Dolores Huerta Foundation Newsletter...

EducationJusticeInahistoriccivilrightsvictoryfortheDoloresHuertaFoundation(DHF),LatinoandBlackstudents,theirparents,andthecommunity,KernHighSchoolDistrict(KHSD),thelargesthighschooldistrictinCalifornia,agreedtosettlealawsuitinwhichKHSDwaschargedwithdisproportionatelysuspendingandexpellingstudentsofcolorduetoimplicitbias.Thesettlementrequiresthatthedistrictimplementpositivedisciplinepracticestoaddressdisparatedisciplineoutcomesandprovidediscipline-relatedtrainingtoallstaffandpersonneloperatingwithintheschoolenvironment.Thelawsuitalsoincludestermswhichwillallowadvocatestoworkwiththedistricttoensurethatthesereformsareactuallyimplementedinthefuture.“Thisisamajorstepforward.Weintendtoworkwithparents,studentsandKHSDtoensurethatwhathasbeenagreedtointhesettlementwillbeadheredto.ThisisastrongmessagefortherestoftheCentralValley.WhatweseehereinKernCountyishappeningthroughouttheCentralValley…Readfullarticleonlineattinyurl.com/WMNL2017Education

DoloresHuertaFoundationNewsletter

2017

InJune,agroupofparentsorganizedbyDHFOrganizer,GabyFernandezparentsprovideinputatBakersfieldCitySchoolDistrictLCAPPublicCommentSession.

EducationEmpowermentMorethan40parentsand20youth,from7schooldistrictsweretrainedonadvocacythroughtheLocalControlandAccountabilityPlan(LCAP)processtoaddresseducationdisparitiesandtomakerecommendationstohelpschoolsimproveservicesfortheneedieststudents:lowIncome,EnglishLanguageLearnersandFosterYouth.DHFcollaboratedwithotherorganizations,throughtheKernEducationJusticeCollaborative,tohostfreeworkshopsforthegeneralpublic.Attendeeslearnedaboutschoolbudgets,theLCAPprocess,howtoprovidevaluableinputandholdschoolofficialsaccountable.TheyidentifiedprioritiesandmaderecommendationsatLCAPpublichearings.Theywillcontinuetomeettoensuredistrictsimplementtheadoptedrecommendations.

HiTechCivicEngagementInanefforttobuilduponthevoterengagementsuccessin2016GeneralElections,DHF’snewlyhiredGISCoordinator,SophiaGarcia,isleadingeffortstocompleteastatewidevoteranalysis.TheinformationwillbeusedtotargetneighborhoodswithlargenumbersofeligibleyetunregisteredvotersthroughouttheCentralValley.ThisdatahasbeenintegratedwithGIStechnologies,suchasAmigoCloudandEnvironmentalSystemsResearchInstitute(ESRI).ThroughthesepartnershipsDHFisonthevanguardofincorporatingGIStoolstoenhancecivicengagementandadvocacyefforts.InJuly2017,DHFsponsoredaGIStrainingforBayAreaandWashingtonstateyouthfromtheMartinLutherKingJr.FreedomCenterduringtheirhandsoncivicengagementpilgrimagetoFresnoandKerncounties.Dr.SheilaSteinberg,BrandmanUniversity,taught“GISforSocialChange:StrategiesforCommunityEngagement.”

WeavingMovementsNewsletter2017 www.doloreshuerta.org GrassrootsOrganizingOnAugust10,ninetycommunitymembersgatheredattheSangerCommunityCentertoformthenewestchapteroftheVecinosUnidos(NeighborsUnited.)ThecommunitymeetinginSangerwastheresultofacampaignof20housemeetings.DHFOrganizerStephanieCanalesmetwithsmallgroupsofcommunityresidentstodiscussissuesofconcernintheircommunities.ExecutiveDirector,CamilaChavezandPresidentDoloresHuerta,gaveapresentationdemonstratinghowthroughtheselocalgroupsDHFhasbeenabletomobilizecommunitymembersinlow-incomeneighborhoodstotransformtheircommunitiesby

victoriesintheareasofinfrastructure,education,healthcareandcivicengagement.Amongtheimprovementsthatthegroupplanstoworkonarecreatingmoresocialandculturalactivities,expandingemploymentopportunities,andincreasingservicessuchasdrugrehabandmentalhealthservices.Long-timecommunityactivistWillieLopezattendedtheeventandseemedhopeful.Hecommented,“Themeetingwasverysuccessful.Nowweneedtomovequicklytotakeactionontheissuesthatwehaveidentified.”Thenewlyformededucationandcivicengagementcommitteesarealreadyactivelyengagingthe…Readthefullarticleonlineattinyurl.com/WMNL2017Organize

Volunteering&ServiceAwardOnMay2,2017,Californiapresentedthe2017Governor’sVolunteeringandServiceAwardstotheDoloresHuertaFoundationandeightotherhonoreesthatexemplifywhatitmeanstogoaboveandbeyondintheworldofserviceandvolunteerism.DHFreceivedtheprestigious“California’sFoundationoftheYear”award.

HealthandSafetyCultivalaSaludHealthPolicyOrganizers,YeseniaOcampoandElizabethMartinez,workedwiththeDHFVecinosUnidos(UnitedNeighbors)andtheArvinCityCounciltodraftlanguageforTheHealthyEatingActiveLiving(HEAL)ResolutionwhichensuresArvin’sGeneralPlanwillembracepoliciesthatfacilitateactivitiestopromotehealthierlifestylesandcommunities,includinghealthydietandnutritionandadoptionofcitydesignandplanningprinciplesthatenablecitizensofallagesandabilitiestoundertakeexercise.CamilaChavez,DHFExecutiveDirector,andJamesGuzmanco-captainofUnidadenPiesyRuedas(UnityinFeetandWheels)VecinosCommittee,spokeinsupportoftheresolutionattheArvinCityCouncilMeetingandtheboardvotedunanimouslytoapproveit.As42%ofyouthbetweentheagesof5and19yearsofageandalmost31%ofadultsinKernCountyareconsideredoverweightand30%ofchildrenand22%ofadultsarephysicallyinactiveduetolimitedaccesstoparks,openspaceandotheropportunitiesforphysicalactivity.ReadthefulllanguageoftheHEALResolutiononlineattinyurl.com/WMNL2017HEAL

FromLeft:AmarantaCampos,DHFExecutiveAssistant,CamilaChavez,DHFExecutiveDirector,DoloresHuerta,DHFPresident,TimoteoPrado,DHFOrganizerandLeticiaPrado,DHFVolunteerwenttotheStateCapitolinSacramentoto

receive“California’sFoundationoftheYear”award.

Sangerresidents,ofallages,gatheredattheSangerCommunityCentertoformthemostrecent

chapterofVecinosUnidosandlearnhowsimilarcommunitieshavewon

hugevictoriesintheareasofinfrastructure,education,healthcare,

andcivicengagement.

PleasesupportthisworkatGive2DHF.org 3

HealthAdvocacyTeresaCoriareceivedthe“ChampionCultivator”CommunityResidentLeaderAwardforKernCountyattheCultivaLaSalud10YearCelebrationinFresno.ShetookinitiativetostartaZumbadancegroupinArvinandhascontinuedtogiveclasses,freeofcharge,forthepastsevenyears.WiththesupportofDHF,shewasabletoestablishajoint-useagreementwiththeArvinUnionSchoolDistrict.securingalong-term,safespacewhereresidentscanmeetforphysicalactivityonaweeklybasis.ShesaidshewasproudtoworkwithDHFandgratefulforallthesupportshereceivedtoaccomplishtheimportantgoalofmakingfitnessmoreavailabletothecommunity.ShementionedthatwithouttheCultivaLaSaludcommitteesnoneofthiswouldhaveeverhappenedinArvin.Shesaid,“BeforeDoloresHuertaFoundation’sprogramCultivaLaSaludcametoArvinthecommunitywasnotallowedtouseschoolfacilitiestoexercise.NowwefeelwelcomedandweareallowedtousethenewgymnasiumattheHavenDriveSchool.”

1

FreeOurDreamsInMayof2017EqualityOrganizersDeanWelliverandMoisesDuranaccompaniedfiveteenleadersfromKernCountytoSacramentoforthe“FreeOurDreamsStatewideDayofAction.”TheFreeOurDreamsconveningtookplaceMay6–8thinSacramentoandprovidedworkshopsonmovementbuildingandlegislativeadvocacy.Youthlearnedhowtotelltheirstoriestoelectedofficialstoadvocateforlegislationthathelpcreatewelcomingandsafecommunitiesformarginalizedyouth.DHFTeens4EqualityLeader,

2

EmilyNuñez,workedontheyouthplanningcommitteefortheconveningandhelpeddraftthemodel“SafeandWelcomingSchoolsforAll”PlatformthatwaslaunchedattheFall2017FreeOurDreamsyouthorganizingconveninginearlySeptember.The“SafeandWelcomingSchoolsforAll”platformisamodelpolicythatprovidesspecificpolicyrecommendationsschooldistrictscanimplementtoensureasafeandwelcomingschoolclimateforLGBTstudents,studentsofcolor,immigrantstudents…Readthefullarticleonlineattinyurl.com/WMNL2017Youth

PromotingPhysicalActivityDHFistrainingyouthtoadvocateforincreasedaccesstosafeenjoyableopportunitiesforphysicalactivityandremovingthebarrierstohealthequity.VecinosUnidoshavesuccessfullyadvocatedforpolicyandinfrastructureimprovementstosupporttheseefforts.DHFHealthProgramiscollaboratingwithBikeArvintohostongoingbikerepairworkshopsatlocalschools.Youthandcommunitymemberslearnbikemechanicalandsafetyskills.Theyearnabicycleoftheirown,helprepairbikesforothercommunitymembersandenjoythehealthbenefitsofstayingactive.

TheawardpresentedtoTeresaCoriaisayarnhandmadeartworkbyaHuicholartist.

OmarMurilloandothercommunitymemberslearnedbikerepairskillsandearnedabiketokeep.

WeavingMovementsNewsletter2017 www.doloreshuerta.org

YouthSummitOnMarch4,2017DHF,andotheragenciesworkingforLGBTQyouth,hostedthe2ndAnnualLGBTQYouthSummitheldatCaliforniaStateUniversityBakersfield.DHFTeens4Equalityleadersparticipatedintheplanningoftheyouthsummitbyoutliningthetopicsthattheywouldliketolearnmoreaboutandthatwouldbenefittheirpeers.OverSixtymiddleandhighschoolstudentsattendedworkshopsincluding,EducationalRightsforLGBTQStudents,FamilyAcceptance…Readthefullarticleonlineattinyurl.com/wMNL2017LGBTQ

StandUp,SpeakOutLGBTQPRIDEMarchOnthemorningofJune11th,DHFandBakersfieldLGBTQhostedBakersfield’sfirsteverLGBTPrideMarch,the“StandUp,SpeakOutMarch!”-oneofhundredsofmarchesthattookplaceacrossthenationinsolidaritywiththeNationalEqualityMarchthattookplaceonthesamedayinWashingtonD.C.heldtomemorializethe49victimsoftheJune12th,2016massacreatPulsenightclubinOrlando,Florida,thelargesthatecrimedirectedattheLGBTQcommunityintheUnitedStates.Over100communitymembersmarchedwithDHF.GatheringattheFirstCongregationalChurch,speakersaddressedeachofthemarch’sdemandsandcalledpeopletoactiontosupporthealthcareforall,embracetranspeople,fightbi-erasure,validatenon-binarypeople,endstigmaofHIV.Further,attendeeswereaskedtosignpostcardsinsupportoflegislationsuchasSB179,theGenderRecognitionAct.Readthefullarticleonlineattinyurl.com/WMNL2017Pride

ANotefromthePresident

I’mthrilledtohavetheopportunitytosharesomeofour2017accomplishmentsandtoexpressmygratitudetoourgenerousdonors,committedsupportersandourtreasuredvolunteers.Thankstoyouourteamisgrowing,asisourcapacitytoamplifytheimportantmovementbuildingworkintheCentralValleytoendtheschool-to-prisonpipelineandreplaceitwiththeschool-to-socialjusticeleadershippipeline.Weareeducatingandengagingvotersyearroundwithastrongfocusonimmigrants,youth,andinfrequentvoters.OurLGBTEqualityTeamdevelopedyouthleaders.Theyareactiveincreatingsupportivecommunitiesandsaferschoolclimates.OurHealthyEnvironmentsteamhasachievedpolicychangesthroughstrategicpartnershipswithgovernmententities,localschoolsandactivecommunitymembers.Theyarepromotinghealthyeatingandactivelivingwiththelong-termgoalofreducingchronicillness.IamgratefultoeveryonewhocameouttosupportDOLOREStheMovie,thefeaturedocumentaryaboutmyworkandfamily,producedbyCarlosSantanaanddirectedbyPeterBratt.Ithasbeenwellreceivedbycriticsandaudiencesaroundthecountry.Ifinditisapowerfultoolforteachingthepowerofgrassrootscommunityorganizingandformovingpeopletodirectaction.IlookforwardtothereleaseofthefilmonPBSIndepndentLensintheSpringof2018.Pleasespreadtheword.Helpussupportindependentfilmandpromotethestoriesofwomen,peopleofcolorandthecountlessindividualswhohavededicatedtheirlivestoadvancingcivilrights!YoucanfindmoreinformationatDolorestheMovie.com.Thankyouforyoursupportinourmovementtoempowerindividualstoachievesocialjusticeandequityinourcommunities.¡SíSePuede!DoloresHuerta

Producer,CarlosSantana,DoloresHuerta,AlfreWoodardandDirectorPeterBrattattheNewYorkScreeningofDOLORES

September2017