ANUAL REPORT 2024
In 2024, Alianza Agrícola remained steadfast in its mission to do mass education on farmworker rights, despite a slow start to the year. The organization continued to push forward in its commitment to leadership development and grassroots organizing. A key milestone this year was the hiring of two new organizers, Almadelia Salinas Guzmán and Axaraly Ortiz. Their addition strengthened our capacity, as they assisted our gabinete members, many of whom work full-time at dairy farms, by helping facilitate organizing efforts and ensuring that critical work could continue despite their demanding schedules.
Alianza’s core strategies in base building, leadership development, and ally engagement remained central to its efforts. Through workshops on labor rights and food justice, the organization empowered farmworkers with knowledge and tools to advocate for themselves. Additionally, Alianza made significant strides in its worker-owned cooperative initiative by actively working to secure land for the project and participating in workshops with the Cornell Small Farms Program. These efforts aimed to equip farmworkers with the skills and resources needed to establish a sustainable and community-driven agricultural enterprise.
In addition to its mass education and organizing work, Alianza Agrícola strengthened its community through various events designed to engage and uplift its members. This year, the organization hosted a soccer tournament, a basketball tournament, a Día de los Muertos celebration, and a Father’s Day event, fostering a sense of unity and cultural pride among farmworkers and their families.
On the legislative front, Alianza played a key role in advancing key policies, including NY4ALL, which seeks to end the collaboration between ICE and local law enforcement, the Good Food Bill, which promotes equitable access to fresh, healthy food while supporting farmworker protections, and upholding the Green Light Law, ensuring that undocumented workers retain access to driver’s licenses.
Despite the year’s challenges, 2024 was a year of resilience, growth, and community building. Looking ahead, Alianza Agrícola remains committed to strengthening the farmworker movement, amplifying workers' voices, and pushing for systemic change in New York State and beyond.