Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/meet-barbara-mainster-redlands-christian-migrant-association-immokalee-florida/5014532/
"Hope. That's the key. Migrant parents have hope for a better tomorrow for their children," begins Barbara Mainster, executive director of Redlands Christian Migrant Association. "And that's what makes all of this work." Although she may be the last person to tell you this, Barbara's efforts for almost 30 years have been instrumental in directing this hope for positive change.During our time together, Barbara shared many things with me; but one quote stands out: "It just isn't right. And this is the United States." It seems to me that Barbara is about social justice. If something isn't right, she's here to do what she can to make it better.
She asked almost every staff member how long they had been with RCMA. Typical responses were "20 years," "12 years," "5 years." Over 85% of the 1,565 staff are former farmworkers. The innovation began in 1965 when Wendell Rollason, RCMA founder, convinced farmworker mothers that they were uniquely suited to help care for children like their own. RCMA's original commitment to hire from within the community continues. At every level of management former farmworkers work side by side with degreed professionals. Former farmworker staff bring to the table knowledge ...