(By Ana Elisa Wilson, Equity, Healthy Communities & Environment Specialist)

The workshop was held at The Oregon Child Development Coalition in Boardman (Morrow county). It is a new educational center that has served around 19 families including children under the age of elementary school and has plans for growth in the future.

This workshop provided education about the Food for All bill in the state of Oregon. Participants were enthusiastic about supporting the idea of getting food assistance to people without immigration status and answered OFB/FFAO pledge cards in support of this proposal.

In the “Pesticides and the Climate Crisis” educational section, we talked about the prevention and protection that should be taken when working with pesticides or chemicals that are harmful to health, the side effects that come with chronic diseases, the importance of having your vaccines updated according to the recommendations of a doctor, and having medical visits as necessary. The following educational support materials were included:

12 packages composed of:

FFAO campaign, NCAP Pesticides Tool kit, Climate Action (OHA), informational material on the importance of vaccination, NCAP radio show information (RAICES RESILIENTES/Voces del Campo), information about bees and pollinators, fliers for the DIA DE LOS MUERTOS community event, and more.

People shared their experiences related to food insecurity and they took the opportunity to review the pesticide exposure prevention tool kit. Some commented that they would even take it with them to work. 

OCDC was a provider of daycare, raffles, and dinner to the attendees. NCAP organized a raffle of gift cards and food, a great resource and part of an incentive for families who participated in the workshop.