Our Mission

To be an agent of productive change in society by supporting the growth of social capital in communities.

Organizing Highlights News

Santa Maria schools repeal policy requiring fingerprinting of parent volunteers which had limited immigrant parent involvement (CAUSE)
Parents attend three-day Family Leadership Camp (Central Coast Future Leaders)
Santa Barbara schools increase full-time interpreters, including two interpreters at school board meetings (Just Communities)
New bike lane created on Haley Street in Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition)
Clean-up of toxic waste site in Fillmore is accelerated (One Step a La Vez)
Hundreds of residents attend bilingual city council candidates forums in Oxnard, Santa Barbara & Ventura (CAUSE, BAPAC, FLA)
Immigrants visit congressional leaders in Washington, D.C., to lobby for immigration reform (La Hermandad)
City of Oxnard refurbishes restroom at Campus Park nonprofit facility (FLA)
Hundreds of immigrants attended immigration reform rallies in Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and “Immigrants are Workers” rallies in local cities (CAUSE, La Hermandad, MICOP)
Residents collect 450 signatures on a petition to restripe crosswalks in Santa Paula (ASERT)
Santa Ynez parents conduct survey of 60 parents to make the case for healthier school meals (Foodbank of Santa Barbara County)
Series of community lunches held to promote plans for a residential treatment facility serving those with mental illness (Families ACT!)
Indigenous Knowledge conference held to share information and best practices for working with indigenous Mexican residents (MICOP, Centro Binacional)
City of Ventura policy requiring affordable units is spared from suspension (CAUSE, VCCLUE, Unitarian Universalist Church, CEDC, House Farm Workers)
Safe Schools trainings held for North Santa Barbara County teachers about LGBT student concerns (Just Communities, Pacific Pride Foundation)
30 residents attend Goleta City Council meeting to advocate for bicycle lanes in Old Town Goleta (Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition)
Parent Leadership Course offered to 40 parents in Santa Maria, as well as Parent Engagement classes offered to hundreds of parents in Cuyama, Santa Barbara & Santa Maria (PIQE)
Fillmore students speak at School Board meetings to protest changes to graduation requirements (One Step a La Vez)
Leadership classes provided to Cuyama Valley residents (Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center)
Hundreds of youth from Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties attend leadership development camps (Central Coast Future Leaders, FLA, Just Communities)
“On the Road to Change” Bus Tours explore the topic of immigration (Social Justice Fund for Ventura County)
200 bus riders sign petitions against proposed MTD bus service cuts (CAUSE, COAST)
College students present Know Your Rights workshops to immigrant youth (VCCLUE)
Lompoc Promotores join District Wellness Committee and recruit parents to improve school lunches (Lompoc Promotores)
Parent-to-Parent Education training offered to Latino parents (El Centrito Learning Centers)
School bus services added or expanded for students at Villa Victoria complex in Oxnard (ASERT) and Guadalupe students attending Righetti High School (CAUSE)
20 youth attend LGBT activism training (Pacific Pride Foundation)
Renters rights training provided to Guadalupe residents (CAUSE)
30 indigenous leaders participate in community organizing training (MICOP)

2013 Annual Report

What’s the Role of A Community Organizer?

Growing Grassroots Leaders

"It’s a powerful moment when people recognize the potential they have within. You notice how Council members zoom in and pay attention to what [people] have to say. It makes me very proud,” says Miguel Rodriguez, community organizer with CAUSE.
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Creating Safer Streets & Neighborhood Leaders

"I begin by building relationships with other residents and listening to their concerns before I invite them to a meeting,” Ana Rico says of her organizing philosophy with COAST .
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Building People Power

"When I think about community organizing, anyone can list issues such as affordable housing or saving a bus route,” says Hazel Davalos, CAUSE Community Organizer. “Getting the bus back isn’t the only measurable goal. It’s also how many leaders you build in the process.”
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