For Juana Carabajal, community organizing has felt like her calling; it has allowed her to connect with those inside and outside of the community. Her force of nature and empathic personality have also given her the space to lead and guide others.
At the age of nine, she finally started attending school because she had to take care of her siblings, prompting her to sacrifice her education early on. She eventually graduated from high school, taking BC classes while working in the fields.
Carabajal’s journey into community organizing began in the fields, where she worked as a grape picker and packager. During her time in the fields, she recalled farm workers having no rights or laws that protected them from heat exhaustion.
“People were dying because of the heat, especially in the company that I worked for,” explained Carabajal.
It wasn’t until August 2005 that California farmworkers were granted the legal right to take breaks under the shade with cool water during high temperatures.
She then shared that the United Farm Workers (UFW) entered the company and began organizing workers. In that same time, the union held one of the biggest elections in Kern County that resulted in a significant loss.
The purpose of this election and union organizing was to win over the majority of farm workers who worked at the Guimarra vineyards. Farm workers were, however, threatened to lose their housing and employment had they chosen to unionize with the UFW.
“We didn’t win the election; there were a lot of threats, especially to the workers who were coming to work from the Coachella Valley,” she said. Despite this loss, farm workers were granted tables and shade after the election. Prior to this, farm workers would pick and package the crops on their knees directly under the sun.
Once the election began, other members of her crew in the fields appointed Carabjal as their leader and spokesperson.
“They elected me as their leader so I could fight for them, but also because I wasn’t afraid of speaking up on the things that were happening. I have an immigration status, so I wasn’t afraid. I was the voice for them,” explained Carabajal.
Despite going through a divorce and being a mother to five children, Carabajal remained rooted in community organizing and in helping others in any way possible, even if that meant she had to leave work in the fields.
When she was offered the position to work as an organizer for the UFW, she was hesitant to take the position, fearing what other fellow farm workers would say. To her surprise, their response was different once she shared the news of this employment.
“I told them they were offering me to be the UFW organize but I don’t want to do it because I don’t want to leave you guys behind. I will never forget their words,” she said. “You need to go, you’re going to help us more over there than staying here with us.”
Since then, Carabajal as worked tirelessly doing what she loves most and building those connections across each community she comes in contact with.
“I have a passion for organizing, I love doing the work especially when I’m in the community and I’m able to find those people that need our services and inform them that we are here to help,” she said.
By building those relationships and being active in the community, it provides her with a large sum of energy and eagerness to help, even if she doesn’t immediately have answers. She notes that sometimes she’ll spend hours and hours on end talking to community members, and acknowledges how these conversations changes people.
For the organizer and advocate, her work doesn’t end when she arrives home, she’ll keep herself preoccupied by joining any trainings or committees in which she can continue to learn and work.
