Idaho farmerworker advocate finds voice
Marielena Vega was a shy kid, often hiding behind her mother’s skirt, too afraid to speak. But behind her reserve was a young girl listening deeply, analyzing her surroundings and getting a feel for the spaces she found herself in. Vega’s inquisitive nature lends itself to her powerful storytelling.
Last March, Vega traveled from Idaho to Washington, D.C., where she spoke in front of hundreds of people at the Farmworkers for Climate Action rally. It was a defining moment for Vega as she shared her story working in extreme climates from the field. “Farmworkers provide very essential work here in the U.S . ... We don’t want to be overlooked or silent anymore,” Vega declared to the crowd.
The oldest of five siblings and daughter to immigrant parents, Vega said she couldn’t have imagined sharing some of her most vulnerable experiences in front of hundreds of strangers. But the first-generation Latina Idahoan proves to be a dynamic leader with a profound care for her community.
Vega grew up in a family of farmworkers and is intimately acquainted with the harsh working conditions and financial limitations of living off a farmworker salary. After graduating from the University of Idaho, she began volunteering her time with the Idaho Organization of Resource Councils, where she is now a board member.
Vega is a community organizer, helping raise money and distribute supplies to farmworkers across the state. By sharing stories from her community, she hopes to spread awareness of the harmful working conditions farmworkers are often exposed to. She and her fellow organizers are continuing to advocate for legal protection of farm laborers across the country.
“We’ve seen the power that storytelling has,” the 29-year-old said.
For her deep commitment to advocating for the rights of farmworkers both in her community and nationally, Vega has been named USA TODAY’s Woman of the Year honoree for Idaho.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Question: Who paved the way for you?
Answer: My mom. She’s a survivor of a lot of things but also she’s a nonconformist. Being raised in a small town in Mexico, she went against the grain and decided to get an education and become a teacher. Back then, It wasn’t normalized for a young woman to focus on education before more traditional expectations, like getting married and becoming a housewife.
She continued to hold her ground. She persevered and survived a difficult and challenging environment.
What is your proudest moment?
Speaking at the Farmworkers for Climate Change rally in Washington, D.C., was a huge moment for me. Washington, D.C., feels like a significant place for anyone growing up in the United States. But it wasn’t just about being in the nation’s capital that felt significant, it was also my public speaking. As a kid, I was shy and afraid to speak. Being able to go in front of strangers and share something as vulnerable as my story was amazing. Sharing a part of my identity as a Latina Idahoan from a mixedstatus family whose parents were undocumented at one time, who also was a farmworker herself – it was such a powerful moment.
What is your definition of courage?
Although my definition of courage has changed throughout the years, I view it as an attitude. Courage is not being afraid to be myself. English is not my first language. I own my Spanish. If I forget how to say a certain word in English, instead of stumbling over my words, I say: “You know what? I can’t remember the word I’m looking for, but this is what I’m meaning.”
I’m not the kind of person who is going to talk at the beginning, I’m a listener first, I’m collecting my thoughts. When it comes time to get fierce and to speak up, I do. I own this about myself. Courage is about being comfortable in my own skin.