BAY NEWS 9 (Tampa, Florida)

November 22, 2009

Former farmworker receives award for excellence

POLK COUNTY  -- From the fields to the front line, a former farmworker is making a difference in the lives of others.

Nilda Soto spends her days scouring packinghouses and fields, neighborhoods and markets - anywhere that farmworkers gather.

"People look at the farmworkers and they think that's all the work you can do - is farm work," said Soto.

Soto says she believes otherwise, based on her own personal experience.

Decades ago, she picked her last strawberry in Plant City before landing a job with the government.

The single mother of four now works with the Polk County School District as an employment specialist, allowing her to help other people in the fields - a world she left behind.

"Just letting them know that there's a different way of life and that they can better their way through education and better employment," said Soto.

Soto travels around the county telling citizens and U.S. resident farmworkers about chances for free education, English language classes, and GED training.

"She does everything," says former farmworker Kriselda Torres. "She's good and very informative and very helpful."

Ramona Gonzalez also worked on farms... for 20 years.

Soto helped her go back to school to learn English and take the GED exam.

Now Gonzalez is a paraprofessional at Dennison Middle School, a job with a steady paycheck and benefits.

Last month, Soto was honored with the 2009 Excellence Award from the National Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs.

"It was very special to me," says Soto.

Besides her recruitment work, Soto also helps families with legal and immigration issues, along with emergency assistance.