Camila Chávez

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Executive Director

Ms. Chávez is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF). From the DHF headquarters in Bakersfield, Ms. Chávez oversees training for low-income community members in the areas of leadership and organizing skills specific to civic and electoral participation so that they can become catalysts for change in their own communities.

The ideals of non-violence, selfless motivation and personal responsibility were instilled in Camila by her parents Richard Chávez and Dolores Huerta. Camila grew up at the UFW Headquarters of La Paz where those same ideals were reinforced through the actions of people like her Uncle Cesar E. Chavez.

Under Camila’s leadership, the Dolores Huerta Foundation has accomplished some major victories including, but not limited to: the establishment of over 40 DHF grassroots community organizations in six communities in Kern and Tulare Counties which are working on neighborhood improvements and community projects, the development of a youth leadership program, a successful campaign for just wages which resulted in a wage increase for farm workers in Southern Central Valley in 2005, the Defeat of Propositions 73, 85 and 4 which would have amended the California Constitution to impede women’s reproductive rights, the defeat of an anti-immigrant resolution proposed in the Bakersfield City Council in September 2007, the establishment of the first micro-lending pilot project targeting farm workers in the Central Valley, and the implementation of a teen pregnancy prevention campaign.

Monica Valdez

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Wellness Coordinator

“Never give away your power.”

Monica has worked years with individuals and families helping them through difficult life challenges with positive results. She has a passion to help others utilize their strengths, gifts, and talents to promote optimum health and wellness for themselves and their families. Monica worked many years assisting people with the strengths-based approach and natural empathy to guide them in their healing process and life journey, building their self-efficacy and encouraging them to use their voice for fair and equitable treatment.

Monica decided that she needed to increase her capacity to help others, so she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She immediately attended University of California, Bakersfield to then obtain her master’s in social work. She began her work with the Dolores Huerta foundation, as an intern in the Youth Civic Engagement Initiative Program. Monica led healing circles, one-on-one counseling, provided resources, collaborated work with youth, teaching self-care/healthy coping skills. She participated in cultural actives, civic engagement events, and held virtual wellness retreats with the youth, youth intern’s and youth organizers. This was a defining moment for her, as she quickly found herself called to her purpose, her heart was stirred to stand in solidarity with all constituents of the program for the youth and families.

Monica is committed to advocacy for the social justice, freedom and equitable opportunities to fulfill their goals and dreams in life. Monica is completely focused on the betterment of all youth and their families as their ally in peace, justice, freedom, cultural respect, and holistic wellness.

Cecilia Castro

Pronouns: She/Her/hers

Deputy Director

Cecilia Castro was born in Mexico and grew up in Bakersfield, California. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and received a Bachelor of Arts in Chicano Studies and Spanish. Shortly after, Cecilia returned to the Central Valley to begin her career as an educator. However, after witnessing the startling educational inequalities in the surrounding disenfranchised communities, she felt inspired to organize and create systemic change in her own community.  Now, as the  Education Policy  Director  for  the  Dolores  Huerta  Foundation,  Cecilia  works  to  organize,  train,  and  educate  community  members  to  advocate  for  progressive  policies  to  achieve  educational  goals  that  promote  health  and  equity  in  schools  across  California.  This  includes  advocacy  for  lower  suspensions,  expulsions,  and  involuntary  transfers,  which  are  currently  perpetuating  the  school-to-prison  pipeline.  First  and  foremost,  Cecilia  works  to  carry  out  the foundation’s mission to  inspire  and  organize  community  members  to  build  volunteer  organizations  empowered  to  pursue  social  justice.

Lori De Leon

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Archival Project Coordinator

Lori de Leon has been employed with the Dolores Huerta Foundation since October 2003.  She has served in many capacities and is currently working on Dolores Huerta’s archives.

Kelley Herrera

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Human Resources Manager

“The good you do today will be forgotten. Do good anyway.” ― MT

As the Human Resources Manager, Kelley is responsible for planning, managing and coordinating HR functions including compensation and benefits, training and staff development. The greatest challenge Kelley has overcome while working at DHF was managing the multitude of census and GOTV canvassers that were hired during the Covid-19 Pandemic. 

Before joining DHF, Kelley worked in Human Resources for a large manufacturing employer in Seattle, Washington. She is passionate about human rights that uphold the dignity of all people, especially the right to work and education.

In her free time, Kelley enjoys spending time with her family, friends and most importantly, her two daughters and two granddaughters. 

Alicia Huerta

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Assistant to the President

“Every person has the power to make positive change and a difference.”

Alicia plays a central role in supporting the Dolores Huerta Foundation’s range of operations and programmatic responsibilities while being a key liaison with community partners. She works closely to support Dolores Huerta and DHF programs. Since joining the team, Alicia is most proud of DHF’s growing Vecino Chapters, support of Passed Legislation AB 392/SB 230 – Diminish Police Force” Stephon Clarke’s Bill, and AB 1783 Farmworker Housing.

Alicia brings decades of experience in health plan administration, online retail management, and office administration. Previously, Alicia worked as a Health Plan Coordinator acting as a liaison between 14 health insurance companies, overseeing medical staff, and helping people know their healthcare and home care options. She has supported farmworkers for many years working as a bookkeeper at Robert F. Kennedy Medical Plan, assistant and board member to National Farmworkers Service Center President Paul Chavez, and a processing manager and volunteer at the United Farm Workers.

Alicia has been a vital community advocate and volunteers for the Women’s Movement, homeless community, free tax service, children with disabilities, and many unions, community gardens, and youth organizations. Alicia formerly worked as a CASA advocate whereas she was a trained citizen appointed by a judge to represent a child victim in a case of abuse and neglect.

Emilio Huerta

Pronouns: He/Him/His

General Counsel

Emilio is a life-long community activist who has dedicated his personal and professional life to making a positive impact on the daily lives of working families. He has litigated for workers’ rights and advocated for affordable housing, primary healthcare clinics, credit unions, and community based non-profit organizations. Emilio currently serves as General Counsel for the Dolores Huerta Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-income residents through grassroots organizing, civic engagement, and leadership development.

Growing-up, Emilio witnessed firsthand the organizing leadership of Cesar Chavez and his mother Dolores Huerta. At a young age, he learned to appreciate the value of committing to a life of service to others.
Emilio received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from California State University Bakersfield and a Juris Doctorate degree from Santa Clara University School of Law.

Prior to attending college, Emilio volunteered full-time for the United Farm Workers union. At the age of 20, he was trained as a labor-negotiator for the UFW to represent farmworkers throughout California who had won their right to organize and collectively bargain under California’s Agricultural Labor Relations Act.
Emilio has always believed that successful nonprofit organizations can make a sustaining impact on the lives of low-income families. Emilio has served as corporate counsel for Omni Family Health (a Kern County based FQHC health-care organization), General Counsel for the Cesar Chavez Foundation, Board Chair for Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (Kern County’s legal aid), and Board Chair of Self-Help Federal Credit Union (a national credit union).

As General Counsel for the Cesar Chavez Foundation, Emilio played an instrumental role in developing more than 4,000 units of affordable housing ($500 million in assets), in California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. His knowledge of real estate, nonprofit law, and public financing has resulted in the development and construction of dozens of primary health clinics throughout California, and he has personally helped establish at least a hundred non-profit organizations throughout his legal career.

Pam Whalen

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Community Organizing Director

Pam Whalen provides a life-time of experience in the field of organizing and civic engagement. She joined the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) after graduating from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Latin American Studies and participated in the Gallo Strike and Boycott in 1973, and oversaw the Agricultural Labor Relations Board Elections in the Merced region. She went on to work for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) for 22 years where she organized over 10,000 home care workers. Pam is a founding member of the Community Alliance newspaper and the Central Valley Partnership. Pam has a Master’s in Mass Communications from California State University in Fresno in 1983.

Cecilia Delgado

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

South Kern Community Organizer

“It’s a great day to be alive”

-Max Morales

Cecilia Delgado is proud to be the new Community Organizer for Lamont and Arvin chapters and work with a majority of people who are Spanish-speaking fieldworkers. Her greatest passion in life is helping others in need. As a member of the Bakersfield chapter of Vecinos Unidos, Cecilia advocated for the summer school program at BCSD because her children attended every year and she believes that every day counts when it comes to giving students a quality education. She has also advocated for safety improvements for her neighborhood like adding stop signs, cleaning vacant lots, and collecting signatures to request speed bumps. As a trusted community member, people reach out to her for guidance if they’re unsure about something or if they have questions. 

Cecilia is originally from Colima, Mexico. She came to California when she was 6 years old. She is the oldest of 4, grew up in East Los Angeles, moved to Bakersfield in 2006 and has lived here since. Cecilia brings over 20 years of experience working with Housing Authority in housing development, low income public housing, section 8, and special programs housing the homeless. She has always been a curious person which makes her a great problem solver. She believes that people are comfortable with the status quo because they don’t know how to ask for change. If she sees something wrong, she’s definitely going to speak up and empower others to advocate for themselves.

When she’s not working, she has volunteered her time helping at schools, homeless shelters, and community clean-ups. In her free time, she likes to relax and rest away from technology and her home. She enjoys photography, mostly taking photos of her children. She has visited several states in Mexico and plans to continue her travels and learn more about her culture. She’s married and has a daughter and son and encourages them to pursue their education and dreams.

Emilio Hernandez

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Grants & Administrative Associate

As the Grants & Admin Associate, Emilio is responsible for grant writing, compliance, and administrative support to DHF’s Executive Director and Deputy Director. Emilio’s prior role with DHF was as the Los Angeles Regional Organizer for End Child Poverty in California, where he was responsible for organizing a coalition in support of legislative and budget policies.

Before joining DHF, Emilio worked for six years in student affairs at UCLA as a Community Service Advisor and later as the supervisor for College Preparation Programs. 

Prior to working at UCLA, Emilio worked on various campaigns advocating for political representation, education, health, and economic justice. He combines 20+ years of experience in community organizing involving recruitment, training, project management and college preparation with a focus on youth leadership development and civic engagement.

Emilio is connected to the mission of the Dolores Huerta Foundation through his interest in advancing the success of progressive people-powered movements. Emilio attended East Los Angeles College where he studied journalism and later transferred to UCLA where he earned his B.A. in Chicano/a Studies. In his spare time, Emilio enjoys cooking, collecting vinyl records, and reading.

Dayana Lopez

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Fresno Community Organizer

“It always seems impossible until it’s done” -Nelson Mandela

As a community organizer in Fresno County, Dayana focuses on engaging and empowering community members to pursue social justice. Through such efforts, she provides them with the tools to make a difference in their society. Educating the folks about their capabilities and power is essential in the work she strives to do.

Dayana’s inclination to improve underrepresented disenfranchised groups led her to give back to her neighborhood. Her experience with Central Valley Freedom highlighted the lack of education and resources rural regional areas face. Through the creation of workshops, she seeks to bring awareness to the regions targeting issues such as voter registration and youth empowerment.

Dayana holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fresno in Sociology and a certificate in applied Sociological Research. In her free time, she enjoys a hot cup of tea and a good book.

Lourdes “Lulu” Oliva

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Education Program Associate

Lourdes “Lulu” Oliva, is a community organizer in Fresno County with the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Lulu focuses her work on empowering Spanish speaking migrant agricultural workers and immigrants of Latin America. As the first in her family to graduate from college and as an immigrant from Guatemala, she uses her voice and personal experiences to communicate a positive message to many immigrant families and their children who have shared similar struggles.  “Lulu,” as she is known by her radio audience, is passionate about advocating for women, single-parent families, and immigrants and their journey towards acculturation and success in the United States.

In addition to her organizing duties at DHF, she serves on the Low Income Oversight Board for the California Public Utilities Commission. She also has for nineteen years, been a volunteer radio producer and DJ for a public radio station, Radio Bilingüe Inc.the National Latino Public Radio Network.  

When not working, some of her favorite hobbies include poetry readings, live music concerts, dancing, and traveling to visit her father in Colombia South America, but most importantly, she enjoys creating content for her social media audiences. Lulu has a committed presence at almost all of Fresno’s cultural and social justice events and concerts.  Her contagious laughter can be heard from afar and she is never shy about being the first person to start the party by bringing out her dance moves.

Luisa Quezada

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Tulare Community Organizer

“Be the change you want to see in the world” – Mahatma Gandhi

As the Community Organizer in Tulare County, Luisa oversees the Lindsay and Woodlake chapters. Her greatest passion is to share the knowledge she acquires to help those in need. Through her involvements in El Quinto Sol de America, PIQUE, Parenting classes, Peace, La Segunda Taza de Café, Parenting Network, Abriendo Puerta, School Site Council, DELAC, and CAPS, it is apparent that she has been able to share her passion with the community. Some of the efforts she has participated in are gathering signatures, encouraging the district to stop spraying Chlorpyrifos around schools, and helping organize the Women’s Conference of El Quinto Sol de America.

Luisa, a former Vecina Unida, witnessed first hand the educational inequalities children with special needs face. She felt the urgency to organize around the issue and help educate community members to advocate for those who are underrepresented. She also strives to promote education and health equity among schools in search of social justice.

As a mother, she encourages and supports her children’s dreams to pursue their goals. She also teaches them about the importance of the richness of the Mexican culture, heritage, and traditions.

Ruth Sanchez

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Antelope Valley Community Organizer

“Let’s get it done, I got this.”

Ruth Sanchez is a community organizer in the Antelope Valley area in Los Angeles County with the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Ruth focuses her work on empowering low income communities, veterans, and the youth. As a Mother of two sons and a multiracial family, she uses her voice and experience to communicate a positive message to many low income families and their children who have experienced struggles with law enforcement, city officials, school and homelessness. Ruth is passionate about advocating for women, single parent families, and immigrants and strives to uplift those around her and the communities she serves.

In addition to her organizing duties at DHF, Ruth is an activist with the ACLU Socal and NorCal branches. Ruth has organized community events to raise awareness for individuals experiencing homelessness and veterans, organizing trips to Tijuana to bring much needed supplies to deported veterans. She has maintained a continuous presence at almost all Antelope Valley council meetings and social justice events, and has established herself as a pillar in the community.

When not working, Ruth enjoys crafting and crocheting.

Fernando Torres

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Bakersfield Community Organizer

“If you are given an opportunity, it is your duty to make sure others are given the same opportunity.”

As a community organizer for the city of Bakersfield, Fernando Torres seeks to empower Bakersfield residents so they can address and fix the problems they see in their communities. In these efforts, he has provided DHF’s Vecinos the necessary tools for them to get educated and organized around issues such as education, infrastructure, and civic engagement.

Fernando’s desire to improve conditions for marginalized communities led him to advocate for the Latino community as an education activist and mentor. He oversaw a college readiness program, called Conexiones, to increase racial and socioeconomic diversity in higher education by providing mentorship, leadership development, and cultural awareness trainings to high school students of color. Understanding that finances were often a barrier to higher education for our Latino communities, Fernando also fundraised for and implemented an annual scholarship that was presented to an undocumented New Haven student seeking to attend college. Wanting to bring those skills back to the community that raised him, Fernando moved back to the Central Valley and started working for the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

Fernando holds Bachelor’s Degrees from Yale University in History and Spanish. In his free time, he enjoys watching cult B-rated horror movies and buying copious amounts of books that he’ll never read.

Carol Watkins

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

California City Community Organizer

Carol Watkins is an Alabama native. The injustices in education, particularly those faced by young African-American students, have led Carol to the Dolores Huerta Foundation. She aims to fight for youth of color in schools who face unjustified suspension and expulsions. She organizes in California City, where young students of color face the highest rate of suspensions and expulsions in the State of California. Carol strongly believes in social justice and has a worldly perspective about things coming together in full circle.

Carol loves reading; her favorite book is The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein and is currently reading Maya Angelou’s The Heart of a Woman and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. She also loves trees and believes they would be quite the storytellers, if only they could talk.

Jess Contreras

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Civic Engagement Manager

Yesenia “Jess” Contreras is a long-time resident of Arvin, California. Active in sports, she benefited from Title IV programs. She was one of a few girls on the Arvin High School Freshman Football Team. She was a founding member of LINK Crew, which mentored incoming freshmen. After graduating high school, she coached Arvin Little League Baseball for two years.

She became active in Civic Engagement as a canvasser for The California Vote Project, which registered over 12,000 voters in the Kern County area. She went on to work on various election campaigns, including Leticia Perez, for Kern County Supervisor, Rudy Salas for State Assembly, and Willie Rivera for City Council.

She began working with the DHF as a canvasser for Yes on Proposition 30 in 2012. She continued on as a volunteer, and was soon hired as a Team Lead to run the Obamacare outreach campaign. Her team pre-enrolled over 200 people into Obamacare.

In May of 2014, she joined the DHF team as a full time Community Organizer. In October 2014, she ran the campaign for Yes on Prop 47, the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act. Her team contacted 9,433 voters and identified 5,844 in support of Prop 47. They recruited 107 volunteers to walk precincts in South Kern and Bakersfield on Election Day.

Eliana Honeycutt

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Kern County Civic Engagement Coordinator

“Those who love peace must learn to organize as effectively as those who love war.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.

As the Civic Engagement Coordinator, Eliana is responsible for all the community outreach campaigns for Kern County and is proud to have supported causes that benefit our communities by supporting and campaigning for propositions, bonds, petitions, serving as a legislative advocate for bills that are up for consideration in all levels of government, and contributing to DHF’s Civic Outreach curriculum and training courses to support our organizing department and our community.

As a daughter of Latino immigrants, she knows firsthand the struggles that minorities face when it comes to politics and was mobilized during a High School walkout to protest a House bill (HR 4437) which catalyzed the 2006 U.S. Immigration Reform protests.

Eliana has an array of experience of over a decade in political campaigning. In the past, she has worked as a field manager for several healthcare initiatives, an organizer for President Obama’s re-election campaign, a union organizer for the National Union of Healthcare Workers, and an organizer for Amanda Renteria for Congress. Before joining the DHF, she was involved in a multi-state campaign for Senator Bernie Sanders and was a Campus Organizing Director for the NextGen Climate. Eliana is an experienced organizer with a concentrated skill in voter data software maximizing her knowledge and experience in community outreach.

Eliana is a diehard Beatles fan, a music and sci-fi lover. Her hobbies and self-care activities include playing disc golf, Zumba, dancing, singing, yoga, prayer, meditation, writing, reading, volunteering, listening to podcasts and audiobooks and creating and appreciating all forms of art. With more practice, she hopes to eventually join the Bakersfield Lady Hawks Disc Golf Club. She is currently working on learning how to play the ukulele and then hopes to move on to the harmonica. The struggle must continue, it does not start or end here, but we can get there together. Si Se Puede.

Lori Pesante

Pronouns: She/Her/hers

Director of Civic Engagement & Government Relations

“Memory, Imagination, and Hope.”

Proof that not all who wander are lost, Lori began her career studying the humanities in the Jesuit tradition in Seattle, Italy, East Germany, Cuba and Mexico, then teaching 6th grade newcomer students in Delano, California. Lori earned her Juris Doctorate from UC Hastings College of the Law and worked in a variety of public interest contexts including the San Francisco District Attorney’s office under Kamala Harris, the Kern County Public Defenders Office, public employee unions, legal aid organizations, and higher education.

At DHF, Lori is humbled daily by the opportunities to empower others and forge a more perfect union, most recently launching the first DHF Election Protection Hotline and poll watching program, activating communities to vindicate their right to vote despite voter suppression. Lori longs to see a Central Valley free of systemic racism and economic inequality where all people thrive, not just survive. Certified in MBTI assessment, Lori loves helping people maximize their ability to empathize and collaborate.

When not working, Lori enjoys impromptu family dance parties, sprinkling magic pixie dust on ouchies, and spending entirely too much time sharing articles with others at all hours of the day and night.

Angel Ruiz

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Tulare Community Organizer

“It’s always possible!“

As a Community Organizer in Tulare County, Angel strives for community-based empowerment. By educating the community on local, state, and federal policies that affect them and providing the community with the right tools to solve their issue, no matter how big or small the problem may be. Angel teaches the community that their participation in government matters because people hold the power when it comes to education, infrastructure, and public goods and services. 

Before joining DHF, Angel worked at a few internships where he became involved in different levels of government. During Gavin Newsom’s 2018 campaign for Governor, Angel became an effective amplifier of the campaign’s message at town halls and rallies where he eagerly engaged with attendees, turning undecided voters into supporters and supporters into volunteers. He also interned with Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel from California’s 45th District and Councilwoman Nury Martinez from Los Angeles’ 6th District.

Angel holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Government from California State University, Northridge. He also holds a Certificate in Translation and Interpreting from California State University, Los Angeles. Angel reads World Politics, analyzing policy change in Latin America. Some of the publications he reads regularly include The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Time magazine. In addition, he stays informed about public policy by reading important documents like the California state budget, The Mueller Report, and Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Angel also enjoys walking daily, listening to music and playing with his dogs Coco, Bruce, and Yogi. 

Paola Fernandez

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Kern Community Organizer

“He who has a Why to live for can bear almost any How.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Paola will identifies and recruits leaders in our community to join our Vecinos Unidos chapters in creating positive changes in our community. Paola successfully the team lead for the Kern Census campaign, where she worked with a team of 25 canvassers to encouraged thousands of families to make themselves count. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team had to get creative and attracted residents out of their homes by renting a paleta (popsicle) cart with the bells and all and having a DJ join a caravan of Census decorated cars.

Paola first began organizing and advocating around immigrant rights in 2006. That summer, Paola did an internship with the Dolores Huerta Foundation in 2006, and that opened her eyes to other social justice issues affecting her community. This is also when understood the power of community organizing. Since that time, she has held various organizing positions advocating for immigrant and working families. Most recently, as a labor organizer. 

Paola likes to spend her free time reading, journaling, visiting murals, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog. She is also working towards her teaching credential. 

Yesenia Ocampo

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Youth and Family Civic Engagement Initiative Program Director

Yesenia became an intern with the Dolores Huerta Foundation in 2006 after learning about Mrs. Huerta’s leadership role in the farm worker’s movement, and has continued her involvement with the foundation ever since. From a young age, Yesenia was drawn to both social justice and health fields. Coming from a family of farm-workers, Yesenia learned first-hand the health disparities and social injustices in low-income communities. While in college, she explored her interests and career options in many settings, including the Children’s Hospital Oakland.

Yesenia Ocampo received her B.A. in Sociology from UC Berkeley and nursing prerequisites and upon graduation has worked in different social service and health-care settings in the Central Valley and the San Francisco Bay area. Her previous work as a Youth Health Services Manager fueled a passion to tie her interest in public health with her passion for social justice. She is proud of returning to her community and hopes to make a positive impact through her work.

Maria Romero

Curriculum & Program Coordinator

“It is what it is; I can only do what I have control over; it will happen the way it’s supposed to.”

Maria Romero role is to guide and support curriculum development and project implementation for the DHF Youth Program with the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Maria’s work is to inspire, educate, and prepare our young generation of people to be civically engaged and active in their communities. 

Maria has been been an educator for over 20 years and spent the last 5 years with the Novato Unified School District as an Education Specialist. The colonized education system and the misguidance Maria experienced in schools is what fuels Maria to foster a more safe and honest educational space for youth where their life experiences are used to harvest their brilliance so they not only heal and transform themselves but their communities as well.

Outside of education and activism, Maria loves to read, hike, sew, cook, listen to music, and spend time with her family. Maria is also a news junkie and a history fanatic. To keep the mind and spirit in tune, Maria stays close to the indigenous teachings, teachers, and ceremonies of Maria’s ancestoral lineage.

Cesilia Acevedo

Pronouns: She/Her/hers

Sanger Youth Organizer

“Do everything with passion and love.”

Cesilia Acevedo is a Youth Organizer with the Dolores Huerta Foundation in Fresno County. Her work is to inspire, educate, and prepare our young generation of people to be civically engaged and active in their communities. Her greatest accomplishment during her first year with DHF is seeing her young students push themselves out of their comfort zones, become vocal on issues that young people are facing in their communities, and learn and share that knowledge with others around them.

Cesilia has worked as a community organizer for 6 years through volunteering and also working on several campaigns throughout the Central Valley. Growing up in a rural farmworker community, Cesilia experienced firsthand the negative impact that the lack of representation in leadership and lack of resources had on her community, family and friends. These experiences inspired her to organize in the most marginalized communities to help lift the voices of those who have been historically ignored.

In her free time, Cesilia enjoys spending time with her family and going on adventures with her two dogs, Ladybird and Little Jerry. Cesilia is also continuing her higher education at CSU Fresno.

Virginia Espino

Pronouns: She/Her/hers

YFCEI Project Associate

“Watering the seeds of social justice with every conversation”

As a youth organizer for the city of Bakersfield, Virginia Espino strives to inform and educate the youth to create a positive change in their communities and schools. Because Virginia and her family immigrated from Mexico to California when she was only 4 years old, she became aware of many social injustices at a very young age not only in her community but nationally. Some of the issues she is passionate about include immigrant rights, education equity, and gender equality. 

While pursuing her Bachelor degree at California State University of Bakersfield (CSUB), she was fortunate enough to find work at CSUB Educational Talent Search (ETS) program. As an ETS mentor, she worked with underserved and socially disadvantaged youth in Kern High School District. She originally planned on becoming an archaeologist to study the culture in her native country of Mexico. However, she found a great sense of fulfilment and enjoyment in mentoring first generation youth like herself and decided to pursue a career in education and mentoring. She has continued encouraging and mentoring youth in Kern High School District (KHSD), Bakersfield City School District (BCSD), and The Boys and Girls Club of Kern. 

When Viginia has some free time, she enjoys reading about ancient civilizations in Mesoamerica, sketching, painting, and spending time in the great outdoors. She especially enjoys teaching her daughter Emmaline about her Mexican heritage and traditions. 

Gabriela Fernandez

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Bakersfield Youth Organizer

Gabriela works in the Youth and Family Civic Engagement Initiative where she teaches students in middle school and high school how to make systemic change on a local, state, and federal level. The young people she works with are passionate, care for their community, and are provided a safe space for them to engage and make changes they want to see in their communities. She has worked on a variety of different campaigns since working with the Foundation. Some of her biggest accomplishments was being the lead person in gathering over 3,000 signatures to turn into the Kern High School board to express that the community didn’t want teachers to have guns on campus as well as working on the campaign to pass Proposition 30 to get more funding for our schools.

Gabriela became a volunteer when she was 11 years old with the DHF because she realized their focus was to organize communities to improve their lives. She has previously worked on campaigns such as Leticia Perez, Willy Rivera, and Measure J among others. After working on a variety of different campaigns that taught her the importance of door knocking and listening to the community with an open mind in order to work together to make changes. She has always been motivated to fight for immigrant rights because she was raised in a mixed status family. Becoming an advocate for her community has been a tremendous part of her. The students she works with are a constant reminder that we need to work with every generation in order to expand our work.

She loves going to the gym and having a clear mind before coming into work every day in order to have the energy and good mindset.

Ricardo Fonseca

Pronouns: They/She/He

Kern Youth Organizer

“It is our duty to fight for our freedom.

It is our duty to win.

We must love each other and support each other.

We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

― Assata Shakur

Ricardo Fonseca is a Trans Latinx Youth Organizer in Kern County with the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Within their time working at DHF, Ricardo has focused on developing and co-creating spaces for youth empowerment through political education workshops, community building, and youth-led programming. They hope that by giving youth the necessary tools and resources to think critically and engage in social justice practices, the youth will continue to advocate and uplift their communities. As an abolitionist, Ricardo truly believes that we can dismantle the current systems and mechanisms of oppression, and create another world where BIPoC lives are centered and celebrated. 

Being born and raised on the East Side of Bakersfield (occupied Yokuts land), Ricardo learned early on about systemic injustices on local, national, and global levels by witnessing firsthand the clear divide in Bakersfield that perpetuates violence onto the most vulnerable communities. By experiencing these systemic injustices, they understand the critical need to create and sustain community-based resources to youth and families in order to build new equitable systems that are accessible to everyone. Ricardo believes that these new equitable systems can only be created if we collectively engage in a trickle-up social justice praxis–which prioritizes the liberation of the most marginalized first, thereafter ensuring the liberation of all other marginalized groups.

Ricardo hopes to engage in long lasting community work that uplifts, centers and celebrates the lives and experiences of Trans and Queer BIPoC youth. Ricardo received a B.A. in Sociology and Chicanx Studies from UC Santa Barbara. They have cancer sun and cancer moon signs, so catch them at the beach in their freetime. Ricardo also enjoys playing video games (Fortnite, Pokémon, and Mario Kart), dancing/singing (terribly), and learning about Trans and Queer narratives.

Anahi Plasencia

Pronouns: She/Her/hers

Tulare Youth Organizer

“It always seems impossible until it’s done. You can do it. Si se puede.”

As a Youth organizer for Tulare County, Anahi Plasencia seeks to empower youth and their families by providing the tools and education necessary to organize communities so they can become active leaders in economic and social justice and make a positive impact on their lives and their communities. At DHF, Anahi is proud to work with youth with different backgrounds to inspire them to become future leaders in their communities.

Before joining DHF, Anahi worked with the community providing computer repair services. She has worked with youth for the last two years. She mentored youth in her church and provided them with the tools necessary for success. Anahi is one of seven children. As the daughter of a farm worker, she saw and overcame the financial struggle many of our community youth and lower-income students face. As a first generation college student, Anahi seeks to give youth an opportunity to achieve their dreams and fight for change.

Anahi holds a Bachelor Degree from California State University, Fresno in Computer Science. In her free time, Anahi loves to help the community with any computer need. She loves to build computers and to fix electronic devices. She also has an interest in game programming.

Mary Tieh

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

California City Youth Organizer

Bio coming soon.

 Ashley De La Rosa

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Education Policy Program Director

“Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.”

As the education program associate, Ashley educate parents, community members and youth regarding educational injustices, gives them the tools to become empowered to advocate for change, and works with various teams to strategize around dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline. Since Ashley has been a part of the team, she has successfully engaged Vecinos in the LCAP Process, executed various campaigns around education justice, and has lobbied at the State Capital for AB 901, which will decriminalize truancy in community/alternative schools within California. 

Ashley is passionate about student development and leadership. She strives to help students unlock their potential, which can be accomplished in a healthy equitable environment. Before becoming part of the foundation, Ashley had been teaching Math, Science, English, and History lessons in a fun and engaging way to third graders for the Horizon Elementary after-school program. In previous experiences, Ashley developed skills to provide leadership, event organizing, and communication training.

In her spare time, Ashley liked to remain active through her soccer team (before COVID). Ashley engages with students seeking higher education and provides guidance through her participation in Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., Hermanos Unidos and Latinx Alumni Network de UCSC. When possible, Ashley likes to spend some down time reading a good book.

Juana Chávez

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Development Director

Juanita served as a board member of the DHF since its inception in 2003. Daughter of civil rights activist Dolores Huerta and niece of labor rights leader Cesar Chavez she was raised a “movement child.” Her first steps were on picket lines and marches in support of the United Farm Workers. She is an alumni of San Francisco State University. While there, she served as a mentor for “at-risk” youth as part of the Real Alternatives Program. She worked in collaboration with the Chicano Moratorium to provide guidance and secure support and resources for Bay Area youth who successfully organized to demand increased funding for education and ethnic studies. She took a year off to intern at the Feminist Majority. Upon graduation, she earned a teaching credential and taught at Mission High School in San Francisco where she co-founded and served as staff advisor for the first Gay Straight Alliance. She also taught in inner-city public schools in Los Angeles for a little over a decade where she served as UTLA chapter chair for several years.

Amaranta Campos

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Public Relations Associate

“Be somebody nobody thought you could be.”

As a Public Relations Associate, Amaranta is responsible for coordinating engagements for the President and other members of the Speakers Bureau. She is responsible for public appearances and maximizing fundraising opportunities for the DHF.

At a young age, she got involved with the DHF and participated in several projects with the DHF Vecinos Unidos. She helped with the campaign to pass Measure C. This enabled the school district to build a gymnasium and add fencing around the schools in Weedpatch, California. She helped pass Measure L, in Arvin, which provided the city with funds for safety and recreation such as: paving of streets, street lights, and park improvements. Amaranta’s most impactful experience was her first time going door-to-door working on Measure C in Lamont and Measure L in Arvin. Measure C enabled the Vineland School District to build a gymnasium and add fencing around the schools in Weedpatch, California. Measure L provided the city with funds for improving safety and recreation such as paving of streets, adding street lights, and improving parks. Seeing the change she was able to make in her community at a young age empowered her to continue working for social justice.

In 2012, she began working with the DHF as a canvasser on statewide campaigns. She worked to pass Proposition 30, which temporarily raised certain tax rates to provide additional financial support for public schools, and informed community members about new healthcare coverage options under Obamacare. Amaranta has also previously worked as an after-school tutor for Above and Beyond Learning working with K-8 students from low-income families to improve their reading, writing, and math skills. She is now on the staff of the Dolores Huerta Foundation and hopes to continue to improve the community for generations to come.

Some of Amaranta hobbies are gardening, cooking, photography, pet care, listening to music and dancing, and spending time with her family and friends.

Carlo Gómez Arteaga

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Communications and Development Coordinator

“Vive tu día.”

Mr. Gómez Arteaga is the State Program Director of the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF) organizing the community engagement in support of the comprehensive PLAN to End Child Poverty California Campaign headed by GRACE End Child Poverty Institute and GRACE (Gather, Respect, Advocate, Change, Engage). These comprehensive recommendations will eliminate deep child poverty for 450,000 California children when fully implemented. They will also dramatically reduce overall child poverty in our state while working to break the cycles of intergenerational poverty.

Carlo Gómez Arteaga is an experienced organizer, advocate, facilitator, and trainer with over 20 years of experience focused on LGBTQI+, Immigrant, and Youth Equity. He is the co-founder and facilitator of the first Spanish language support group for Latinx Trans men Grupo de Apoyo Fénix in the San Francisco East Bay. This is a partnership between The Pacific Center for Human Growth in Berkeley and Somos Familia in Oakland, CA.

Mr. Gómez Arteaga holds a B.A. in Political Science & Spanish from DePaul University, and certifications in a number of areas including: Peer Counseling, Group Facilitation, Youth Development, Harm Reduction, and Family & Community Engagement Practices. Mr. Gómez Arteaga is a New Voices Fellow through the Academy for Educational Development, funded by the Ford Foundation. He lives in West Oakland.

Paul Kelley

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Development Associate

“If it don’t make money, it don’t make sense!”

Paul is responsible for the procurement, storage and distribution of DHF merchandise, supplies and promotional materials. He coordinates DHF event merchandise sales and literature distribution as well as supports the material needs of the Organizing, Y.F.C.E.I. and Civic Engagement staff. He is also responsible for maintaining the donor financial information and social justice network database. Since joining the DHF, Paul is proud of his accomplishments of dramatically increasing merchandise sales, streamlining data input, and implementing new supply tracking procedures.

Paul has over 40 years of experience in medical administration, government services and procurement, and in the private sector. He was a DHF Celebrity Golf Classic volunteer for 10 years before becoming a full-time staff member. The 2016 Presidential elections motivated Paul to work full time in social justice and contribute towards a positive change in his community.

Every Sunday, Paul volunteers feeding and clothing the local homeless community. He also enjoys the occasional trip to Las Vegas.

Jasmine Pantoja

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Communications Associate

“There will be no peace until there is justice, there will be no justice until wrongdoings are admitted, acknowledged and atoned for.”

In her role at the Dolores Huerta Foundation, Jasmine manages digital media, maintains donor relations, and supports communications efforts for outreach campaigns. Jasmine also prepares print/digital publications for promotional and fundraising materials.

Previously, Jasmine served as the Business Manager of The Runner, California State University, Bakersfield’s Newspaper, where she helped grow its relationships with other businesses while keeping up with the constant evolution of news delivery and social media marketing. During her time at The Runner, she also executed new target marketing and recruiting campaigns to maximize print and digital distribution.

Jasmine was first activated for social change in 2014, when she joined a demonstration for human and civil rights at the grand opening of a Hobby Lobby. She believes that every person is entitled to express their right to marriage and has autonomy over their own body and reproductive choices.

Jasmine is an alumnae of the Gamma Phi Beta – Delta Phi Chapter. As an active member, she served as Assistant Financial Vice President and Chapter Excellence Chairwoman, where she managed all budget, accounting, and billing processes while creating individual development plans to maintain the chapter’s overall campus satisfactory report. Jasmine holds a Bachelors in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from California State University, Bakersfield.

In her spare time, you can find Jasmine advocating for animal rights, watching a live band perform, and spending time with her family.

Greg Daisa

Pronouns: He/Him/His

IT Director

Bio coming soon.

Macario Garcia

Pronouns: He/Him/His

IT Support Technician

“Smart people learn from their mistakes; Wise people learn from other’s mistakes.”

Macario is DHF’s first line of defense for technical support, equipment set-up, and software installation. Macario first started at DHF as a canvasser where his technical prowess was noticed by one of our managers. He used his skills by volunteering to assist with setting up the computers, phone bank, and network cables at the new Tulare office. 

Macario has many years of experience with repairing, restoring, troubleshooting, and building mechanical/electronical equipment. He also works alongside his father’s HVAC company installing Security systems, smart thermostats, cameras, networks, and fixing/building computers etc. Macario’s drive comes from a deep curiosity of how all things mechanical and electronical work. He is mostly self-taught, using any and every resource possible to expand his knowledge in the IT field.

Hobbies of his are far too many and constantly growing. Repairing and restoring classic Volkswagen Beetles is Macario’s favorite leisure activity. Not only does Macario continue to pursue IT as a career but keeping up to date on all things tech is another way he passes the time. When gathering with his friends, they work on team building through a fantasy role-playing game called Dungeons & Dragons. Given a longer period of free time, traveling and learning new recipes to cook is another way he tends to enjoy himself. The list goes on and on with Macario as you can tell, so feel free to ask him about his long list of hobbies if you ever run into him. I’m sure you will enjoy him as much as we do at the DHF.

Timo Prado

Pronouns: He/Him/His

South Kern Organizer

Timoteo “Timo” Prado is a native of Nayarit, Mexico and currently lives in Weedpatch, CA. A father of 6 children, he worked as an organizer for the City of Arvin, CA. Timo was introduced to the Dolores Huerta Foundation during a Weedpatch house meeting. “When I met the Foundation” Timo comments, “I realized the needs of my community and began to organize. Especially after Camila (DHF Executive Director) entrusted responsibilities to me, I thought ‘oh wow! I cannot fail.’”

As a volunteer, Timo helped the community of Weedpatch attain the installation of public lights, drinking fountain filters in schools, fences around the schools, and a gym. Some of his other victories include the passing of measure “L” which provided the city with funds for safety and recreation, paving of streets, street lighting and park improvements. Furthermore, Timo has been able to improve relations between communities and public entities such as schools, city councils and the police.

Timo retired in Spring 2020 after over a decade of organizing with DHF. He enjoys his leisure time travelling to Mexico and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.