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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 2015)
Commentary Page My mother - la mera mera - our family’s head honcha Jaime Arrendondo is a former staff mmeber at the nonprofit Farmworker Housing Development Corporation, and is now the secretary- treasurerof PCUN, Oregon’s farmworkers union. BY JAIME ARRENDONDO C O N T R IB U T IN G C Q L J J M N I5 T “How did your parents put five kids through college considering they have a second grade education and have earned an average of $18,006 a year over their working lives?”: That’s the question I was asked by a legislator this past session while advocating for paid sick leave that didn’t exclude farmworkers. The answer was simple. My mother, “la mera mera” (head honcha). While calling my mother la mera mera may seem confusing because of the machismo influence that’s plagued our Mexican people - including my family - it’s the truth. Yes, my dad has been the decision maker in most important cases, but it’s my mother’s will,' love and vision that’s led us this far. The oldest of 11, my mother learned to care and lead a family early on. When there was little food in her household she would make sure everybody ate before she did, even though she knew she wouldn’t get her piece. If someone needed to go retrieve drinking water from the algae-Covered pond outside of town, she would do i t She was only 10. When we came into the picture, my mother was more than ready to lead. With my father gone most of the year to the norte (north) she carried the load. I remember a lot of her sacrifices early on. But the one that sticks out the most is her giving us her would-be breakfast (eggs) to exchange for school supplies. With things getting tighter by the day she Vouldn’t Btarid seeingus gb hungry, so she pressed and pressed my dad until we all headed north. It was here (Oregon) where my mother became a campesina (farmworker). She was pregnant at the time with my little brother Ramon. Not knowing about the poisons in the fields she worked late into her pregnancy. Consequently, Ramon turned out to have the weakest immune system out of all of us. When she was not working, she was out in the community finding resources. Food boxes, clothing, rent and utility bill discounts, English classes,.bus passes, Christmas presents^ etc. You name it, my mom knew where to find it. At school, despite not Understanding the system and being unable to interact because of; language barriers, she would always come along with us for conferences and events. During the summers she would work two shifts; She picked berries in the morning from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., then went off to the cannery to work on the beltline from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. My dad did the same, but mom still carried most of the load at home. As we got older we were able to help out more, but also gave her a few headaches here and there. Flknever forget seeing her image in the window of my car as she stood inside our o house giving me her blessing while I rushed out of the house to go out with friends. She still does it today though I’m rushing the other way now to see her. This year will be my mother’s 26th year as a campesina. Thai's about half of her life. Twenty of those have been at a food processing plant where she currently makes $9.50 an hour. That should tell you plenty about where I stand in the debate to raise wages. My mother’s labor has produced many, fruits. But if you ask her the fruit of her labor she’s. m ostproudpf,it is herfamily.,,Gvacias mama. P H O TO CO URTESY OF J A IM E A R R E N D O N D O The author, third from left, stands with his siblings - all college graduates - and his parents on either end. CareOregorr goMobile team CENTRAL CITY COFFEE ¡DhiohuM. ¡Do good. Sourcing & roasting craft coffee to benefit programs at Central City Concern. S im a ll IN STORES New Seasons Market, Whole Foods, Food Front Cooperative Grocery, Green Zebra, Chuck's Produce and Wiil LeatherGoods. CareOregon and our partners make Oregon Health Plan navigation easy! AT YOUR OFFICE Interested in servingCentral City Coffee at your office? Get in touch with us and we cart help you make that happen. 503.22S.7387 We offer help with: • Medicaid medical, dental and mental health appointments • Medicare eligibility for disabled and elderly adults ON OUR WEBSITE B R Ì I Buy Centrat City Coffee online and have it sh ipped directly to you or a friend. Find us at these locations: good.local.food Follow our Facebook page for updates and specials. centraIcitycoffee.org facebook.com/CentraICityCoffee coffee@ccconcern.org Belmont Library, 385 NW Miller Ave Kenton Library 8226 N Denver Ave Nov 4 ........... .3 -5 p.m. Nov 10..... .... 5-7 p.m. City Team, 526 SE Grand Ave. Midland Library 805 SE 122nd Ave Nov 4............ 8 - TO am. Nov 18 .........8-1 0 am. Nov 11...........4-6 p.m. Nov 18.... S.... 4-6 p.m. Gresham Library, 385 NW Miller Ave Portland Rescue Mission, 111 W Burnside Nov 5 ........... 1-4:30 p.m. Nov 19 .........1-3 p.m. Nov 5 ..............8-10 am. Nov 12...........8-1 0 am. Nov 1 9 ... ........8-10 am. Holgate Library 7905 SE Holgate Nov 6.,........... 2:30-4:30 p.m. Union Gospel Mission, 3 NW Third Ave. Nov 17..U.......2-4 p.m.
