Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation

Adult literacy: literacy enables farmworkers to expand their knowledge, pursue professional development goals, become leaders in the community, and increase financial stability, leading to a brighter future. 102 farmworkers participated in essential literacy classes in computers, english, finance, and math.computer literacy: technology is the future, and many farmworkers are behind due to limited access to computers, the internet, and educational opportunities. By creating a laptop lending library and access to classes, the foundation removed barriers and closed the knowledge gap. Classes included:- 3-week excel for supervisors- 3-week introduction to computers - intermediate levelenglish literacy: english proficiency opens the door to community engagement, better jobs, higher wages, and career advancement. Courses included:- 10-week english course - beginning & intermediate levels at napa valley adult education- 10-week english course - beginning level at river ranch farmworker housing center- 2-week english course - beginning & intermediate levels at napa valley adult educationfinancial literacy: building financial literacy skills is not just about dollars and cents, it is about increasing confidence, security, and financial freedom. Classes included:- budgeting for equipment in vineyard operations- buying a car: what you need to know- navigating the american retirement system- smart financial moves- fraud & scam protection & awareness- bank accounts & credit cards- investing in education & paying for collegemath literacy: math is a foundational skill that touches every aspect of our lives. Math literacy contributes to both personal and professional success, and in 2024, the foundation offered an intensive 2-week math course that taught workplace multiplication, division, and fractions to support practical decision-making in vineyard operations.

Mentorship: fostering the next generation of vineyard leaders is essential to maintaining napa valley's legacy and long-term success. The impactful fields of opportunity mentorship programs foster meaningful relationships, creating opportunities for high school students to gain guidance, develop skills, and receive support for personal and professional growth from industry mentors.in 2024, 32 high school students were paired with expert wine industry mentors in the 8-week patrick foley fields of opportunity summer mentor program, giving them hands-on vineyard and skill-building experiences. At the end of the summer, students received congressional recognition from congressman mike thompson during the graduation ceremony.

Family life: building community for farmworker families leads to a greater sense of belonging, stability, and mutual respect. Napa valley's vineyard workforce is year-round and permanent, making the need to support family focused programming essential. The foundation provided meaningful opportunities for growth, connection, and supportcelebrating the strength and contributions of the extraordinary farmworker community. Empowering families to contribute and thrive enriches the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the entire napa valley community.2,522 farmworkers and family members participated in 2024 family-focused programs which included:- health and well-being events: in partnership with the st. Helena hospital foundation and adventist health, 183 farmworkers received dental and vision screenings with 74 pairs of glasses distributed to those in need at the bi-national alliance health fair. In addition, 15 received complimentary early-detection cancer screenings at da de la familia.- da de la familia: over 2,500 attendees connected with 50+ local organizations at this annual community building event.- healthy strategies for managing stress was presented during the 3-day cultivar conference.viticulture and safety: farming napa valley's specialty winegrape crop requires remarkable skill, expertise, and proficiency. Achieving professionalism at this level requires investment in continued education and advanced training opportunities for the vineyard workforce who uphold the region's reputation for excellence.319 farmworkers participated in expert-led viticulture training programs, which included:- climate science & farming adaptations: learned about climate-smart farming and management practices to make napa valley vineyards more adaptable and resilient.- cpr & first aid: earned cpr and first aid certification, gaining life- saving skills to respond confidently in emergencies.- field day on songbirds & vineyard health: demonstrated the role of songbirds in supporting sustainable viticulture and vineyard health.- night harvest safety training: covered osha safety standards for nighttime vineyard operations.- 3-day welding boot camp: gained hands-on training in essential welding techniques and a certification from napa valley college.- the 22nd annual napa county pruning contest: celebrated the skill, talent, and dedication of napa valley vineyard professionals.- cultivar - viticulture & safety presentations: one day of the annual three-day conference covered pesticide application inspection ins & outs, challenges rootstock face in california, climate science & climate resilience in the vineyard, and more.