March eNews: Community Power through Local and State Advocacy
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Dear Supporter,
Residents from the Central Valley and the Central Coast came ready to advocate for their communities! Over 35 community residents traveled to Sacramento to meet with legislators and ensure they support critical bills which will address water issues.
Community partners understand the importance of informing decision makers of their day-to-day reality related to unsafe and unaffordable water. Sandra Garcia shared how increasing water rates puts pressure on families and the need for SB 1255 (Durazo) which will create water rate assistance. Nydia Media (pictured below) shared why it is important for tenants to have a right to test the domestic wells they are on through AB 2454 (Lee) to ensure their drinking water is safe from harmful contaminants.
AGUA member Nydia Medina speaking with Assemblymember Dr. Arambula on what support communities need to achieve safe drinking water.
Another advocacy priority was showing support for increased funds for critical drinking water infrastructure. Last year, Governor Newsom cut over $2.9 billion dollars in funding for climate programs in order to balance the state’s budget. Climate change is affecting our communities now, we must backfill these funds by prioritizing a $10 billion climate bond on the November ballot.
Visit our website to track all of our legislative and federal priorities for the year and stay tuned to our socials for how we can advance these goals together.
Adelante,
Susana De Anda
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Community Presente in Greenfield
Community leader Avery Pura presented before the City of Greenfield on the community perspective to drinking water contamination.
250 people are at risk of drinking water contamination in the Walnut Avenue area, right outside the City of Greenfield in Monterey County. High levels of nitrates and 123-TCP, both known to pose human health risks, are present in a majority of the wells tested. This concerning issue pushed local leaders to organize and make their voice heard before the Greenfield City Council. As with any project there are challenges to advancing solutions, but the community has taken an important first step to begin informing the public on what is happening and establishing connections with local decision makers.
Saul Cardona, whose well is contaminated by both nitrates and 123-TCP, is currently relying on bottled water but stated before the council, “We know that bottled water is not the solution we are looking for. What we are going to do is work together to come up with a solution.” His testimony highlights the importance of local leaders working alongside community members to work towards sustainable drinking water. We will continue to provide updates as we work towards this goal together.
Thank you for supporting our 2024 Water Justice Leaders!
AGUA coalition member and 2024 Water Justice Leadership Awardee Raquel Sanchez and her children Montserrat and Ramses Sanchez with Susana De Anda (left) and CWC staff.
We want to thank everyone who joined us for the 2024 Water Justice Leadership Awards last month! It was a powerful night where we honored people who are moving water justice forward. During this moving event, community partners, decisionmakers, and allies left feeling inspired as we get ready for the year ahead. We want to provide a special thank you to our sponsors below who made this night possible!
CWC in Montgomery
To conclude the month, 19 CWC staff went to Montgomery, Alabama to visit the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice. The intention of this trip was to hold space for the critical conversation about race in the United States. It is important to engage in these spaces to deepen our awareness of how race informs our work, especially when we know race is the most important predictor of access to safe water and sanitation in the United States. We left Montgomery determined to continue to advance racial equity within our work and our communities as we fight for water justice.
Areva Martin in Real Time March 25, 2024 5 PM
View all recent media here.
Welcome to the CWC Team!
Miguel Flores-Rojas
Miguel was born and raised in Merced, CA and joined the Community Water Center in March as a Community Solutions Advocate.
Miguel has several years of experience working in education from music to outdoor science education. He has also worked in urban greening and environmental restoration projects from Fresno to Joshua Tree. Miguel was drawn to CWC because of its commitment to building and maintaining community relationships in the Central Valley.
Miguel earned his Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of California, Merced, and his Master's degree in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Washington. For his Master's work, Miguel developed and piloted an assessment for the Agricultural Leadership Program in Washington, working closely with agricultural workers, researchers, and many other partners in English and Spanish.
Apart from work, Miguel enjoys spending time outside whether it's a hike, playing volleyball or soccer, or simply going for a walk. He also enjoys exploring the Valley, drumming, and is always down for un cafecito!
Deleo Garcia
Deleo is the Groundwater Intern at the CWC Sacramento branch. His experience lies in research involving air quality analysis, environmental impact analysis, and transportation policy. He also has experience in community engagement and outreach from his time at UC Davis. His special interests lie in environmental justice, community and regional development, environmental law and water and air quality.
Deleo is a senior at UC Davis, studying environmental policy and intends to graduate in June. He is from Los Angeles, where he experienced many forms of environmental injustice from poor air quality to consequences of inequitable zoning, sparking his interest in environmental advocacy.
In his free time, he enjoys being a part of his campus improv comedy team (Go Birdstrike), watching his favorite baseball team (Go Dodgers), looking way too long at different bugs he has found in nature (Go Roly Polys) and watching professional wrestling (Go John Cena).
Stephanie Mariscal
Stephanie Mariscal was born in Tecoman, Colima, MX, and raised in Farmersville, CA. She joined Community Water Center in March 2024. She will be attending California State University, Fresno, in the fall of 2024 to obtain her Bachelors in Business Administration with an emphasis in business management. Stephanie has a background in accounting and operations. She was also a part of LULAC Council 3273 SJV (League of United Latin American Citizens) youth. She has always wanted to work for a non-profit organization. She is passionate about helping others; therefore, she was thrilled to be a part of CWC as an administrative assistant. Aside from work, Stephanie loves to spend time with her three beagles, cook and bake, thrift shop, and spend time with her loved ones. She also enjoys volunteering at local dog shelters.
Imelda Ramirez
Imelda Ramirez joined Community Water Center Action Fund as Field Director in February.
As Field Director, Imelda is responsible for creating and implementing election campaigns to empower historically disenfranchised voters who lack access to clean drinking water in the San Joaquin Valley of California. She most recently worked as a Field Representative for Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria based in Merced, CA. Imelda has extensive experience managing political field campaigns in the Central Valley to elect decision-makers who put community needs first. Imelda also has an organizing background as the Lead Organizer at Communities for a New California Education Fund based in Fresno from 2018-2021. There she learned the fundamentals of organizing community members to advocate for basic needs like clean and safe drinking water.
Imelda was born and raised in Hanford, CA and comes from two Mexican immigrant parents with four siblings. She went on to earn her B.A. in Philosophy and Minor in Chicano studies from UC Davis in the spring of 2018.
Evey Hinojosa
Evey Hinojosa joins Community Water Center as a Communications Intern. She is a third year student completing a B.S in Environmental Studies with a minor in Biology from San Jose State University. Evey is from Visalia, and conscious of the recent and future changes happening within the Central Valley. With this internship, she will gain insight from CWC and have the chance to take part in innovative sustainable solutions for growing a new future. Her current work as a peer mentor for first generation Latine students has sparked her interest in community and hands-on work. Evey’s personal aspiration in life is to continue building awareness of environmental equity and justice to make space for gente to join the conversation.
CWC is Hiring
Do you have a passion for environmental and social justice? Are you looking for an opportunity to work alongside those on the frontlines of the safe and affordable drinking water movement in California?
Community Water Center is hiring for multiple positions across all three of our offices:
Community Solutions Advocate — Visalia Office
Work in partnership with communities in the Southern San Joaquin Valley to help secure access to safe and affordable drinking water.Contracts Manager — Visalia, Sacramento, or Watsonville Office
Lead the administration and billing of our government funding agreements and subcontracts.San Joaquin Valley Community Advocacy Manager — Visalia Office
Leading San Joaquin Valley-based community advocacy campaigns, and working collaboratively with CWC’s community solutions and policy teams to advance safe drinking water projects and policies.View all open positions here.
Thank you to our Generous Donors!
Huge thank you to our sustaining monthly donors! Your ongoing commitment to water justice ensures everyone will have access to safe, clean and affordable drinking water.
Bessma Mourad, Bob Simone, Carly Yoshida, Claire Sarraille, Claire Wilkens, Elizabeth Callaway, F Thomas Biglione, Jonathan Nelson, Jose Pablo Ortiz Partida, Kat Gilje, Kelsey Hinton, Kirk Demartini, Kristin Dobbin, Lauren Gordon, Max Meyer, Natalie Garcia-Grazier, Temma Kaplan, Tori Klug
And thank you to our March donors!
Bianca Sievers, Christina Hecht, Christopher Mouawad, Dorene D'Adamo, Erik Shutvet, Gregory Gearheart, Guadalupe Garcia, Ingrid Brostrom, Jenny Rempel, Julie Ekstrom, Kathryn Gilje, Kristin Dobbin, Laura Jensen, Laurel Firestone, Lauren Ahkiam, Max Gomberg, Megan Cleveland, Nick Gray, Sara Wilcke, Sonja Eschenburg, Toby Briggs
Be a water champion and support safe water for all.
