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UC Berkeley UC Berkeley Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title Governing Poverty Amidst Plenty: Philanthropic Investments and the California Dream Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4h75k26b Author Kohl, Erica L. Publication Date 2010 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Governing Poverty Amidst Plenty: Philanthropic Investments and the California Dream by Erica L. Kohl A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Harley Shaiken, Chair Professor John Hurst Professor Ananya Roy Spring 2010 Governing Poverty Amidst Plenty: Philanthropic Investments and the California Dream © 2010 by Erica L. Kohl Abstract Governing Poverty Amidst Plenty: Philanthropic Investments and the California Dream by Erica L. Kohl Doctor of Philosophy in Education University of California, Berkeley Professor Harley Shaiken, Chair Described as the ‘New Appalachia,’ California’s Central Valley ranks number one on the Brookings Institution’s American poverty list. In the past two years newspapers ranging from the Los Angeles Times to the Washington Post ran headline stories featuring the Central Valley’s dependence on large-scale agriculture and its resulting income stagnation, ‘brain drain’, and deepening poverty and insecurity in isolated migrant farmworker settlements across the region. This dissertation is a historical study of philanthropic interventions into migrant farmworker poverty across California's Central Valley from the 1960’s Farm Worker Movement to the present. It explores the ways in which foundation driven programs to address migrant poverty amidst great agricultural wealth manage or ‘govern’ the work of farmworker organizers and institutions across the region. Over the past ten years an unprecedented number of private foundation grants have been made to farmworker organizations across California's Central Valley. While philanthropic investments in migrant institutions have not significantly altered the terrain of farmworker organizing, they have promoted institutional arrangements and theoretical frameworks that contain the work of farmworker organizations and advocates. In this dissertation I specifically interrogate how processes of professionalization and ‘participatory’ ideas promoted through foundations such as self-help, community development, immigrant integration, civic participation, and asset-based community development are negotiated by institutional 'grantees,' and 1 ultimately structure the ways in which historic farm worker movement organizations build institutions and organizing strategies. Through an analysis of archival data and interviews with historic movement leaders and current foundation and nonprofit staff, this dissertation shows how, while philanthropic investments in farmworker communities are greater than ever, regional program managers are more reluctant to address the problems faced by farmworkers such as pesticides poisoning, low wages, and substandard health and housing conditions. The specific ‘win-win’ asset based approach popular with the most recent foundation initiatives facilitates processes that identify the places where growers and workers can work together, avoiding problem-based causes where growers’ economic interests may be challenged. Operating under the 'win-win' model, at a time when growers and workers alike are suffering from the financial crisis and drought, advocates find themselves further away from addressing the structural issues of a farm labor system that relies on constant streams of migrant workers from poor pueblos in Mexico. This dissertation contributes to the emerging body of scholarship on philanthropy and social change by complicating arguments that either promote foundations as positive agents of social progress or critique them as monolithic imperialist institutions with clear agendas of co-optation and control. In complicating theories of social control and cooptation, my intention is not to defend private grant making foundations as effective agents of social movements or even to disagree with the ultimate dilution of organizing agendas that foundation grants often initiate. My aim is to encourage scholars and activists to confront the current paradigm where foundations are viewed as unified institutions of power with clearly articulated political agendas of which we have little understanding and therefore no ability to change. Throughout the dissertation, I do this by showing how decisions made between funders and movement leaders are, while not without consequences, often multi-layered and contingent, as opposed to being driven by a single political agenda of cooptation and repression as is now commonly argued. This is the first scholarly work on California foundations, and their relationship to farmworker institutions. 2 Dedication I dedicate this dissertation, and the future book, to two important people in my life. While many people have provided critical support and feedback throughout this journey, it has been my husband Jose and my father Herb that made it possible. Throughout my life my father, Herb, has taught me to speak my heart, to write about complex problems plainly, and to find a way to change the world by being both an observer and an actor. Most of all he taught me that even though it may be hard, and may come with consequences, that taking risks, following my dreams and having the courage to challenge what I see as wrong, will shape my life’s work. Through the process of researching and writing this dissertation I have come closer in mind and spirit to my father, a life long storyteller and provocateur. I also dedicate this work to my beautiful and endlessly supportive husband, Jose. Ten years ago when I decided to go down the road of becoming a scholar I was lucky to happen upon a partnership with Jose, an artist and a man with an enormous heart, a deep understanding for the creative process - of uncovering meaning and insight by getting ones hands dirty-, and a bottomless well of patience and belief in my voice. I could not have found a more fitting partner in life. The financial, childcare, and emotional support Jose has provided me throughout this journey only scratch the surface of his generosity. It is his honesty, positive spirit, creative mind, and amazement with the written word that kept me going when I found it hard to see the whole through all the parts. One day last summer Herb and Jose ganged up on me and said, “Now is the time. Go to Point Arena and just get-it-done!” Thank you. I did. i Acknowledgements Many generous people and organizations contributed to this project. First, I thank my family for their support, curiosity, and belief in my ability to tell this complicated story. My mother and father, who have humored my misuse of commas and semicolons for years, were particularly helpful with proof reading and copy editing of the entire document. I am also grateful to my Social and Cultural Studies cohort of eight strong and brilliant women who for the past seven years pushed me to ask the right questions and think critically about my arguments and conclusions. Special thanks to Greta Kirshenbaum and Ligaya Domingo for their writing companionship and for understanding the importance yet also the challenges that come with conducting research that is deeply connected to one’s life and work. Ingrid Seyer-Ochi and Gillian Hart were also helpful in guiding me in the initial stages of shaping a research project. I gained excellent feedback from my dissertation committee members, Harley Shaiken, John Hurst and Ananya Roy. It was John’s urging to investigate the effects of philanthropic investments over time, and not just for one organization or case study, that led me down the path of archival research. Digging into the United Farm Workers of America’s archives turned out to be perhaps the most fruitful and rewarding part of my research. Harley always provided a reality check, reminding me that ‘capitalism is not going end tomorrow’ and that therefore any theorization needs to be grounded in the reality of our times. His knowledge of the broader context in which the United Farm Workers of America rose and struggled was also appreciated in grounding my research in the field of labor history. I cannot find enough words to thank Ananya Roy. In Ananya I found a kindred spirit. Her love of ideas, her comfortableness with contradictions and paradoxes, her interest in both broader structural patterns and the specific people who try to reinforce or change them, and her deep and critical reading kept me inspired and connected to my research and writing process. All three of my advisors believed in my work and pushed me to create a bigger, more complex project every step of the way. They are models for working within academia without losing sight of the everyday struggles of people, of politics, and action. Important mentors outside of the university include Craig McGarvey, Myrna Martinez-Nateras, and Dr. Helen Lewis. It was my work with Craig at the James Irvine Foundation that first inspired this research project. During my time with Irvine, Craig took me under his wing and opened my eyes to the ii politics of philanthropy and the specific strategies, successes and missteps made by professionals attempting to use private wealth as a tool for addressing societal inequity. Craig’s honest