A Message from our Board 

I will start by sharing that as you’ll read further below in the newsletter, the world lost a legend this month with the passing of Jose Guadalupe Murguia. Lupe was not only a great organizer and leader in the United Farm Workers (UFW), but also a great man.  The work that he did with those founders of “el movimiento” laid the foundation for the work we do today at FIELD. He leaves a legacy of a life of service to the underserved and others in his community, and we express our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.  

It’s been a busy few months at FIELD. The school year for our adult EPIC High School students is in full swing. We’re pleased to announce an increase in enrollment this fall. Construction at our Union Ave facility in Bakersfield, CA that included our new dorm room additions, the new commercial kitchen, as well as improvements to the front of the property is winding down and we’re expecting the certificate of occupancy soon. Additionally, our Cesar Chavez Environmental Corps just participated in a showcase event at the Chavez National Monument featuring the head of the National Park Service and included tours of the amazing work our corpsmembers are doing for restoration at the monument.  

We’re looking forward to launching our next donation campaign to continue our fundraising efforts to furnish the newly completed dorm rooms and get them prepared for our corpsmembers. Many of our corpsmembers come to us in need of housing, bedding, personal items, clothing and more. FIELD through our Cesar Chavez Environmental Corps provides much of the structure and daily routines that lead to lifelong sustainability for these young people, many of whom come from poor or broken homes.  

FIELD offers such a wide range of FREE services through our programs – adult education, job training, career development – all of which leads to self-confidence, self-sufficiency, and opportunities to break generational barriers. We are proud that we can help lift up our community and serve them in a multitude of ways.  

We hope you will continue to join us on this journey. Good education, opportunities, and jobs equal strong families, and strong communities. In the spirit of our founder Cesar Chavez, thank you for all you do, and will do.  

In Gratitude,  

Ines DeLuna 
FIELD Board Chair