Rural Labor

CRI is interested in fostering comprehensive immigration reform at all levels.  We recognize that only national legislation can provide national solutions.  But providing advocacy and action in state and local issues is necessary as well.  Central to CRI’s strategies in rural labor are:

  • Educating the public, policy-makers, and media about the essential role immigrants now play in the economic viability of rural Wisconsin
  • Showcasing the important contributions diversity can bring to homogeneous communities
  • Demonstrating the need for creating welcoming communities
  • Working for fair and reasonable immigration reform

CRI is building partnerships with other organizations sharing concerns about immigrant integration, e.g., Puentes/Bridges (www.puentesbridges.org), Voces de la Frontera (www.vdlf.org) and the Wisconsin Immigration Task Force.   Such coalitions can more effectively work together on policy change and on building welcoming communities for new population groups.  Each appreciates the need for fact-based public education on the complex causes and consequences of immigration.  And all recognize that direct interactions between native and non-native populations in multiple settings are the most effective ways of building trust and understanding among them.

Examples of CRI Rural Labor Efforts:

  • Rural Labor Summit I (Nov. 10, 2008, Madison)
  • Rural Labor Summit II (Feb. 16, 2009, Madison)
  • Participation in the Safe Roads Coalition (advocacy for Driver’s Card Legislation in State Legislature).
  • Support for in-state tuition rates for eligible children of immigrants (legislation enacted June 2009).
  • Community level meetings with immigration experts to provide local residents:
    • Opportunity for frank exchanges
    • Factual information about the need for, status of and legal options related to immigrant labor
    • Network formation of concerned employers and citizens around the state
  • Development of cultural competency workshops, leadership development and community engagement activities around immigrant integration (in progress)

The two rural labor summits gathered leaders from many agriculture sectors that have a stake in the shrinking rural labor pool and rising need for a competent and reliable labor force.  The goal was to promote:

  • A better understanding of the central issues
  • A sense of possibility and options for change
  • An appreciation of need for collaboration regardless of differences on other issues
  • Commitment to actively work for change at any level possible
  • See event descriptions in our Archives.

Read about our work on the Many Voices, One Community project.