Volunteers

 

 

Willamette University Visit

 

 

We Build Dedicated and Competent Leadership

FHDC provides the support that individuals need to become leaders in the farmworker community, to begin the process of building a future that once seemed unimaginable. 

• Our first task at each of our major housing developments is to help residents form a Resident Association.  Each Resident Association works within FHDC’s Property Management Team to advise on and implement rental management policies and procedures.  Resident Association meetings are held monthly and provide an opportunity for residents to have input on property management issues, as well as educational, cultural, and other events at FHDC sites.   
• With FHDC’s support, each major development has established an Education Committee, Youth Leadership Development Committee, Safety and Security Committee, Cultural Committee, and Women’s Group.  Committee members establish goals and objectives for their committees, learn how to manage committee issues, make public presentations, help to organize the community in common cause, encourage other residents to participate in events and activities, and advise on issues of concern to the community. 
• FHDC encourages volunteerism; we work with 100 or more volunteers from inside and outside of the community each year.    
• FHDC is an active participant in CAPACES, a network of regional organizations serving the Latino and immigrant community.  At bi-monthly meetings, CAPACES members learn effective leadership strategies and improve their fundraising skills. 
• FHDC works directly with service providers to link community resources, to help other organizations build their capacity to serve our population, and to more efficiently meet the needs of our unique population.
• We employ thirteen full-time staff, eleven of whom are former farmworkers or from farmworker families. We also employ fourteen part-time staff.  Our staffing has tripled in the past three years. Our eleven member Board of Directors includes seven individuals who are farmworkers, were farmworkers at one time, or come from farmworker families.