The Colegio César Chávez exhibit was featured at part of the March 2, 2026, Farm Worker Solidarity Summit hosted by the University of Oregon’s Multicultural Center. The event was a celebration of historical and current day contributions that farm workers make to not only Oregon’s economy but our culture as Oregonians. The stories shared through this celebration are more important than ever to understanding and depicting the challenges that domestic and immigrant farm workers face today. Students, faculty/staff, and community members were invited to engage in these conversations.
Farm Worker Solidarity Summit Story Sharing Sessions
- Workshop Session 1 (Film and Discussion and Exhibit): Colegio César Chávez — Moderator Natalia Fernández with panelists José Romero, Anthony Veliz, & Alicia Avila
- Session 2 (Presentation & Exhibit): “Stories from the Farm Workers’ Rights Movement” with focus on UFW, EFFW in the community and on campus — speaker Nancy Bray, Eugene Friends of the Farm Workers
- Workshop Session 3 (Presentation): “The Power of the Boycott: Windmill Mushroom Boycott” — speaker Collin Heatley, UO PhD Student, History
- Springfield High School Mariachi del Sol Performance
- Keynote by PCUN President Reyna Lopez
To begin the event, summit organizer Dinorah Ortiz-Carté, Program Director, University of Oregon Multicultural and SSWANA Centers, shared the UO’s land acknowledgement as well as a labor acknowledgement:
Colegio César Chávez: Film Screening, Panel Discussion, and Exhibit
The session “The Living Legacy of Colegio César Chávez” included a screening of OPB’s Oregon Experience documentary “The Living Legacy of Colegio César Chávez” and was followed by a panel discussion with documentary producer Alicia Avila, Colegio César Chávez co-founder José Romero, and PODER: Oregon’s Latino Leadership Network President Anthony Veliz. “Colegio César Chávez: The Legacy Lives On / El legado sigue vivo” exhibition curator, Natalia Fernández moderated the panel discussion. The speakers shared their thoughts on the history and legacy of the Colegio César Chávez and the need for continued advocacy for educational opportunities for the Latino/a/é community. About 30 people were in attendance for the session.
The questions posed to the panelists included: What are some lessons learned from Colegio’s community organizing experiences that continue to be applicable today? Can you share the importance of mentors and how your mentors helped shape you and your advocacy work? How can we continue to center the need for educational opportunities for the Latiné community?
Colegio César Chávez: The Legacy Lives On / El legado sigue vivo — Exhibit Photos!
Springfield High School Mariachi del Sol Performance
Keynote Speech by PCUN President Reyna Lopez
The Summit concluded with a keynote speech by PCUN President Reyna Lopez. PCUN is the largest Latinx organization in Oregon and has been on the forefront of fighting detention and deportation of immigrants and farm workers across the state.
Lopez spoke about the work PCUN is engaging in to support immigrant communities and the fight against ICE. She shared information about the history of May Day and PCUN’s plans for Day without an Immigrant events as well as May Day 2026 and how folks can get involved!
Solidarity in Action: Boycott Windmill Mushroom products!
Current and former workers from the Windmill Mushroom Farms in Sunnyside, WA rallied to formally announce a UFW boycott of Windmill Mushroom products. One of the three sessions shared information about the boycott and how community members can support the farm workers involved and impacted:
Boycott Windmill Mushroom Farms: Ways to Support
For over three years, workers at a mushroom facility in Sunnyside, WA, run by Windmill
Mushroom Farms and owned by private equity firm Instar, have been fighting for union
recognition. Under Washington State Law, agricultural workers are excluded from the right to organize and there is no legal mechanism to force companies to recognize labor unions
regardless of the wishes of a majority of the workforce. Many pro-union workers at
Windmill Mushrooms have faced adverse actions, including terminations and conditions that have pressured them to leave their jobs. After repeated demonstrations, petitions, and other demands for union recognition, the United Farm Workers in December, 2024 announced its first official boycott of the decade against Windmill Mushrooms, until the company agrees to recognize the union.
On Aug. 15, 2025, the UFW and PCUN announced the expansion of the boycott into Oregon. Windmill mushrooms are sold at Safeway, Albertsons, Fred Meyer, WinCo and Market of Choice in Eugene/Springfield. They are often sold bulk and include organic varieties so check the box label before buying. If the box has no label, ask the produce manager what brand they are. Organically Grown doesn’t buy from Windmill Farms so any mushrooms sold in natural food stores in Eugene are OK to buy.
Actions for individuals and organizations:
1) Don’t buy Windmill mushrooms or any mushrooms grown in Sunnyside, WA
2) Sign the petition to Instar: https://act.seiu.org/a/windmill_instar and ask your friends to sign as well
3) Tell your friends about the boycott and ask them to sign the petition
4) Ask organizations in which you are a member to endorse the boycott – contact Eugene Friends of the Farm Workers for information and sample endorsement statements
5) Check if Windmill mushrooms are sold at other grocery stores in the area and let us know
6) If you would like to get more involved in Farm Worker Rights and the Windmill mushroom boycott, contact Eugene Friends of the Farm Workers: braynj@gmail.com
Eugene Friends of the Farm Workers
For more information about the Windmill mushroom boycott: https://www.fwm-nw.org/ and https://ufw.org/windmillboycott/
