August 14, 2006

Eric Cardenas, director
805-963-1622 x102 (office)
805-886-0355 (cell)

PRESS ADVISORY:
Report Details Lives of Local Indigenous Farmworkers
Family, Employment, and Health Patterns Among Topics Covered

SANTA MARIA, CA- The Central Coast Environmental Health Project (CCEHP) announces the release of a report highlighting the lives of local farmworkers, with an emphasis on those of indigenous descent. The report will be made available to community and government agencies, foundations, and others who work with farmworker populations at a lunchtime meeting in Santa Maria. RSVP requested.

WHAT: Public Release of Portrait of a Laborer: Indigenous Farmworkers in
Santa Barbra County. There will be a brief presentation of findings, followed by question and answer. Lunch and translation services provided, please RSVP at 805-963-1622 x 102
WHEN: Wednesday, August 16, 2006, 12-1:30pm
WHERE: Los Adobes de Maria II (1148 W. Boone St.), Community Room

In January, 2005, CCEHP embarked on a project to detail the lives of indigenous farmworkers in Santa Barbara County. Funded by The California Endowment, the goal of this report is to provide a better understanding of the day to day lives of immigrant farmworkers living in Santa Barbara County, providing a basis from which to better serve this community.

CCEHP's report, Portrait of a Laborer: Indigenous Farmworkers in Santa Barbra County, gathered information on family characteristics, employment histories, and basic health data through a 59 question survey administered by volunteers from January-April 2005 in Santa Maria. The report issues a series of recommendations targeting a broad sector of the community, which if enacted, could lead to better working and living conditions for thousands of farmworkers.

CCEHP invites the community to attend the release of this important document, with the hopes of providing a better understanding of, and support for, farmworkers in Santa Barbara County. The report could especially benefit service agencies, community foundations, health care professionals, decision makers, and growers who work or employ an increasingly diverse farmworker population.

The Central Coast Environmental Health Project's (CCEHP) mission is to raise awareness about risks posed by pesticide exposure while reducing our reliance on pesticides through education and advocacy. For more information, please contact CCEHP at (805) 963-1622 x102 or go to www.ccehp.org .
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