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 Sept. 9, 2008: The CIW is happy to share the wonderful news that Deborah Dearborn, a longtime ally from First Congregational United Church of Christ on Sanibel Island, has made a generous gift that will greatly aid the Capital Campaign for the new Community Center. With her $15,000 gift, the CIW will be able to cover costs related to the recent completion of landscaping, a new fence, gate and sprinkler system as well as a parking lot and organic garden.
Eusebio Rodriguez, a tractor driver for an orange company in Lehigh Acres and longtime CIW member, said of the thoughtful donation: "On behalf of the Coalition, we are very pleased and appreciative for the great support she gave us. Thanks to her, now we have a beautiful yard and cool garden in our community center. Thank you, Ms. Dearborn!"
Ms. Dearborn´s gift pushed the CIW past the halfway mark in the million-dollar Capital Campaign for the Community Center. Presently, the CIW has raised $514,000 toward their final goal, but lack another $486,000 to pay for mortgage, further renovations, a radio tower and upkeep expenses.
For more information on how to support the Capital Campaign, contact Jordan Buckley at (239) 986 9101 or Jordan@InterfaithAct.org
 We
have long had a dream of building our own community
center to serve as a truly independent base for our
human rights work in Immokalee. For years it remained
a distant hope to be free of the control of Immokalee’s
over-priced rental market and construct a center spacious
enough to house our ever-growing progam.
In 2004, through the generous help of our allies, we
were able to make a down payment on a plot of land and
building located in the center of Immokalee, just steps
away from the site where thousands of farmworkers board
buses to go to work in the fields each day. We now need
to raise  the
funds to pay the mortgage, renovate the building, and
endow the costs of upkeep and maintenance.
The Community Center will give us the necessary space
to significantly expand our community work – to
nearly double our current capacity for weekly community
meetings, to house our growing radio station, to make
computers and media equipment available to our members
so that they, too, can learn to wield the tools and
reap the benefits of the information age.
The Center is more than “bricks
and mortar.” It is an essential step in our continued
work for dignity and justice in the fields.
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Community Room
For weekly community meetings, training sessions, leadership development workshops, cultural events, classes, and more
Anti-Slavery Office
For coordination of CIW’s Anti-Slavery Campaign, including confidential interviews and meetings with victims of human trafficking, the F.B.I., Dept. of Justice, and others
Radio Station Studio
New home of Radio Conciencia (Consciousness Radio) 107.9 FM, the CIW's multi-lingual radio station, which provides the Immokalee community with news, educational and cultural programming, musical entertainment, as well as health, safety and emergency announcements
Cooperative Grocery Store
Expands the CIW’s small, non-profit grocery store that, because it is run cooperatively for the benefit of the community, enables consumers to buy cooking supplies, food, phone cards and toiletries at the most affordable
prices in town
Media Center
For computers, video equipment, and a multi-lingual book/video library
Ally Room
Office and meeting space for CIW´s allies -- including Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida and the Student/Farmworker Alliance -- as well as volunteers
Community Garden and Yard
For gatherings, leadership trainings, movie screenings, organic gardening, and children’s play area
Art Center
To promote artistic expression and for creation of posters, banners, puppets, and more, for use in community education and the Campaign for Fair Food
1. Send a donation via check or money order to:
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers
1107 New Market Road
Immokalee, FL 34142
2. Make a secure donation by clicking the button below:
3. Or, for more information, contact Jordan Buckley by email at jordan(at)interfaithact.org or by phone, 239 986 9101
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