Serving as the CEO since 1988, I have found my job to be both rewarding and challenging. During my tenure, I have witnessed some very significant accomplishments in program expansion, community partnerships, client satisfaction, program recognition and professional accreditation. As an advocate for children, families and positive change, I often remind myself and express with gratitude a sincere "Thank You" to The Coca Cola Company and the many pioneers who conceived a vision of change.... The Agricultural and Labor Project some 35 years ago "a small miracle."
In the late sixties, Sara Harris and Robert F. Allen co-authored a book in title The Quiet Revolution. The inside cover of the book noted the following description of it’s contents:
This is the story of a small miracle. A miracle that took place in the most unholy of places and among the most desolate of people.
Central Florida, a land of pleasure for most of its visitors, has also for many years harbored a subculture of migrant workers for whom life was not worth savoring, but rather, an ordeal to be withstood. Happiness was alien to their existence and "self-esteem" a word not found in their vocabulary. Among these were the orange pickers of Auburndale, Florida, employees of Minute Maid, which became a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company.
Into this grim world, the writers of this book ventured, key participants in an experiment developed by their organization, the Human Resources Institute, and The Coca Cola Company. Dedicated to the idea that change for good must come from the workers themselves, the company and HRI set about developing a plan to involve workers in programs and policies that would dramatically alter and enrich the quality of life in the groves. Education, housing facilities, medical and financial aid, labor benefits, social outlets, and most significantly consciousness raising, were the vehicles through which these workers gained independence and self-esteem, and finally become owners of their own destiny.
Here is a story of a miracle that no government agency or other program ever dreamed of accomplishing, a miracle that transformed many lives .....
In 1968 the Coca Cola Company established the Agricultural and Labor Project to improve the quality of life for farm workers in their Florida citrus operations. The vision began to take shape and the miracle continued. . .
In the spring of 1977, the new headquarters office of The Agricultural and Labor program, Inc., was dedicated in a ribbon ceremony near Winter Haven, Florida. The occasion pointed out a significant milestone for The Agricultural and Labor Project. Now re-structured as an incorporated entity, The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc., was well into an extended program reaching beyond the company's employees.
The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. (ALPI) headquartered in Winter Haven, Florida, is an IRS certified 501(c)(3) private, nonprofit organization. ALPI, as the organization is effectively known, is a direct descendent of The Coca Cola Company’s "The Agricultural and Labor Project".
Today, ALPI serves the total spectrum of socially and economically disadvantaged children and families throughout Florida. The five underlying principles that guide all ALPI activities are: 1) Involvement of People; 2) Emphasis on Long Term Accomplishments rather than Promises; 3) Assurances of Economic Viability; 4) Emphasis on Self-Help; 5) A Sound, Integrated, Total Systems Approach. In conceptualizing the ALPI overall program, five main areas of activity continue to emerge:
The Coca-Cola/Minute Maid Company provided over 30 years of funding and support that has enabled ALPI to establish and maintain a centralized administrative structure and a sound financial management system. Audit reviews, state and federal monitoring have all determined these systems to be in compliance with required regulations, policies, procedures and practices.
Over the years, ALPI has received funding from a variety of sources. The levels and types of funding continue to be diverse (e.g., United Way , Public Schools, Children Services Council, Federal, State, Corporate Foundations, etc.), thus enabling ALPI to expand services into more targeted areas.
Since ALPI was incorporated in 1977, it has experienced consistent and incremental growth. From it’s modest beginnings, ALPI has become an organization that continues to leverage its resources, which provide employment opportunities for over 200 employees. The organization manages and administers an annual operating budget in excess of 19 million dollars.
In 1993 ALPI was funded 2.7 million dollars by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farmers Home Administration to construct 58 units of affordable rental housing for farm laborers. The ALPI Board of Directors organized The Agricultural and Labor Housing Development Corporation to oversee the management and supervision of the Development. The well-received Housing Development, known as New Horizon Housing Development, was opened for occupancy in 1996 and has since been operating at 95 to 98% capacity.
ALPI has established an efficient and powerful base of constitutes via Regional Advisory Councils. There are four (4) Regional Advisory Councils throughout the ALPI Service Delivery Network. Each council has up to eighteen (18) members. The councils are very active in planning and sponsoring activities that generate community involvement and participation.
ALPI places a high focus on partnerships and collaboration efforts to maximize the use of limited resources. As a result, ALPI continues to generate community support (funding, in-kind services, facilities, etc.) that is valued at more than 2 million dollars annually.
ALPI’s Children and Family Services Division’s focus is on activities that enhance the process of providing developmentally appropriate early education activities including, but not limited to, health, nutrition, dental, mental health, parent information and referral on quality child care and Health services programs.
ALPI is a certified Child/Adult Care Food Program agency. Through this program, ALPI provides nutrition and meal services for Head Start and Child Care Program participants and certifies private child care providers to participate in the Program.
In the early 70's, the organization made available child care services to the children of migrant and seasonal workers when no other service providers were available to meet the child care needs of these families. Since the late 70's, ALPI continues to operate as the Central Agency for Subsidized Child Care Services and as Grantee Agency for Head Start Services. In 1978, ALPI received initial funding to serve 160 Head Start children. Today, the Head Start Program has grown to serve over 700 children. In 2000, ALPI ‘s Early Head Start application was approved to serve 40 infants and pregnant mothers in St. Lucie County. All of ALPI directly operated child care and head start centers are NAEYC accredited, state licensed and child care food program certified.
ALPI has established a four-county subsidized child care services network that in 2002 provided services to over 5,000 children ,which in turn enabled over 3,000 families to seek and maintain employment. The network also provides opportunities for over 300 private child care providers to expand their child care service delivery and economic base.
ALPI administers a number of Community Services Programs for migrant and seasonal farm workers and low-income families. The Community Services Department maintains a focus of state wide service delivery activities in targeted areas and for targeted populations. The programs and services offered are diverse, in that services are provided to farm workers, senior citizens, low income individuals and their families, handicapped workers and youth. Some of the services provided are Emergency Services, Housing, Transportation, Vocational Training, GED, ESOL, Literacy and other support services. The department also serves as a clearinghouse for natural disasters that may affect farm workers.
A vast network has been established over the years comprised of agencies, churches, organizations and private groups and/or individuals whereby some provide direct financial assistance and others distribute applications for services. Partnerships and collaborative efforts between ALPI and the communities we serve are crucial to the success of service delivery.
ALPI Community Services are provided directly through a volunteer service network made up of forty (40) network partners of diverse community agencies state-wide that assist in the delivery of emergency services to farm workers and income eligible individuals and families. Additionally, there are 130 sites in an eight (8) county area that assist directly with the energy programs.
In the years since its inception, The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. has continued to grow and to expand efforts to assist those persons that the organization was chartered to serve some 35 years ago. This effort is "a small miracle" that is continuous and will exist as long as there are persons needing an opportunity to gain independence and self-esteem in order to become the owners of their own destiny.
On January 24, 2004 The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. will be celebrating 35 years of service. . . helping people to help themselves. We will be recognizing the pioneers of the program including two individuals who are still serving on the Board of Directors. The invited Keynote Speaker for the historical event is United State Representative Alcee L. Hastings. Congressman Hastings serves as Congressman for District 23, which includes parts of Broward, Palm Beach, Hendry, Martin, and St. Lucie. The event will be held at the Orlando-Marriott Hotel located in Lake Mary, Florida.
Thirty five years later, the miracle continues ... The Quiet Revolution ... for positive change.
