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2023 SESSION

23107354D
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 469
Offered February 23, 2023
Commending the Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative.
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Patron-- Hudson
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WHEREAS, the Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative advocates on behalf of migrant farmworkers in the region and provides vital access to health care and educational resources; and

WHEREAS, thousands of people travel to Central Virginia each year via temporary work visas to labor in fields and orchards, making profound personal sacrifices to better support their families; and

WHEREAS, migrant farmworkers, most of whom travel from Mexico, are integral to the agriculture and dining industries in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative provides health and education services to migrant farmworkers living in Albemarle, Amherst, and Nelson Counties; founder and president Vanessa Hale is a Nelson County native and University of Virginia (UVA) alumna who has partnered with migrant farmworkers, growers, and government agencies to advocate for migrant farmworkers’ welfare; and

WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative secured high-quality cloth face masks crafted by local sewists for each of its members and organized mass vaccination sites in coordination with the Blue Ridge Health District and the UVA Latino Health Initiative, achieving a 95 percent vaccination rate for Nelson County farmworkers; and

WHEREAS, the Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative also assists workers with ongoing acute and chronic health care issues and administers the Fresh Farmacy produce program in partnership with the Local Food Hub; and

WHEREAS, the Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative also offers community education programs, including English-language instruction, digital literacy, and tax preparation workshops through its community tax law project; and

WHEREAS, the Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative celebrates the vital contributions of migrant farmworkers to the diverse and vibrant communities of Central Virginia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative hereby be commended for its work to serve and support migrant farmworkers; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative as an expression of the House of Delegates’ admiration for the organization’s achievements in service to migrant farmworkers in the region.