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Developing grassroots power in support of farmer-labor solidarity will be the focus of a newly created position within Wisconsin Farmers Union. The family farm organization has announced the hire of Charlie Mitchell as Farmer Labor Organizer.
Mitchell’s background is rooted in food and agriculture communities and in organizations focused on policy, activism, and economic and environmental change. His writings have appeared in Civil Eats, The Counter, and others, including a mention in The Washington Post. He has been a dedicated board member and nonprofit leader, working on issues such as antitrust in agriculture and revitalizing rural economies. In college, Mitchell led a nonprofit grocery access program in Addison County, Vermont, a diverse agricultural region, and served on the board of a regional food organization. His more recent research and reporting projects, mostly based in Des Moines, Iowa, have been steeped in the history and daily struggles of rural people and the agricultural policy that shaped our country.
"I couldn't be more excited to work with WFU reviving an old legacy of lasting, dedicated relationships of solidarity across progressive Wisconsin,” Mitchell said. “We will win a fair democracy and economy along with racial and environmental justice — but only if we work together."
Mitchell began his duties July 20. He can be reached at cmitchell@wisconsinfarmersunion.com.
“We are thrilled to be able to revitalize and build farmer labor partnerships so that working peoples' common concerns are elevated this election season,” said Wisconsin Farmers Union Executive Director Julie Keown-Bomar. “Charlie demonstrates an aptitude for organizing people in the food system and brings grassroots experience to the table. He is an excellent writer, listener and researcher who understands the political and economic issues our members prioritize.”
Wisconsin Farmers Union, a member-driven organization, is committed to enhancing the quality of life for family farmers, rural communities, and all people through educational opportunities, cooperative endeavors, and civic engagement. Learn more at www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com.
