Our Story

Founded in 2015 by Judy and Ted Lucas following a devastating fire that displaced farmworker families in South Oxnard, Friends of Fieldworkers is a Ventura County–based nonprofit committed to supporting and uplifting farmworker communities. What began as an immediate response to crisis has evolved into a trusted, community-rooted organization dedicated to long-term impact. Our mission is to befriend farmworker families by supporting their well-being, celebrating their contributions, and advocating for equitable access to essential resources. Through consistent, relationship-driven work, we strive to build trust and create meaningful pathways to stability and opportunity for the families who sustain our local economy.

We provide year-round programs, including scholarships, emergency assistance, farm visits, and resource fairs that connect families to healthcare, education, and vital services. In times of crisis, we mobilize quickly—delivering disaster relief, installing smoke alarms, and partnering with Ventura County VOAD to strengthen emergency response, alongside offering mental health and legal resource support.

Our work is grounded in direct, everyday support. From farm visits and free laundry services to distributing food, household supplies, diapers, backpacks, holiday gifts, Halloween costumes, and work boots, we meet families where they are. Rooted in dignity and community collaboration, we remain committed to uplifting farmworker families across Ventura County.

Two smiling women holding bunches of parsley outdoors near a stack of plastic pallets and a green canopy with the text 'YOLI EasyLift' on it.
A group of people wearing pink shirts with the message 'Make Yourself Proud' at an outdoor charity run event. Some are kneeling in front, and others are standing behind them, with tents and more people in the background. The sky is partly cloudy with
Four people standing in front of a restaurant called 'mothers TACOS'. They are smiling and pose for the photo, with outdoor string lights above and a small garden bed with succulents in front.
A woman with dark hair, wearing a light gray t-shirt and light blue jeans, standing inside a busy brewery or bar. She has a name tag that reads 'Candelaria Franco' and a logo on her shirt that says 'Friends of Fieldwork Brewers.' She is smiling with
A group of people standing outdoors at a community event, with tables of supplies, behind a tall stack of blue pallets and a wooden utility pole. One man in an orange safety vest is speaking into a microphone.
Group of diverse people, including children and adults, standing in a laundromat with yellow walls and washing machines in the background, some holding boxes for donation, smiling at the camera.
Group of volunteers with bags of holiday toys in a parking lot, smiling for a photo.
People gathered outdoors near tractors and vehicles under a clear blue sky, engaging in conversation, with a mountain range in the background.
A group of people standing under a white canopy with the website 'www.friendsoffieldworkers.org' printed on it, holding clear plastic bags filled with colorful items, in an outdoor residential area.
Group of diverse women and a man posing together indoors, some kneeling and others standing, smiling at the camera, with a window, painting, and exit sign in the background.
Two women smiling for a selfie outdoors, with rows of crops and mountains in the background, sunny weather.
Two women standing behind a table with informational flyers, brochures, and QR codes, representing 'Friends of Fieldworkers,' in an outdoor setting with a glass window and trees reflected behind them.
Four women standing in front of a backdrop with the
Three women standing outdoors in front of a display table with orange flowers and decorative items, wearing matching blue shirts with a logo that reads 'Friends of Fieldworkers', smiling at the camera. Behind them is a street sign pointing to City Ha
Three women standing in front of an open trunk filled with boxes labeled Food Share, Ventura County, smiling at the camera.
FoodShare Ventura County, delivering food boxes to farmworkers in Oxnard
Work boot drive to help farmworkers in Ventura County. Sponsor Red Wing boots
Food share delivery to farmworkers in Ventura County, volunteer in Ventura

OUR LEADERSHIP

  • Dr. Martita Martinez-Bravo

    Executive Director

    Dr. Martita Martinez-Bravo is the first Executive Director of Friends of Fieldworkers, Inc., and has been an active volunteer and organizer with the organization since 2017. She lives in Camarillo with her husband and three children. The eldest of nine children from a Ventura County farm-working family, she was the first in her family to earn a college degree and went on to complete both a Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of California, Irvine.

    She has dedicated her education and lived experience to creating transformational community impact. In 2022, she made history as the first elected Latina and woman of color Councilmember in the city of Camarillo. She also serves on nonprofit boards, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and kidSTREAM Children’s Museum, and is an active social justice and environmental advocate recognized with community awards. Martita is also an active parishioner at Padre Serra Parish, where she serves as a ministry leader and catechist.

  • Christine Cardona-Threadgill

    Director of Programs

    Christine lives in Ventura with her husband and three school-aged children. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from CSU Northridge. Christine is deeply committed to uplifting underserved communities. She has a personal and family connection to farmworking communities, as her great-aunts and great-grandparents were fieldworkers. Their hard work, resilience, and sacrifices helped create greater opportunities for future generations in her family.

    Christine was recently honored in 2026 by Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón as one of five Women of the Year. Christine is grateful to serve as Program Director, where she works closely with the community and farmworker families. She is honored to carry forward her family’s legacy and feels deeply connected to their experience as farmworkers through her work. She is proud to be part of an organization dedicated to supporting this community and remains focused on advancing opportunity.

  • Stephanie Suarez

    Programs & Administrative Coordinator

    Coming soon

ADVISORY TEAM

  • Judy Lucas, Cofounder, Board Director Emeritus

  • Ted Lucas, Cofounder, Board Director Emeritus

  • Young woman in sunglasses smiling while drinking a cocktail at an outdoor restaurant, with a pizza and a glass of beer on the table, and potted plants in the background.

    Alyssa Rodriguez, LyssEats805

  • Smiling older man with gray hair and beard sitting in a garden with flowers and greenery.

    Ted Haber

  • Close-up of a smiling woman with curly brown hair outdoors, with green foliage in the background.

    Lana Lundin

  • A woman smiling indoors with blurred background of people and furniture.

    Natalie Cherot, PhD

  • Smiling elderly woman with glasses in a room with wooden shelves and books.

    Beatrice “Bea” Lutterbeck, RN

  • A woman speaking into a microphone outdoors, holding a photo of a young child in a hospital bed with medical equipment.

    Melissa Bumstead, Founder at Parents Against SSFL

  • Close-up of a woman with shoulder-length light brown hair and fair skin, outdoors with green foliage in the background.

    Jisela Ramirez