TO: Napa County Housing Commission
FROM: Jennifer Palmer, Director of Housing & Homeless Services
REPORT BY: Alex Carrasco, Staff Service Analyst
SUBJECT: Presentation by the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation
RECOMMENDATION
title
A presentation by the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation.
body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation is dedicated to supporting and promoting Napa Valley’s vineyard workers through education and professional development.
No action necessary, for discussion only.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The mission of the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation is to support and promote Napa Valley’s vineyard workers through education and professional development. The Farmworker Education Committee has been active in the community, hosting the Spanish Brown Bag Series and Napa County Pruning Contest, since 2001. The organization realized its full potential when founder, Arnulfo Solorio, presented his dream of creating a foundation to provide educational opportunities for farmworkers year-round. With overwhelming support, his vision became a reality, and the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation was established in 2011, the first grower supported organization of its kind in the United States.
The Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation provides a variety of programs annually that focus on developing skills in the areas of adult literacy, vineyard operations & safety, leadership & management, mentorship, and family life. The farmworker community is critical to the success of the wine industry and the foundation is dedicated to creating a better future for all Napa County farmworkers and their families.
Arnulfo Solorio is a partner at Silverado Farming Company and recognized as NVG Grower of the Year in 2022. He continues to serve as the Vice President of the Farmworker Foundation Board and Chair of the Education Committee.