113 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 1: the boycott. My next big life changing organizing experience was 114 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 1: learning about ses Aer Chavez and the Great Boycott and 115 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 1: developing the Chateau Saint Michelle boycott following Caesar Shaudaz's model. 116 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 2: So she has talked a lot about the influences of 117 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: Cesar Chavez and has worked for farm workers, and as 118 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 2: recent news broke of the sexual abuse in assault allegations 119 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 2: against him, she has had to change some of our 120 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 2: organization's stances, specifically the C two C. In a recent 121 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 2: article in the nineteenth News dot org, they write Gian 122 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 2: never met Chavez, but was inspired to devote herself to 123 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 2: organizing on behalf of farm workers after his death. The 124 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 2: news has been quote. This is her quote from her quote. 125 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 2: A revision of everything that many of us know about 126 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 2: the farm worker movement. Her organization is removing images of 127 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 2: Chevez from its office. Gian said, we revisited our values 128 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 2: and principles and how we work together, reiterating that there's 129 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 2: no room for that. She said referring to a sexual misconduct. 130 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 2: So it's it's been a pretty big shock, I will say, 131 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 2: in the advocacy world with that, I don't know. I 132 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 2: feel like most of us women who see men leaders 133 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 2: are used to this disappointment. So for me, it didn't 134 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 2: feel like a shock. 135 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:02,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, unfortunately, Yeah. 136 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 2: But it still does feel like a dampening of what 137 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 2: he left behind his legacy. And though we don't want 138 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 2: to discredit everything all the good he did, we still 139 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 2: have to acknowledge the fact that he has ruined people's lives, 140 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 2: like he went after very even young girls and harmed them. 141 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 2: So he with the good came the bad. So we 142 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 2: have to acknowledge that. And they as an organization which 143 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 2: actually revolves around women and girls, they have to acknowledge 144 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 2: that as well. So she's obviously acknowledging it, although she 145 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 2: still credits him a lot in the organization. So is 146 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 2: this a balance because you can't undo something that's true. 147 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,439 Speaker 2: So all these things and that's an episode feel like 148 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 2: we'll don't have to come back on because we've talked 149 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 2: about what happens when your heroes turn out not to 150 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 2: be heroes. M how do you face those things? But 151 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 2: this is one of those examples blurk. But with that 152 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 2: moving on, she has been working with the principles of 153 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 2: advocating for the rights of farm workers and the migrants 154 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 2: in the US. So she's still hanging on to what 155 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 2: he did do when he did do so much of 156 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 2: the good works in advocating for the farm workers of 157 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 2: the US, and she talked about the recent policies and 158 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 2: atrocities in the US with local news La Connorcommunitynews dot 159 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,559 Speaker 2: org is in the Washington area and how the workers 160 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 2: have been in the backbone for years and what this 161 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 2: means overall. So they write every piece of fresh vegetable 162 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,439 Speaker 2: of fruit that you eat in Skeatget County was touched 163 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 2: by one of us and probably be on there, one 164 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 2: of the farm workers, one of the immigrants, and you're 165 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 2: eating whatever exploitation goes with that. She said to gig 166 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 2: In and c to see the role of farm workers 167 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 2: in our food system is deserving of recognition beyond the 168 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 2: title of essential worker, which she said has meant having 169 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 2: to work during a global pandemic, not just fair pay 170 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 2: or better working conditions, but a real pathways to residency 171 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 2: and citizenship. 172 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 1: And the article continues as an organization, we can represent 173 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: and work with farm workers without dealing with immigration reform, 174 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,079 Speaker 1: she said. Gianne said it has been extremely difficult to 175 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: become a US citizen due to what she described as 176 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: a costly, slow and difficult process. Under the current administration, 177 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: she said it is becoming even harder while the system 178 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 1: gets dismantled and the efforts to become legal residents go 179 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: up and smoke. For many immigrants also live in fear 180 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 1: of leaving their homes due to the fear of being 181 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: placed in unmarked vehicles by mass agents. In some cases, 182 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,679 Speaker 1: she said, US citizens may not be safe either. 183 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 2: Right, and this article was written in twenty twenty six, 184 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 2: so very recently they talked with her about the effects 185 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 2: of what was happening as she goes into also which 186 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 2: we don't mention, which I actually did a little research 187 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 2: on way back when in college about the I think 188 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 2: H two visas which allow for essential workers to remain 189 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 2: in the US two work, but they have no rights. 190 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 2: They are taxed. They it only protects them and working there, 191 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 2: and all of the organizations or the farm landowners they 192 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:09,199 Speaker 2: have more rights in hiring these people and making them 193 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 2: leave and not having to pay, so it's really absurd. 194 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 2: It's pretty much end injured servitude. But they're still forced 195 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 2: to leave after the fact, and they may not be 196 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 2: given equal pay. There's no protections for them as workers 197 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 2: or very little other than they get to be there, 198 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 2: which we already know. The agents don't care even if 199 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 2: you do have those cards. So it's very shady. This 200 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 2: whole practice is very shady. And with that, she continues 201 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 2: to work with her organization and is working to fight 202 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 2: against the policies of the government has placed before them 203 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,679 Speaker 2: and tries to advocate for the needs of the migrant 204 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 2: workers today. 205 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: Obviously, Yes, yes, very very important work. And I'm sure 206 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 1: we'll be checking back in. We are in the month 207 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 1: of Climate's birthday all of that stuff, So I feel 208 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: like this is a good kick off. Well, listeners, if 209 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: you would like to contact us, you can. You can 210 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,959 Speaker 1: email us at Hello stuffmannever told you dot com. You 211 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: can find us on Blue Scott Mom Stuff podcast or 212 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: on Instagram and TikTok at stuff I Never Told You, 213 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: but we're also on YouTube. We have some merchandise atcom 214 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: Bureau and we have a book you can get wherever 215 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: you get your books. Thanks as always to our super Christine, 216 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 1: our executive pruser My and our contrutor Joey. Thank you 217 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 1: and thanks to you for listening Stuff Never Told You 218 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 1: Instruction by Heart Radio. For more podcasts from my heart Radio, 219 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: you can check out the heart Radio app, Apple podcast 220 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: or where you listen to your favorite shows.