As I write this, I am sitting on the floor of our family room surrounded by new roommates, several co-workers and many other friends from the community. Half of the group is wet from their recent showers, the rest of us are soaked in sweat from a humid volleyball game at the community park. Though it is not uncommon for half the community to congregate at the volunteer house tonight we are celebrating Elena’s birthday. Thus, on our coffee table there is a beautiful, homemade chocolate banana cake frosted with Nutella and decorated with sprinkles plus a gallon of coffee ice cream. As I look around the room, taking in the scene and recording this moment I am indescribably happy.
As of tonight I have been back in Immokalee for a week and things at the volunteer house have been non-stop since I stepped off the plane. Last weekend was a swept away in a surge of planning. From lesson plans for our first days with the Guadalupe After School program to strategic organizing at the Fair Food Summit. The summit, hosted by the Coalition of Immokalee workers and its ally organizations, Student Farmworker Alliance and Interfaith Action, brought together Fair Food activists from across the country for a three-days of creative workshops aimed at intensifying, and winning, the Supermarket Campaign. The pace only picked up as we dove into our morning placements, teaching, and exciting evenings packed with dinner parties, games in the park, and community reflections.
Although my first week has been a whirlwind of activity, the constant in my life has been the sheer joy of community. I hope I am not being redundant, but I feel compelled to echo the sentiments Jenn expressed in her initial post about the benefits and blessings of community. The most note worthy aspect of the start of round two as an HM volunteer has been the warm welcoming embraces from the Immokalee community and my new housemates.
With Love,
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