Program to highlight problem of sexual violence against farmworker women
October 6, 2014
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Purdue University group that works to prevent sexual violence in multicultural communities is partnering with like organizations in presenting a program Thursday (Oct. 9) in Indianapolis to raise awareness of sexual violence suffered by farmworker women.
Multicultural Efforts to end Sexual Assault, known as MESA, is among three organizations that will offer workshops and a viewing of the documentary "Rape in the Fields," about sexual abuse of migrant farmworkers.
The Bandana Project event will be held 2-8 p.m. at the Johnson H. Boner Community Center, 2236 E. 10th St.
October is Latino Heritage Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Co-sponsors include the Indiana Migrant/Seasonal Farm Worker Coalition and the Immigrant Welcome Center.
"Due to isolation, farm worker women are extremely vulnerable to sexual violence on the job," said Kimber Nicoletti, director of MESA. "Many people do not realize that this includes children under the age of 18 who are working in the fields. The Indiana Migrant Farm Worker Coalition and MESA would like to get Indiana communities involved in helping prevent this terrible problem."
Nicoletti will be among presenters at a 2-4 p.m. workshop for professionals. She will speak about how MESA works with farmworker communities through Indiana to prevent sexual violence. Other speakers include Chris Christensen, an attorney and director of the Migrant Farmworker Law Center at Indiana Legal Services, and Jeremy Sells, an investigator with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Professionals wanting to attend the workshop can register by emailing Christensen at chris.christensen@ilsi.net.
"Rape in the Fields" will be shown 4-6 p.m., followed by a 6-8 p.m. community workshop, open to the public, consisting of a Q&A with the panel of professionals and information addressing sexual assault among migrant farmworkers.
Community organizations serving farmworker communities will have table displays at the event.
The Bandana Project is a national event created by the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama, to raise awareness of sexual harassment against farmworker and low-wage immigrant worker women. Ninety percent of farmworker women have reported being sexually harassed or experiencing other types of sexual violence in the workplace.
The National Bandana Project is now housed with the Alianza Nacional de Campesinas (National Farm Worker Women Alliance), of which MESA is a member.
Writer: Keith Robinson, 765-494-2722, robins89@purdue.edu
Source: Kimber Nicoletti, 765-496-3492, knicolet@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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