Farmworker Justice Staff

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*For all media requests, please email media@farmworkerjustice.org or call (202) 800-2528.*


Ron Estrada
Chief Executive Officer
Email: restrada@farmworkerjustice.org
Office Number: (202) 800-2521

Ron Estrada is the chief executive officer of Farmworker Justice (FJ), a national advocacy organization for farmworkers. FJ founded in 1981 is based in Washington, D.C., and collaborates with organizations throughout the country to empower farm, ranch, dairy, and agriculture workers to improve their wages, working conditions, occupational safety, health, immigration status, and access to justice. Key priorities identified by Estrada include reforming the nation’s food system, addressing climate change, and empowering the estimated 2.5 million farmworkers and their families to continue to be active contributors to the US economy and society.

Prior to FJ, Estrada was head of government relations and senior vice president of corporate social responsibility for Univision Communications, the leading media company serving Hispanic America. Based in Washington, D.C., Estrada was responsible for developing and nurturing strong working relationships with community organizations and key stakeholders at both the local and national levels, including business, non-profit, and government leaders. He directed policy, advocacy, and CSR initiatives for network and local media teams representing 126 broadcast and radio stations throughout the US and Puerto Rico. In addition, Estrada is recognized as one of the top 100 CSR professionals in the U.S., a recipient of Diversity MBA magazine’s top emerging executive, and honored as a 2019 Powerful & Influential Latino in Television & Film. Prior to Univision, Estrada was a member of the executive cabinet and vice president for the UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza). Under his leadership, Estrada was responsible for the oversight of the resource development, marketing, and communications teams. In addition, he was a producer for the American Latino Media Arts (ALMA) Awards, a televised show that promotes diversity and honors Latinos in entertainment. Previously, Mr. Estrada was the vice president of marketing for the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. While at USHCC, he was responsible for the syndication and development of the nationally-televised, news magazine program, Hispanics Today. Estrada also served as the vice president & general manager of ECG, a corporate and marketing communications agency based in Austin, TX, where he was recognized for his community leadership as the businessman of the year.

Mr. Estrada serves and has served on various boards including, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Marriott International Association Advisory Board, Hispanic Scholarship Fund Advisory Board, Poder Latinx, National Park Foundation’s American Latino Heritage Fund, Church’s Chicken Corporate Diversity Council, Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, and MGM Resorts International Diversity Board.

 


Staff listing below, in alphabetical order. 


Sierra Brown
Project Coordinator
Email: sbrown@farmworkerjustice.org
Office Number: (202) 800-2537

Sierra Brown joined Farmworker Justice in 2023 as a Project Coordinator supporting occupational health and safety initiatives. Before coming to FJ, Sierra worked with the Milk with Dignity Standards Council to uphold the rights of workers on New England dairy farms, resolving complaints related to language access, workplace safety, wage theft, and housing conditions. She also spent several years as a Peace Corps Volunteer working with farmers in central Panama. Sierra holds a B.A. in political science from Boston University.


Antonio Chaurand
Communications Specialist
Email: achaurand@farmworkerjustice.org
Office Number: (202) 800-2528

Antonio Chaurand joined Farmworker Justice in 2023 as the Communications Specialist. He oversees all communications for the organization, including newsletters, press releases, website content, e-blasts and social media. Antonio graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University with a Bachelors in Communications and concentration in Journalism.

Previously, Antonio worked for Maryland Nonprofits as part of a coalition called the Mid-Atlantic Latinx Vaccine Equity Coalition (MALVEC). Antonio created the social media and outreach for the coalition, as well as managed plans of communications.

After his time with Maryland Nonprofits, he worked with El Tiempo Latino/El Planeta Media, a Latino newspaper based in the Washington D.C/New England area. Antonio was brought on to create and develop a new brand (La Cascara) with the blend of sports, culture, news and overall relatability to a new young Latino audience.

Antonio’s prior experience brings a new and exciting element to Farmworker Justice.


Madeline Flynn, J.D.
Legal Fellow
Email: mflynn@farmworkerjustice.org
Office Number: (202) 800-2520

Madeline joined Farmworker Justice in 2023 as a Legal Fellow. Originally from rural Northern California, she has a personal and familial background in agriculture. Prior to her fellowship with FJ, Madeline worked on litigation and environmental justice issues at multiple law firms and nonprofits, including the Southern Environmental Law Center, Environmental Defense Center, and Earthjustice’s Sustainable Food and Farming Program. Madeline obtained her JD from Vanderbilt University Law School where she focused on environmental law and social justice, and she holds a BA in English from the University of California Berkeley. Madeline is licensed in the District of Columbia.

Alexis Guild, MPP
Vice President of Strategy and Programs
Email: aguild@farmworkerjustice.org
Office Number: (202) 800-2534

Alexis Guild joined Farmworker Justice in 2011. In her role as Vice President of Strategy and Programs, she coordinates FJ’s policy advocacy and programmatic work and is a member of the leadership team. Alexis co-authored “Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The Implementation and Impact of the Affordable Care Act in U.S. Farmworker Communities” published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved (2016); and “The Neighbors Who Feed Us: Farmworkers and Government Policy – Challenges and Solution” published in the Harvard Law and Policy Review (2018). Alexis has extensive experience in public health and community organizing. She worked on political campaigns and at grassroots organizations. She also served as a Health Education Volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps in Guatemala. She received a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Michigan and a B.A. from Wellesley College. Alexis lives in Oakland, California.


Karin Hong, SHRM-SCP
Interim Director of Finance & Operations
Email: karin@farmworkerjustice.org

Karin Hong joined Farmworker Justice in 2024 as the Interim Director of Finance & Operations. She has dual expertise both in finance and human resources, and over 15 years experience in the nonprofit sector. In some of her prior roles, she served as the Interim Chief Financial Officer and also as the Director of HR and Operations. As a consultant, she enjoys helping her non-profit clients improve their finance, HR, and operational processes. Her expertise includes financial reporting, budgeting, grant administration, payroll processing, recruiting, administering benefits, and employee handbook/ policy revisions.

Ms. Hong has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Georgia State University where she graduated summa cum laude. She also has her SHRM-SCP certification (Society of Human Resources Management- Senior Certified Professional) since 2019. Ms. Hong has a passion for environmental and social justice issues, and takes great pleasure in helping non-profit organizations thrive and fulfill their mission.


Nina Kanakarajavelu, MPH
Project Director, Health Promotion
Email: nkana@farmworkerjustice.org
Office Number: (202) 800-2522

Nina Kanakarajavelu joined Farmworker Justice in 2021 as the Project Director for Health Promotion. Previously, Nina has managed programs related to pandemic preparedness, global workforce development, and health systems strengthening. She is committed to a rights-based approach to expanding health access and improving health outcomes in farmworker communities.

Nina received her MPH with a concentration in International Health and Development at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and also holds a Masters in Human Rights from Brandeis University.


Tharma Philogene
Finance & Operations Specialist
Email: tphilogene@farmworkerjustice.org
Office Number: (202) 800-2523

Tharma joined Farmworker Justice in 2024 as the Finance and Operations Specialist. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Baltimore, where she graduated Cum Laude, and an associate degree in business administration from Montgomery College, where she received the Spirit of Service Award. In her professional journey, she has held key roles such as General Assistant (Finance) at the University of Baltimore, Chief Executive Officer/Founder of G&B in Silver Spring, MD, and Consulting Analyst at DIFFvelopment in Newark, NJ. Her impact is evident in orchestrating financial information, conducting research, modeling, and forecasting to empower data-driven decision-making. She is fluent in English, French, Haitian Creole (Native), and has a basic proficiency in Spanish.


Mayra Reiter, MSIS, MSES, MPA
Project Director, Occupational Safety and Health
Email: mreiter@farmworkerjustice.org
Office Number: (202) 800-2524

Mayra Reiter joined at FJ as Program Coordinator with its Health Program in 2019, supporting various health initiatives and outreach efforts. She now addresses occupational safety and health issues such as pesticide exposure and heat stress, in addition to helping provide training and technical assistance to community health centers that serve farmworkers. Before joining FJ, she was a science and policy researcher focused on environmental policy and human health. Ms. Reiter holds a Master’s degree in international service from American University in Washington, D.C. and joint Master’s  degrees in environmental sciences and public affairs from Indiana University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences with a concentration in environmental sciences from the University of Puerto Rico.


Rebecca Young, MA
Director of Programs
Email: ryoung@farmworkerjustice.org
Office Number: (202) 800-2531

Rebecca Young joined Farmworker Justice in Washington, DC in 2010 and currently serves as the Director of Programs. Rebecca’s had the opportunity to engage with farmworker communities across the United States and finds continued inspiration for her work through the stories the farmworkers and their families so willingly share. Through her work in program management and training and curriculum development she interacts frequently with promotores de salud (health outreach workers) on health content areas as varied as pesticide safety, heat stress prevention, and HIV/AIDS awareness to name just a few. Her work in these areas is steeped in the philosophy of popular education which allows for participants of a wide variety of educational, cultural and linguistic backgrounds to understand and interact with training content in a meaningful and memorable way. Prior to joining Farmworker Justice Rebecca spent 7 years living in the rural Western Highlands of Guatemala. There she worked at a language school and envisioned a bookstore/cafe which also provided space for after-school projects for kids and literacy projects for women. Rebecca holds a MA in Sustainable Development and Social Justice from the School for International Training and a BA in Anthropology and English from Bowdoin College.


Paloma Zuleta
Director of Development and Communications
Email: pzuleta@farmworkerjustice.org

Paloma joined Farmworker Justice in 2024 as the Director of Development and Communications. Prior to joining Farmworker Justice, Paloma served as interim Vice President of Marketing and Communications and Media Relations Director for Power to Decide. Paloma’s professional background also includes Director of Communications for the League of United Latin American Citizens, Director of Strategic Alliances at DCI Group, Deputy Director of Public Policy for The Campaign for High School Equity as well as Legislative Assistant/Acting Communications Director for Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. Paloma holds a Juris Doctor from the New England School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas.