Greater Naples Leadership Masters Class XXIV

Immokalee Day FEBRUARY 19,

2020

Session Day Materials - Table of Contents

A. Goals & Objectives

B. Agenda

C. Biographies

D. Locations and Directions

E. Additional Reading Materials - To get the most out of your day in Immokalee, we strongly recommend that you review these materials.

(please click on a heading to be directed to that section in the document)

Print and bring “Volunteering to Benefit the Immokalee Community” packet from the GNL Masters Class XXIV Session Day Materials website to use in class.

Dress Code: Casual dress chosen for comfort in air-conditioned rooms.Comfortable walking shoes. Rain gear if inclement weather is predicted. Dress and accessories should be understated.

Venues: First Venue: St. Paul Orthodox Church, 2425 Rivers Road, Naples

Second Venue: Guadalupe Center, 509 Hope Circle, Immokalee

Third Venue: Immokalee Technical College, 508 N. 9th Street, Immokalee

Session Leaders: Bettyann O’Neill (Team Leader), Kevin Barry, Marilyn Bartter, AjitDesai, Mary Lee Turk

Theme

Trends, Critical Needs, Challenges and Opportunities in Immokalee - Implications for the Future

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A. Goals

To create awareness of the relevant socioeconomic trends in Immokalee, the related critical issues and needs of the community.

To provide insight on volunteer opportunities to impact these issues so that class members:

ï Feel enabled to identify one or two ways they can use their experiences and talents as a volunteer in Immokalee and/or

ï Feel capable to serve as ambassadors, either directly or indirectly, in the wider community for the issues and needs of Immokalee.

Objectives

ï Create an awareness of the major issues and challenges that families and children in Immokalee face, including housing, education, health care and child care.

ï Create an awareness of major issues and challenges of working in Immokalee, including workforce readiness, agriculture and immigration issues, and economic development for future employment.

ï Create an awareness of some of the effective programs that have been implemented in Immokalee to address the challenges.

ï Create an awareness of volunteer opportunities in Immokalee through interactions with key leaders and testimonials by volunteers, students and service recipients.

B. Immokalee Day Agenda

7:15 Meet at St. Paul Orthodox Church, NaplesBoard bus. Please feel free to bring your own coffee (in a travel mug) on the bus. Coffee and muffins will be provided at the Guadalupe Center.

7:30 Bus departs promptly for Immokaleeï Welcome by Beth Stein, Class Leadership Teamï Overview of Day by Bettyann O’Neillï Carlene Thissen, author of Immokalee’s Fields of Hope, will tell the stories of

the community of Immokalee and its people.ï John Lawson, Retired Executive Director of One by One Leadership Foundation and

GNL Class XIX, will discuss Immokalee as a microcosm of world issues, highlighting why Immokalee is different and important.

ï During the drive to Immokalee, the speakers will point out the following:

o Tomato fieldso Arthrex and its relationship to Immokaleeo Citrus groveso Ave Maria Entranceo Seminole Reservation and Casinoo Lower income housing neighborhoodso Pick up area for migrant/agricultural workerso Our Lady of Guadalupe Church/Guadalupe soup kitchen and showers

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8:20 Arrive at Guadalupe Child Development Center, ImmokaleeComfort Break/Coffee and muffins available

8:35 Overview of Immokalee (Introduced by Bettyann O’Neill)

Speaker will provide an overview of the challenges, opportunities and distinctive character of Immokalee integrated with his personal story and stories of the people and businesses of the community.

ï Bernardo Barnhart, Vice President, First1 Bank, Immokalee, past president of Immokalee Chamber of Commerce

9:00 Q&A facilitated by Bettyann O’Neill

9:15 Discussion of Education in Immokalee (Introduced by Marilyn Bartter)

Speakers will highlight the major challenges facing education in Immokalee and the responses addressing these challenges.

ï Bob Spano, Vice President of Programs, Guadalupe Center of Immokaleeï Isabel Garcia, Executive Director/Head Start Director, Redlands Christian Migrant

Associationï Margaux Horne, Principal, Highlands Elementary School, Immokaleeï Rodelin Anthony, Current History Teacher and Head Football Coach 2016-2019

Seasons, Immokalee High School

9:45 Q&A facilitated by Marilyn Bartter

10:00 Tour of the Guadalupe Child Development Center - Class will break into groups and interact with children.

10:30 Begin boarding bus

10:40 Bus Departs for “Life in Immokalee” Tour (Introduced by Ajit Desai)ï On the way to the famous market, John Lawson will highlight culture, non-profit

network and opportunities for growth, including the Taste of Immokalee success story.ï Disembark at Immokalee Fruit and Vegetable Market for 15-minute walk into market to

experience richness of culture and agriculture.ï Reload bus for trip to Habitat Housingï Wilna Cariany, Director of Immokalee Family Services, Habitat for Humanity of

Collier County, will narrate covering:o Housing challenges in Immokaleeo Past, current and future Habitat projects in Immokaleeo Principal differences for Habitat in Immokaleeo Stories of several Habitat families

ï Bus leaves Habitat Housing and arrives at Immokalee Technical College

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11:50 Arrive at Immokalee Technical College, Immokalee - disembark bus

Comfort Break

12:05 Lunch prepared by Immokalee Technical College Culinary Department

ï Introduction of Dan Pomerleau, GNL Class XXIII, by Mary Lee Turk. Dan will discuss his experiences as a volunteer mentor in Immokalee for Tutor Corps, a program of Guadalupe Center, that hires high school students to tutor younger children, allowing them to earn scholarships for college as well as providing guidance and support through college. Dan’s mentee, Alexis, and Alexis’s older sister will also comment on their Tutor Corps experience.

ï A Tutor Corps high school student will be at each table for lunch and conversation.

12:50 Critical Issues of Agricultural Workers in Immokalee (Introduced by Kevin Barry)

Speakers will highlight major current and future challenges facing agribusiness, farm workers and immigrants and implications for the future.

ï Fritz Roka – Director for the Center of Agribusiness in the Lutgert College of Business, Florida Gulf Coast University

ï Sister Maureen Kelleher, Attorney, Retired Agency Head of Legal Aid Service of Naples and Immokalee

1:25 Q&A facilitated by Kevin Barry

1:40 Discussion on Workforce Readiness and Partnerships (Introduced by Kevin Barry)

Speakers will discuss who Immokalee Technical College students are as well as how the College collaborates with local businesses to develop needed workers and pathways to career opportunities. The special relationship with Arthrex, Collier County’s largest employer, and an inspirational success story will be highlighted.

ï Dorin Oxender, Director, Immokalee Technical College (iTech)ï Jehu Auguste, Graduate of iTech working as a Level 2 NIMS Machinist Apprentice at

Arthrexï Michael Koszewnik, Supervisor, Manufacturing Trainer, Arthrex

2:15 Q&A facilitated by Kevin Barry

2:30

Comfort

Break

2:45 Overview of Health and Human Services Needs in Immokalee (Introduced by Ajit Desai)

Panel will speak on major health and social needs facing the population of Immokalee, including observations on the impact of immigration uncertainties on families and the community.

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ï Peggy Rodriguez, Program Director, Guadalupe Social Services, Catholic Charitiesï Frank Rincon, Founder of The Benison Distribution Centerï Dr. Elena Reyes, Regional Director for Florida State University College of Medicine,

and Director of the Center for Child Stress and Health

3:15 Q&A facilitated by Ajit Desai

3:30 Volunteering in Immokalee (Led by Marilyn Bartter) Overview of volunteer activities that may fit with Class Members’ interests and talents. Print and bring “Volunteering to Benefit the Immokalee Community” packet from the GNL Masters Class XXIV Session Day Materials website to use in class.

3:40 Perspective on Day by Bettyann O’NeillSummary of day and time to fill out evaluation forms. Be sure to pick up gift bag of Taste of

Immokalee Salsa before boarding the bus.

3:45 CLT announces Class Day Assignments – next steps for Class XXIV

4:05 Comfort break

4:15 Board bus

4:25 Bus leaves Immokalee Technical College

5:00 Bus arrives at the St. Paul Orthodox Church, Naples

(Back To Table of Contents)5

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C. Biographies

Bus Trip to Immokalee

Carlene ThissenAuthor of Immokalee’s Fields of HopeHaving learned to sing and play guitar and piano as a child, Carlene Thissen performed at some of the first Catholic church folk Masses and sang at coffeehouses in the late 1960s. She also attended the original Woodstock Festival in 1969 and those three days, she says, were the happiest and most important of her life. This past August she attended the 50th Anniversary celebration at the original site and came away more inspired to change the world. At age 23 she "cut her hair and got a career," as she sings in her autobiographical song, Back There Again, and developed a successful 30-year business career. When that ended Carlene moved on to writing books and music. She is heavily involved with Immokalee, a farming community that inspired many of her original songs. She has written two books, one (Immokalee’s Fields of Hope) based on her thesis and Master’s degree in History earned in 2000 from FIU in Miami; a subsequent book about a beloved Immokalee priest, Called from Silence: The Father Sanders Novel; and is working on a sequel to the first book which she hopes to get released in 2020. Carlene has also worked since 2010 at the University of Florida in Immokalee, developing and teaching a program for Farm Labor Supervisors, and is also currently employed as a part- time research assistant at FGCU. In addition, Carlene sings and plays at house concerts, festivals and charity events. Carlene's original music is often featured on Women of Substance Radio Podcasts and she performed three times at the recent Island Hopper Songwriter Festival. Her website, email and social media can all be found using both her first and last names. To be added to her monthly mailings of insights and activities, please go to www.carlenethissen.com or email carlenethissen@gmail.com.

John LawsonImmokalee Ambassador, One by One Leadership Foundation of SWFL (Retired)John Lawson has lived in Collier County since 1968. He is a graduate of Naples High School and Eckerd College. He is the Retired Executive Director of One by One Leadership Foundation and one of its founding Directors since its inception in 2004. He currently serves as an Ambassador for the Immokalee Community. He has additional course work in finance from University of South Florida and University of Florida.

Beginning in 1977 John started working in a variety of leadership positions in Southwest Florida not-for-profit agencies including TECH/ Step by Step, United Cerebral Palsy, Lutheran Services and the Guadalupe Center before helping to start One by One Leadership Foundation. He started Collier County’s first Sheltered Workshop while at TECH. He is a graduate of Leadership Collier 1996, a member of the Forum Club of Naples and Greater Naples Leadership Graduate, class XIX. He serves as managing Director of the Lawson Family Company. He has served as elder and deacon at Moorings Presbyterian Church. He is married to Amy Lawson and has two grown children. The entire family plays English Handbells and sing in the choir. John has been recognized for his work receiving Red Cross’ highest award from President Ronald Reagan and appointments by multiple Florida Governors for his work in human rights advocacy. He has been actively engaged in the Taste of Immokalee efforts and serves as a director of the benefit corporation and serves as a Director of Mission Peniel and the Benison Distribution Center, all in Immokalee. John can be contacted at 239-248-5857.

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Overview of Immokalee

Bernardo BarnhartVice President, First1 Bank, ImmokaleeBernardo Barnhart was raised in Immokalee, Florida, the oldest son of a migrant family which traveled constantly. Believing in the power of education, Bernardo graduated from Immokalee High in 1997 and went on to The University of Florida to pursue a degree in business. During his freshman year, he faced a major health crisis which generated an outpouring of support from the Immokalee community and changed his life forever. After graduating, he chose to return to his roots and dedicated his life to providing opportunity for others.

Bernardo is currently the VP and Area Manager of First1 Bank Immokalee. An involved community leader and mentor, he has served as President of the Immokalee Chamber of Commerce, the Immokalee Rotary Club, One by One Leadership Foundation and the Local Little League. He has also been Treasurer of the Immokalee Booster Club and is the radio play-by-play announcer for the Immokalee HS football team. Bernardo was recognized by Champions for Learning in 2016 for his exceptional dedication to young people and leadership to his community. He is married to Michele Barnhart and has three sons. He can be contacted at bbarnhart@first1bank.com.

Education in Immokalee

Robert E. Spano, Ed.S.Vice President of Programs, Guadalupe CenterMr. Spano is currently the Vice President of Programs at Guadalupe Center following a 35-year career in the Collier County Public Schools where he served as Principal of seven different schools. Guadalupe Center’s Education programs serve over 1300 students, from newborns through their students’ college careers. Bob received his Ed. S. (Education Specialist in Elementary Education) from the University of Miami, his MA from Nova University in Administration and Supervision, and his BS in Education from Ashland University.

He is a passionate educational leader with a demonstrated ability to create an educational environment where students love to learn, and a team approach is used to effectively develop educational results with a diverse population of students, parents, volunteers and community organizations. He has applied these skills as the Principal of four Elementary Schools (Mike Davis, Vineyards, Sea Gate, and Tommy Barfield,) East Naples Middle School, Golden Gate High School, and most recently Everglades City School which includes kids from Pre-K through Grade 12.

Bob has an extensive list of accomplishments, from dramatically increasing the rated level of several schools – one from an F to a B, and in maintaining several others at the A level for multiple years, to leading school construction projects and opening new schools from scratch. Bob may be contacted at rspano@guadalupecenter.org.

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Rodelin AnthonyCurrent History Teacher and Head Football Coach 2016-2019 Seasons, Immokalee High School Mr.Anthony is a 2005 graduate of Immokalee High School where he was an honor roll scholar-athlete. He was also a member of the 2004 Class 2A State Champion Immokalee High School Football team and selected for the first team all-state Florida Sports Writers Association as a wide receiver. He received the Orange Bowl Committee Scholar-Athlete Award.

Mr. Anthony received the UNLV Outstanding Graduate of 2009 award where he was a Deans List dual major in Political Science, and Journalism & Media Studies. He also played football where he was a member of the Rebel Leadership Committee, achieved Mountain West All-Conference Academic honors three times, and was selected National NCAA Leadership Conference among other honors.

Following college, Mr. Anthony did a Summer Internship with the ESPN Las Vegas office. He then was recruited to be part of the NFL Baltimore Ravens professional football program.

Mr. Anthony is now in his eighth year as a history teacher at Immokalee High School and fourth and final season as the Head Football Coach. He may be contacted at anthor@collierschools.com.

Isabel GarciaExecutive Director, Redlands Christian Migrant AssociationIsabel Garcia was raised in a loving migrant family environment, and she has worked the fields as a migrant farm worker herself. She joined the organization in 1988, and through professional development opportunities at RCMA she achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in undergraduate studies with a concentration in early childhood development from the University of South Florida.

Ms. Garcia has more than 30 years of experience with RCMA, starting as an after-school teacher and then, taking advantage of RCMA leadership opportunities, she has subsequently served as a center director, area coordinator, training coordinator, Director of Program Quality, Associate Executive Director and most recently as Executive Director.

She has also been recognized for her accomplishments by NHSA and has been a board member of several state, regional, and national organizations. In her new role, she looks forward to expanding her network of contacts and moving the RCMA mission forward and to continue to raise the awareness of the lifestyle of migrant and low- income rural children. Isabel may be contacted at isabel@rcma.org.

Margaux HornePrincipal, Highlands Elementary School, ImmokaleeMargaux Horne is the proud principal of Highlands Elementary school in Immokalee, Florida. After a 12-year career in Texas, Mrs. Horne moved to Naples and began work in Collier County Public Schools 10 years ago. Her roles have included Classroom Teacher, Math Coach, Assistant Principal and now Principal. Highlands Elementary is an A school for the second year in a row, having moved from an F rating just five years ago. Highlands Elementary is a “Leader in Me” Lighthouse school and works closely to develop the leadership of all students. The school focuses on W.I.G.S or Wildly Important Goals each year to ensure students, staff and parents remain focused on leadership, culture and academics. Margaux may be contacted at hornem@collierschools.com.

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Tour of Immokalee

Wilna CarianyDirector of Immokalee Family Services, Habitat for Humanity Collier CountyWilna Cariany is from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She moved to Naples in 2001, a few months after 9/11. Naples has been home for her and her twins for almost 18 years. Wilna’s journey in the United States started in the banking industry at Fifth Third Bank as an on-the-job trainer and Lead Customer Service Representative. She started with Habitat Collier in 2010. She knew from the moment she walked in the door at Habitat Collier that she needed to be a part of the amazing organization and to try to become a valuable part of the overall Habitat mission. Wilna studied law for two years, but changed direction to pursue a major in human relations, accounting and business administration, focused on organizational leadership. Wilna has a passion for serving others. Overall, she uses her experience, passion, strength and skillset to serve and lead in the Habitat Collier organization with love. Wilna discovered a long time ago that she has been empowered to make a difference and she strives every day to help others develop and build on their human capital as well. She believes, “We all have an important role to play in the bigger picture.” Wilna can be contacted at wcariany@habitatcollier.org.

Lunch with Tutor Corps Students

Daniel PomerleauGNL Class XXIII and Tutor Corps MentorDaniel L. Pomerleau is a retired CEO, having successfully led and expanded private equity owned companies in such diverse industries as graphics, metals, adhesives, power generation and building products. Dan and his wife now primarily make their home in Naples, Florida, where Dan is an active member of the Naples Lion Club Board, a mentor for the Guadalupe Center Tutor Corps program, and a mentor for the Immokalee and Golden Gate High School’s Entrepreneurship Programs. He is a member of GNL Masters Class XXIII (2018-19) and a member of the GNL Membership Committee for 2019-20. Dan has his undergraduate degree from Gannon University in Business & Economics and attended graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh. Dan is a decorated Vietnam veteran serving as a captain in the US Army. Dan can be contacted at dlpomerleau@verizon.net.

Critical Issues of Agricultural Workers

Fritz RokaDirector for the Center for Agribusiness in the Lutgert College of Business, Florida Gulf CoastUniversityFritz Roka is the director of the Florida Gulf Coast University Center for Agribusiness. Goals of the Center are to develop an undergraduate minor degree in Agribusiness and to enhance awareness of the importance of agribusinesses to Southwest Florida’s economy. Prior to joining FGCU in August 2018, Fritz was an Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Florida’s Southwest Florida Research and Education Center - Immokalee. His extension and research interests include farm management issues and management of agricultural labor. From 2010 to 2017, Fritz and a University of Florida-IFAS team designed and implemented a training program for Florida Farm Labor Supervisors. This program taught Supervisors their regulatory responsibilities associated with managing migrant and seasonal farm workers.

Fritz is a Maryland native, earning BS and MS degrees in Agricultural Economics from the University of Maryland. He Piled it Higher and Deeper when he earned the terminal degree in Economics at North Carolina State University. He has been working in southwest Florida since 1996. Fritz can be reached at froka@fgcu.org.

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Maureen T. Kelleher, R.S.H.M. J.D.Attorney, Retired Agency Head of Legal Aid Service of Naples and ImmokaleeSister Maureen Kelleher, a Sister of the Sacred Heart of Mary, is retired and works as a volunteer each week at Legal Aid Services of Collier County. She worked in Immokalee, Florida for 35 years. Her law practice focused on obtaining immigration legal permanent residency for her mainly farm worker clients from Mexico, Guatemala, and Haiti. She worked for Legal Aid Services of Collier County in both Immokalee and Naples. She was a consultant attorney to Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice and gave legal backup assistance and training to its immigration staff. Priorities for her immigration practice included representation of unaccompanied minor children who fled Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, victims of crime eligible for a U visa, Haitian and other applicants for temporary protective status, deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA), respondents in deportation hearings, and applicants seeking family unification.

Born in Pelham, New York, she moved to Immokalee in 1984 after graduating from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University in Washington D.C. She has a Master’s Degree in American Literature from Fordham University. Since entering the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary after graduation from Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York in 1960, she worked in education at all levels. She was a teacher at St. Ann’s in Garden City, N.Y, and at Mother Butler High School, Bronx, N.Y. In 1969 she became an assistant academic dean at Marymount College, Tarrytown, N.Y. In addition, she taught in Manpower, in adult education in Harlem N.Y.

From 1972 until 1979 she worked as an editor and lobbyist for NETWORK, a Catholic Social Justice organization in Washington D.C. On staff from its beginnings in 1972, she started NETWORK’S national newsletter and gave workshops to citizen groups all over the U.S. In 1979 she returned to New York to work in leadership with her own sisters in her religious congregation.

After completing law school in 1984, she worked in Immokalee for Florida Rural Legal Services until 1996 when federal law prohibited its legal representation of clients who were neither U.S. citizens nor Legal Permanent Residents. Because many of her clients were applying for political asylum after fleeing from the 1991 coup in Haiti and were not yet legal permanent residents, she along with three other attorneys began a new non-profit corporation, Florida Immigrant Advocacy Corporation, (now Americans for Immigrant Justice based in Miami). She worked in its Immokalee office until the end of December 2005, when she joined the Immokalee office of Legal Aid Services of Collier County.

In June 2001, she received the Florida Association for Women Lawyers Golden Achievement Award through the nomination of the Collier County Women’s Bar Association. In October 2000 she received the Alumnae Achievement Award from Marymount College, Tarrytown, New York. She served as a board member of both Immokalee Housing and Family Services and Florida Non-Profit Services. In 2003 she was the recipient of the Immokalee Chamber of Commerce’s Humanitarian of the Year award and was named by the Collier Women’s Bar the woman attorney of 2008. In 2016 she was named as one of the Women Makers of Southwest Florida by WGCU. Sister Maureen can be reached at mkelleher@legalaid.org.

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Discussion of Workforce Readiness and Partnerships

Dorin OxenderDirector, Immokalee Technical CollegeDorin Oxender spent the first 12 years of his career in the private sector in hospitality management in Michigan. He began as a busboy and worked his way up into management until he became the President of Hospitality Management Systems at the age of 28. Under his leadership the organization expanded to include 9 separate units. He applied market research and organizational theory to restaurant design, menu design and operational systems of new and existing restaurants and bars.

Transitioning to an educational career, Dorin once again worked his way up from the bottom, serving as a teacher’s assistant in a vocational culinary training school while he worked on his Bachelor’s degree. He and his family then relocated to Fort Myers, where he began teaching English as a Second Language at Immokalee High School. He subsequently moved into career education and became the vocational department chair at the high school. He was promoted to Dean of Students and then Assistant Principal before being hired to develop and open the Immokalee Technical College in 2006.

Dorin holds a BS in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and an M. Ed in Educational Leadership from Florida Gulf Coast University. He and his wife Sheila have been married for 32 years and have a daughter, Shea. Dorin can be reached at oxendedo@collierschools.com.

Jehu Auguste,Graduate of Immokalee Technical College and Level 2 NIMS Machinist Apprentice at ArthrexBorn in Haiti Jehu dreamed of becoming a doctor but poverty limited his opportunities. In 2010 the earthquake that devastated Haiti took the lives of ten members of Jehu’s family and left him the lone survivor. In 2012 Jehu sought asylum in the US and moved to Immokalee. With limited ability to speak English he enrolled at iTech and spent the next year as an ELL student. To make ends meet Jehu cut lawns and worked at McDonalds.

While at iTech Jehu enrolled in the precision machining program. As part of the program he toured the nearby Arthrex manufacturing plant. Arthrex is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of medical devices in the field of orthopedics. He did an internship at Arthrex in 2017 and upon graduation from iTech was accepted into a four-year apprenticeship program at Arthrex. Jehu is now a full-time employee at Arthrex.

Michael Koszewnik,Supervisor, Manufacturing Trainer, ArthrexMike has nearly 40 years of experience in manufacturing of highly sophisticated machine tooled parts including 17 years in the aerospace industry and 24 years as an instructor at the Pinellas Technical College. Mike has spent the past 10 years at Arthrex as director of machinist training and oversees the Arthrex apprenticeship program. Mike can be reached at michael.koszewnik@arthrex.com.

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Overview of Health and Human Services Needs

Peggy RodriguezProgram Coordinator, Guadalupe Social Services, Catholic CharitiesPeggy Rodriguez is the Program Coordinator for Guadalupe Social Services, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice. With agencies throughout the United States, Catholic Charities USA is the ninth largest charity in the country. Peggy has almost 20 years’ experience working with non-profit agencies.

Born in Michigan to migrant worker parents, raised in Immokalee, and a product of Immokalee schools, Peggy’s life experiences have served her well in her agency’s work with the farmworkers, packing house workers, and rural poor of Immokalee.

Peggy has been with Catholic Charities for 15 years, progressing from Administrative Assistant to Assistant Program Director and, in 2016, to Program Coordinator. As Program Coordinator, she directs the operations of the direct assistance program, the Food Pantry, the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen, the English School, and several other programs. In addition, Peggy has responsibilities in the areas of staff and volunteer management, budgeting, development, and community involvement.

In what little spare time she has, Peggy is an avid reader and takes great pleasure and pride in family time with her husband and two children. Peggy can be contacted at peggy.rodriguez@catholiccharitiesdov.org.

Frank RinconFounder of the Benison Distribution Center, Pastor Assembly of GodAfter graduating from Immokalee High School in 1992, Frank enlisted in the US Navy and became certified as an aircraft structural mechanic. He was then stationed at Naval Airstation Whidbey Island in Washington State where he served as a mechanic of Squadron VAQ 140 on the EA6B Prowler which was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington.

Upon his return to Immokalee in 1997 he worked as an aircraft mechanic with Airwork at the Immokalee regional airport. He worked for World Vision from 2010-2012 as a senior programs associate and in 2017, established the Benison Center which became a satellite distribution center of World Vision and through that partnership, the Benison Center has become an integral part of every partner agency, church and organization by providing resources and materials that allow them to better serve the needs of the residents of Collier County. Frank has served in his church as the Children’s Ministry Pastor and then as Youth Pastor at Bethel Ministries and is currently the English Ministries Pastor. Frank Rincon is married to Genette Rincon a teacher and Reading Coach at Lake Trafford Elementary. They have two children Ethan Rincon, 15 years of age, and Saidee Rincon, 11 years of age. He can be contacted at benisoncenter@gmail.com.

Elena Reyes, PhDRegional Director for Florida State University College of Medicine, and Director of the Center for Child Stress and HealthA founding faculty member of the College of Medicine, Dr. Reyes serves as the Regional Director for FSUCOM in Southwest Florida. She oversees the Immokalee Health Education Site and serves as the Director of the Center for Child Stress and Health. Dr. Reyes is a clinical psychologist with specialty in pediatric psychology and Latino mental health and integrated care. She has worked in the area of farm worker mental health, especially for children and women, for over 20 years. Dr. Reyes has close to 30 years of experience in medical and psychology education. She served on the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine and developed the Pediatric Behavioral Medicine Program at Miami Children’s Hospital before joining the Program in Medical Sciences (PIMS) in 1991. She maintained a private practice until joining the College of Medicine full time when the college opened its doors in 2001. She served as the Director of Behavioral Science until 2012 and developed the Behavioral Science curriculum for the FSUCOM Family Medicine Residency at Lee Memorial Health System. She currently oversees FSUCOM’s operations in Southwest Florida which include training and research at the Immokalee Health Education Site which provides an inter-professional training site for medical student, clinical health psychology postdoctoral fellows, and research students. She is the Director of the FSU Center for Child Stress and Health, a SAMHSA funded partner of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Dr. Reyes can be contacted at elena.reyes@med.fsu.edu.

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D. Locations and Directions

Venue 1:

Venue 2:

St. Paul Orthodox Church 2425 Rivers

Road Naples, FL

Click on map to make live

Guadalupe Center 509 Hope Circle

Immokalee, FL 34142

Click on map to make live

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Venue 3:

Immokalee Technical College 508 N. 9th Street

Immokalee, FL 34142

Click on map to make live

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E. Additional Reading Materials

The following are important preparation for Immokalee Day:

1. Review “Immokalee Economic Report” (pages 1-30 only) Note: Data/demographics not repeated in class. https://www.fgcu.edu/cob/reri/immokalee/immokalee2019.pdf

2. Read “The H-2A Program and Immigration in the United States” (CLICK HERE)

3. Review the first few pages of this profile of Immokalee High School: https://www.publicschoolreview.com/immokalee-high-school-profile.

4. Review “Young Learners, Missed Opportunities: Ensuring that Black and Latino Children Have Access to High Quality State-Funded PreSchool: https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/edtrustmain/wp-content/ uploads/2014/09/05162154/Young-Learners-Missed-Opportunities.pdf

5. View this short video on the role of Habitat for Humanity in Immokalee: “A Father’s Determination”: https://vimeo.com/170641200

6. Read “ICE Reported Friday in Immokalee Stoking Fears of Deportation,” https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/2019/07/12/immigration -and-cu stoms- enforcement-reported - friday-in-immokalee-stoking-fears-of-deportation/1719500001/

7. View this short video of interview of Jason L. Riley, journalist and member of the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, on immigration:https://youtu.be/DDK9Ic2qx3I

8. Read this article on the hemp industry’s future in Florida:https://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-bz-hemp-cbd-florida-20190222-story.html

The following are additional, helpful readings:

1. “Immokalee Students Breaking the Cycle of Poverty” (CLICK HERE)

2. “Immokalee Foundation invites you to change a life as a mentor” (CLICK HERE)

3. “Growing gains: Taste of Immokalee expands to 200 Publix stores” https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/2019/04/12/growing-gains-t aste -immokalee-expands-200- publix-stores/3400829002/

4. Benison Center newsletter: https://benisoncenter.org/? mailpoet_router&endpoint=view_in_browser&action=view&data=WzEyLDA sMTA2LCIxYm55dGg2dTltc2dvc29vbzRjOG9rYzhjMGtnZ3dvZyIsMTAsMF0

5. RCMA Fall 2019 Newsletter (CLICK HERE)

6. RCMA 2017-2018 Annual Report (CLICK HERE)

7. Breaking the Cycle of Poverty – Impact Reports of Guadalupe Center,https://guadalupecenter.org/impact-report-2019/

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8. Highland Elementary School “Leader in Me” program and graphic (CLICK HERE)

9. Highland Elementary School profile: https://www.collierschools.com/Page/1035.

10. Short video on Arthrex:https://youtu.be/pJcnfvsWOOg

11. Announcement of opening of FGCU Center for Agribusiness: https://fgcu360.com/2018/08/22/fgcu- announces-agribusiness-center-plans-minor/

12. Short video on hemp and marijuana legislation in Florida:https://youtu.be/Y2565Vpdrh8

13. “The H-2A Guest Worker Program Has Ballooned in Size, but Both Farmers and Workers Want it Fixed” https://civileats.com/2019/07/16/the-h-2a-guest-worker-program-has-ballooned-in-size-but-both-farmers-and- workers-want-it-fixed/

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