Rachell Sanchez-Smith

Contributor

Rachell is a student journalist at the University of Arkansas and a translator for Arkansascovid.com. She is pursuing a double major in journalism and political science with a minor in legal studies. She wrote and served as an editor of the Mountie Spectrum for Rogers High School for nearly three years. Following her 2024 graduation, Sanchez-Smith plans to continue working in journalism and hopes to attend law school.

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Articles by Rachell

Human Rights

A Tyson employee walks into the team member entrance at the Berry Street location in Springdale, Arkansas. A sign in their path read "Social Distancing Required at all Times" written in English, Spanish and Marshallese.

At least 9,000 Arkansas workers caught COVID-19 as pandemic overwhelmed regulators, companies

By Mary HenniganAbby ZimmardiRachell Sanchez-Smith

May 12, 2021 - Poultry giant Tyson Foods Inc., the third-largest employer in Arkansas, accounted for nearly one-third of the state's 9,065 sickened workers across all industries over nearly a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis by reporting project Arkansascovid.

Human Rights

Al menos 9,000 trabajadores de Arkansas contrajeron COVID-19 mientras la pandemia agobio reguladores y empresas

By Mary HenniganAbby ZimmardiRachell Sanchez-Smith

May 12, 2021 - El gigante avícola Tyson Foods Inc., el tercer empleador más grande de Arkansas, reportó 2.866 casos de COVID-19 en sus lugares de trabajo, esta figura es casi un tercio de los 9.065 trabajadores enfermos del estado en todas las industrias desde el 19 de mayo de 2020 hasta el 8 de abril de 2021, según un análisis de Arkansascovid.com.

Human Rights

What the walkout by George's poultry workers accomplished

By Rachell Sanchez-SmithOlivia Paschal

February 17, 2021 - Just over two months ago, more than two dozen workers staged a walkout at a George's poultry plant in Arkansas over conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's what happened next.

Human Rights

Los trabajadores de pollería en George's hacen huelga en Arkansas para protestar las condiciones del COVID-19

By Rachell Sanchez-SmithOlivia Paschal

December 10, 2020 - Empleados de George's, Inc. en Springdale, Arkansas dicen que la compañía necesita re-implementar turnos escalonados y hacer posible el distanciamiento social en la planta de transporte vivo de la compañía.

Human Rights

George's poultry workers walk out in Arkansas to protest COVID-19 conditions

By Olivia PaschalRachell Sanchez-Smith

December 8, 2020 - Employees of a Springdale, Arkansas, processing plant owned by George's, one of the top U.S. chicken producers, are pressing the company to re-implement staggered shifts and make social distancing possible. The walkout, which the workers plan to continue until their demands are met, was the first such action by poultry workers in the state, which leads the nation in poultry production.

George's and other midsize poultry companies struggled to control COVID-19