IFHC Townhall Series Event: Idaho's Migrant Farmworker Community

For this, our fifth installment in our 2024 IFHC Townhall Series with we are joined by by Marielena Vega of the Idaho Organization of Resources Councils (IORC) and Jackie Aguiar of Idaho Legal Aid Services (ILAS). Topics covered during this event will include how both organizations support our farmworker communities respectively, what resources are available to migrant famililes and individuals in Idaho, and how they are protected under The Fair Housing Act.

With questions regarding the event, interpretation, or reasonable accommodations, please reach out to Zoe Olson at Zoe Ann Olson zolson@ifhcidaho.org or Peg Richards at Peg Richards prichards@ifhcidaho.org

About The Presenters

Marielena “Mari” Vega (she/her/ella) is the proud daughter of immigrant parents from Michoacán, Mexico. As a first-generation immigrant child, Marielena had a lot of obstacles and challenges to overcome, such as learning the English language, serving as a translator for her family, becoming a third parent, and supporting her family in any way possible needed. These challenges and experiences led Marielena to shed that protective layer of shyness and conformity to finally free her inner voice and power. Today, Marielena is dedicated to bringing support to her communities through resource sharing, and sharing her voice and stories to put a spotlight on the work that needs to be done to protect farm workers everywhere.

Marielena comes from a long line of people who have cultivated the land, loved the Earth, and protected it and those who care for it. Marielena’s ancestors have owned and shared land in the area known as Mexico today. Her great-grandfather and other community leaders in Michoacán fought for their rights to those lands and established communal farmlands where families in Michoacán could continue to practice their farming methods, build their homes, and live off the land. Those communal farmlands known as "ejidos" still stand strong today. Marielena’s commitment to environmental justice and community is something that has been passed down through generations.

Jackie Aguiar is an Outreach Worker with Idaho Legal Services Inc. She has worked for this Idaho non-profit organization for a little over a year. Idaho Legal Aid Services Inc. provides free legal services throughout all of Idaho regarding civil matters. They help with issues on Family Law, Senior and Housing, as well as Migrant Farmworker matters. Jackie mainly helps to do outreach work for the Migrant Farmworker Law Unit (MFLU) who provides legal assistance for all agriculture workers. Generally, MFLU handles cases that deal with employment, public benefits, housing, education, health, consumer issues, discrimination and other individual rights. Jackie also helps with housing and urban development issues (HUD). These issues include helping with housing needs, that improve and develop our communities, and enforce fair housing laws. Jackie takes pride in helping our community and encourages everyone to utilize Idaho Legal Aid as a necessary resource!