Dolores Huerta Foundation

About Us

The Dolores Huerta Foundation is a 501 (c)3 organization whose mission is to inspire and organize communities to build volunteer organizational chapters empowered to pursue social justice. DHF organizes at the grassroots level developing natural leaders by establishing Vecinos Unidos (Neighbors United) chapters in California’s Central Valley region including Arvin, California City, Caruthers, Greenfield, Lamont, Lindsay, Parlier, Sanger, and Woodlake. Learn more about the Dolores Huerta Foundation at www.doloreshuerta.org.

Our social justice work is focused on Education, Health and Safety, Equality and Civic Engagement. DHF is working to dismantle the School-to-Prison Pipeline through student and parent training for meaningful engagement and advocacy. DHF is also working on creating healthy, accepting supportive environments for LGBTQ youth and family members by building a base of volunteers and safer school climates. Through our integrative voter and Census outreach and education, DHF has been instrumental in passing progressive local and statewide legislation to increase funding for public services. We take pride in the fact that we do not accept corporate donations. We rely on the contributions of donors like you.

Civic Engagement

The Dolores Huerta Foundation provides organizing training and resources to rural, low income, communities. Our community organizing model engages residents in a process of determining and prioritizing their community needs, trains them to speak directly with organizational leaders and public officials, and provides them with a platform to advocate for desired changes. Our active base calls themselves the Vecinos Unidos (United Neighbors).

Education

The Dolores Huerta Foundation’s focus within the education program is on organizing, training, and empowering parents to advocate for the rights of their children, including advocacy for lower suspensions, expulsions, and involuntary transfers, which are currently perpetuating the school-to-prison pipeline.

 As a member of the Kern Education Justice Collaborative (KEJC), DHF works to incorporate programs that will improve school climate, lower suspensions and expulsion rates and create more support for at risk students (low-income, English learners, and students with disabilities).

Youth Development

The Dolores Huerta Foundation launched the Youth Leadership Program in 2008 as a direct response to the Vecinos Unidos’ prioritized need for more positive and constructive outlets for their youth. DHF YLP engages youth ages 12-18 in self-directed educational and recreational activities, community service, and policy advocacy opportunities. Youth are educated about social inequity while concurrently engaging in fun-filled activities with their peers. All projects are driven and organized by youth, keeping to the mantra of “For the youth, by the Youth”.

Health and Environment

DHF works with community members to create healthy environments where people can live, work, and play. We understand health and environment as intrinsically linked. As such, we train community residents to advocate for parks, adequate public transportation, infrastructure improvements, the reduction of pesticide use, increased recreational opportunities, and culturally relevant services.

DHF partners with environmental organizations and agencies to educate residents on environmental hazards and safe green alternatives.  We understand that for individuals to thrive, they need to be equipped with tools to make healthy dietary and behavioral decisions.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Mapping

DHF will continue to integrate GIS mapping and data applications into the organization’s technological infrastructure to enhance DHF’s organizing and civic engagement efforts such as integrative voter education, as well as implement outreach campaigns in low response areas for the 2020 Census. GIS mapping makes data visible and easy to comprehend the social inequities in Central Valley communities. The organization believes these tools will help DHF as it implements a comprehensive Census outreach campaign with grassroots volunteers as well as the redistricting that will follow the Census and Presidential elections. 

Equality Program

The Dolores Huerta Foundation launched its Equality Program in January of 2016. Equality organizers work to create healthy, accepting, supportive communities for Latino lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth, family members, and friends. We are connecting LGBT community members to build a base of volunteers working to create safer school climates and advocate for the needs of LGBT young people.