TEDxFruitvale - José Gutierrez - Leaving the Fields Behind

When José was 11, newly arrived from Mexico, his father warned him of the hard work in the peach orchards. His dad said, "This is the type of job you'll be doing if you don't focus in school." José decided to help out his family while in high school, by picking alongside his father. But ultimately, he listened — and went to college.

About José Gutierrez, former farmworker and UC Davis researcher:
After working in multiple farming jobs throughout high school, José realized that this was not the life he wanted; this was the life he wanted to change. After graduating in the top 10 percent of his high school class, he attended the University of California, Davis, where he graduated with a double major in psychology and Spanish. He now works as a junior research specialist for the Western Center for Ag Health and Safety at UC Davis, helping to promote and establish safe and healthy working conditions for agricultural workers. He plans to attend medical school in the fall of 2012, where he will focus on agromedicine, to help farmworkers live healthier and happier lives.

This talk is part of Session One: Meet for TEDxFruitvale, which was held on October 14, 2011 at Mills College in Oakland, CA. The conference's theme was Harvesting Change, and it focused on farmworkers, labor and other social justice movements, and fair labor practices in business. http://www.tedxfruitvale.org/

About TEDx, x = independently organized event:

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

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