On February 28, 25 students and six faculty and staff members traveled to Southwest Florida for a day at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Organized through Barry's Honors Program and Biology Department in collaboration with CRAFT Scholars, the trip served as a cornerstone of the Honors Service-Learning course and drew on our ongoing partnerships with Laudato Si' community partners. It gave students an unforgettable opportunity to connect the natural beauty of the Everglades with the work of community organizers fighting for justice right here in South Florida.
The day began with an immersive walk through the Corkscrew swamp preserve, where students experienced Florida's unique ecosystem firsthand. From spotting alligators to seeing great herons in their natural habitat, the sanctuary offered breathtaking scenery and a deeper appreciation for environmental conservation. Later, students shared lunch with members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, one of Barry's longtime community partners and an internationally recognized organization advocating for farmworker rights. Through meaningful conversations, students learned about the impact of conscious consumer choices and how ethically sourced food can support dignity and fairness for workers.
One of the most moving parts of the day was touring the CIW's Modern Day Slavery Exhibit, which highlights real cases of forced labor and human rights violations that have occurred in recent years. The experience challenged students to reflect on the ongoing fight for justice and the role each person can play in creating change. This is precisely the connection Laudato Si' insists upon — that there is no separating the ”cry of the earth,“ from the ”cry of the poor,“ and that a swamp and a tomato field are each parts of the one story.
The Immokalee immersion sits inside a year of sustained engagement with the Coalition. In October, Barry sent four students, three of them Honors students, to CIW's annual Encuentro, a three-day community organizing retreat training participants in effective organizing methods, current campaigns, and farmworker rights. In March, the Honors service-learning group, partnering with CIW and Barry's Fair Food Chapter, hosted a campus screening of Food Chains, and led peers in discussion on ethical farming practices.
This trip was supported in part by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, NEXTGEN Program, award 2023-70440-40161. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.