Affiliated with the National Council of Churches, it provided health care, vocational training, recreational activities, and religious services at New Deal labor camps nationwide.
[1][2] Doug Still became the director of the CMM in 1957,[3] and established a rural ministry in the San Joaquin and Imperial Valleys, offering services like camps for children, English classes, personal hygiene instruction, daycare centers, and food distribution.
[4][5] With the help of a Schwarthaup Foundation grant, the CMM staff trained with the Community Service Organization (CSO), led by Fred Ross, where they met Cesar Chavez.
Under his leadership, the CMM expanded its efforts, focusing on community organizing and supporting the farm workers' struggle for self-determination.
The ministry focused on empowering farm workers and advocating for social justice, leaving a lasting impact on the movement.