Centro Campesino

Centro Campesino (Farmworker Center) developed in 1998 out of a grassroots movement led by Latino agricultural workers in Minnesota. The mission of Centro Campesino is to improve the lives of members of the Latino and migrant community in souther Minnesota through community organizing, education and advocacy. The organization's key strategy is to address problems identified by our community and the community is represented through our over 600 members. The grassroots model that Centro Campesino has adhered to for the past 10 years has distinguished us from other organizations. Centro Campesino successfully balances community organizing and empowerment with the ability to provide needed services and programs.

Centro Campesino's work focuses on five main priorities delivered through three programs: health, worker's rights, immigrant rights, educational equity, and access to higher education. In 2010, Centro Campesino organized 24 immigrant workers working for Ronnel Management Services, housed within the Jenny O Turkey Store in Fairbault, Minnesota. Workers went on strike and Centro Campesino helped organize a campaign to force the company to negotiate. The company negotiated with the workers and Centro Campesino. In 2011, Centro Campesino created two committees comprised of 16 community leaders that have begun work on pushing south-central Minnesota cities to accept the Matricula Consular as a valid form of ID. Moreover, Centro Campesion has also worked with youth to pursue educational equity.