Eight
weeks have gone by since I first walked into our office, and what an
experience it has been. I have learned much more than I could have possibly
imagined and find it even more difficult to articulate that experience in
words.
See, I grew up in a working class,
immigrant family from New York City. My entire life has been shaped by this
experience. I treasure the work, commitment and dedication my parents
demonstrated day in and day out so that I could be here today just one year
short of graduating from law school. I started my internship with the
belief that I could serve not only my community but also those who are
marginalized, discriminated against and under-represented in American
society. While I still hold that to be true, I never expected the depth and
intensity of how the clients, lawyers and staff at Friends of Farmworkers
would change my life.
I had never particularly dealt
with issues that are prevalent within the migrant/farmworker community.
While I can remember my father discussing Caesar Chavez and reading books
about migrant worker movements, it is an entirely different story to witness
it first-hand. It is a very powerful and moving experience to engage in a
dialogue with individuals about issues and problems they face everyday.
As an intern, I was able to
interact directly with clients, their families and their employers. I had
an unbelievable opportunity to learn and work with attorneys who have been
practicing in the field for many years. Whether I was completing a research
assignment or filling out a client intake form, I truly felt the needs of
the community were at the forefront of everything we did.
The most significant aspect of
what I learned this summer was the importance of treating each other with
dignity and respect regardless of what type of job you perform, or what
immigration status you happen to be in at any given time. It is truly
humbling to see the human experience at its best; where people, like the
lawyers I worked with, dedicate their time and knowledge to helping those in
our community.
And yet, it is deeply saddening to
see how cruel and manipulative everyday people can be to others, simply
because they can. While we can use the law to support migrant and
farmworker rights, there are many individuals who remain powerless and fend
for themselves. What happened to the basic lessons we learned early in
life? That its simply wrong to force people to live in dilapidated
housing; thats its wrong to threaten workers and keep them in constant
fear; and, that its wrong to cheat people out of money they earned for
their hard work.
Public interest programs, such as
Friends of Farmworkers, are vital not only for the legal services they
provide, but for the basic humanity which they represent.
