GANAS
Orejas del Barrio Radio Station.
Role: Project Co-Organizer
Archived: 2018
THE CHALLENGE
Migrant Justice estimates that in Vermont, there are around 1200-1500 migrant dairy farm workers helping to sustain the state’s struggling farms. Despite their contribution to the local economy and culture, migrant workers, both documented and undocumented, face a lot of social isolation, lack of access to healthcare and education, and less public visibility.
THE SOLUTION
Por Nosotras Women’s Group Gathering.
Founded in 2014 by a group of Bennington College students, GANAS is a student-run organization that assists Latino migrants to get access to healthcare, education, social, and legal resources. To date, GANAS has 9 operating projects and 40+ members, including amigos de GANAS – migrant workers and their families.
My work with GANAS includes but is not limited to:
A soccer game with migrant workers.
Co-organizing GANAS’s core projects, including the radio programs Orejas del Barrio (news & culture) and Sintonízanos (music), the women's group Por Nosotras, and the social events for migrant families.
Conducting qualitative research including interviews, papers and other media on the migration landscape of Vermont. Conducted deep dives into the socio-economic, cultural, and legal landscape of migrant workers in Bennington county, the majority of which work on dairy farms
Representing GANAS at the Consortium on Forced Migration, Displacement, and Education with Bard, Vassar, and Sarah Lawrence.
THE IMPACT
A social event with migrant workers and their families.
Providing active support and build a close-knit and expanding community for Latino migrant workers and their families through social events, media resources, sport and art activities, education, etc.
Promoting awareness about and inclusivity for the Latino migrant community in Vermont, who oftentimes experience isolation and lack of resources
Creating a meaningful learning experience for Latinx and foreign language students to connect with Latino communities, bridging the gap between the campus and the world at large
Achieving a grant of 2.5 million from The Mellon Foundation for the Consortium on Forced Migration, Displacement, and Education to continue supporting and cultivating community for the Latino migrants in Bennington, Vermont.
Outreach: Instagram @ganas.world; Radio Station
A social event with migrant workers and their families.
A social event with migrant workers and their families.