La Luz/Vineyard Workers Services Volunteer of the year

09. 1.09 | By DFP in: Press Releases

Don Jose (as he is referred to) Fernandez is selected as the La Luz Center/Vineyard Workers Services 2008/09 Volunteer of the year. Don Jose was presented with his award at Quarry Hill in Sonoma on July 12, his wife Ernistina (shown in photo) attended the award ceremony with him.  

Jose Fernandez immigrated to the United States of America in 1977.  Jose came from Santa Inez, in the state of Michoacan, Mexico to better the quality of life for both himself and especially his family. Jose left his parents, brothers, sisters and his wife Ernestina  to watch over and care for their seven children. While in the California Jose has worked in the vineyards for 15 years and five (5) years for the St. Joseph’s Mobil Health Clinic.  Jose has also been the camp manager for the Vineyard Workers Services Migrant Camps in both 2007 & 2008, saying this has been one of his most rewarding experiences.

In 1986 after many years of hard labor and lonliness Jose was able to legalize his immigration status and was able to reunite his family, by bringing his wife and seven children to the United States of America.

According to José “he was inspired to lend a helping hand, because from the moment he came to Sonoma Valley, he noticed the lack of resources for those people who came to work in the wine industry”. As an example he recalls having to walk far distances with his children and wife to buy groceries. He also felt very alone with having the struggles of raising a family in a strange country.

 As time went on and while his family began to settle down and become more comfortable in Sonoma, Jose met Lijia Booker in 1991 who founded the La Luz Bilingual Center in 1989. Jose saw this as the perfect opportunity to get involved and give a hand to arriving migrant families and workers. From that moment on Jose Fernandez became a committed volunteer and leader in his new community in Sonoma Valley.

His “legacy” then began, as well as his new nickname of “Don Jose”. Since then Don Jose not only managed to raise all seven of his children to be productive citizens in the community, but he has also managed to be a force, during important changes for Sonoma Valley’s Latino community, including housing, advocacy, education and leadership.

Don Jose feels fortunate to have helped in building the strong foundation of both the La Luz Bilingual Center and Vineyard Workers Services and is proud to continue volunteering, after 20 years of service to his community.