Name: SOUTHERN MUTUAL HELP ASSOCIATION, INC.
Address: 3602 Old Jeanerette Rd, New Iberia, LA, 70563-3131, US
Telephone: (337) 367-3277

About

Southern Mutual Help Association (SMHA) was founded in 1969 to be an Agent of Change in rural Louisiana.

Its mission is to build strong, healthy and prosperous rural communities, with emphasis on low-wealth families, women, people of color, and on families and communities whose livelihoods are interdependent with the lands and waters.

SMHA and its leadership have been recognized regionally, nationally and internationally, receiving numerous awards for innovation and excellence in community and economic development.

Since its founding, SMHA has pioneered new approaches to challenges facing Louisianaâ€™s rural communities, standing strong against the root causes of poverty, racism, sexism and classism. Its work includes

â—¾Protecting the environmental assets, agriculture and land of rural communities.
â—¾Fostering economic development in stressed communities.
â—¾Developing rural housing and providing homeowner assistance.
â—¾Assisting fisher businesses and fisher families' work to protect their livelihoods and life work.
â—¾Developing community capacity to "make change".

Southern Mutual Help Association continues to create new institutions, policies, leadership and learning opportunities, and new wealth in communities while building and leveraging new partnerships.

SMHA WAS FOUNDED IN 1969 TO BE AN AGENT OF CHANGE

A multiplicity of factors were at the origin of Southern Mutual Help Association in the Summer of 1969. These factors include the various oppressive systems of the time and the personal experiences of each founder.

SMHA won a decision from a three-judge federal panel to "free association" with farm workers as guaranteed by the US Constitution.

1970's - SMHA STARTS ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING

SMHA began self-help, low-income housing efforts, including the first neighborhood association called "Rabbit Hill" in Abbeville, Louisiana. From SMHA's successful renovation of 30 homes, Abbeville obtained the first Community Development Block Grant for rural communities, soon duplicated in dozens of other rural communities in Louisiana. SMHA's Self Help Housing Program subsequently built 49 individually owned newhomes for sugar cane farm worker families.

1971 - SMHA started adult basic education and job training with culturally adapted materials for plantation workers. A graduate went on to receive a masters in rural development from University of Massachusetts, become executive director of a community action agency, organize farm workers around legal issues, become housing director at SMHA, and be honored at the White House as one of two outstanding VISTAs in the country.

SMHA started the first rural dental and medical clinic for farm workers. Over 10,000 farm worker visits were made in the first year alone.

1974 - Federal District court issued a landmark decision in the Freeman vs. Butz case where the wages of farm workers were illegally frozen by Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz. Two SMHA farm worker board members filed and won a class action suit for collection of back wages. As the Court-appointed inspector, SMHA examined all the growers' books to determine the amount owed to the workers. The Court froze over 60 million dollars in grower subsidy payments and awarded plantation field workers over one million dollars in back wages.

SMHA started the first Plantation Adult Education Program. This program is still in existence today as PEPI (Progressive Education Program), located in New Iberia.

SOUTHERN MUTUAL HELP ASSOCIATION, INC.

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