Program Areas
We put our mission into action through five main program areas: Accompaniment (Standing With Others), Rural Academy of the People (Nurturing Leadership), Youth Empowerment, Immigrant Legal Rights Project, and Common Good Federal Credit Union (Financial Equity).
Accompaniment (Standing With Others)
We believe that a just, rural New York involves all of us. We also believe that those who courageously call out for justice need others to stand with them — to accompany them in this quest.
Rural Academy of the People (Nurturing Leadership)
RMM’s Rural Academy of the People (RAP) offers a variety of adult education programs through our Centers and online that are initiated and designed by rural, grass-roots leaders.
Youth Empowerment
Rural & Migrant Ministry has been on the cutting edge of offering creative and effective programs that support young, emerging leaders in rural New York for more than 35 years.
Immigrant Legal Rights Project
The Immigrant Legal Rights Project assists people in protecting their legal rights by working hand-in-hand with RMM’s Rural Academy of the People and our long tradition of advocacy.
Common Good Federal Credit Union (Financial Equity)
In partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of New York, RMM has embarked on a pioneering initiative with the Common Good Federal Credit Union to establish financial stability and equity among rural and farmworking families, who face undue barriers to building economic stability.
Our Centers
RMM operates four farmworker education centers around New York State in Western New York, Long Island, the Catskills and the Hudson Valley.
The Catskills
Spark Rural Worker Education Center in South Fallsburg is located in Sullivan County, one of the most marginalized counties in New York. Spark was given its name by members of the Youth Econcomic Group who wanted to have a center that would be the “spark for change” in the Catskills. Spark is home to the Youth Economic Group, Bags For Justice (youth screen-printing cooperative), Cociendo Culturas: Crafting Cultures (adult artisan cooperative), Youth Entrepreneurship Symposium and monthly community check-ins. Spark also serves as a gathering place for workers from the food processing plants that dot the landscape.
Eastern Long Island
Amandla Worker Education Center is in Riverhead (Long Island), between the north and south forks of eastern Long Island. Amandla is from IsiZulu and means “power,” used as a rallying cry against Apartheid. It hosts an array of programs, including CASA (Center of Alliance, Solidarity, and Accompaniment), Mujeres de Esperanza/Women of Hope, VOLIY (Voices of Long Island Youth), and the Long Island Farmworker Cooperative. RMM is honored to be in partnership sharing the campus with the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island and its mission, Centro Franciscano, as well as with Locals 888 (UFCW) and 338(RWDSU), which are a part of Trabajadores Agricolas Unidos (TAU).
Western New York
Liturgia Rural Worker Education Center in Lyons is located between the Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario and serves western New York. Liturgia is Latin and means, “Honoring the public work of the people.” RMM is pleased to be in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester through Grace! — a mission of the Diocese. Liturgia and Grace! share the campus in Lyons. Liturgia is home to JOY (Justice Organization of Youth), a youth Summer Day Program, the Rural Academy of the People and the women-owned cooking cooperative Las Chefs Latinas.
Hudson River
Our central office in Cornwall-on-Hudson (Hudson River)—known as “the Grail”—is home to the Youth Arts Group, Know Your Rights Workshop Series, our summer college internship program, and seminarian fellowships and cohorts, as well providing meeting and retreat space to our various programs around New York State. (continues » )