KSQD is partnering with the Watsonville and Santa Cruz Public Libraries to celebrate local immigration and identity stories
The Izumizaki Family in Watsonville’s strawberry fields. They had recently arrived from Japan. Kay Izumizaki (far right) is interviewed in the Pastures of Plenty series.
Listen:
KSQD is airing the series, Pastures of Plenty: A History of California Farmworkers. Pastures of Plenty is a four-part radio series exploring the lives of farmworkers in California from Statehood to the present. California is the top-producing agricultural state in the U.S., and as such, relies heavily on manual labor to feed the nation and the world. But who are those people bent over the rows? We usually see them from a distance. This series brings them up close.
Through oral histories of workers and their descendants, historians, and archival audio, we hear about how lives were built, and sometimes broken, in the fields of California. Hosted by Luis Valdez of Teatro Campesino fame, and produced by Rachel Anne Goodman, this series highlights the personal stories and rich knowledge of the land brought to this country by people seeking a new life in America. Listeners are invited to listen to the series on KSQD 90.7 FM Thursdays at 5 pm in June, or listen online here: https://beta.prx.org/series/16998
Photo: Gabriella Lara, a young member of the UFW, 2006
Discuss:
There will be a public discussion of the series on July 24th. You can register here: : https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/7659714
You are invited to a workshop to help you tell your or your family’s immigration story on KSQD’s program, First Person Singular. Participants will get help crafting their story into a short narrative that will be recorded for the radio show.
Loma Fruit packing workers in Watsonville, 1930’s
Participate:
Photo: Ignacio Gomez, former Bracero, Salinas, CA
Attend a Workshop and Write/Record your Story
Defining American: Telling Your Story in 240 Words or Less
Wednesday, June 9 (7:00 PM – 8:00 PM)
Location: Virtual Library : Register here: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/7659737
Room: OnlineWhat does it mean to you to be American? Whether you came here as an adult or a child from another country or were born here, being “American” means something different to everyone. Rachel Anne Goodman, KSQD board president, radio producer, and journalism professor, will lead this unique workshop.
Participants will learn to craft a personal narrative for radio that follows a story arc, holding the audience’s attention and communicating a personal truth with a focus on immigration, identity, and what it means to be American. Stories will be submitted to First Person Singular, KSQD’s commentary program, as part of the SCPL’s immigrant stories initiative.
Participants are encouraged to come with a family or personal story in mind. Especially encouraged are stories of coming to the U.S. or leaving one’s home country or both. The story need not be about you, but could be about a family member.
Photo: Croatian immigrants pack apples in Watsonville
First Person Singular airs weekly on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday around 7:57 AM and 5:57 PM (one story per day, thus each story gets aired 2x) Then they will be placed on the First Person Singular blog and stay up there identified with the date the story was aired.
Everyone 14 years and older is invited to attend. Please register to get Zoom access.
This program will be facilitated in English.
This program is being done in partnership with Watsonville Public Library for Book to Action 2021.
Submit your 240-word immigration story to: firstpersonsingular@ksqd.org
You will be contacted to record it for radio airplay.
Photo: Luis Valdez, founder of Teatro Campesino, circa 2006.
¿Qué significa para usted ser americano/a? Ya sea que haya llegado aquí como adulto o niño de otro país o haya nacido aquí, ser “americano/a” significa algo diferente para todos. Rachel Goodman, presidenta del consejo de KSQD, productora de radio y profesora de periodismo, dirigirá este taller.
Los participantes aprenderán a elaborar una narrativa personal para la radio que sigue un arco narrativo, captando la atención de la audiencia y comunicando una verdad personal con un enfoque en inmigración, identidad y lo que significa ser americano/a. Las historias se enviarán a First Person Singular, el programa de comentarios de KSQD, como parte de la iniciativa de historias de inmigrantes de Bibliotecas de Santa Cruz. Se invita a los participantes a contar una historia familiar o personal. Nos gustaría saber por qué decidió emigrar a los Estados Unidos, o porque dejó su país de origen. No es necesario que la historia sea sobre usted, puede ser sobre un miembro de su familia.
Photo: Wally Chan, owner of Chan Farms in Sacramento Delta, 2006
First Person Singular se transmite semanalmente los lunes, miércoles y jueves alrededor de las 7:57 a.m. y las 5:57 p.m. (una historia por día, por lo que cada historia se transmite 2 veces al día). Luego se colocarán en el blog de First Person Singular y permanecerán ahí, identificados con la fecha que fue transmitido.
Se invita a personas mayores de 14 años a participar. Regístrese para obtener acceso a Zoom.
Este programa será presentado en inglés.
Este programa se realiza en asociación con la Biblioteca Pública Watsonville para el programa Book to Action 2021. Register Now!
Photo: Geri Martin, dustbowl immigrant in front of her childhood home in Watsonville, CA
