Jocelyn Andrade has always had a special place in her heart for unseen people.
In Somerton, her small southwestern Arizona town, there are plenty of them. Thousands of migrant farmworkers travel to Yuma County to help supply Americans with 90% of the lettuce they buy and eat between November and March.
“In my church, I sit next to older women who wake up at 4 a.m., cross the border, pick lettuce, come home at 6 p.m. and cook dinner every day,” Andrade said. “Most people don’t realize how hard these people work to earn barely enough money to feed their families. I live here and I see it.”
Perhaps that’s why Andrade has been so committed to advocating for migrant farmworkers as a social work student at NAU’s Yuma campus. Working with peers, she raised enough money to buy more than 2,000 pairs of warm socks for farmworkers for a recent Dia del Campesino event—then, she helped inspire others to do the same in a presentation at this year’s World Social Science Association Conference.
Those aren’t the only unseen people she’s helped while at NAU, said Kara Ahearn, an assistant clinical professor of social work. Andrade also participated in Yuma’s annual Point-In-Time Count to help the city serve its homeless population, spent a summer in Kenya providing humanitarian aid to orphans and families and logged more than 400 hours at Amberly’s Place, a Yuma nonprofit that supports and advocates for victims of sexual abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse and human trafficking.
“Jocelyn has a huge heart, and her nonjudgmental approach and ability to empathize with others is truly exceptional,” Ahearn said. “Her passion for strengthening families and helping vulnerable mothers has been a theme throughout her time at NAU.”
Finding new life
Perhaps Andrade’s most formative volunteer experience as a Lumberjack was at New Life Pregnancy Center, a faith-driven hub providing support for planned or unplanned pregnancies. She wasn’t just fulfilled by the work of reaching out to expectant parents; she was also touched by the way the staff took her under their wing.
“Originally, I went there because I was required to find an internship for my degree,” Andrade said. “But for two years after that, I didn’t stop volunteering because they cared so deeply about my well-being as a student, as a woman and as a young person still figuring out how the world works. I didn’t think I’d ever find work this fulfilling as a student.”
Andrade said that after commencement in December, she’ll pursue a master’s degree in social work at ASU Local-Yuma and a career in victim advocacy. But that wasn’t always the plan.
After graduating from high school, Andrade earned a full scholarship to Arizona Western College. At first, unsure which path to take, she dabbled in criminal justice and English. With help from the director of the college’s honors program, she realized her passion was in social services and earned an associate’s degree in family studies.
Andrade then found herself in an enviable position: As a recipient of Phi Theta Kappa’s All-USA Academic Team Scholarship, she could transfer to any public Arizona university and earn a bachelor’s degree tuition-free. She wrestled with the choice: venture out somewhere new or stay close to home?
The friendliness and flexibility of the social work department was a major factor in choosing NAU Yuma.
“Usually, the transfer process is a lot of work for students,” Andrade said, “but Kara and NAU Yuma made it so easy for me.”
Paying it forward
Another major factor in Andrade’s decision was her mother, who was deported to Mexico once when Andrade was 8 and again three years later.
Because her mother can’t enter the U.S., “she’s had to miss our high school graduation, my brother’s kindergarten promotions, my sister’s wedding and now my graduation—major milestones,” Andrade said.
Today, things are looking up for Andrade’s family. Her father became a respiratory therapist at a local hospital after two years spent juggling full-time manual labor in Yuma with full-time schooling in the Valley. Her mother has found success as a small business owner just across the border, maintaining a close relationship with Andrade and her five siblings despite the wall separating them.
“I learned to be a generous person from my parents,” Andrade said. “They struggled and overcame barriers so we wouldn’t have to. I’m here, getting a degree on a full scholarship, pursuing my dreams, because of their sacrifices.”
Jill Kimball | NAU Communications
(928) 523-2282 | jill.kimball@nau.edu