By Lavita Holmes
In the heart of Florida’s sugarcane fields lies a little-understood community steeped in resilience, history, and a deep connection to the land they call home. I am Lavita Holmes, proudly born and raised in Hendry County. I live in Clewiston, Florida, and serve as the Executive Director for Glades Lives Matter, an organization deeply committed to the prosperity of all the Glades communities.
You might call me an entrepreneur and business owner. I’ve raised three successful children and have seven healthy grandchildren right here in the Glades. My whole life is living in these rural communities, and I carry the stories and experiences of the Glades to every aspect of my work.
It is critical that our communities’ voices be the ones that lead policy conversations and that our voices not be overshadowed by outsiders who do not understand the full impact of their words and actions on our livelihoods and communities.
Growing up amidst the thousands of acres of farmlands in Florida’s Everglades Agricultural Area has ingrained in me a profound respect for the stories and experiences that shape our communities. We are as diverse, worthy, and full of nuance as any other community—we are not merely “Black and Brown” as described by these elitist activists’ groups–and we deserve the opportunity to be heard. While small communities tend to close ranks, it’s becoming impossible to ignore the ever-expanding external narratives that seek to define our story and challenge our ability to put food on our tables.
Over the years, the Glades has found itself at the center of a contentious debate with organizations like the Sierra Club, whose intentions and impacts on our community are suspect. Using the veil of fighting for our well-being and a cleaner environment, these out-of-town activists are using national media and campaign-style tactics to try and turn neighbor against neighbor in our small, close-knit communities. What’s most unsettling is how they attempt to speak for us, not with us, and without understanding or care for our community.
Take our sugarcane farmers that they’ve criticized – farming is the cornerstone of our lives, providing jobs and stability for so many families here, including my own. The Sierra Club’s campaign is not only an attack on a century-old institution, but it’s also an attack on our families; it’s personal. Take my neighbor, for instance: Like many others throughout our Glades communities, she is proud that she worked in the industry for 48 years and then retired. My brother-in-law was employed for 26 years, and my son-in-law for nearly a decade. We take pride in being able to work hard and support our families.
Where we live, the agricultural industry is a beacon of opportunity, providing stable employment, financial security, and sustainable development. While the Sierra Club claims to be protecting the lives of the community, their actions could remove one of the few reliable sources of income we have, jobs that come with benefits and retirement plans.
In addition to stability, our families benefit from community partnerships that reinvest in our community. By contributing to parks and libraries, fostering community engagement, providing educational activities and opportunities, and improving our quality of life every day.
Our perspective reveals the disconnect between the Sierra Club’s stance on sugarcane burning and the actual concerns of the Glades residents. Prescribed burns are viewed as a common agricultural practice. Trusted local health officials with actual health statistics just do not find any connection with farming practices, nor do the vast majority of our residents who know our air is good and clean. We are more concerned about economic stability and housing.
The Sierra Club pushes an external narrative as their environmental agenda with suspect and biased research that totally conflicts with the lived experiences and priorities of our local communities. In a time where “environmental justice” is a newsworthy buzzword, threatening our jobs and freedom to prosper economically is injustice in another form.
Rather than doing what is best for us, I question if they truly understand what harm they are causing us? Do they realize they’re destroying an agricultural industry that’s been a lifeline for these communities for over a century? If they do understand what they are doing—shame on them.
Losing our farming base is not only a blow to our economy; it would destroy the very foundation of our community and tear at our pride and ability to prosper. These challenges underscore the necessity for active and authentic representation of our needs and perspectives. To ensure we always have a voice, we are preparing for the future through The Glades Lives Ambassadorship Program, where 17 high school students (from the five high schools in the Glades) actively engage in learning about state/local government, local industry, and the importance of community involvement. These students are learning to serve as local ambassadors, ensuring the people of the Glades have a Voice in serving our communities’ best interests. They represent their communities locally, in Tallahassee, and soon in Washington, D.C.
Together, we will ensure our community survives the influence of outside entities. We ask the Sierra Club and other oppressive external powers to respect the Glades’ perspective and, most importantly, our future.
We invite genuine dialogue and understanding grounded in respect for our perspective and acknowledgment that the Voices of the Glades should be at the forefront of conversations on our issues.
Lavita Holmes was born and raised in Hendry County. She lives in Clewiston, Florida, and serves as the Executive Director for Glades Lives Matter.
