Gridley, CA (MPG) – Did you know that Gridley has two high schools? Most don’t and even more surprising, most have walked past it and not known it was there.

Field/EPIC, which stands for Farmworker Institute for Education & Leadership Development (EPIC is field in Spanish) was founded in 1978 by Cesar E Chavez. The Gridley branch of the non-profit high school is located in the Heritage Oak shopping center, quietly tucked between the Dollar Tree and the laundry mat. 

 Field provides basic education and skills training to immigrants, farm workers and low-skilled workers in rural communities, hoping to give them  the confidence to realize their dreams. While the schools mission is to promote economic and social prosperity for Latinos, working people and their families, it is open to anyone, from any race or background, wishing to  further their education and get their high school diploma. 

Field/EPIC is run by educators, Carolyn Velasquez and Dominique Chastain, and Community Coordinator Bertha Orizco.  Chastain doubles as the regional supervisor for the Field/EPIC program and is currently working on two Masters degrees as she manages multiple sites.

The Gridley site currently has about 22 students that trickle in and out, due to the flexible open-entry, open-exit schedule.  The pace is set by the student, but they are expected to meet requirements in order to obtain the total of 180 credits to graduate with their high school diploma.  Students range from young to those in their 60’s, and some work full-time while taking care of family. Students not working are required to take 30 credits per semester. Morning and afternoon sessions are available for those that are employed, because the course work is done completely in a classroom setting. No independent study. The schools funding is correlated to the student’s educational growth and the number of graduates each year, so even with a flexible schedule, students must adhere to specific enrollment requirements.

Students are able to transfer their transcripts and academic credits from their previous schools or their country of origin, in the case of immigrants.  Chastain shares that there is a lot that prevents those who would like to get an education from doing so, including culture and gender roles, and fear of the government. “A lot of the Hispanic people around here - they are fearful. They are afraid that by coming in, it puts them at risk.” says Chastain. She continues to explain that due to their classification as a non-profit educational organization, recognized by the state, they are not required to as for documentation. “We do not ask immigration status. It’s not our business. Our business is education.”

The Field/EPIC program has 14 sites throughout California, and is looking at expanding its instruction to include education on the foundation of co-ops and  business development, online education and ESL courses. Chastian says, “Our mission is about helping people become self-sustaining, self-sufficient and you do that through training with an education and training with leadership. When you build a self-sufficient individual they build a self-sufficient community. So it’s all about affecting rural communities most especially, at the individual level.”