OVERVIEW: The Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire and organize communities to build volunteer organizations empowered to pursue social justice.
POSITION: As a member of the Leadership Team, Administrator will oversee DHF’s human administrative operations. Administrator will play a critical role in enhancing DHF’s organizational performance as they expand their scope and reach.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Financial Management
Work closely with DHF’s Bookkeeper and Accountant to manage organization cash flow and forecasting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, prepare monthly financial reports
Prepare annual tax preparations and audits.
Work with Development Department to assure all income has been identified, coded and deposited into bank accounts.
Work with all and site coordinators to assure all bills and credit card receipts are submitted timely.
Analyze and present financial reports through Quckbooks in an accurate and timely manner and oversee all financial, project/program and grants accounting.
Assist in the annual budgeting and planning process; administer and review all financial plans, budgets; monitor progress and changes.
Oversee grants and financial management reporting system.
Work with Senior Management to update and implement all necessary business policies and accounting practices; develop / improve administrative and financial policy and procedure manuals.
Contract management with vendors, negotiate best rates.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum five years of overall operational management experience.
Minimum five years QuickBooks experience.
Ability to generate and analyze reporting for management and various departments.
Final responsibility for the quality and content of all financial data, reporting and audit coordination.
Ability to translate financial concepts and effectively collaborate with programmatic and fundraising colleagues.
Proven track record in grants management.
Written and spoken proficiency in English, Spanish is a plus.
Openness to working with LGBTQ and Latino community and demonstrated cultural competency.
A proactive solutions-oriented approach
Excellent interpersonal skills (one on one and group dynamics), strong listening skills, and humor
Strong collaborator and team player
Self-motivated, resourceful and creative
Ability to adapt quickly to changing situations
Excellent time management skills
Self-confidence and self-assurance.
EMPLOYMENT TERMS:
Location: Bakersfield, California
Salary: DOE
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Vacation
The Dolores Huerta Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.
Please send resume, cover letter and three (3) professional references to:
The Dolores Huerta Foundation is a non-profit organization inspiring and organizing communities to build volunteer based organizations empowered to pursue social justice.
Click on job description links for application instructions.
AdministratorAs a member of the Leadership Team, Administrator will oversee DHF’s human administrative operations. Administrator will play a critical role in enhancing DHF’s organizational performance as they expand their scope and reach.
Community Organizers & Trainers Job Description – The DHF seeks to hire dynamic and creative Community Organizers & Trainers to engage African American and Latinx residents and establish a grassroots base of trained volunteers to engage in advocacy efforts to improve the education, health and civic engagement outcomes for residents in Bakersfield, California City, Mojave and Tulare.
Canvassers in Fresno and Tulare, CA – DHF is seeking canvassers to work in Fresno and Tulare, California. This fall, DHF will continue to re-shape the future of California through Census outreach, education and mobilization. Come help reach hard to count communities through phone banking and door to door outreach.
Deputy Director Job Description – The Deputy Director will be responsible for the day to day operational management of the DHF as well as coordinate training, orientation, and leadership development of staff and volunteers. The Deputy Director will work closely with the Executive Director and the senior management team to oversee the development and implementation of DHF’s strategic and operational plans.
Service Center Coordinator Job Description– The Service Center Coordinator will be responsible for setting up and maintaining Vecinos UnidosService Centers in Sanger and Arvin, California to provide needed services and resources such as translation, notary public, expungement applications, and referrals for a low fee.
Youth Program Job Announcements – DHF has launched the Youth and Family Civic Engagement Initiative (YFCEI) in Kern, Fresno and Tulare Counties and is currently recruiting for various positions. The Youth and Family Civic Engagement Initiative team members equip diverse youth, family members and community organizers with character development and leadership skills necessary for civic leadership and (equitable) workforce success.
Join DHF in raising awareness of CENSUS 2020, the March Primary Elections, and the importance of tax-equity/investing in our neighborhoods.
Saturday, February 29th, 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
BAKERSFIELD- Brower Building, 1527 19th Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301, Suite 422. For more information contact, Eliana Jimenez Honeycutt, Civic Engagement Coordinator, (661) 322-3033 ext. 504, ehoneycutt@doloreshuerta.org
TULARE – DHF Office, 197 N. K St, Tulare, CA 93274. For more information contact Angel Ruiz, Civic Engagement Coordinator-Tulare, (818) 209-7268, aruiz@doloreshuerta.org
FRESNO – Sanger DHF Office, 1446 7th Street, Sanger, CA 93657. For more information contact Dayana Lopez- Fresno Organizer, (559) 328-9635, dlopez@doloreshuerta.org
Please remember to wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Consider a hat as protection from the sun. Water and lunch will be provided.
Join Dolores Huerta Foundation Vecinos Unidos and Youth for the
Parlier Literacy Matters Community Forum
Saturday, February 22nd, 2020
6 pm – 8 pm
Parlier Junior High 1200 E. Parlier Ave. Parlier, CA 93648
We will highlight LITERACY as the basic building block of education and learn to work together to ensure that students are receiving the support they need, at home and in their schools, to improve in literacy.
Childcare activités, food, music and a raffle!
For more information, contact Lourdes Oliva 559-908-4692
Join Dolores Huerta Foundation Youth and Vecinos Unidos for the
Caruthers Literacy Matters Community Forum
Wednesday, March 4th, 2020
6 pm – 8 pm
2025 W. Clemenceau Ave. Caruthers, CA 93609
We will highlight LITERACY as the basic building block of education and learn to work together to ensure that students are receiving the support they need, at home and in their schools, to improve in literacy.
Childcare activités, food, music and a raffle!
For more information, contact Maria Galvan 559-864-2040
Join Dolores Huerta Foundation Vecinos Unidos and Youth for the
Sanger Literacy Matters Community Forum
Monday, February 24th, 2020
6 pm – 8 pm
1446 7th Street Sanger, CA 93657
We will highlight LITERACY as the basic building block of education and learn to work together to ensure that students are receiving the support they need, at home and in their schools, to improve in literacy.
Childcare activités, food, music and a raffle!
For more information, contact Lourdes Oliva 559-908-4692
Join Dolores Huerta Foundation Vecinos Unidos and Youth for the
Literacy Matters Arvin Community Forum
Wednesday, February 26th, 2020
6 pm – 8 pm
Veteran’s Hall 141 N. A Street Arvin, CA 93203
We will highlight LITERACY as the basic building block of education and learn to work together to ensure that students are receiving the support they need, at home and in their schools, to improve in literacy.
Childcare activités, food, music and a raffle!
For more information, contact Timo Prado 661-699-6597
Dolores Huerta Foundation has partnered with local organizations in Kern County to host a Community Town Hall focusing on Kern County’s needs for the Homeless, Protecting the Vulnerable and Reshaping Public Safety
Monday, February 24th 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Mill Creek Christian Church 1660 S Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Come celebrate 2019’s big End Child Poverty California wins, and help us get the rest of the plan passed in 2020! Our families work hard every day. The time to end extreme child poverty is NOW. #EndChildPovertyCA
Join civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, Senator Holly Mitchell, and others. ALL our children deserve to be healthy, fed, and housed. We’re proud to announce that in collaboration with the Dolores Huerta Foundation, the primary sponsors of this event are our partners St. John’s Well Child and Family Center and Crystal Stairs.
St. John’s Well Child and Family Center (Rolland Curtis), 1060 Exposition Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90007
***This is a free event. Please register using the link below.***
Schedule: 10:00 AM – Welcome and snacks 10:30 AM – Press Conference featuring Dolores Huerta, End Child Poverty CA, Senator Holly Mitchell, and others 11:00 AM – Community outreach activity
Join Dolores Huerta Foundation Vecinos Unidos and Youth for the
Literacy Matters Lamont Community Forum
Wednesday, February 19th, 2020
6 pm – 8 pm at the
David Head Center 10300 San Diego Street Lamont, CA 93241
We will highlight LITERACY as the basic building block of education and learn to work together to ensure that students are receiving the support they need, at home and in their schools, to improve in literacy.
The Dolores Huerta Foundation and Vecinos Unidos call all parents, students, teachers, and community members to join us in marching for educational justice.We must demand that the Kern High School district faithfully implement the agreed upon practices that will create a positive school environment and will improve academic outcomes for black and brown students
.March for Educational Justice Thursday, January 30th at 5:30 pm Meeting at Ross 3761 Ming Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93309 Marching to West High School 1200 New Stine Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93309 Click this link to share Facebook invite to march.
6:30 pm Press Conference at West High School 7:00pm KHSD FINAL Community Forum * As mandated by the lawsuit settlement KHSD is required to provide a progress report to the community.
Are you a Kern High School District parent or student? We want to hear from you! Please click on the links to fill out this quick survey and tell us about your experience in your school!
Six years ago, parents and students along with civil rights lawyers with support from community organizations like the Dolores Huerta Foundation, filed a lawsuit against the Kern High School District to force the district to end their discriminatory discipline practices that deprived black and brown students of their right to an education.
KHSD has failed to hire diverse teachers with only 3% black teachers, 17% latino, and 63% white.
While suspensions and expulsions have gone significantly down, students are being pushed into continuation schools at alarming rates. Continuation schools don’t have the same types of supports and services that comprehensive schools have.
Although African American students only make up 8% of the KHSD population, they have high rates of assistance at continuation schools. Example: Vista Continuation School has 14% African American students and only has a 36% graduation rate.
In 2018-19 At the continuation school Vista West, there were 21 Special education students, with only one special education teacher.
Bottom line: Black students continue to have disproportionate rates for voluntary transfers, involuntary transfers, and are still being suspended at 2-3 more times than their white peers.
ORGANZATION OVERVIEW: The Dolores Huerta Foundation is a non-profit organization inspiring and organizing communities to build volunteer organizations empowered to pursue social justice.
POSITION: The Community Organizer & Trainer will engage community residents and establish a grassroots base of trained volunteers to engage in advocacy efforts to improve the education, health, and civic engagement outcomes for residents.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Build a volunteer base of parents, students, and community members by conducting a “House Meeting” campaign in targeted neighborhoods.
Recruit and train volunteer activists in planning, facilitation, public speaking, advocacy, media, and outreach.
Develop proficiency in the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) to train and mobilize parents to advocate for their educational priorities through the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) school budgeting process.
Develop and implement a strategic advocacy plan to engage the community on a variety of issues including education, health, LGBTQ equality, and civic engagement.
Coordinate monthly General Meetings (community forums) to inform and activate the membership base.
Establish committees to advocate for education reform while keeping abreast of local, state, and national education justice issues.
Collaborate with partner organizations and allies working on educational justice, immigration reform, LGBTQ equality, health care access, etc.
Advocate to government agencies and public officials in response to local, state and national issues .
Engage volunteer residents in non-partisan voter registration, education, Get Out The Vote (GOTV), and other outreach/mobilization programs.
Lead Power Analysis and Campaign Development to address issues affecting underrepresented communities.
Establish a media and communications plan to publicize projects and solicit community support.
Provide weekly and monthly written management reports to document activities, updates, and results via conference calls and timely updates; Update contacts on the DHF database on a weekly basis.
Participate in weekly staff calls, monthly staff meetings, and monthly Kern Education Justice Collaborative meetings.
Assist with DHF fundraising activities.
Other tasks as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS:
The ideal candidate will have the following skills and experiences:
Experience and passion for community organizing
Experience in providing trainings
Experience in working with diverse communities
A proactive solutions-oriented approach
Excellent interpersonal skills (one on one and group dynamics), cultural competency, strong listening skills, and humor
Patience and flexibility
Strong collaborator and team player
Written and spoken proficiency in English and Spanish
Proficiency in Word, Excel, Outlook, & on-line navigation
Self-motivated, resourceful, and creative
Ability to work evenings and weekends
Ability to adapt quickly to changing situations
Excellent time management skills
Self-confidence and self-assurance
Own car & auto insurance
EMPLOYMENT TERMS:
Locations: Bakersfield, California City, and Tulare, California
Full-time, Non-Exempt Status
Excellent medical, dental and vision benefits; life insurance
Please send resume, cover letter, and 3 references to:
This fall, DHF will continue to re-shape the future of California through census outreach, education and mobilization. Come help reach hard to count communities through phone banking and door to door outreach.
ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW: The Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community benefit organization that organizes at the grassroots level, engaging and developing natural leaders. DHF creates leadership opportunities for community organizing, leadership development, civic engagement, and policy advocacy. DHF operates under its mission of “Inspiring and organizing communities to build volunteer organizations empowered to pursue social justice.”
RESPONSIBILITIES
Communicate with Central Valley Residents via phone banking and canvassing outreach.
Educate voters regarding standing with our communities and getting them to commit to filling out the Census.
Meet daily and weekly campaign goals.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Previous campaign experience
Bilingual, English/Spanish
Valid ID and Social Security Card
Patience and flexibility
Strong collaborator and team player
EMPLOYMENT TERMS:
Locations: Fresno or Tulare, California
Part-time, Temporary Position
Please send resume, cover letter, and 3 references to:
OVERVIEW:The Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire and organize communities to build volunteer organizations empowered to pursue social justice. DHF has launched the Youth and Family Civic Engagement Initiative (YFCEI) in Kern, Fresno and Tulare Counties and is currently recruiting for the positions listed below for the YFCEI. The Youth and Family Civic Engagement Initiative team members equip diverse youth, family members and community organizers with character development and leadership skills necessary for civic leadership and (equitable) workforce success.
Youth Program Manager (Full-time)
Under the direct supervision of the Youth Program Director, the Youth Program Manager will oversee the implementation of DHF’s youth programming to promote the principles of social justice and civic engagement. The Youth Program Manager is responsible for overseeing program planning, coordination and accountability of the Youth Organizers across Kern, Fresno and Tulare Counties. The YFCEI team members work in a fast paced rigorous campaign environment.
Curriculum Development Associate (Full-time)
Under the supervision of the Youth Program Director, the Curriculum Specialist will specialize in curriculum development and project implementation for the YFCEI programming across DHF’s five regional offices. The Curriculum Specialist will train the team of Youth Organizers with an inclusive and culturally relevant curriculum that promotes the principles of social justice with an emphasis on ethics and moral character. The curriculum will align with DHF’s projects and campaigns to ensure hands on civic engagement training for youth and their families. Team members work in a rigorous campaign style environment with regularly scheduled Saturday classes, evening and weekend activities.
Resource and Volunteer Coordinator (Full-time)
Under the direct supervision of the Youth Program Director, the Volunteer and Resource Coordinator will provide information, referrals, and light case management for youth which include counseling, crisis intervention and skills training for DHF youth and their families. The Coordinator will closely monitor the effectiveness of referrals and socialservices for the youth in Kern, Tulare and Fresno Counties. The Resource and Volunteer Coordinator will provide information to the YFCEI staff on programs and services available to youth and adults to ensure youth are equipped with emotional and social support to succeed. The Resource and Volunteer Coordinator will also oversee volunteer recruitment, orientation and supervision of YFCEI volunteers, documenting hours and services provided.
Youth Organizers (Full-time)
Under the direct supervision of the Youth Program Manager, the Youth Organizers are responsible for recruiting and working directly with a cohort of 50 diverse youth in each region. The Youth Organizers facilitate classes, trainings, and hands on community and advocacy projects to increase civic participation among low-income, underrepresented youth and their families. The Youth Organizers implement inclusive and culturally relevant programming that promotes the principles of social justice and civic responsibility. Team members work in a rigorous campaign style environment. Must be available to work during regularly scheduled Saturday classes, evening and weekend activities, as well as extended field trips during school breaks and holidays. Openings in Kern, Sanger, Tulare and California City.
Youth Organizer Intern (Part-time)
The Youth and Family Civic Engagement Initiative (YFCEI) Intern will work with the YFCEI team to implement the Youth and Family Civic Engagement Initiative (YFCEI) to increase civic participation among low-income, disenfranchised youth and their families. The intern will be responsible for supporting DHF’s YFCEI team with administrative tasks, logistics and student transportation. Interns will assist with classes and civic engagement events, providing peer leadership coaching, class co-facilitation as needed, material and classroom logistical support and carry out phone calling with current student participants and their families. Openings in Kern, Sanger, Tulare and California City.
Please send your resume, three professional references and a cover letter detailing your interest and qualifications for the position, via email to humanresources@doloreshuerta.org.
The Dolores Huerta Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.
The DHF counts on your support to continue the grassroots community organizing and leadership development that improves neighborhoods and transforms lives. This takes a huge amount of resources. Your donation helps continue our work and organize new communities.Your generous #GivingTuesday donations will strengthen our programs: making a real impact and transforming our communities.
Help with the costs of meals and childcare for trainings where parents gain the skills necessary to navigate the school system, challenge proven discriminatory discipline practices, and advocate for their children to ensure they receive the quality education all children deserve.
Your donation helps cover the rental costs for a hall where we hold community forums to educate the public on critical issues such as the census, Schools and Communities First, and candidate forums where elected officials are invited to hear directly from their constituents. DHF hosts these gatherings monthly in five rural communities: Arvin, Lamont, Woodlake, Lindsay, and Sanger.
Your generous gift contributes to the travel expenses for a group youth to participate in a statewide leadership development camping trip where they connect with other young “changemakers” and strategize, learning how to become their own powerful advocates in advancing youth rights and impacting local and state policies.
It would mean a great deal to me, and the communities we serve, if you could support our DHF #GivingTuesday Campaign.
Thank you for your continued commitment to ensuring that our communities have the skills and support they need to organize for equality and justice.
¡Sí Se Puede! Dolores Huerta President
P.S. Use the hashtag #GivingTuesday to show your support on social media after you make your donation and to encourage your community to do the same.
The Dolores Huerta Foundation, as part of the Kern Education Justice Collaborative, cordially invites you to attend the 1st ever Education Equity Summit in Bakersfield! The summit will bring parents, students, and teachers from across Kern County together to learn how to organize to dismantle the School-to- Prison Pipeline and about community efforts to advance health and racial equity in our schools.
Childcare, entertainment, and interpretation will be provided.
Guest Speakers – Tia Martinez, Executive Director Forward Change and Amir Whitaker, ACLU attorney & Researcher for UCLA Civil Rights Project
Tentative Agenda
8:30 am Registration & Light Breakfast Summit Begins
9:15 amSummit Begins
1:00 pm Lunch and Entertainment
3:00 pm Closing
To register please contact: Cecilia Castro ccastro@doloreshuerta.org 661.322.3033 ext 230
La fundación Dolores Huerta, como parte de la Colaborativa de Justicia Educativa en Kern, te invita a la primera Cumbre de Equidad Educativa en Bakersfield! La cumbre reunirá a padres, estudiantes y maestros de todo el condado de Kern para aprender cómo organizar para destruir el camino de la escuela a la cárcel y escuchar sobre los esfuerzos de la comunidad para promover la salud y la equidad racial en nuestras escuelas.
Con Presentadores Tia Martinez, Directora Ejecutiva de Forward Change y Amir Whitaker, ACLU abogado e investigador del Proyecto de Derechos Civiles de UCLA
Se proporcionará cuidado de niños, entretenimiento e interpretación.
Agenda tentativa
8:30 am Registración y desayuno ligero
9:15 am Cumbre Comienza
1:00 pm Almuerzo y entretenimiento
3:00 pm Despedida
Para registrarse por favor de contactar a Cecilia Castro ccastro@doloreshuerta.org 661.322.3033 ext 230
West Marin Community Services in conjuction with the Dolores Huerta Foundation, is proud to present
West Marin, ¡Sí Se Puede! An Evening with Dolores Huerta.
Friday, August 30th, 2019
West Marin Elementary School at 11550 Shoreline Hwy, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
5:00 – 8:30 pm
The evening event will commence at five-thirty with music and food for the attendees. The program will begin at 7pm with an introduction of Dolores Huerta in English and in Spanish. This will be a free event, so that family members, regardless of income, can attend. Childcare will be provided.
While “¡Sì Se Puede! West Marin.”” is a “free” event, it is not without cost to those of us who are organizing it. Many sponsors will be providing food and supplies, but in reality, we must raise funds to cover costs.
*Please be sure to note that you are supporting the West Marin ¡Sí Se Puede! Event
PADRINO Sponsors at the $1000 level will receive two VIP seats, a meet and greet opportunity with Dolores, their name/logo will be on screen on stage during the event and listed in the program, and they will receive a large signed poster featuring the iconic image of Dolores Huerta by renowned Chicana artist, Barbara Carrasco.
PRIMO/A Sponsors at the $500 level will receive two VIP seats, their name/logo will be on screen on stage during the event and listed in the program, and they will receive a small signed poster.
AMIGO/A Sponsors at the $100 – $500 level will be listed in the program and receive a DH Poster.
We are making a strong effort to have as much of the labor and resources donated, so there will be more funds available to support the important work of West Marin Community Services and the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Juanita Chavez, DHF Development and Communications Director at (661) 748-3430, jchavez@doloreshuerta.org and/or West Marin Community Services (415) 663-8361, info@westmarincs.org.
Dolores Huerta in Marin
Ms. Huerta is President and Founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. “¡Sì Se Puede!” (Yes, We Can!) was the motto she coined for the United Farm Workers, which she co-founded with Cesar Chavez in 1962. In 2012, President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. At 89, she continues to inspire and organize communities to build volunteer organizations empowered to pursue social justice through her foundation.
Ms. Huerta was invited by West Marin Community Services, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing services that enhance the unity and well-being of the diverse rural population of Point Reyes Station and neighboring ranches, farms and villages.
The series of events is entitled, “¡Sì Se Puede! West Marin.” The first planned event is a morning assembly for grade school students from Point Reyes, Tomales and Bolinas-Stinson Beach. The second is an afternoon assembly for students from Tomales High School, where Dolores will focus on the importance of education, civic engagement, and the 2020 Census for all students regardless of their ethnicity, gender or legal status. Prior to her visit, the students will be exposed to curricula covering this focus and on Huerta’s life’s work in civil rights, including her time with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers. Her themes will be education, empowerment and weaving movements in the quest for unity and equity.
Also in August, under the auspices of the Marin County Library system, the PBS documentary “Dolores” has been shown in Bolinas, Point Reyes and Tomales. This documentary shows the remarkable life of a woman whose continued energy and focus would tire most us. Local libraries will feature books about Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. One book, “Lado a Lado (Side by Side) is a children’s book about both civil rights leaders. It will be available for purchase at Point Reyes Books.
In 2017, Marin County had a median household income of $113,908, one of the highest in California. Point Reyes Station’s median household income, on the other hand, was $31,2501. This figure did not include the income of ranch workers living outside of the village. What’s more, this figure did not include the income of many Hispanic residents who were never counted in the last decennial census. In the 2010 census, for example, only 9 Hispanics were counted in the village of Tomales (population: 204), a datum which did not reflect the reality of its local school population. This travesty of inequity is a factor that could easily reoccur in 2020 if our communities fail to become unified and empowered to correct it.
West Marin Community Services
West Marin Community Services provides a diverse range of services, not provided by other organizations or government programs, to support the residents of West Marin. By leveraging government resources and partnering with other non-profit organization, WMCS assures that “no one goes hungry” and that low-income families receive emergency services when needed. WMCS programs include a holiday food and gift program, summer swim classes for kids and fiscal sponsorship support for community partners who work within its mission, such as the Tomales Bay Youth Center, Point Reyes Farmers’ Market, Point Reyes Community Garden, and the Rotary Peace Garden at Toby’s. Many local residents patronize the West Marin Community Thrift Store, which is one of their programs. Its profits are distributed to families in need.
WMCS initiated Abriendo Caminos (Finding our Path). With support from the Marin Community Foundation, Abriendo Caminos continues as a “partnership developed in 2014 between agencies in the West Marin Collaborative and the local Latino community to increase civic engagement and leadership.” Abriendo Camino trainings have occurred within the Latino communities of Tomales, Point Reyes, Bolinas and San Geronimo.
Immigration became an unexpected additional topic for Abriendo Caminos, and WMCS began working with Standing Together West Marin, Canal Alliance, Mainstreet Moms, and other groups/volunteers to offer guidance, legal advice, etc. WMCS presented numerous Know Your Rights workshops and developed a West Marin Rapid Response System to send alerts, verify rumors of ICE actions, and coordinate volunteer assistance.
First and foremost we will engage in a 2020 census campaign targeted to all West Marin residents, but particularly to our Latino communities. We will encourage the count of all family members–adult and child–covering all households and individuals in West Marin.
2020 Census: According to a 2018 legislative analyst report, California could lose tens of millions of dollars in federal funds from a significant undercount. A complete and accurate count in 2020 is important for certain regions in the state, like West Marin, due to a misallocation of funding within the state. Many local governments receive federal and state funds that are based on population counts. “As a result, the potential loss of funds due to an undercount may have a greater impact on certain localities and their budgets relative to our state-level analysis.” It may be assumed that, because our region is located within Marin County, one of the richest counties in the state, there are few poor families in need of assistance in our rural area. An accurate 2020 census count will show that not to be the case. Our schools and our medical clinics depend upon such funding.
Secondly, we need to continue the effort to empower our diverse communities–Anglo and Latino–for a common pursuit of equity and civil engagement. Our greatest defense against the Administration’s vile behavior against our immigrant population is to unite. We need to break down the barriers of communication by building leadership, such as we did with Abriendo Caminos, and empowering all our adult residents, whether they be documented or undocumented. We will utilize the expertise of the Dolores Huerta Foundation to guide us in this endeavor.
As part of our community organizing, we will be using excess funds to wager a campaign for voter registration, which also will be tied to helping those who are eligible to become U.S citizens.
Equity requires empowerment. Empowered people, particularly those who can vote, will change America toward becoming a more humane, loving, peaceful and inclusive country that honors the diversity of its people. Dolores Huerta will inspire us to continue the fight toward this end.
Caregivers with the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program and SEIU Local 2015, joined by Dolores Huerta, local veterans, faith leaders, and social justice groups, shut down the county’s regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, August 20th, 2019. The demonstrators called on the Board of Supervisors to represent and protect the needs of thousands of caregivers and their constituents. Dolores Huerta was arrested, along with seven other demonstrators, at the Fresno County Board of Supervisors while calling for a living wage for caregivers.
Dolores stated, “In-home caregivers haven’t received a decent wage increase in over 10 years. Meanwhile, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors have given themselves a hefty salary increase. I decided to get arrested because I’m angry about the way home care workers are being treated. I was appalled by the way the sheriffs were mistreating Arnulfo De La Cruz, Executive Vice President of SEIU Local 2015. He was standing there peacefully when they grabbed him by the neck. The sheriffs were behaving in a brutish and aggressive manner in response to our peaceful protest. I am proud to stand with the over 17,000 support caregivers and their care recipients. These workers save the county upwards of $50,000 a year in providing services to the county’s elderly and differently-abled. They deserve a living wage! Si Se Puede!”
