$5,000 Scholarship for Black Farmers

I read this from Soul Fire Farm this morning:

Help spread the word: These scholarships are open to any applicants who self-identify as Black farmers or aspiring growers at any scale, or their dependents. No need to have land to apply, and there are many eligible fields of study.

Application deadline is April 28 for scholarships of up to $5,000 through the National Black Farmers Association for students/aspiring students who “plan to enroll or are enrolled in agriculture-related study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school.” Any field related to agriculture could be supported (including business, engineering, animal science, marketing, mechanics, environmental science, agribusiness, food sciences, biology, holistic nutrition, urban farming, veterinary science, and many others!)

More details and application here: https://www.scholarsapply.org/blackfarmersassociation/

 

You Are Probably Contributing to Slavery

You can help stop modern day slavery. Small changes make a big difference.

I just read an article about forced labor in agriculture in Florida on the website for The Nation. I’m sure you know that I was disgusted. It turns out that there are farms in FL, and I would suspect other states, that hold workers hostage, beat them, and keep them in inhumane conditions so that they can harvest the fruits and veggies that we eat every day. Here are a few of the examples noted in the article:

When the visitor steps out of the truck he sees a panel which gets to the heart of CIW’s analysis around modern slavery–that it’s not something that takes place in a vacuum, but it’s tied to the broader conditions in the agriculture industry–sub-poverty wages and substandard working conditions; from the earliest days of slavery through today, farmworkers in Florida are among the least paid and least protected workers in the nation.

On the panel are two artifacts to drive home that message: the bloody shirt of a 17-year old boy who was beaten in 1996 for stopping to take a drink of water while working in Immokalee. In response, there was a nighttime march by 400 workers to the crew leader’s house. This was a significant moment in CIW’s history because that kind of violence was routine and never received a widespread organized response.

You won’t even believe this quote

In the southeast, that means Publix. When asked whether the supermarket continues to purchase from farms that were recently found to use slave labor a Publix spokesperson “said the chain does purchase tomatoes from the two farms but pays a fair market price.”

So now it’s okay to use people as slaves as long as those that are working those in slavery are compensated with a fair market price? Come on, that’s ridiculous. I’m glad that the Coalition for Immokalee Workers has put together a traveling museum to highlight the cases of abuse and help put a stop to forced labor.

What does this have to do with personal finance? Everything! We all say that we want access to affordable goods so that we can keep our families in a measurable state of comfort, however too often we don’t think about what’s being done to provide those services and products at that low price. Are you willing to contribute to the enslavement of others in order to have tacos and burritos that are a few cents cheaper?

Write to Publix, Chipotle, etc. and tell them that we WILL NOT contribute to the enslavement of any people.

In solidarity.

Scholarship for Technology Majors from Rural Communities

Two new scholarships offer funds to help high school students from rural communities prepare for technology jobs. The scholarships are provided by The Rural Technology Fund, a new organization dedicated to encouraging students from small towns in rural America to pursue computer and technology jobs.

Mayfield, KY (PRWEB) May 5, 2009 — Two new scholarships offer funds to help high school students from rural communities prepare for technology jobs. The scholarships are provided by The Rural Technology Fund, a new organization dedicated to encouraging students from small towns in rural America to pursue computer and technology jobs.

The Judith A. Sanders Memorial Scholarship is a $500 one-time grant. One scholarship will be awarded this year to a student from a rural community who demonstrates commitment to his or her intended career utilizing computer technology. Applications and guidelines are available at Rural Technology Fund. The deadline for applications is May 30, 2009.

 

 

I grew up in a rural community, and I know how few resources were available in schools and at home for students who wanted to prepare for a career with computers

I want to change that by helping rural high school students get money for college — and I want to challenge information technology businesses to help us make a difference, one student at a time.

The Social Entrepreneurship Scholarship is a $500, one-time grant. One scholarship will be awarded this year and the program is open to students from rural schools who have a passion for making positive social change in the world or at home in their communities. Applications and guidelines are available at Rural Technology Fund. The deadline for applications is May 15, 2009.

“I grew up in a rural community, and I know how few resources were available in schools and at home for students who wanted to prepare for a career with computers,” says Sanders. “I want to change that by helping rural high school students get money for college — and I want to challenge information technology businesses to help us make a difference, one student at a time.”

The Rural Technology Fund will award its first scholarships in 2009. Eventually, Sanders hopes to extend beyond scholarships to include funding for technology-related after-school programs and training events and to help rural schools and community centers to have access to specialized learning labs. Sanders hopes that the RTF web site will become a portal where those who are interested in technology can find links to additional college grants and scholarships, internships, and related programs.

The Rural Technology Fund is a Kentucky-based organization that provides college scholarships for students from rural areas and small towns across the United States to promote information technology and computer-based careers. Visit Rural Technololgy Fund for additional information.

###

<!– –>