Raices Latinas’ film screening, open house

 
WOODSTOCK – Raices Latinas: Agriculture in McHenry County is a new project that will make its debut at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 30, in the Woodstock Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren St. in Woodstock.

The free event is the first in a series, designed to gather stories from Latinos/Latines living in northern Illinois with a goal of creating a permanent archive that ultimately will be shared with the public.
“We want to bring people’s stories to light, to honor the contributions of Latinos/Latines to our agricultural history in McHenry County,” said Project Coordinator Zitlali Adame. “We hope people who currently farm or have farming in their family history will attend.”

Raices Latinas: Agriculture in McHenry County, funded by a grant from the Community Foundation for McHenry County, wishes to honor the valuable contributions of the Latino/Latine community to the county’s rich agricultural history. Upcoming events will include tours of Latino/Latine-owned farms. These events will serve as a catalyst for conversation with those who have a story to tell about their experiences as Latinos/Latines working on or owning farms in the area, past and present. The intent is to use those stories and artifacts collected, for a future exhibit at the McHenry County Historical Society, as well as traveling exhibits and video documentation.

Six organizations are partnering on the project. They include Mano a Mano Family Resource Center, Farmworker & Landscaper Advocacy Project, Illinois Migrant Council, McHenry County Historical Society & Museum, the Center for Agrarian Learning at McHenry County College, and the Land Conservancy of McHenry County.

An informal reception with refreshments begins at 5:30 p.m. March 30, followed by a 6:30 p.m. showing of the documentary film, “Harvest of Loneliness: The Bracero Program,” with guest speakers to talk about the Raices Latinas project. This is an opportunity for you to learn about and participate in this year-long series.

The film, in Spanish with English subtitles, sheds light on a program set up between the American and Mexican governments to recruit Mexican farm laborers for temporary work in the United States. The program began during World War II and ended in 1964. It includes interviews with surviving Braceros and their families.

 “We want to connect with people who have a story to tell about their family’s experience as migrant workers coming to McHenry County,” Adame said. “At this and future events, we will be gathering stories that will become part of our permanent collective history – to be shared through exhibits, videos, and other ways so that they are accessible to everyone in McHenry County.”

Raices Latinas seeks to build bridges between county residents and fill a void, celebrating the little-known contributions of Latino/Latine farmworkers in the county going as far back as the late 1800s. Farmworkers are one of the most vulnerable populations in Illinois and have been on the front line of workers keeping the food chain going, amid wars and pandemics.

Bringing the stories of Latino/Latine farmworkers to light at this time seems especially apropos, since it will be on the eve of Cesar Chaves Day – the federal commemorative holiday celebrating the American labor leader and civil rights activist.

This is a free, Spanish/English event, so no registration is required. For more information, visit www.raiceslatinasmc.org or email info@raiceslatinasmc.org.