Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation

2018 Annual Report

To support and promote Napa Valley’s vineyard workers through education

and professional development

Napa Valley has long set itself apart as uniquely devoted to supporting the men and women that comprise the

foundation of our industry. Grapevines require long-term vision and care, as well as highly skilled crews to

ensure that quality parameters and productivity are met year to year. It’s no surprise then that vineyard owners

and management companies staunchly advocate for and invest in training and professional development

for Napa’s vineyard workforce. However, the vast array of programs provided by the

Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation has expanded beyond increasing the skill set in

the workplace and now offers programs that touch the entire family. The support the

Foundation has received from not only local growers, but also from the community is a

testament to Napa’s commitment to supporting vineyard workers and their families as

neighbors and an integral part of the community.

Education is the key to success for everyone and for decades I dreamed of starting an

organization that would offer access to education to all farmworkers. This dream has been

made a reality with the creation of the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation, for which I

have served as a Board Member since its inception in 2011. The Foundation has reached

over 18,000 farmworkers and family members through high-level programs focused

on leadership and professional development, increasing quality in the vineyard, health,

safety, financial advice, English and math literacy, scholarships, internship programs,

as well as navigating the American school system. The evolution of the Foundation is

simply unbelievable and has gone way beyond my initial dreams. It is evidence that

what we are doing is working and having a profound impact on all the lives we touch —

those farmworkers who, like me, wanted to be educated, but until now, didn’t have an

organization that believed in them and could provide these opportunities.

I am excited for what has been accomplished, but also for how much more we can

achieve as time goes on. While Napa may be commonly known for world-class wines, it is

simultaneously making another name for itself, as a leading community at the heart of a

movement to educate and provide progressive benefits and programs to farmworkers and

their families. This has been a community effort — one for which we should all be very

proud. ¡Adelante!

In gratitude,

Arnulfo Solorio Board Member, Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation Chair, Farmworker Education Committee Partner, Silverado Farming Company

ARNULFO SOLORIO

2018 Year in Review • The Farmworker Foundation edu-cational programs continue to be driven by the input and feedback we receive from our students. A focus on professional development, health and well-being, advanced viticul-tural practices, providing mentor and intern opportunities, and family programs were highlights of 2018.

• Continued commitment to sup-porting research, development and innovation directed at addressing the needs of farmworkers and their families. In 2018, the FWF invest-ed in the development of two pilot programs: a year-round vocational apprenticeship for high school students; and the expansion of our English Literacy Program to include a Spanish literacy class.

• Successful expansion of our 8-week Summer Mentor Program, Fields of Opportunity, to Up Valley School Districts (St. Helena and Calistoga).

• Expansion of our English Literacy Program to be a more comprehen-sive Farmworker Literacy Program that now includes beginning, intermediate and advanced English literacy classes plus a comprehensive Math literacy course.

• Expansion of our leadership and management classes to a 3-day com-prehensive program in conjunction with ROOTSTOCK.

• Launch of bilingual FWF website.

REACHED MORE THAN

VINEYARD WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

RAISED OVER

TO SUPPORT FARMWORKERS EDUCATION

PROVIDED MORE THAN

HOURS OF EDUCATION

Leading the Way

“It seems like a long time ago I started this program, but here I am today graduating. Through my classes, I have become more confident in my English speaking and writing skills. This past harvest, I became the person many times who was talking to the winemaker and helping make decisions. I have more to learn, so I started taking viticulture classes that

are in English. It’s hard but I like taking them and I’m proud of myself.”JESUS GAMEZ, ADVANCED ENGLISH LITERACY PROGRAM GRADUATE

ENGLISH LITERACY PROGRAMJANUARY 16 – APRIL 5 55 ATTENDEESThe 2018 English Literacy Program included four 12-week courses begin-ning, intermediate and advanced levels taught at the Napa Valley College, Upper Valley Campus and Napa Valley Adult Education. Curriculum was designed specifically for Napa County farmworkers to assist them with their English literacy and communication skills for the workplace.

TRAIN-THE-TRAINER COURSE: TRACTOR IMPLEMENTSJANUARY 17  26 ATTENDEESThe Tractor Implements Train-the-Trainer Course provided participants with the knowledge and skills required to effectively train other employees on the safe operations of tractors and tractor implements.

TRAIN-THE-TRAINER COURSE: ATVJANUARY 16  20 ATTENDEESThe ATV Train-the-Trainer Course pro-vided participants with the knowledge and skills required to effectively train other employees on the safe operations of ATVs.

NAVIGATING THE U.S. SCHOOL SYSTEMJANUARY 26  7 FAMILIESHeld in partnership with the Napa Unified School District, this seminar provided parents with the knowledge,

skills, and confidence to overcome challenges as a parent and become a bigger participant in the academic success of their children.

NAPA COUNTY PRUNING CONTEST FEBRUARY 3  119 ATTENDEESThe 17th Annual Napa County Pruning Contest showcased the industry’s best vineyard workers in a competition highlighting the art, skill, and speed of pruning Napa Valley vineyards. Community and family members attended to cheer on this year’s contestants.

FIELD DAY: VINE SAMPLING & ANALYSISMARCH 2  8 ATTENDEESVineyard managers and workers visited AL&L Crop Solutions and Agri-Analysis laboratory in Davis, CA for an in-depth, behind-the-scenes tour. Attendees learned first-hand how to sample, how samples are processed and analyzed, and how to interpret results.

TRAIN-THE-TRAINER COURSE: FORKLIFT MARCH 15  24 ATTENDEESThe Forklift Train-the-Trainer Course provided participants with the knowl-edge and skills required to effectively train other employees on the safe oper-ations of forklifts.

FIELDS OF OPPORTUNITY: SUMMER MENTOR PROGRAMJUNE 11 – AUGUST 3  24 STUDENTSA collaboration between Napa Valley Grapegrowers, Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation, Napa Valley Unified School District, St. Helena Unified School District and Calistoga Joint Unified School District, Fields of Opportunity is an innovative mentor-ship program connecting NVG grower and vineyard management mem-bers with local high school students interested in pursuing a career in the vineyard and wine industry.

DÍA DE LA FAMILIA JULY 22  2,500 ATTENDEESThe seventh annual Día de la Familia brought together over 2,500 families and almost 50 community organiza-tions and educational institutions for a day filled with food, music, education, and family activities.

ROOTSTOCK – LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM NOVEMBER 7 – 9  250 ATTENDEESThis three-day comprehensive program provided vineyard workers with the opportunity to learn leadership skills, discuss how to communicate in the workplace, improve their knowledge on vine physiology, soil health, winegrape varieties, and more.

ENGLISH LITERACY INTENSIVE COURSE DECEMBER 4 – 14  38 ATTENDEESA two-week intensive English Literacy course for beginning and intermediate level students. Instructors reviewed previously taught materials to prepare students for the 2018 program.

MATH INTENSIVE COURSEDECEMBER 4 – 14  11 ATTENDEESA two-week intensive Math course was offered with curriculum designed spe-cifically for Napa County farmworkers to assist them in developing their math skills for the workplace.

2018 Educational Programs

2018 SUMMER MENTOR PROGRAM GRADUATION

Photography

Cover, Pages 2 and 3: Suzanne Becker Bronk

Pages 3 and 5: Sarah Anne Risk

Page 3: Robb McDonough

Page 4: Tim Clott

Page 6: Celia Carey

BOARD OF DIRECTORSSteve Moulds, President Moulds Family Vineyard

Paul Goldberg, Vice President Bettinelli Vineyards

Oscar Renteria Renteria Vineyard Management

Pete Richmond Silverado Farming Company

Arnulfo Solorio Silverado Farming Company

Mike Wolf Michael Wolf Vineyard Services

EDUCATION COMMITTEEArnulfo Solorio, Chair Silverado Farming Company

Francisco Araujo Atlas Vineyard Management

Gustavo Avina Pine Ridge Vineyards

Daniela Bazan Bazan Vineyard Management

Juan Cardenas Nord Vineyards

Jose Chang Napa County Agriculture Commissioner’s Office

Dr. Monica L. Cooper UC Viticulture Advisor, Napa County

Enrique Herrero Inglenook

Roberto Juarez Moulds Family Vineyard

Enrique Lopez Servin-Lopez Vineyard Management

Miguel Luna Silverado Farming Company

Julie Nord Nord Vineyards

Rolando Sanchez Walsh Vineyards Management

PRUNING CONTEST COMMITTEEEMary Maher, Chair Harlan Estate

Pam Bond Swanson Family Estate

Chad Clark Allied Grape Growers

Kendall Smith Kendall Smith Vineyard Service

Macy Stubstad Rudd Wines

Amy Whiteford Emerson Day Vineyard

Blake Wood Beckstoffer Vineyards

DÍA DE LA FAMILIA PLANNING COMMITTEEDaniela Bazan Bazan Vineyard Management

Dr. Monica L. Cooper UC Viticulture Advisor, Napa County

Dolores Espinoza Napa County Health & Human Services

Enrique Herrero Inglenook

Denise Renteria Renteria Wines

Rolando Sanchez Walsh Vineyards Management

Arnulfo Solorio Silverado Farming Company

FARMWORKERS HOURS OF REVENUE EDUCATED EDUCATION RAISED

411 20 $120,800

3,085 507 $1,210,666

GROWTH 650% 2,433% 902%

18,272 2,376 $4,960,425

• Launch our new vocational appren-ticeship program in partnership with the Napa County Office of Education

• Expand the Farmworker Literacy Program to include computers, tech-nology, and business skills

• Work with the Napa Valley College to create specific certificate programs designed to increase the skill set of farmworkers and their families in a variety of job-related areas

• Develop strategic marketing and communications plan to continue to tell our story to the industry, commu-nity and public-at-large

• Continue to develop industry and community relationships to expand our reach to more farmworkers and their families

2019 Goals & Initiatives Our Impact

1795 Third Street, Napa, CA 94558(707) 944-8311www.farmworkerfoundation.orginfo@farmworkerfoundation.org