Camila Chavez is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF). From the DHF headquarters in Bakersfield, Ms. Chávez oversees the strategic direction of this organization that seeks to empower historically disenfranchised communities with the training and skills to make transformational changes in their communities. Camila has led the evolution of this organization from the infancy seeded with a $100,000 from the Puffin/Nation prize for Creative Citizenship awarded to Dolores Huerta in 2003, to an established anchor organization with a $5Million dollar operating budget and over 40 full time staff members and 100 seasonal canvassers.

Under her leadership, DHF has increased political representation of communities of color; addressed voting and education inequities; and secured millions of dollars for neighborhood improvements such as sidewalks, gutters, street lights, neighborhood parks, swimming pools and school campus renovations. Vecinos Unidos (Neighbors United) leaders were at the forefront of these campaigns to improve the quality of life in their communities, a model which she helped create. This model of community empowerment has led to many significant victories during her tenure including the establishment of over 12 DHF grassroots community organizations throughout California’s Central Valley and the development of a youth leadership program. Most recently, the Dolores Huerta Foundation was allocated $15Million dollars which is part of a capital campaign to establish the Dolores Huerta Peace and Justice Cultural Center in Bakersfield.

Camila’s leadership has been recognized by the Community Action Partnership of Kern County’s Humanitarian of the Year Award (2019) and the League of Women Voters Carrie Catt Award (2018). The DHF received the Foundation of the Year Award by Governor Jerry Brown (2018). Camila is the Vice Chair of California Calls, President of the Central Valley Partnership, and sits on the following boards: Inner City Struggle, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte Advocates and Planned Parenthood PAC.

Her life-long commitment to social justice is rooted in the example she was given growing up in La Paz, the headquarters of the farm worker movement (now the National Chavez Center). Her mother Dolores Huerta and her father Richard Chavez instilled the ideals of non-violence, selfless motivation and personal responsibility that were reinforced through the actions of people like her Uncle Cesar Chavez.
After earning her BA in Early Childhood Education from Mills College and a short career in public health, she returned to Kern County where she has spent the last 18 years. Camila is proud to call the Central Valley home and enjoys hiking, traveling, dancing and spending quality time with her husband Reville and their children Imani and Omari.

Cecilia Castro was born in Mexico City and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was six years old. Despite facing challenges throughout her life as an undocumented student she graduated from South Bakersfield High and attended the University of California Santa Barbara, where she became involved in organizing efforts around undocumented student rights like the Dream Act. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Chicano/a Studies and Spanish. Shortly after, Cecilia returned to the Central Valley to begin her career as an educator. However, after witnessing the startling educational inequities in the surrounding communities, she felt inspired to organize once more and create systemic change in her own community. Cecilia joined the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF) in 2018 where she successfully supported community efforts in passing over 90 policy and budget adoptions in school districts across the Central Valley. Now as DHF’s Deputy Director, Cecilia is responsible for supporting the organization in fulfilling its mission of empowering communities to advance social justice. In her spare time, Cecilia enjoys drinking lots of Iced coffee, attending music festivals, thrifting, and rescuing stray animals.

As the Human Resources Director, 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 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 farm workers 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.

Ana Alicia assists the Executive Director in scheduling, coordination of special projects, and research. Additionally, assist in communications and collaborations with partnering organizations and networks. 

Ana Alicia brings a wealth of experience as she previously assisted the UFW Foundation in opening Kern County’s first non-profit removal defense program in order to provide low-cost, and sometimes free, immigration legal services to those facing deportation as well as rapid response services for those arrested by immigration authorities. 

Ana Alicia graduated UCSD with a BA in Human Development in 2010; Graduated University of New Mexico School of Law with J.D. and Certification in Indian Law in 2013, & is Member of the CA State Bar Association.

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.

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.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

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.