Migrante Alberta Launches "Hands to Table" Coffee Table Book

Edmonton, Alberta (June 7, 2025) -- Migrante Alberta, with the help of Government of Alberta, proudly unveiled its latest community-driven effort, Hands to Table, a beautifully designed coffee table book that intertwines the migration struggles of five courageous women with their cherished family recipes.

Hands to Table documents the lives of five migrant women from Mexico, Jordan, India and the Philippines, all migrated to Canada and built lives rooted in resilience, labor, and love. Each chapter weaves together personal narratives with cherished family recipes, creating a compelling portrait of migration through the lens of food, memory, and identity.

“This book is not just about food. It’s about survival, culture, and the strength of migrant women who work hard not only to feed others but also to preserve their heritage and stories,” said Marco Luciano, Executive Director of Migrante Alberta, during the book launch held in Edmonton.

The event featured readings from the women featured in the book, who shared reflections on their migration journeys—many marked by hardship, sacrifice, and separation from loved ones. One contributor described cooking traditional dishes as a way of “keeping home alive” despite the distance and displacement.

Beyond a simple recipe collection, Hands to Table is part of a growing movement to amplify the voices of migrant workers, especially women, whose labor often goes unrecognized in Canada’s caregiving, education, food, and hospitality sectors.

Organizers hope the book will serve as both a cultural artifact and a call to action, highlighting the often-invisible contributions of migrant women while challenging stereotypes and advocating for rights and recognition.

“In every story, in every dish, there is resistance,” said one of the authors. “We bring more than labor—we bring life, and we deserve to be seen.”

Hands to Table is now available through Migrante Alberta. Proceeds will support ongoing community organizing and advocacy for migrant rights.