
Panelists for the discussion were Victoria Wong (UFW Salinas and UC Berkely Third World Liberation Front) and Julio Somos One Magaña (Poet, Lyricist, Educator from Delano, CA). CSUSM Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies, Dr. Marcelo Garzo Montalvo, will moderate the discussion.
Vicci Wong grew up working in the fields of Salinas, CA--"the Salad Bowl of the World." When she was 12, she applied to the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in Atlanta, GA as she wanted to join the Freedom Fighters down South in their more militant civil rights struggle. They wrote back (no internet or social media then) and told her she was too young, but sent her fliers and stickers to start what they called a "baby" or "junior" SNCC chapter in Salinas, which she did. Along with her co-onion-bunching-worker friend, Lillian Fabros Bando, she then founded the Salinas chapter of the United Farm Workers union. Throughout her junior high and high school years, she was also active in the antiwar and draft resisters movement, forming Salinas Vietnam Summer, and campaigned for peace and freedom candidates even though she was too young to vote.
Excited by the 1964 Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley, Vicci only applied there for college and was lucky to get accepted on a partial scholarship and grants. One night in May 1968, her life in-between a Black and White world was liberated when she became part of the Founding 6 of the Asian American Political Alliance (AAPA) in a small apartment at 2005 Hearst Ave, Berkeley, CA. Vicci then went on to co-found the first Asian American publication, the AAPA Newsletter. Through AAPA she co-founded the Third World Liberation Front (TWLF) that led the Third World Strike at UC Berkeley for the entire Winter Quarter 1969, which established the Ethnic Studies Dept, including Asian American Studies.
After college Vicci lived in SF Chinatown, and organized garment, restaurant, clerical, electrical, and other workers and immigrants. She worked with the Asian Community Center and the International Hotel in Manilatown. She was elected Manager of the Chinatown Co-op--the first garment workers-owned cooperative in the world; and was an editor and reporter for various publications, including the bilingual Wei Min Bao, Pacific Imperialism Notebook, and Pacific Basin Reports, which published my booklet, The Global Struggle for Oil. Vicci also co-authored What Have Women Done?; Chinese Working People in America: A Pictorial History; and Stand Up: An Archive Collection of the Bay Area Asian American Movement 1968-1974.
Oscar Caralampio is a 30 year husband, father, teacher and school board member. He was born in an indigenous village in Guatemala and came to the United States in 1995. Oscar was a farm worker by the age of 8 and worked in the fields until 2006. As a CSUSM student, Oscar volunteered at a local Boys and Girls Club. Currently, he is an Innovation Lab Teacher (STEM/TOSA teacher) at a bilingual school in Fallbrook Elementary. Oscar is also in his second year as a school board member for the Fallbrook Union High School District.
He has two beautiful kids and a wife who is a school counselor. Oscar's passion is serving his community through the educational pathway. CCDoS volunteers heared from Oscar at the start of the 2022 César Chávez Day of Service.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation - "Hubbs Trail Erosion Prevention" Assist in building a fence along the border of our Hubbs trail. Install sandbags to prevent landslides down the bluffs and remove invasive plants and trash. Assist in habitat restoration by planting native, drought-resistant plants.
Produce Good - "Pick Food Justice!" Help fight food insecurity by picking oranges from the orchard to donate to local food banks.
San Pasqual Academy Dragon Organics - "Serenity Garden Clean Up" Weeding the garden at the Academy that serves as a quiet area for students, staff, faculty, and grandparents. Assist with getting the area ready for the planting of wildflowers and herbs.
Boys and Girls Club of Vista - "Together All Things Are Possible" Assemble "literacy kits" for children that included flashcards and books. Paint club mural, clean up and organize youth community spaces.
Botanical Community Development Initiatives -“Food Justice Through Farming” Learn about how community can come together through access to green space and growing food together. We will have projects for people of all abilities from prepping garden beds, sorting seeds, painting, and working in the plant nursery.
CSU San Marcos Sustainable Food Project Garden and Pollinator Garden - Farm projects related to weeding and create planting beds and other garden related activities. [ACCESSIBLE SITE]
Habitat for Humanity – Inland Valley (Temecula) “Making Garden Boxes out of Recycled Materials” Disassemble recycled material to make sellable, low-cost garden boxes for personalized gardens. The garden boxes will be made in two sizes for home or apartment use. Proceeds from the sale of the boxes will support housing programs at Habitat for Humanity.
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Thursday, March 25 - Wednesday, March 31, 2021
The CCDoS Planning Committee has partnered with Students Action with Farmworker (SAF) to promote the National Farmworker Awareness Week(NFWA). NFWA is week of action for students and community members to honor farmworkers' important contributions and to raise awareness about the issues they face. As a national partner organization, CSUSM have selected Justice for Migrant Women as the farmworker advocacy organization to highlight and encourage the CSUSM community to contribute to their efforts.