A Farm Worker Movement Organization
We build political power in farm worker and rural communities.
The Civic Empowerment Coalition was founded in 1983 to build civic and political power in farm worker and rural communities. We empower rural people of color and elevate the voices of farm workers through organizing, education, and advocacy. Our work helps individuals understand their rights, engage in the democratic process, and shape policies that impact their lives.
The Civic Empowerment Coalition was established as a sister organization to the United Farm Workers Union, which organizes labor rights, and the United Farm Workers Foundation, which provides essential services and legal support to farm workers. Together, we share a deep commitment to justice, dignity, and equity for farm workers and rural communities.
We continue a long tradition of community organizing rooted in voter engagement and empowering marginalized communities to understand and exercise their collective power. As farm workers thrive through legal status, fair wages, worker protections, and civic participation, our rural communities and food system become stronger and more resilient.
Our Programs
Voter Engagement
In 2024, the Civic Empowerment Coalition (CEC) knocked on nearly 110,000 doors in Arizona, Georgia, and Michigan to mobilize farm workers, low-propensity, and BIPOC voters.
Our civic engagement program stresses the importance of voting to bring about systemic change. By canvassing door-to-door in geographic areas that are often ignored, the CEC builds power in communities that have long been marginalized. We ensure that community members who are eligible to vote are registered, informed and can access their ballot.
Advocacy
Farm workers were excluded from the Fair Labor Standards Act and other federal labor laws in the 1930s. Unfortunately, the exclusionary nature of federal protections often carries over to many state labor laws. As such, the Civic Empowerment Coalition advocates for policies that improve the rights of farm workers nationally and at the local level. By engaging farm workers and their families in advocacy, decision-makers can hear directly from the individuals who put food on our tables.
If you would like to help our cause in ensuring voters from marginalized communities have a voice in the democratic process, please show your support by donating today.
Voter Resources
Click an icon below to access Official Election Information for these key states.