My name is Blanca Flórez. I was born in Bogota, Colombia. We are a family of 9 siblings. My mother left my father when my brother was just a couple of months old, and then the ordeal began for my mother to support the family because of the difficult situation in the country.
My father brought my brother here to the United States. Then, he went back for my mother and two brothers; and then my mother went through many struggles to bring the rest of my brothers. I was the last one to come to this country.
I got married in Colombia and had two children. My daughter lives in Miami with family, and my son lives in Colombia. On December 13, 1989, I came here searching for the American dream – as everybody does – and I started working in different jobs.
“For the past 5 years I have been working in the fields as many women do.”
Three years ago, while working, I learned about the Lideres Campesinas organization. Since then I have participated in trainings, many educational meetings, and they have also taught me about our rights and to know how worthy we are as women. To not let anyone mistreat us. That is why today we carry this message to all farmworker women, so that they know their rights and that there is help, lots of information and that their status is not important and to know what help is available and that we have worth. I also dedicate myself to my children, my family, my church and my community.
Thank you.
Storyteller Blanca Flórez was born in Bogota, Colombia. She came to this country on December 13, 1989 and arrived in New Jersey. Later on she moved to Burbank, California, and then to Bakersfield.
