American civil rights organization
The California Migrant Ministry (CMM) was a non-profit organization that played a significant role in the 20th century farm worker movement, emphasizing the involvement of religious organizations from its inception, under the leadership of Doug Still, Chris Hartmire, and Cesar Chavez.
History.
The National Migrant Ministry, established in 1920 as an interdenominational initiative, aimed to address the needs of migratory farm workers. Affiliated with the National Council of Churches, it provided health care, vocational training, recreational activities, and religious services at New Deal labor camps nationwide. By the 1950s, 38 states, including California, had established migrant ministry programs.
Doug Still became the director of the CMM in 1957, and established a rural ministry in the San Joaquin and Imperial Valleys, offering services like camps for children, English classes, personal hygiene instruction, daycare centers, and food distribution. With the help of a Schwarthaup Foundation grant, the CMM staff trained with the Community Service Organization (CSO), led by Fred Ross, where they met Cesar Chavez.
Based in part on influence from the Community Service Organization, CMM members began to question if charitable service alone was sufficient. They believed that empowering farm workers to fight for better wages and combat job discrimination was a more effective long-term solution. It was during this time period in the late 1950s that the CMM first began to be influenced by Saul Alinsky and his principles for organization.
Chris Hartmire, a Presbyterian minister and graduate of both Princeton University and Union Theological Seminary, took over as CMM director in 1961. Under his leadership, the CMM expanded its efforts, focusing on community organizing and supporting the farm workers' struggle for self-determination. In 1965 CMM fully embraced farm worker unionization as a major part of its mission. CMM played a key role in lobbying against the Bracero Program and advocating for farm workers' rights.
Involvement in the Delano Grape Strike.
During the Delano grape strike in 1965, the CMM supported Chavez and the United Farm Workers (UFW), providing resources and mobilizing church support. Three years later, "Presbyterian Life" (the flagship magazine of the mainline United Presbyterian Church) featured a sympathetic article on the movement, followed by a rebuttal from prominent agricultural businessman Allan Grant, which sparked further debates within the church community.
Religious influence and opposition.
The partnership between the CMM and the farm workers' union highlighted the deep religious roots of Latino civic engagement. However, it also raised concerns among conservative religious groups. Despite opposition, the CMM continued to advocate for the cause at various church forums.
Legacy.
The success of the UFW was partly due to the support from Protestant mainline churches, mobilized by the CMM. The ministry focused on empowering farm workers and advocating for social justice, leaving a lasting impact on the movement.
In 1971, the CMM (and its parent organization the National Migrant Ministry) became the National Farm Worker Ministry, formally redefining its mission to support farm workers in their struggle for equality, freedom, and justice.
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