For many migrant and seasonal farm workers, access to education and career opportunities can be limited. These workers often face financial barriers, lack of education, and language barriers that prevent them from achieving their career goals. However, the National Farm Workers Jobs Program (NFJP) is working to change that. Funded through grants, NFJP provides services for migrant farm and seasonal farm workers and their dependents, including vocational training, career exploration, and supportive services such as financial assistance for food, housing, rent, mileage, and childcare.
The West Hills Community College District (WHCCD) is one of the seven NFJP grants in California, offering support to students who qualify for the program based on low-income, two years of past farm work, and the right to work. All tuition fees are paid, and students are sent to West Hills College first. If courses are not available, other institutions are recommended. Work experience is available to help supplement income and work experience, which can also reflect better on their resume.
“Our goal is to empower and support our farmworkers and their families in achieving their educational and career goals,” said Diana Enriquez, Director of NFJP.” We provide them with the resources and services they need to succeed, from vocational training to financial assistance, and we work with them every step to ensure they are on the right path. Through our program, we hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our farmworkers and their communities.”
The NFJP grant in 2022-2023 used $1,021,977 to purchase HVAC equipment for West Hills College Coalinga’s Farm of the Future, two residential electrical carts for the residential electrical class, and two 2023 big rig trucks for the truck driving program at WHCC. This investment in the infrastructure and equipment is crucial to ensuring that the programs offer students the most up-to-date and relevant training.
NFJP’s primary goal is to provide student support to help students complete their educational goals, achieve living wages, and access better educational opportunities. The program targets older students who have worked and are looking to upskill and promote. Truck driving is a popular program, a lucrative career opportunity always in demand. NFJP offers guidance to find the best course that fits the student’s schedule, vocational and aptitude fit, and even helps with test preparation, mock interviews, and preparing for the job market.
“NFJP is a community of educators, advisors, and advocates committed to helping our farmworkers and their families achieve their dreams,” said Enriquez. “We believe that education is the key to unlocking a brighter future, and we are honored to be a part of that journey with our students.”
The NFJP program is a four-year grant that started in 2020 and will run until 2024. The WHCCD area serves a lot of migrant farm workers, making the program an essential resource for the community. Outreach and recruitment are done at community events, where NFJP works with migrant groups. Advisors speak Spanish, and they are located at each college site. Most students speak Spanish only, and NFJP refers students to ESL classes on campus if English is needed.
One significant benefit of NFJP is that it bridges the gap between students and their instructors. Many students suffer from imposter syndrome, where they feel like their instructors don’t look at them the same way they look at other students. Having translation services available is helpful. All applications are made in Spanish, which helps students feel connected and understand the process entirely. Having Spanish speakers available to talk to students helps them feel like they belong and are part of the community.
NFJP also follows up with students for a year after they complete their courses to track completers and if they have kept their job. This tracking helps NFJP understand the effectiveness of its programs and how they can improve to serve its students better.
The National Farm Workers Jobs Program is essential for migrant and seasonal farm workers and their dependents. The program provides vocational training, career exploration, and supportive services such as financial assistance for food, housing, rent, mileage, and childcare. NFJP’s primary goal is to provide student support to help students complete their educational goals, achieve living wages, and access better educational opportunities. The program targets older students who have worked their whole lives and are looking to upskill and promote with the proper support, education, and career opportunities.
