Agricultural & Foreign Labor Services May News and Highlights

Julisa and her family have long followed the migrant pattern for seasonal work, first traveling from Texas to Florida before her father was offered an opportunity to cultivate cucumbers in Florida. This led her family to a new routine — traveling to Michigan in May and returning to Florida by November, a cycle they’ve followed for the past 16 years. 

During one of their seasons in Michigan, Julisa’s family connected with Agricultural Employment Liaison Jesus Lule. Jesus visited their home in Decatur to share employment support and educational resources. Inspired by these efforts, Julisa’s brother-in-law enrolled in the Michigan State University (MSU) High School Equivalency Program, completing his coursework in just two weeks before continuing his agricultural work. Her brother soon followed suit and is currently working toward his GED with support from MSU.

Jesus continued checking in with the family over time. After learning that Julisa had nearly a decade of experience teaching at a Head Start program in Florida, he suggested she consider a role at Michigan Works!. Despite her initial hesitation, Julisa was committed to staying in Michigan to give her children a more stable educational experience. Her daughter had struggled with the frequent transitions between states, especially in reading, often falling behind compared to her peers.

Despite her doubts, Julisa took Jesus’ encouragement to heart. With his support, she updated her resume and applied for the role. Not long after, she was interviewed and offered the position.

Today, Julisa works at Michigan Works! where her passion for education and helping others shines. Her journey from the fields to a fulfilling career, demonstrates the power of perseverance, community support and the life-changing impact of opportunity.

The AFLS teams engaged in interactive role-play activities designed to build real-world skills for assisting both farmworkers and agricultural employers more effectively. Sessions also covered internal procedures for delivering employment and training services to MSFWs, along with detailed guidance on using the customer management system to accurately report services.

Mandated trainings were led by State Monitor Advocate Gerardo Aranda and included key topics such as the Monitor Advocate System, the Employment Service Complaint System and Discontinuation of Services. Additional critical sessions addressed Sexual Harassment, Coercion and Assault and Human Trafficking, presented by Allison Poston, Staff Attorney, and Jose Rosas, Senior Paralegal and DOJ Partially Accredited Representative.

The conference ended with a powerful keynote presentation by motivational speaker Adriana Cardoso Reyes, Associate Director of Institutional Accreditation and Planning and Accreditation Liaison Officer at Western Michigan University.  

Michigan’s agricultural workers play a vital role in the state’s economy, yet they often face unique challenges that impact their economic stability and future opportunities. The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) is designed to meet these challenges head-on, providing a comprehensive range of services that support both immediate needs and long-term career growth.

These services include skills assessments, career planning, job training and financial literacy education. Participants can also access job placement assistance, on-the-job training, internships and short-term support to stay employed.

To address housing needs, NFJP helps with temporary and permanent housing, as well as renovation and property management. For youth, the program provides tutoring, mentoring, leadership development and entrepreneurial training.

NFJP doesn’t just support workers, it also partners with agricultural employers to meet their workforce needs. Through NFJP, businesses can access a pool of pre-screened, work-ready candidates trained in relevant skills. The program helps with recruitment, onboarding and retention, as well as access to wage subsidies for on-the-job training. Employers can also receive support with housing solutions, compliance guidance, and connections to additional workforce programs through Michigan Works!

Whether farmworkers aim to advance within agriculture or explore new career paths, the NFJP is integrated within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s umbrella, ensuring participants have access to the full range of employment and training services available through Michigan Works! Service Centers through the state.

By addressing both short-term needs and long-term goals and employer’s workforce needs, the National Farmworker Jobs Program is helping build a stronger, more stable future for Michigan’s agricultural communities.

To learn more or get connected with services, please complete the Agricultural Employment Interest Form.

We are excited to welcome Anakaren Salinas to the National Farmworkers Jobs Program as our new Business and Community Liaison.

Anakaren brings over four years of experience in workforce development, specializing in connecting employers with skilled workers and promoting equitable employment opportunities for all job seekers.

Anakaren is well-versed in the mission and goals of the program, having previously served as both a Program Manager and Career Advisor within the NFJP. Her firsthand experience supporting farmworker communities has shaped her commitment to creating access to meaningful, sustainable careers.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s in public affairs with a concentration in Public Administration from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Anakaren is passionate about community collaboration and economic empowerment. In her new role, she looks forward to building strong partnerships that uplift and serve the communities we work with.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) recently launched the First-Generation Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program, a pilot initiative designed to help first-generation homebuyers achieve the dream of homeownership.

The program provides eligible buyers with a $25,000 down payment assistance deferred loan to help cover upfront homebuying costs, including the down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses.

Available in all 83 Michigan counties, the pilot program is a key step in breaking down financial barriers and expanding access to homeownership for more Michiganders.

To learn more about the First-Generation Down Payment Assistance program, visit Michigan.gov/FirstGenDPA.

Discover seasonal jobs or temporary jobs

SeasonalJobs.dol.gov is an online platform that links people to seasonal and temporary employment opportunities throughout the United States.

Whether you’re looking for seasonal work or require a short-term job, the website assists you in finding suitable employment.

Explore in-demand jobs using Michigan's Hot 50 Job Outlook

Michigan's Hot 50 Job Outlook highlights high-demand, high-wage careers that show a favorable mix of projected long-term job growth, projected annual job openings, and median wages through 2032.

Explore the Hot 50 Job Outlook to discover the expected number of annual openings, pay range and education requirement for each career.