Rural and Migrant Ministry is a left-of-center immigrant assistance and advocacy group located in rural New York. The organization aids rural immigrant farm workers in New York and operates four farmworker education-assistance centers in the state. The group also conducts advocacy and organizing, mostly on behalf of rural farm workers.

Its operations focus on western New York, the Catskills, Long Island, and the Hudson River valley. The organization has received funding from the Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Global Initiative and was founded through a joint venture of several Protestant churches and Catholic dioceses in New York state. The group is also associated with several labor unions and the New York State AFL-CIO. ^{1 2 3}

Background

Rural and Migrant Ministry was founded in 1981 by several Protestant Christian churches in New York State as a “unique covenant” of four Protestant denominations, including the Episcopal Diocese of New York. The Episcopal Diocese calls the organization a “ministry of empowerment and advocacy” and a “bridge between the congregations of the Diocese, especially those in urban settings, and the rural and migrant communities throughout the Diocese.” ⁴

Since its founding, the organization has expanded its religious affiliations to include 12 religious groups. The group states that it was formed by religious organizations to push for “systemic justice” in rural New York. The organization also receives funding and assistance from labor unions and grantmaking foundations. The group conducts a variety of assistance, educational, and organizing programs. ⁵

Activities

Rural and Migrant Ministry operates a youth empowerment program that organizes young people to advocate on behalf of left-of-center legislation, an accompaniment program that is described as an “effort to accompany farmworkers as they organize for justice, equality and dignity,” and an education program that provides education to farmworkers about organizing and left-of-center advocacy. ⁶

Other projects of the organization have included creating a Head Start program, programs to raise the high school graduation rate, and advocating for labor-related left-of-center state legislation. The group also led a Justice for Farmworkers Legislative Campaign in coordination with the New York State AFL-CIO . ⁷

Affiliated Organizations

Rural and Migrant Ministries is funded or otherwise affiliated with several religious organizations, labor organizations, unions, and foundations. ⁸

The religious organizations that sponsor the organization include the Episcopal Diocese of New York, Long Island Presbytery, Albany Presbytery, American Baptists of New York State, Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, New York State Annual Conference of the United Methodists, Hudson River Presbytery, New York Annual Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), New York Conference of the United Church of Christ, Regional Synod of New York, and the Reformed Church of America. ⁹

Labor organizations and unions partnered with the organization include the New York State AFL-CIO, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), and Trabajadores Agrícolas Unidos (TAU), a partnership of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) focused on organizing farmworkers. ¹⁰

Rural and Migrant Ministries is a member of the Food Chain Workers Alliance, a left-of-center food-industry labor coalition affiliated with socialist organizations and causes. ¹¹

1. “History.” Rural and Migrant Ministry. Accessed October 2, 2023. https://www.ruralmigrantministry.org/contact/history
2. “Home.” Rural and Migrant Ministry. Accessed October 2, 2023. https://www.ruralmigrantministry.org/
3. “Clinton Global Initiative: Commitment to Action.” Rural and Migrant Ministry. Accessed October 2, 2023.  https://www.ruralmigrantministry.org/updates-database/clinton-global-initiative-commitment-to-action
4. “Rural and Migrant Ministry.” Episcopal Diocese of New York. Accessed October 2, 2023. https://dioceseny.org/mission-and-outreach/rural-migrant-ministry/
5. “History.” Rural and Migrant Ministry. Accessed October 2, 2023. https://www.ruralmigrantministry.org/contact/history
6. “Rural and Migrant Ministry.” Episcopal Diocese of New York. Accessed October 2, 2023. https://dioceseny.org/mission-and-outreach/rural-migrant-ministry/
7. “Rural and Migrant Ministry.” Episcopal Diocese of New York. Accessed October 2, 2023. https://dioceseny.org/mission-and-outreach/rural-migrant-ministry/
8. “History.” Rural and Migrant Ministry. Accessed October 2, 2023. https://www.ruralmigrantministry.org/contact/history
9. “History.” Rural and Migrant Ministry. Accessed October 2, 2023. https://www.ruralmigrantministry.org/contact/history
10. “History.” Rural and Migrant Ministry. Accessed October 2, 2023. https://www.ruralmigrantministry.org/contact/history
11. “Members.” Food Chain Workers Alliance. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://foodchainworkers.org/members/