Following an annual tradition going back over a decade, the Dolores Huerta Foundation plans to provide holiday meals for DHF Vecinos Unidos (Neighbors United) Families. Many of these Vecinos are frontline essential workers who labor daily to keep our families fed and cared for, sometimes at great personal risk to themselves and their own families. Many have experienced financial hardship as a direct result of the Covid 19 pandemic. Yet, continued to give their personal time volunteering to make a difference and bring about positive change in their communities.
Throughout the pandemic, the Vecinos Unidos have been active in:
· Distributing food to families in need.
· Advocating for just and equitable education policies in response to the Covid19 pandemic.
· Promoting robust participation in the 2020 Census by reaching out to neighbors and hard-to-count communities to ensure a full count.
· Educating voters and encouraging participation in the critical recent elections.
Join us in thanking the Vecinos Unidos members and showing our appreciation for all they do to improve the neighborhoods and towns they live in!
Join the conversation! Dolores Huerta Foundation Youth Members Present: Youth Speak: Reimagining School Safety, TOMORROW Thursday, 10/08/2020 at 6 pm PDT via Zoom. As a part of the National Week of Action of Dignity in Schools Campaign, we invite you to join us in this special webinar where youth describe what a safe, positive climate means to them! It is time to listen to our youth!
Join us, alongside the Million Voters Project as Dolores Huerta rallies for YES on Prop 15. More info: https://bit.ly/mvpparty RSVP AT: https://bit.ly/mvpparty Fill out your ballot whiling vibing to the sounds of DJ Rony G & Las Cafeteras. Únase a nosotros, junto con Million Voters Project, mientras Dolores Huerta se moviliza por SÍ a la Proposición 15. Más información: https://bit.ly/mvpparty. Regístrese AHORA en: https://bit.ly/mvpparty Complete su boleta mientras baila con la música de DJ Rony G & Las Cafeteras.
Vote Safe California: a conversation with Dolores Huerta, CA Secretary of State Alex Padilla, America Ferrera & Cristela Alonzo about the 2020 Elections, California mail in ballots & voter resources!
Vote Safe California: una conversación con Dolores Huerta, Secretaria de Estado de CA Alex Padilla, America Ferrera y Cristela Alonzo sobre las elecciones de 2020, boletas de California por correo y recursos para votantes.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing homelessness, housing crisis, workers right issues, and/or struggling with mental health, please share the 2020 Dolores Huerta Foundation Resource & Mental Health Guide. The information listed here, may be helpful for your situation.
Out of an abundance of precaution for the health and safety of our friends and supporters, we regret to inform you that we have decided to postpone this year’s Annual Celebrity Golf Classic until a time when we feel more certain that we can all gather safely. #AloneTogether #SiSePuede #DHF
We mourn the loss of Representative John Lewis as he was a pillar of the civil rights movement. “John Lewis led us on the path for racial justice and equality on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. His lifetime of undaunted courage inspires us to continue in his footsteps, on his path, until equality is achieved. He is resting now. We owe it to him to push forward.” – Dolores Huerta, President & Founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. At 80 years of age, @repjohnlewis left an indelible impact on our country through his tireless efforts to improve our racial and political landscape. Rest in Power.
Free #COVID19 testing is now available for all Valley residents! Visit: www.projectbaseline.com to register for an appointment TODAY!
Hours of Operation:
Sunday – Friday 8 am -11 am & 12 pm-2 pm
Location:
1126 South P Street, Gate 26 Bakersfield, CA 93307
An appointment is required to get tested. No walk-ups are allowed. This site is drive-thru only. All individuals are to remain in their cars, with windows up, during the entire test process.
Se requiere una cita para la prueba. No se permiten visitas sin cita previa. Este sitio es solo para pruebas de paso. Todas las personas deben permanecer en sus coches durante todo el proceso de prueba.
[BAKERSFIELD, CA] THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020- In celebration of the iconic American labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta’s 90th birthday, the Dolores Huerta Foundation is bringing celebrities, elected officials and activists together to raise money to relieve the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in regions where politically disempowered, low-income, immigrant, and farmworker groups are being disproportionately affected.
“In my 90 years, I have seen the progress in our country towards improvements for women, our LGBTQ+ community and people of color, but we know we have not yet achieved the equity we deserve. So as we go forward for the next century, we can learn from the lessons of the past to reimagine and shape the future for a world that is just and fair for all,” Huerta stated.
The digital event will be streamed on all of DHF’s major social platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter on Saturday, May 30 beginning at 5:00 pm PDT / 8:00 pm EDT and will be hosted by renowned comedian, actress, and writer Cristela Alonzo.
The digital event is structured as a late night show that will feature comedy, music and lively conversations about feminism, climate justice, coping with Covid-19 and more. Guests include Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, George Lopez, Eva Longoria, Martin Sheen, Alfre Woodard, Esai Morales, Mark Hamill, Benjamin Bratt, Zoe Saldana, Matt McGorry, Joe & Jill Biden, Bill & Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, John Leguizamo, Danny Glover, Gina Rodriguez, Kerry Kennedy, Patrisse Cullors, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Common, Aloe Blacc, Maya Jupiter, Edward James Olmos, Kate del Castillo, the cast of Penny Dreadful and more. Musical guests include Carlos Santana and his wife Cindy Blackman, Sheila E. and her father legendary Latin percussionist Pete Escovedo, Grammy award-winning musical groups Ozomatli, and the Grammy nominated all-female mariachi group Flor de Toloache.
For interviews with Dolores Huerta, please contact Damairis Lao at dlao@doloreshuerta.org.
Dolores Huerta and Leticia Perez encourage Kern County residents to get tested for Covid-19 to safely reopen society
MEDIA CONTACT: Damairis Lao | dlao@doloreshuerta.org
[BAKERSFIELD, CA] WEDNESDAY, MAY 13TH, 2020- The Dolores Huerta Foundation in collaboration with Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez have created videos in English and Spanish to promote the new Covid-19 testing sites in Bakersfield to share widely on social media. Press is asked to air the videos and publish Dolores’ statement to spread awareness to the local community.
According to the Kern County Public Health Services Department, Hispanic people make up over 65% of Covid-19 cases in Kern County, a higher rate than all other ethnic groups combined. Many are at a higher risk because they are essential workers on the front lines of the pandemic. Yet, there are more barriers for Hispanic communities to access important health information and resources, in part because of language barriers or fear over their undocumented status. In order to control this pandemic, it is critical that special efforts be made to reach out to this community. More information about the testing site location, operating hours, and appointment process is provided in the transcript below.
Transcription:
“Hi, this is Dolores Huerta, bringing you information about testing for the Covid-19 virus that is free and open to everyone regardless of symptoms. The entire test takes only 15 minutes and the test results can be mailed to you within 24 hours at your email address and people can get tested as many times as they want. But remember to get tested, you have to make an appointment ahead of time. You can register at ProjectBaseline.com.
The testing site for Covid-19 is at the Richard Prado Center, 2101 Ridge Road at Mt. Vernon. The site is open from Sunday through Friday from 8 am to 11 am and from noon 12 to 2 pm. It is closed on Saturdays. This special test site at the Richard Prado Center is for us, our communities of color and our low-income communities, so that we can have access to free, safe, reliable testing and also to get information so that we can open up our society in a responsible way to make sure everyone is safe.
But we need your help to encourage everyone to get tested so that we can limit the risk of exposure. It is important to get tested whether you have symptoms or not to protect yourself, your family, and our communities. We can do this. ¡SI SE PUEDE!”
MEDIA CONTACT: Damairis Lao | dlao@doloreshuerta.org
[BAKERSFIELD, CA] APRIL 16, 2020 – Dolores Huerta, Founder and President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, issued the following statement today following Gov. Newsom’s announcement of $125 million in financial assistance for undocumented Californians:
“I want to thank the Governor and the leaders of the legislature for their leadership and courageous actions to secure financial assistance for undocumented Californians. They are integral to our economy and are most disproportionately impacted during this crisis. Farm workers, homecare workers, and childcare workers are essential frontline workers who are working every day to feed the nation and keep our communities safe but are especially vulnerable in this crisis.
We will continue working with our leaders in Sacramento to ensure we secure ongoing financial assistance for the lowest-income Californians. It has become even more evident during this crisis just how interconnected and interdependent we all are but we should not forget those who we cannot see, those who are invisible. To ensure a strong and thriving California for all, it is critical that we support everyone, including the undocumented, in our community.”
Dolores Huerta spoke to the Los Angeles Times about farm workers as essential workers and the importance of protecting their health and safety during the Covid-19 pandemic. Watch the interview below:
MEDIA CONTACT: Damairis Lao | dlao@doloreshuerta.org
[BAKERSFIELD, CA] TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2020- Dolores Huerta Foundation celebrates Cesar Chavez day by asking people to stand with farm workers and advocate for their well being. They are among the most vulnerable populations in this devastating pandemic. DHF is asking people to write letters to the governor and contact their elected officials to remind them that farmworkers, regardless of immigration status, need immediate support to stay fed & housed. We can meet this moment & protect our most valuable and vulnerable members of society.
Dolores Huerta, President and Founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation and Co-Founder of the United Farm Workers stated, “Today, we celebrate Cesar Chavez on what would have been his 93rd birthday by honoring the farmworkers who continue to work every single day to produce the food that nourishes us. Farmworkers cannot shelter at home during this pandemic. Farmworkers are part of our frontline defenders, an extremely necessary part of our society that we all depend upon to live and survive. Farmworkers need to be recognized and respected for their dedication and courage and be granted the resources to survive the pandemic like other workers in our country regardless of their immigration status.
Cesar brought that message to the world and demanded dignity and human rights for farmworkers. Let us continue Cesar’s journey and honor him by continuing his quest until all farmworker families, men, women and their children are treated equally with living wages, an equitable education and full representation.
Cesar also respected and advocated for the protection of Mother Earth. Earth Day, which we started 50 years ago, was one of Cesar’s highest priorities. He was a leading spokesperson for protecting the environment, animals and nature. During this difficult time that we are living in, let’s remember Cesar, his vision, his work, his principals and the many sacrifices he made by joining his journey for justice.”
On the evening of January 30th, 2020, a passionate group of concerned community members marched through the streets of Bakersfield demanding more resources and support for Kern High School District (KHSD) students. At a rally following the March for Educational Justice, parents, guardians, students, and teachers advocated for more counseling services, cultural celebrations, and diverse teachers to a crowd of fifty supporters in front of West High School. The demonstration took place before the final mandatory KHSD Board of Trustees Community Report Back Meeting, which the KHSD has been required to hold twice a year to report their progress in accordance with the 2014 lawsuit settlement. This lawsuit determined that KHSD’s discriminatory discipline practices targeted black and brown students and deprived them of their right to an education.
The Kern Education Justice Collaborative (KEJC) and community members continue to demand that the KHSD faithfully implements the agreements of the settlement to create a positive school environment and improve social, emotional, and academic outcomes for black and brown students.
To learn more about this story, read the article below.
WHO: The Dolores Huerta Foundation as part of the Kern Education Justice Collaborative (KEJC), KHSD students, parents, educators, and community members
WHEN: Thursday, January 30th, 2020 at 5:30 pm
WHERE: March starts at Ross Store at 3761 Ming Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93309 and ends at West High School at 1200 New Stine Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93309
PHOTO OP: Press Conference at 6:30 pm in front of West High School after march. Speakers include parents, youth, and teachers who will list out their demands.
*Note: There will be two press check-in points to pick up your press pass. One will be during the march if you’re walking with the demonstrators. The other will be at the press conference at 6:30 pm. You do not need to check in at both.
BACKGROUND: Six years ago, community members, civil rights lawyers, and community organizations filed a lawsuit against the Kern High School District (KHSD) to end discriminatory discipline practices that targeted black and brown students and deprived them of their right to an education.
This Thursday, the KEJC and community members will demand the KHSD to be transparent in its progress reports and to faithfully implement the agreements of the settlement that will create a positive school environment and improve social, emotional, and academic outcomes for black and brown students.
To this date:
KHSD has failed to hire diverse teachers. This year, KHSD only hired 2% black teachers, 29% latino, and 68% 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 resources as comprehensive schools, meaning that students will not be college ready when graduating. In 2017-18, continuation schools had a 48% graduation rate. Although African American students only make up 8% of the KHSD population, they attend continuation schools at higher rates. For example, Vista Continuation School has 14% African American students and only has a 36% graduation rate. In 2018-19, Vista West Continuation School had 21 Special education students and only one special education teacher.
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.
The DHF’s #BeDownWithTheCount Campaign will educate hard-to-count communities about the financial and political benefits of being counted. Therefore, Dolores Huerta Foundation invites YOU to join us for our Census 2020 Town Halls during the month of January!
Childcare, Food & Translation will be provided.
Claim YOUR power! Find out how YOUR count matters in the 2020 Census and about how $20,000 can help our neighborhood build schools, health centers, and housing!
Everyone COUNTS! Everyone of us must ensure we get counted. The Census counts each living person. Your “count” helps schools, housing and healthcare over 10 years!
Fair Representation! By participating, our data will represent our political power in Congress and State Legislature.
Confidentiality! You are protected. Your responses cannot be used against you or anyone in your household. It is against the law!
How It BENEFITS our community: Build Schools, Health Centers & Hospitals. Funds Housing, Roads & Community Programs. Creates JOBS!
Find a Census 2020 Town Hall near YOU!
Caruthers, California: January 8th, 2019 at Caruthers District Fair, 13599 S. Raider Ave. 93609 For more information: Maria Galvan – (559) 864-2040
Lindsay, California: January 14, 2020 at 755 N Elmwood Ave, Lindsay, CA 93247, United States Organizer: Pam Whalen (559) 994-9390
Fresno, California: January 16, 2020 at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1343 E. Barstow Ave. 93710 Organizer: Dayana Lopez – (559) 328-9635
Parlier, California: January 18, 2020 at Parlier Junior High School, 1200 E. Parlier Ave. 93648 Organizer: Lourdes Medina – (559) 908-4692
Woodlake, California: January 21, 2020 at Woodlake Veterans Memorial, 355 Acacia St, 93286 Organizer: Pam Whalen – (559) 994-9390
Sanger, California: January 23, 2020 at DHF Sanger Office, 1446 7th St. Sanger, CA 93657 Organizer: Lourdes Medina – (559) 908-4692
For more information: Pam Whalen (559) 994-9390 or pwhalen@doloreshuerta.org
Jane Fonda’s 11th consecutive “Fire Drill Friday” focused on climate change’s impact on health
PRESS RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Damairis Lao | dlao@doloreshuerta.org
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]December 20, 2019–
“I am honored to join Jane Fonda on the eve of her 82nd birthday, Gloria Steinem and over 100 people today at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington DC to protest the climate crisis. Not enough people are taking the climate crisis seriously.
We are gradually ruining our planet, our existence is at stake. Air pollution affects all of us. It affects our food supply. People need to realize that our lives and the health of our children are affected.
I’m from Bakersfield in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Sixty percent of our nation’s food supply comes from the San Joaquin Valley of California, an area experiencing the worst air quality in the nation. We owe something to the farm workers that are working and living in the worst climate in the country as they work so hard to feed our country and the world.
We must engage our decision makers to take action. The best action we can take is to meet with local politicians, state representatives, and congressional representatives to pass a Green New Deal, to provide public transportation, to demand an end to fracking, to protect our water supply, and to transition from gas to clean energy.
We have to get involved to stop environmental injustice and work together for environmental justice. We have the power to protect ourselves, future generations, and our humanity.”
After nearly a year of recent negotiations with county representatives and 10 years without a wage increase from the county, hundreds of 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.
“The next time I hope we get a hundred people arrested, okay?” said Huerta. “I am angry with how homecare workers are treated. That they have gone over a decade without giving a wage increase.”
