WESLACO, TEXAS — On Friday, March 15th, 2024, TRLA will host its second annual “Farmworker Appreciation” event with Weslaco community partners to empower and raise awareness of the available community resources.  

With deep roots in the farmworker community — TRLA’s program dates back to 1970, when it was initially founded to represent farmworkers in rural Texas.  

“Farmworkers are an integral part of our food system; without them, our ability to nourish communities nationally would be near impossible. We’ve been fighting this fight for over 54 years, and this event allows us to continue empowering this community,” says TRLA Farmworker Paralegal, Myrna Ibarra.   

Today, TRLA continues to play a meaningful role as a legal advocate for this community in Texas and across six additional Southern states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.  

“My wife and I are retired farmworkers, and we found ourselves questioning if our rights had been violated by our employers and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid provided services to us on several occasions,” says Rafael Villela, a former TRLA farmworker client. “It’s very important that TRLA is there to assist the farmworker community and guide us through the process of exercising our rights,” Villela says.

The event will also bring together community allies, such as the City of Weslaco, Consulado de Mexico, Motivation Education & Training Inc (MET), Department of Labor, Department of Agriculture, United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS), South Texas College, Brownsville Community Health Center, Superior Health, and many others.  

Join TRLA on Friday, March 15th, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at TRLA’s Weslaco office, 300 S. Texas Blvd, Weslaco, TX, 78586. In addition to community resources, there will be music, raffles, and the locally owned and operated Reyna’s BBQ & Cocina will serve local fan favorites.   

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For media inquiries, please contact:  

Sam Rucobo, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Public Relations Manager, srucobo@trla.org   

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid provides free legal services to people who cannot afford an attorney in 68 southwestern counties, including the entire Texas-Mexico border. TRLA attorneys specialize in more than 45 areas of law, including disaster assistance, family, employment, landlord-tenant, housing, education, immigration, farmworker, and civil rights. Our hotline is open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (CST) Monday - Friday: (956)-996-TRLA (8752) or toll-free at (833) 329-TRLA (8752).