The Michigan Farmworker Project: Development and Implementation of a Collaborative Community-Based Research Project...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Social Justice
• Community-Based Participatory Research

Background:

• Farmworkers are a marginalized population crucial to the U.S. food supply chain.
• They face significant occupational and environmental health inequities.
• Precarious working conditions and labor exploitation are prevalent issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the link between precarious work, labor exploitation, and health inequities in Michigan farmworkers.
• To understand the role of social justice in farmworker health outcomes.
• To develop and implement a community-based participatory research approach.

Main Methods:

• Utilized critical race theory and community-based participatory research (CBPR).
• Collaborated with community partners, service entities, and legal organizations.
• Described the participatory process, implementation challenges, and lessons learned.

Main Results:

• Farmworkers' social and working environments extend beyond precarity to include significant labor exploitation.
• Labor exploitation is a major factor negatively impacting farmworker health and well-being.
• Community-university partnerships enhanced understanding and contributed to study success.

Conclusions:

• Entrenched systems of structural oppression affect farmworker health.
• Farmworkers demonstrate resilience and contribute significantly to society.
• Strengthening community-university partnerships is vital for addressing farmworker health inequities.