Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative

Is a community- based organization on the deepest level. 

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2020, that serves 1,500 farm workers in Central Virginia.

mission

CVFWI seeks to empower workers to improve their quality of life by providing them with healthcare and educational resources and by advocating for their well-being. 

We recognize the tremendous contribution the farmworkers make to our agricultural economy and we welcome them as an integral part of our community. Partnering with service agencies, medical providers, churches, growers, and local businesses, CVFWI is a community- based organization on the deepest level. 

We are located in Nelson County.

services

  • Through CVFWI’s twice-weekly outreach visits to migrant farm worker communities, we have fostered a close relationship with the farm workers and are honored to act as a trusted resource. During these visits, workers have the opportunity to share their needs and interests with CVFWI. Health advocacy, preventative screenings and the digital divide are areas that the workers have chosen as priorities. 

  • CVFWI created the Healthy Farm Workers (HFW) program which has been running for four years. HFW provides preventative health screenings utilizing community health workers. This program is evolving into the Multi-point Care Access Initiative (MCAI), which seeks to make culturally and linguistically appropriate services accessible to farm workers. 

  • In 2024, CVFWI purchased the historic Odd Fellows Hall in Massies Mill, Virginia to serve as a community center with easy access for the rural populations we serve. See more about its historic preservation and current use under 'Odd Fellows Hall Campaign.'

  • CVFWI has an ongoing partnership with Charlottesville Community Bikes (CCB) to provide free mountain bikes for workers.

  • Community Tax Law Project (CTLP) has worked alongside CVFWI for the last five years, addressing tax rights and responsibilities and providing free tax filing for farm workers. 

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