MONROE CO., N.Y. — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County is presenting a Cultural Orientation workshop for Spanish-speaking workers. The event has been created specifically for three local farms, based on the farmers’ request – Brighlty, Heberle and Zingler – and is not open to the public.
The farm workers are the key to the U.S. food system. A number of local farmers, who meet specific regulatory requirements, invite seasonal workers from foreign countries through the H – 2A Temporary Agricultural Workers program. After arrival, the migrant laborers work on a hosting farm for an extensive period of time that goes from the beginning of the growing season until the end, sometimes even longer to help with the post-harvest jobs.
A large number of the agricultural migrant workers comes from Mexico, a country where many traditions and customs are significantly different from those in the United States. To narrow this cultural gap and assist the newcomers with their transition, the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County developed a ‘Cultural Orientation’ workshop for Spanish-speaking farm workers. Its goal is to increase their understanding and comfort level as they settle down in their new cultural settings. And, since happy employees tend to be more effective, productive and efficient, the farmers will also benefit from this workshop.
The attendees will hear about ‘day-to-day’ ways that includes greeting styles that are less formal in the United States than in Mexico, conventions of written dates or names and local customs during our holidays. They will learn about the history of the patriotic observance days such as July 4th, Labor Day or Memorial Day and our traditions during the religion-based holidays like Halloween or Thanksgiving as these holidays are observed very differently in their home country. The participants will also learn about the services that available to them locally like a free computer, books, newspaper or video uses in their community library.
This interactive workshop will be presented in Spanish by Camy Sorbelo of Wayside Garden Center who has a long-term experience with Spanish-speaking audiences and has a passion for helping these individuals transition and settle in the United States. Some visual demos will be provided to liven up the session. For more information call Jarmila Haseler at (585) 753-2565 or email at jh954@cornell.edu.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County
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