September 27 – 28, 2024, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Kroger Headquarters
1014 Vine St., and 9 E. Court St, Cincinnati, OH
Kroger is sponsoring a Wellness Festival Friday and Saturday September 27 and 28, 2024 on 5th Street in downtown Cincinnati between Main St. and Columbia Parkway. (See https://www.kroger.com/f/wellness-festival for more details.)
However, simultaneously a group including several UU leaders will gather at Kroger’s Headquarters (1014 Vine St.) and at East Court Plaza (9 E. Court St) in Cincinnati Ohio to ask Kroger to consider the wellness of farm workers within their supply chain and join the Fair Food Program.
That program is a worker-driven initiative that establishes protections for farm workers, including access to clean water, breaks, and shade. The program works to prevent abuses such as sexual assault and forced labor through a 24-hour complaint line, protections against retaliation, and robust seasonal audits of farms.
Throughout Friday and Saturday, the demonstration and festival will feature live music, speeches by farm worker movement leaders, guided tours of the Two Worlds Exhibit, and the Ohio debut of Esperanza, a 15-foot tall farm worker puppet.
The specific events at the 9 E. Court St location include:
Friday, September 27, 2024
10 AM – Blessing during the opening ceremony, 5-10 minutes
1 PM – Reflection on faith, solidarity, and social justice, 15-25 minutes
4 PM – Blessing during closing ceremony
7 PM – Vigil and address to farm worker families
Saturday, September 28, 2024
10 AM – Blessing during the opening ceremony, 5-10 minutes
1 PM – Brief introduction to the principal message on forced labor in the fields, 5-10 minutes
4 PM – Blessing during closing ceremony
For more details on this event, contact Giselle Ramirez at (305) 746-0063 or via email to: giselle@ciw-online.org
Image source: Sue Gabrielson