California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. 2016 Annual Report

CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE, INC.
2016 ANNUAL REPORT

COMMEMORATIVE EDITION
2016 ANNUAL REPORT A

The goal of every truly
responsible [legal aid] is to
change permanently for
the better the balance of power
against the poor.
JIM LORENZ
B CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

CALIFORNIA 2016
RURAL LEGAL ANNUAL
ASSISTANCE REPORT
2016 ANNUAL REPORT I

CONTENTS CRLA: Stories
49 | Delano
1 | CRLA: The Proposal 53 | Rural Education
Reflections of a 57 | Kettleman City

CRLA Executive Director
61 | Public Benefits
7 | Jim Lorenz
65 | Peter Carson
9 | Cruz Reynoso
69 | Migrant Program
13 | Marty Glick
17 | Alberto Saldamando
21 | Jos Padilla
CRLA: The Early Years
24 | Early Board of Directors

25 | Noticiero
50th Anniversary
Celebrations
26 | CRLAs Inaugural Class

Reception
30 | 50th Anniversary
Honorees
32 | 50th Anniversary Gala

Receptions
Sponsors
II CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

CRLA
46 | Impact at a Glance
47 | 2017 Board of Directors

& Staff
74 | Donors &
Acknowledgments
84 | Finances & CRLAS ATTORNEYS
CRLA Offices IN 1968
2016 ANNUAL REPORT III

CRLA: THE PROPOSAL
CRLAs founder Jim Lorenz submitted

CRLAs first funding request,
Proposal to aid farm workers and
other poor persons residing in the rural
areas of California, to the Office of
Economic Opportunity in 1966.
The approval of the proposal started

CRLAs fight for rural justice.
IV CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

The first proposal began with
the following passages:
Blessed are the

The farmworkers
poor in spirit:
for theirs is the average income is
Kingdom of heaven. $1,378 a year.
Blessed are Twenty per cent of

they that mourn: the families residing in the
for they shall rural areas of California
be comforted. earn less than $3,000 a year.
The United States Senate

Blessed are the
Subcommittee on Migratory
meek: for they Labor has concluded that
shall inherit the impoverishment and
the earth. misery of the rural poor is
shocking to behold.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst

after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
2016 ANNUAL REPORT 1

EXCERPTS FROM THE PROPOSAL
In the words of a folk ballad sung during

the Great Depression, the farmworker
comes with the dust and is gone with the wind.
So far as the rural poor are concerned, the

familiar saying we are a society of laws, not of
men, is, at best, a half-truth. Laws are passed,
interpreted, and enforced by men; legal rights
depend upon political, economic, and legal
representation. However, this is what the
rural poor, particularly the farm workers, have
consistently lacked.
The poor man cannot afford to pay a lawyer

the laws which are intended to protect the rural
poor frequently go unenforced.
The primary reason for establishing [CRLA]

is that the rural poor need all the help that they
can get...[CRLA] will be in a position to supply aid
to the rural poor, which cannot otherwise
be provided.
2 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

With the establishment of CRLA, We hope to improve
the quality, as well as to increase the quantity of
legal assistance, so that we can say, not only that
the job was done, but that it was done well.

Reflections of a
CRLA Executive Director
FROM JIM LORENZ TO JOS PADILLA

Some of the most passionate advocates and leaders in the
legal profession have guided CRLA over the last 50 years.
Former Executive Directors and the current Executive Director
reflected on their time with CRLA.

My vision was that we were going to be like a very, very good
corporate law firm. We were going to represent groups, as
well as individuals. We were going to make waves. We were
going to have an impact on the legal system of California and
were going to have an impact on these communities.

JIM LORENZ
1966 - 1969
J im Lorenz, the founder and

first Executive Director of
six or seven months of talking
to various people and putting
CRLA passed away on January together a proposal, we
19, 2017. He grew up in Ohio, submitted an application to
served time in the military, and OEO in Washington.
attended Harvard Law. Jim
came to California to practice My vision was that we were
law in Los Angeles, for one of going to be like a very, very
the largest firms in the country. good corporate law firm. We
During the 1960s and 70s, he did a were going to represent groups, as well as
individuals. We were going to make waves.
series of interviews discussing the
We were going to have an impact on the
founding of CRLA.
legal system of California and were going to
[I moved to California and] became one have an impact on these communities.
of a hundred lawyers in a law firm. And I
wasnt terribly happy. Since [the proposal] was written in my
youth, it was quite a romantic application. It
I was just making more secure the people quoted Woody Guthrie from one his songs.
who already had security. It was like walking I was quite emotional in my describing
on wet sand and leaving no footprints. [farmworkers].
I began having real questions about the I sent a copy of that proposal to the State
validity of what I was personally doing. It Bar of California. [It] shows how green and
was just coincidentally about that time that nave I was, because I expected them to
I met some people who were working with give me an award since I was going to do
farmworkers. I became aware that there all these wonderful things for farmworkers.
was a heck of a lot of farmworkers that Instead, they sent a telegram to stop it.
needed legal representation and they were
not getting it. The board of governors in the State Bar
voted unanimously to oppose this program.
I started casting around looking for ways And what they said in their telegram to OEO
to get legal representatives. In some in Washington was revealing. They said, the
instances, I went to private attorneys who trouble with this proposal to give legal aid to
were practicing in small towns. One was farmworkers is that it seeks to take sides in
quite candid, he said, thats a problem that an economic struggle still pending.
involves that farmworkers employer. A lot
of my business comes from growers in this Sergeant Shriver, who was then the Director
area. It just wouldnt be very helpful for me of OEO, said that was the best one line defi-
to take that case. nition of the War on Poverty that he heard.
About that time the federal government [Shriver] went ahead and funded CRLA.
was beginning the War on Poverty. After Thats how we started in the spring of 1966.
The program was under attack from high political figures,
including the governor of California, Ronald Reagan,
pushed by people who had an economic interest for
us to disappear, which caused suffering to our clients.

CRUZ REYNOSO
1969 - 1972
I joined CRLA as Deputy

Director in 1968, and by the
following year, I was named
but the federal government
could override the veto. The
Governor threatened to veto
the Executive Director. I had our program but did not
previously served as the do so since the Democrats
first Chairman of the CRLA controlled the federal
Board of Directors. Just as government. However, as soon
Jim had planned, we were a as a Republican was elected
large law firm with ten offices President, Reagan exercised
whose role it was to protect his veto power against CRLA.
farmworkers and other rural
poor. However, the program was under Reagan prepared an investigative report
accusing CRLA of many violations of law and
attack from high political figures, including
administrative regulations. The eighteen-
the Governor of California, Ronald Reagan,
month battle with the then Governor was
pushed by people who had an economic
my greatest challenge and success. We
interest for us to disappear, which caused
prepared a response to each of the charges,
suffering to our clients.
though sometimes we had to search our
The law at that time permitted the records to respond. For example, we
Governor to veto any OEO program, were accused of fomenting riots in prison.

One our most successful practices was to have
local community members advise each office.
They could be the ears and eyes of the community
regarding issues affecting the poor.
10 C A L I F O R N I A R U R A L L E G A L A S S I S T A N C E
We wondered how we could do that. In A broader challenge was setting
researching our cases we noted that we priorities for our litigation, and other
had challenged a prison rule that permitted activities. Thus, one of our efforts,
a prison to open letters from our lawyers which did not involve litigation, was
to our client who was in that prison. an extensive enforcement of the laws
We successfully challenged the rule in that were already on the books and
court. Apparently that was helped farmworkers. For
the basis for the charge. example, we investigated
The President appointed a the requirement that
commission of state Supreme drinking water must be made
Court judges, all Republican, available to farmworkers
from other states to investigate in the field, and we found
the charges and they concluded there was a widespread lack
that there was no basis for of compliance with this law.
the Governors charges. OEO We then made our finding
overturned the veto. known to the public, and we
had a year-long campaign to
There were day-to-day challenges being improve the situation. Our effort brought
the Executive Director of CRLA. One of dramatic changes for the better.
our most successful practices was to have
local community members advise each However, I was most proud of our
office. They were the ears and eyes of the litigation. Cases like the Diana case which
community regarding issues affecting the reformed the practice of placing Chicana/o
poor. On one occasion, the community students in classes for children with a
advisors objected to one of my hiring learning disability, no doubt saved many
decisions. They protested with vigor at a thousands of students from a life of failure
CRLA Board meeting! The Board ultimately to one of success.
sustained my decision.

From the first day, all CRLA offices had community workers.
These were local Spanish-speaking men and women who had
connections and status in the communities we served.

MARTY GLICK
1972 - 1974
I joined CRLA at the time

the program began in late
1966, working in the Salinas
communities we served. In
Salinas and later in Gilroy,
we were fortunate to have
office. I became Directing the ageless Tony Del Buono,
Attorney there, then statewide then 68, who had fought in
Litigation Director from 1968- the Mexican Revolution with
1972 and finally Executive Pancho Villa. Despite only
Director from 1972-74. Since three years of schooling,
that time and still today, I have Tony was a frequent speaker
been privileged to serve as at local high schools, college
principal outside pro bono campuses and community
counsel to CRLA, working with the amazing meetings, and he brought instant respect.
Jos Padilla through hostile audits and And in Soledad we had Hector de la Rosa,
other legal challenges. who has outlasted every other CRLA
employee and is still serving CRLA clients
From the first day, all CRLA offices had with great compassion and skill. These
community workers. These were local vital staff members developed trust for the
Spanish-speaking men and women CRLA abogados in those communities
who had connections and status in the and in the farm labor camps.

CRLA is family. The men and women who have worked for
it and with it can be and should be proud. Nothing has
given me as much joy and satisfaction. Long may it prosper.

We saw clients three days a week and had allowed growers, during the harvest,
devoted three days (Saturdays too) to to import over 10,000 foreign workers
working on impact cases, that is, cases instead of providing fair pay and benefits
that could favorably change lives for to domestic farmworkers.
hundreds or thousands
As Executive Director
or even millions of
for CRLA, I was lucky
our clients. Impact
to work with Deputies
work became and has
Miguel Mendez and Jos
remained the hallmark
Martinez in carrying on
of CRLA and what it has
the legacy left by my
fearlessly accomplished
friend Cruz. In those
over the opposition
years, Mo Jourdane
of formidable foes. I
and I won our long-
was fortunate to work
running Diana case,
with Bob Gnaizda in
ending testing of
Salinas and am most
Spanish-speaking children with culturally
proud of our work there establishing for
biased, English only IQ tests, and removing
the first time that the California Labor
some13,000 misplaced students from
Code could be used to protect the right
classes for the retarded. And, almost
of farmworkers to organize. In Jaramillo v
simultaneously, our battle to end the use
Salinas Strawberries and Wetherton v Martin,
in California agriculture of El Cortito, the
we sued companies that fired workers who
short-handle hoe, resulted in a complete
joined the UFW and tried to evict them
victory eliminating in California that back-
and their children from employer-owned
breaking tool.
housing. We successfully got all of the
workers reinstated to jobs and housing CRLA is family. The men and women who
with back pay and damages. In Alaniz v have worked for it and with it can be and
Wirtz, we obtained the settlement that should be proud. Nothing has given me
effectively ended the Bracero program, as much joy and satisfaction. Long may
a government and grower compact that it prosper.

The law became a refuge,
a friend in the struggle for
equal justice and social change.

ALBERTO SALDAMANDO
1976 - 1984
C RLA was founded in the 1960s, a time

of great social and political upheaval.
Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Cesar
the rural Mexican and Chicano community.
This was not history, but an inheritance.
Chavez led community-based mass I served as Executive Director from

movements that raised the consciousness 1976 to1984. One of the things I prize
of Americas oppressed. The Civil Rights and most is that by 1979 we had over 70
Voting Rights Acts and the Warren Court lawyers, 80% Chicano, 10% Asian, Black
effectively ended de jure Jim Crow. The law and Native American, and 50% women.
became a refuge, a friend in the struggle for Consistent with its vision, CRLA truly
equal justice and social change. became ours. I grew fond of saying
CRLA was the largest Chicano law firm
The founding vision for CRLA called for the in the world. Many went on to become
provision of high quality legal services to judges, state legislators and mayors. The
Californias rural poor and Native Americans. Marysville office, led by an Asian Directing
It included an emphasis on cases that Attorney, was composed entirely of
impact not only the individual client, but women, including lawyers, community
also the client community. The lawyers workers and secretaries.
and community workers initially hired, were
founders, and carried this vision forward. CRLA was fraught with internal conflict in
1976. The right wing reaction to the 60s
The vision included the idea that CRLA had also set in. But it was faith in the vision
should be led by its client constituency, (then described as an almost fanatical

I grew fond of saying CRLA was the largest
Chicano law firm in the world. Many went on to
become judges, state legislators and mayors.
Photo: Mark Diamond

devotion to mission) that allowed us to Bar Association. Honestly, there are too
carry CRLA forward during some very many individuals to name.
difficult times. CRLA was a series of very
high highs and very low lows. It was the Ive had to reinvent myself several times
people around me who made it productive since, from lawyer for day laborers, to
and worthwhile. political asylum lawyer, to international
human rights advocate and indigenous
Ralph Abascal moved our impact work rights lawyer.
forward, working with many others
both in and out of CRLA. In spite of At CRLA I learned the importance of love
some congressional restrictions on our in our work, love for our community and
impact work, we were able to establish love for each other. Endurance and faith
CRLAs migrant unit to care for the soul are other lessons, as is the importance of
of CRLA. support for community-based movements
in social change. Although I didnt articulate
In my time, the right wing reaction these lessons at the time, they have served
culminated with the Reagan administration me well particularly now as an indigenous
that tried again to do on a federal level movement lawyer. Standing Rock is itself
what he and his administration failed to an act of faith and love, and became a
do when he was Governor of California. movement.
We had friends and defenders in the
Congress. Jerry Faulk and the then Howard CRLAs vision of equal justice is still an
Prim law firm was steadfast in its support, important unfulfilled but fulfilling task
as was Robert Raven and the American even now especially now.
Diversity in 1979: 70 CRLA lawyers
80% 10% 10% 50%

LATINO ASIAN, BLACK WHITE WOMEN
AND NATIVE
AMERICAN

I have shaped my legal career and guided my efforts
to create the justice that was never an expectation in the
minds of most migrant working families from that Valley.

JOS PADILLA
1984 - PRESENT
T he road traveled by my
grandparents northward-
-al norte-- was a migration
symbol of segregation. We
grew up surrounded by
fields and farmworkers in
of mejicano peasantry in the the Imperial Valley. My dad
1920s. They were migrant taught us to appreciate and
families, crop pickers, carrying respect the people who
poverty on their backs, but used their hands so that
also hope and faith. Those their families could survive. I
family migrations would spring would work the tomato fields
children, my mother and her cultivated vineyard-style by
siblings, born on the rural our towns Filipino growers;
migrant road until stopping in the rural the farmworker labor condition became
lands of southern California. The great, ingrained in me forever. While attending
labor scholar-activist Ernesto Galarza Stanford, I was a college activist with the
(who our family knew) described the UFW on the picket line at grocery stores
valley that I grew up as a scoop in a or a field on strike. As a law student, I
sandy wasteland. volunteered at the UFW service center.
I was born in the 1950s, and at that time, It is these roots that have shaped my legal
we knew that the Mexican families took career and guided my efforts to create the
their place in the east-side of various justice that was never an expectation in the
towns, places racially demarcated by the minds of most migrant working families
railroad track, that enduring American from that Valley.

In its most effective and idealistic form, CRLA cases are
examples of the democratic belief than any person, citizen
or immigrant, can place faith in a system of civil laws
believing these can produce standards of life worthy
of a country driven by the constitutional belief in
liberty, equality, and justice under law.

CRLAs founding in 1966 had a farmworker During my Director tenure, CRLA became
purpose at its center, influenced by its the first legal aid to bring sexual harassment
first board members Cesar Chavez (Cesar litigation. We challenged a practice rarely
knew my family because the Chavez and spoken of by its victims, farmworker women
Padilla families migrated North together pressured to provide sexual favors to obtain
sometimes), Dolores Huerta, and Larry or keep their jobs. My own aunt had been
Itliong. Its legacy is the effort to achieve raped in a labor camp. I understood that
a fundamental justice for farmworker among the rural poor, there were some
families and other rural poor. These who suffered even more than the rest,
groups continue to work at poverty level which led to us to advocate for Indigenous
salaries, live in substandard housing, farmworker and LGBT communities.
toil in the fields subservient to the labor We took on the powerful dairy industry.
contractor system, and nevertheless, they Our effort to bring justice to dairy workers
believe that the legal system can address led me to become the first legal aid director
these inequities on their behalf. to be forced to testify before Congress, a
distinct badge of honor.
It was only six years before I started at
CRLA that Ronald Reagan attempted to VALUES THAT SUSTAIN: FAITH AND
veto CRLA out of existence, and CRLA JUSTICE SERVED.
Directors Cruz Reynoso and Marty Glick In reflection, I have come to learn the simple
guided CRLA masterfully through that lesson that the work of social justice is a
period. i My lifetime service with CRLA life-long commitment. Some colleagues
started right out of law school in 1978, a have described it as a marathon that
time that coincided with what was a zenith needs its pacing to be sustained. I prefer to
for national Legal Services, followed by a describe it less like a race and more like a
Federal Government that reneged on the life principle about how much we are willing
promises under President Jimmy Carter to give to a justice purpose. The few justice
and backtracked on its commitments to teachers, who have lived as an example,
end Poverty. show us that you can never retire from this
work. They fit the poets description of the
When I started, I worked under Executive
committed individual as a militant of life.
Director Alberto Saldamando, who
believed that Latinos should defend their So in its most effective and idealistic
own communities and made room for form, CRLA cases are examples of the
many of us who had come from rural democratic belief than any person, citizen
places to be part of CRLA. He believed in or immigrant, can place faith in a system
and supported Latino lawyers. of civil laws believing these can produce
standards of life worthy of a country driven
by the constitutional belief in liberty,
i For a history of the CRLA difficulties with Governor equality, and justice under law.
Ronald Reagan, which led to the creation of
the 1974 Legal Services Corporation Act, See CRLAs half-century of public service in
California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA): Survival defending the interests of Californias
of a Poverty Law Practice, by Michael Bennett most invisible and vulnerable communities
and Cruz Reynoso, Chicano Law Review (Summer has been a test of such principles and a
1972). Also see Political Interference with Publicly
humble testament that the faith has not
Funded Lawyers: The CRLA Controversy and The
Future of Legal Services, by Jerome B, Falk, Jr. and been misplaced. I have been honored to
Stuart Pollak, The Hastings Law Journal, (1973). play a role in that test of American justice.

CRLA: THE EARLY YEARS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Violet Absher Oscar Gonalzes Daniel M. Luevano Edward O. Reyes

Barbara Anderson Juan Govea Lemuel H. Matthews Cruz Reynoso
Robert Andrade Oliver F. Green, Jr. Franklin D. McDaniel Armando Rodriguez
James Bowles Manuel Guerrero Cesar Mendez Norbert Schlei
Berge Bulbulian Fernando Hernandez Howard Miller Fred Schmidt
Alex Campillo Rufugio Hernandez Loren Miller, Jr. Charles P. Scully
Olivia Campos Paul M. Hogan Armando Miramontes David Silver
Cesar Chavez Dolores Huerta Roy Mitchell David Stockman
Alfonso Colin Delores Ann Isaac Harvey Morris Grayson Taketa
Bert Corona Larry Itliong Mario Olmos Judge Carlos M. Teran
Robert Curiel Clifton R. Jeffers Jack Ortega Maurice F. Twitchell
Dolores Donato Anthony J. Klein Charles Page Jos Luis Vasquez
Eugene Epstein Irving Lazar Richard Pawson Guillermo Villasana
Roy Escudero Abe Levy Katherine Peake Senator Alvin Weingand
Charles Froehlich Julian Lopez Jean Perelli-Minetti Sharp Whitmore
Robert Gnaizda Ernesto Loredo Richard Petherbridge Sam Williams
Alfonso Gonzales Jim Lorenz Al Pinon Gordon Winton
CRLAs First Offices

NOTICIERO
A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF CRLAs EARLY YEARS
In 1968, CRLA started an inter-office

newsletter called NOTICIERO CRLA
to better connect the state-wide offices.
Each issue had a section devoted to recent
cases (originally compiled by Marty Glick),
interviews with different Community
Workers (originally compiled by Ed
Mattison), and a regional office spotlight
I tried to talk to the authorities about the
including staff interviews (originally by
situation they tell me that too much food is
Barbara Rasmussen), with Cruz Reynoso
bad for people, and that it is good to fast and
serving as the original editor. to give your stomach a rest.
Excerpts from the first several The offices Intake Interviewer, Rosa
interviews conducted by Barbara: Madueno, has been on the staff since 1966
[her role is to interview clients] while at the
MARYSVILLE, NOVEMBER 1, 1968
same time answering the telephone. (Rosa
Clients coming to the office are greeted by retired from the El Centro office in 2013)
Diana Garcia-Mejia, the first staff member
hired when the office opened in February MADERA, JANUARY 1, 1969
of 1967she recalls arriving for her first day Candy Madrill, the community worker who
of workIn an experience familiar to other has been with the office since it opened in
CRLAers who have helped set up a new office, the summer of 1966, is noted both locally and
she found that the business suit in which she in CRLA state-wide for her social work skills.
was attired was not the most practical dress
for one of her first assignments- scrubbing GILROY, FEBRUARY 1, 1969
out the bathtub. Tony Del Buono, the patriarch of the
community workers, hell be 69 in June,
Directing Attorney John Mouldsruns a and veteran of the Mexican Revolution,
relaxed and efficient office. We have hired where he fought with the legendary Pancho
people who care about the problems we are Villa and Emiliano ZapataHe has a burning
trying to deal with, so I give then considerable concern for educationand has seen his
freedom to work. two children and several foster children all
EL CENTRO, DECEMBER 1, 1968 graduate from college.
Ollie Payne Rodgers is well known to most Don Kates, Jr....runs a very democratic
CRLAers as an authority on welfare. She is office. I have always believed in developing
presently working on an investigation of a cases which one litigation will aid the
school lunch program. There are children maximum number of people. The cases
attending schools in the area who leave home we plan in this office are worked out by a
without breakfast and have no lunch because vote of all the attorneys each one has a
they are embarrassed to take tortillas. When vote including myself.

INAUGURAL CLASS
CRLAs INAUGURAL CLASS RECEPTION
DECEMBER 2, 2016

On December 2, 2016, Marty Glick, Carol Ruth Silver,
and Fred Altshuler hosted the Inaugural Class Reception
at Arnold & Porters San Francisco Office. This reception
brought many of the first staff members back together
again in honor of CRLAs 50th Anniversary.

MIKE REISS &
MANNY MEDEIROS
1973

MANNY MEDEIROS &
MIKE REISS
2016

50 TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREES
Edward James Olmos California Employment Toms Olmos & Vicente Margarito
50 TH
ANNIVERSARY Lawyers Association Dolores Leal Sanchez Ventura
GALA 50TH ANNIVERSARY 50TH ANNIVERSARY FRESNO
GALA GALA
Joseph I. Castro Hector de la Rosa Luis Megid Adriana Frederick

FRESNO WATSONVILLE WATSONVILLE Sutton
WATSONVILLE
San Diego La Raza Mario Rosas Councilmember OMelveny &

Lawyers Association SAN DIEGO Gil Cedillo Myers L.L.P
SAN DIEGO LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES

CRLA celebrated its 50th anniversary all over California!
CRLA honored individuals, law firms, and associations
who have worked to improve the lives of
Californias rural communities.
Lupe Quintero Isidoro Romero Dr. Jos Pepe Villarino NAACP

BRAWLEY BRAWLEY BRAWLEY BRAWLEY
Hidalgo Society Calexico Neighborhood Assemblymember Christopher Arriola

BRAWLEY House Nora Campos SANTA CLARA
BRAWLEY SANTA CLARA
CRLAs Inaugural Class, Natalie A. Pierce Roberto de la Rosa Jos R. Padilla

1966-1970 SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO

50 TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
MARCH 10, 2016

On March 10, 2016, CRLA kicked off a year full of celebrations
with a gala at The Belasco Theater in Los Angeles.
Throughout the year, CRLA held receptions in Fresno, Watsonville,

San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, Brawley, and San Francisco.

FRESNO

WATSONVILLE

SAN DIEGO

LOS ANGELES

SANTA CLARA

BRAWLEY

SAN FRANCISCO

STAFF AT THE CELEBRATIONS

THANK YOU
TO OUR 50 TH ANNIVERSARY SPONSORS

We would like to thank all the
sponsors, honorees, guests,
staff, alumni and friends for
being a part of CRLAs 50th
anniversary. Your support allows
CRLA to continue the mission of
fighting for justice and changing
lives in rural California.

This office has a reputation of aggressive advocacy,
whether it be through impact litigation, community
lawyering, or thoughtful and targeted direct service work.
Carol Ruth Silver

DELANO
MCFARLAND TO TODAY
C RLA planned to open an office in

Delano, the heart of the farmworker
movement. Unfortunately, politicians
Carol Ruth, runs the office with a passion
for justice.
in the pocket of the growers blocked CRLA is an organization that changes

this move to limit access to legal aid for the community for the better, said Sahar.
farmworkers. The office opened in the This office has a reputation of aggressive
nearby town of McFarland, allowing CRLA advocacy, whether it be through impact
to still aid the movement in Delano. litigation, community lawyering, or
thoughtful and targeted direct service
Jim Lorenz, CRLAs founder, handpicked work. It is a legacy that I am happy
Carol Ruth Silver to run the McFarland to continue.
office, making her CRLAs first female
attorney. Prior to joining the staff, she HELPING IMMIGRANTS
helped prepare CRLAs initial grant Maria left her home in Mexico with the
applications, and she fought segregation hope of living the American dream and
as a Freedom Rider in Jackson, Mississippi, providing a better life for her daughter.
landing her 40 days in jail. But the people who helped her cross the
border severely abused her, and matters
Carol Ruths passion for justice led her to
only got worse when she made it to the
work from the time she woke up to the
United States. The family she believed
time she went to bed. She would sleep in
she would be working with kidnapped
the office at times and would work seven
her, forced her to work for them, and
days a week.
held her captive in their house.
The McFarland office handled a broad
Maria managed to escape and came to
range of cases but focused on working
the Delano office for help. CRLA helped
conditions in the fields. Staff attorney
her petition for and obtain a T visa, a form
Jim Smith said in 1969, When a mans
of lawful immigration status available to
working conditions are bad, and he cant
trafficking victims like Maria. With her T
tell whether he will be paid, everything
visa, Maria was able to return to Mexico
else is secondary.
and be reunited with her daughter for the
The staff spent a lot of their time first time in years.
investigating violations in fields. We were
very nave. I think all of us were amazed This type of victory gives a person a
at the high percentage of violations when chance to have a fresh start, said Sahar.
we first started investigating, said Mike SAFE HOUSING
Brennan, who took over for Carol Ruth.
Andrea is a single mother, and when she
CRLA eventually moved from McFarland feared that a cockroach infestation and
to Delano, and the office is now led by other serious health and safety violations
Directing Attorney Sahar Durali. She, like in her apartment were making her children

Our clients speak up because they understand that
when they stand up against injustice, they are
standing up for all vulnerable people and their
victories will inspire others to follow their lead.
Sahar Durali Rebecca Buckleystein
Gloria Garcia

sick, she complained to her landlord. Jennifer, a transgender woman, came to
Instead of fixing the problems, the Gloria for help because she wanted her
landlord responded by serving her with identifying documents to reflect her true
an eviction notice. gender. After helping Jennifer with the
application, Gloria and LGBT Program
Andrea reached out to the Delano office,
Director Lisa Cisneros accompanied and
and staff attorney Rebecca Buckleystein
supported Jennifer at the hearing.
was there to help.
The hearing was a success, and Jennifers
Speaking up is not easy because of the identity documents now reflect who she
fear of retaliation, said Rebecca. Our really is.
clients speak up because they understand
that when they stand up against injustice, CRLA has given me the unique
they are standing up for all vulnerable opportunity to work for and with my own
people and their victories will inspire communities. Raised in the Central Valley
others to follow their lead. and part of the LGBT community myself,
I had an idea of how challenging and yet
Rebecca negotiated with the landlord to fulfilling this work would be, said Gloria.
keep Andreas home and to get the changes The passion and determination of the
needed to make the apartment livable. advocates within CRLA and of our clients
to empower themselves gives me the
I came to CRLA to fight for people who are
drive to keep working as hard as I can.
facing multiple layers of injustice, and when
I help someone like Andrea, I know that our Today, the women of CRLAs Delano
work is making a difference, said Rebecca. office continue Carol Ruths legacy
LGBT ADVOCACY of fighting for Kern Countys most
vulnerable communities.
The Delano office has increased its role
in helping the LGBT community in Kern Our clients are only asking to be able to
County. Community Worker Gloria Garcia go to school and not face discrimination
has played a critical role in providing in the classroom, to get paid for the work
services to the LGBT community, and that they did, and to live in a sanitary and
increasing the visibility of LGBT people habitable home, said Sahar. And, we are
in the Central Valley. working hard to give them that.
Gloria, Rebecca, and Sahar

We have been focusing on addressing unlawful
student discipline, school safety, bullying, discrimination,
English learner services, migrant education and school
funding in rural school districts.

RURAL EDUCATION
BREAKING EDUCATIONAL BARRIERS
I n 1969, Fred Altshuler was an attorney

in CRLAs El Centro office. A group of
students came to him when their high
addressing unlawful student discipline,
school safety, bullying, discrimination,
English learner services, migrant education
school threatened to discipline them and school funding in rural school districts.
for wearing a button with the slogan
Mexican-American Liberation on campus. Issues in the Diana case led CRLA to
Fred challenged the districts action, and sponsor the Bilingual Education Act of
the case he filed, Marquez v. Brawley Union 1976. This legislation established bilingual
High School District, resulted in a victory education programs and provided specific
for the students, upholding their right to guidelines for certifying teachers qualified
personal expression. to provide instruction to English learners.
The same year, CRLA drafted legislation to
One of the students, Jos Padilla, would give comprehensive support for migrant
later become CRLAs Executive Director. parents and students in California.
When CRLA says that the children are our
future, its not an exaggeration. Jos and CRLA later sued to enforce these rights.
CRLAs future may have been different if In Barajas v. Two Rock School District,
not for Fred taking on the school board the district refused to enroll a migrant
and believing that through education, rural student in kindergarten who missed the
California will change for the better. arbitrary cut-off date by just a few days.
CRLA obtained a court order opening
In the early 1970s, it was common practice the schoolhouse doors. This led then
for California schools to test monolingual Assembly Member Xavier Becerra to
Spanish speaking students with I.Q. tests author legislation making this practice
in English. As a result, 26% of Latino unlawful. Then, in Pazmino v. State Board,
students were being placed in classes for CRLA put an end to Californias practice
the developmentally disabled. of excluding bilingual education students
from participating in federally funded
Legendary CRLA attorneys Maurice Mo reading programs.
Jourdane and Marty Glick filed Diana
v. Board of Education to challenge this Excluding children from the full benefit of
practice, and as a result, Spanish speaking all school programs and activities reduces
students were reassessed and provided their chance to succeed in life, and cannot
with the language support services they be tolerated, said Cynthia L. Rice, Director
needed to succeed. of Litigation Advocacy and Training who
brought these cases.
We have a long history of protecting
students and responding to the needs of Discrimination continues to be a
the community, said Franchesca Verdin, substantial barrier to education. In Hector
Director of CRLAs Rural Education Equity F. v. El Centro Elementary School District,
Program. We have been focusing on et al., a father sued his childrens school

We must continue to safeguard these childrens futures
by doing all we can to ensure they have safe schools
that give them the educational boost they need to succeed.
Cynthia R. Rice
Fred Altshuler
Franchesca Verdin

district for failing to have school safety defenders, and other agencies interested
plans and anti-discrimination policies in in improving educational outcomes for
place. CRLA took the case to the Court of youth in the juvenile justice and child
Appeals where the court acknowledged welfare system.
the public interest in maintaining a system
of taxpayer funded public education which CRLA is currently partnering with the
is free of the destructive influence of Kellogg Foundation to expand outreach
discrimination, harassment, and bullying. and education to parents and students,
identify promising approaches to
The case impacted families with school- addressing disparities in referrals to
aged children throughout the state alternative programs, and improve the
making clear that parents can hold their services those programs provide.
local schools accountable for complying
with school safety and anti-discrimination Students in rural communities face
statutes, said Franchesca. unique challenges and often more limited
resources. We must continue to safeguard
Most recently, CRLA has focused on the use these childrens futures by doing all we
of punitive and exclusionary disciplinary can to ensure they have safe schools that
measures that push students out of give them the educational boost they
general education into alternative programs need to succeed. It is important that we
and towards a path to nowhere. CRLAs protect and inspire the next Jos Padilla,
advocacy in Ventura County changed the said Cynthia.
schools policy and added safeguards to
protect against involuntary or inappropriate
referrals of students to independent study,
and students in the program received
supplemental education services.
Since this case, there has been a With support from W.K. Kellogg
dramatic reduction of students enrolled Foundation, CRLA hosts Education
in the independent study program, Ambassadors Workshops, which
said Franchesca. provide parents and students the
latest information on education law,
CRLA obtained a profound victory on
behalf of Latino and Black students in current events, and other factors that
Kern County. The historic settlement influence the students educational
required Kern High School District to experience to inspire leadership and
immediately change their discipline education advocacy.
policies and implement major policy
shifts to reduce the disproportionate
suspensions, expulsions and involuntary
transfers. The settlement provides
structure and accountability for addressing
the discriminatory effects of the Districts
past practices, said Cynthia.
Beyond litigation, CRLA has shared its

knowledge through an education advocacy
training series for juvenile courts, public

CRLA argued a lack of public notice and environmental
racism, which means that a community is targeted and
exposed to environmental hazards because it is made up
of minorities and low-income residents.

KETTLEMAN CITY
DECADES OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE
I t was 1978, and Chemical Waste

Management needed a home for its
new toxic waste site. After searching
available in Spanish, public hearings were
not translated, and intimidation tactics
were used to stifle public participation.
all over the country, it chose a tract of Residents joined together and sought help
land a few miles from Kettleman City, an to challenge the effects of the ongoing
unincorporated community in Kings Count toxic waste site and ensure more effective
which was, and still is, predominantly inclusion in the permitting process.
populated by Spanish-speaking
farmworker families. The community-based organization El
Pueblo Para El Aire y Agua Limpio and the
The company received permission from the grassroots organization Greenaction for
state and the federal government to build Health and Environmental Justice filed a
the suite, but neither the company nor the civil rights complaint against DTSC and
government had adequately informed the CalEPA with the Environmental Protection
residents that their backyard was about to Agencys Office of Civil Rights, challenging
be turned into a toxic waste site. the lack of accessible public hearings for
The site brought 200,000 tons of poisons the community, the lack of a language
into the area yearly, and the residents access for Spanish-speaking residents,
experienced an increase in child sickness, and violations of the civil rights of low-
congenital disabilities, fainting spells, and income Latino families.
odors in the air. These health issues led El Pueblo, represented by CRLA, and
the residents to discover the toxic waste Greenaction, represented by Golden
site in their backyard. Gate Universitys Environmental Law and
Kettleman City and all the other disadvan- Justice Clinic, achieved a precedent setting
taged unincorporated communities can voluntary civil rights agreement with DTSC
be easily ignored by local governments and CalEPA on August 10, 2016. The set-
and large companies. Their vulnerability tlement establishes a new statewide com-
makes them easy targets for abuse, mitment to public participation, civil rights,
said Ilene J. Jacobs, Director of Litigation, and language access policies when expan-
Advocacy & Training. sion and renewal permits for hazardous
The Department of Toxic Substances waste sites are considered. It also requires
Control (DTSC) approved Chemical Waste the state to provide for early identification
Managements request to expand the and integration of public concerns in
toxic waste site in 2014, which would permitting decisions, including concerns
increase the quantity of toxins in the of disadvantaged communities, which are
area, potentially increasing health risk disproportionately affected by environ-
for residents of Kettlement City. The mental pollution and other hazards.
environmental review documents on which The settlement is a victory for those
the government relied were not made who believe that people should have a

The settlement is a victory for those who believe
that people should have a voice and role in the health
and safety in their community.
Marisol Aguilar Ilene J. Jacobs

voice and role in the health and safety means that a community is targeted and
of their community, said Marisol F. exposed to environmental hazards because
Aguilar, Director of CRLAs Community it is made up of minorities and low-income
Equity Initiative. residents. This was one of the first known
cases to argue this theory in court.
Communities like Kettleman City, with a
high population of low-income families Chemical Waste Management picked
and people of color, are disproportionately Kettleman City not only because of the
affected by environmental hazards, location but because the community
said Ilene. There must be meaningful members lacked power; they were Latino
public participation, language access, and and low-income. They figure they can
protection of civil rights because residents dump all this toxic material on us because
of these communities have few choices were just a bunch of migrants and
about where they work and live, so if there is farmworkersIf this town were filled with
an environmental problem, they cannot just wealthy white people, they wouldnt be
leave the area. This settlement gives them doing this, said Kettleman City resident
the ability to have input in the decision- Mary Lou Mares.
making process in a meaningful way. CRLA has always been an environmental
This is not the first time CRLA and El justice group, starting with our work on
Pueblo have come together to take pesticides in the fields, said Marisol.
Fighting against environmental racism was
on Chemical Waste Management. The
the natural next step.
company wanted to add an incinerator to
the site in 1988, which would have added The court sided with El Pueblo, and the
toxic pollutants into the air. The people incinerator never was built. I think they
came together to create El Pueblo to stop thought we would go awaybut [the
the construction and protect their homes incinerator] was too dangerous, said
and families. [They] never imagined Mary Lou.
wed fight, said Espy Maya, a resident of CRLA and the community will continue to
Kettleman City. fight for a healthier and safer Kettleman City.
In El Pueblo Para el Aire y Agua Limpio v. We must continue to monitor and work
County of Kings, CRLA argued a lack of public closely with these communities to prevent
notice and environmental racism, which further injustice, said Ilene.

Our clients do not have a wealthy family member
that will come in and save the day
when there is a problem.
Sheldon Greene
Blanca A. Bauelos, Fidelina Gomez, and Monica Sousa.

PUBLIC BENEFITS
STRENGTHENING THE SAFETY NET
I n 1967, Harvey Morris came into Sheldon

Greenes office in Modesto with a Medi-
Cal notice denying him the back surgery
they had initially approved. In 2016, Fidelina
Gomez came into Monica Sousas office
because the Social Security Administration
(SSA) wanted back over $12,000 in
payments they had initially approved.
These cases, nearly 50 years apart,
demonstrate CRLAs ongoing fight to
ensure people in need get the benefits Harvey Morris
they deserve, and continuous battle to
for the surgery, but he was now facing a
protect the safety net in rural California.
lifetime of pain with no clear solution.
Public benefits, such as Supplemental
Harvey met with CRLAs Sheldon Greene,
Security Income (SSI), Cal-Fresh, Cal-Works,
who knew that the governors budget cut
and Medi-Cal, are several of the lifelines
was unjust and unlawful and had no doubt
available to low-income seniors and those
CRLA would succeed in getting Harvey his
with a disability. The benefits are small but
surgery. Sheldon went on to lead the fight
life-changing.
to challenge Reagans unilateral Medi-
These cases are so important to our clients Cal cuts in Morris v. Williams. The courts
and community because there are few agreed and forced Reagan to restore $200
options available to them, without CRLA, million to Medi-Cal. Harvey got his surgery,
said Monica. Private attorneys usually will and people all over California were able to
not help because there is no money in it keep their health care. This case was one
and the cases are time-consuming. of CRLAs first major victories and put the
Our clients do not have a wealthy family powerful on notice that Californias rural
member that will come in and save the day poor had lawyered up.
when there is a problem, said Monica. Harveys case had widespread impact,
Harvey was a farmworker who suffered a but at the heart of it, like all public
chronic and intolerable back problem. His benefit cases, was one mans need for
farmworker wages qualified him for Medi- a safety net. The case would not have
Cal. His doctor determined that to lead a been a success if Harvey had not gotten
life without pain, he needed back surgery, his surgery.
which Medi-Cal had approved. Three weeks Like Harvey, Fidelina worked in the fields
before his scheduled surgery, Governor in the Central Valley. She is a loving
Ronald Reagan unilaterally cut Medi-Cals mother of two adopted children; one of
budget by $200 million dollars. Harvey her sons has a disability, which qualified
had done everything necessary to qualify him for SSI.

Our clients are low-income; some are making less than
$900 a month, are diabled, and many have familes. They do
not have much, and they should not have to use the little
that they do have to pay for SSAs mistakes

Fidelina turned in all the paperwork CRLA filed a Request for Waiver of the
required by the Social Security Overpayment on behalf of Fidelina. SSA
Administration (SSA) to apply for benefits granted the request, and Fidelina did not
for her son, including information about have to pay back the money.
her income. She followed the rules, SSA
It is hard emotionally for the client; the
calculated benefits amount based on
client does everything right but still gets
her income, and she began receiving
punishedthey feel like they cannot do
SSI benefits for her son. Two years later,
anything right and that they are going to
she received a Notice of Overpayment for
lose. Thats why these cases matter so
over $12,000.
much to me and are satisfying to win,
SSA claimed Fidelina had not reported said Monica.
all of her income, alleging she received
Many people who receive a Notice of
over $12,000 in benefits that she was not
entitled to receive. The agency did have Overpayment because of administrative
information on all of Fidelinas income but errors are not as lucky as Fidelina but,
miscalculated the benefits amount. She did instead, end up paying back the money.
everything right, but SSA made a mistake Some receive the notice and pay it back
and wanted her to pay for it. because they are afraid of losing their
This type of situation happens so often, benefits entirely. Others may try to get a
said Monica. The client turns in the required waiver without success.
documentation every month, the agency The system is difficult to navigate;
reviews it and determines the amount, and it is not easy for someone to succeed
then they realize there is a mistake and in it. There is an assumption that
blame the recipient for the error. our clients screwed up, said Monica.
Our clients are low-income; some are I have successfully helped clients that
making less than $900 a month, are have received Notices of Overpayment
disabled, and many have families. They do for amounts of $250 to $25,000, but
not have much, and they should not have that is because we are trained at
to use the little that they do have to pay CRLA to understand the complexities
for SSAs mistakes, said Monica. of the system.

Peters motivation is simple but powerful.
Rural communities need legal
representation and help.
Peter Carson

PETER CARSON
SHRINKING THE JUSTICE GAP
W henever I take a long drive through

California, I try to avoid going from
point A to point B and instead search out
of Law (formerly Boalt Hall), where, through
the Berkeley Law Foundation and other
student organizations, he saw legal services
less direct routes that will let me see rural groups on the frontline of social justice.
California. The landscape of California is Peter graduated from law school and
magical and beautiful, said longtime CRLA
became a leading lawyer in the finance and
donor and partner at Sheppard Mullin
banking sector. As a lawyer, he also commits
Peter Carson.
a substantial amount of time to assisting
CRLAs donors are motivated to support low-income and underserved communities
the organizations for many reasons. and protecting the environment.
Some have family members that were or
Peter became directly involved with CRLA
are farmworkers. Others come from rural
in the early 2000s when the Legal Services
California and want to give back. Some are
Corporation (LSC), a non-profit created
alumni who care about the communities
by the federal government to distribute
in which they lived and served.
grants to legal service programs nationally,
Peters motivation is simple but powerful. sought to increase the efficiency and
Rural communities need legal represen- effectiveness of programs by consolidating
tation and help, he said. This is why Peter smaller legal aids into bigger and stronger
has been instrumental in getting his firm, programs. After leading the pro bono
Sheppard Mullin, to be one of CRLAs top effort to create what is now Bay Area
sponsors. Legal Aid through a complicated merger
Peter first heard of CRLA during his time at of several existing LSC-funded Bay Area
the University of California, Berkeley School programs, Peter represented CRLA, pro

Working with CRLA is about doing what is right and
helping the people who need it most. It is not about
getting something monetary back in return; it is
about helping to fix the imbalance of justice .

bono, in program mergers that resulted Counsel, and Bay Area Legal Aid. He has
in CRLAs expansion of services in Santa worked with various bar associations to
Cruz, Monterey, Santa Barbara, and improve the profession, serving on the
Ventura Counties. American Bar Associations (ABA) Standing
Peter saw the unique role that CRLA Committee on Pro Bono and Public
played in helping people in rural California. Service, the ABA Presidents Working
CRLA is the only game in town for some Group on the Civil Right to Counsel, and
of these communities. They are the only the Bar Association of San Franciscos
group fighting for low-income individuals Justice & Diversity Center. Peter has also
and underserved communities, taking on served as the co-chair of the California
some of the hardest cases and bringing in Lawyers Trust Fund Commission.
outside resources to the community. Peter is also passionate about increasing
Working with CRLA is about doing what diversity in the legal profession, which
is right and helping the people who includes helping young women and people
need it most. It is not about getting of color become partners at law firms and
something monetary back in return; it leaders in the field. I am just trying to do
is about helping to fix the imbalance of my part to help. I have been in this industry
justice, which is what CRLA is doing in long enough to see implicit biases play out
rural California. in firms. Just as rural California does not
A lawyer has a responsibility to make have an even playing field, people in urban
sure that the law is accessible to everyone. areas, who are not in the majority, face an
You have to go to the communities where uneven arena as well.
the resources are lacking, and that is People like Peter, those who are selfless
rural California. and committed to justice, are the reason
Besides supporting CRLA, Peter is CRLA can continue to fight for justice and
heavily involved with other social justice protect the rights of rural Californians.
groups, including Earthjustice, the East Thank you Peter, Sheppard Mullin, and
Bay Community Law Center, Public all of CRLAs supporters.

These companies profit because of wage theft,
and it is appalling how much they will
take advantage of people.

MIGRANT PROGRAM
THE HEART OF CRLA
T here are good employers

in the agricultural industry,
but too many employers
If you want to know whats
important, el cortito, it is killing
the backs of the workers
take advantage of the people If you want to do anything
who work in the fields. These that matters, find a way to do
workers endure employers something about this.
who try to strip away their
Mo Jourdane, who was new
humanity, treating them
to CRLA, was given a similar
as tools instead of people.
message by community worker
Paychecks are missing time,
Hector de la Rosa, You want
there are no breaks, and Marty Glick
to help farmworkers? If you
asking for a moment to rest
really want to help us, you will
could lead to termintation.
get rid of el cortito.
These employers profit off the
abuse labor of their workers. The hoe was 12 to 18 inches
long and forced workers to
Agricultural workers are
bend over and twist their bod-
hardworking people, and
ies to harvest. Working in this
the same way that they fight
position for long hours caused
through the 100-degree heat
permanent back injuries to
to finish the job, they fight
workers. Activist Cesar Chavez
against dishonest employers
was one of those with perma-
to get justice.
nent back problems caused
Mo Jourdane
by his work with el cortito.
EARLY VICTORIES
While there were laws in place to protect Mo and Marty heard those problems and
farmworkers in California, they were not built a case to end the use of el cortito.
fully enforced until CRLA started. Workers The evidence showed that the tool caused
needed lawyers like Mo Jourdane, Marty a 40-year-old farmworker to have the
Glick, Ralph Abascal, Denny Powell, back of a 75-year-old. The evidence also
W.B. Daniels, Dave Kirkpatrick, and Luis revealed that the long-handled hoe was
Jaramillo to enforce the fundamental more efficient. In 1975, the California
principle of justice for all. Supreme Court banned the short-handed
hoe in Carmona vs. Division of Industrial
One of CRLAs first major farmworker Safety, ruling in favor of worker safety.
victories ended the use of el cortito, the You can read more about the story to
short-handled hoe. In 1967, community end el cortito in Mo Jourdanes book,
worker Jos Perez came to Marty Glicks The Struggle for the Health and Legal
office with the short-handled hoe, stating, Protection of Farm Workers: El Cortito.

inappropriate comments while working
in the fields. When she went to the
company for help, they ignored her too.
The case went to trial, and a jury found

in favor of CRLAs clients for a judgment
of over $1 million. The grower must also
implement new workplace policies to
prevent sexual harassment of workers
in the future.
The pain and suffering that I went

through, Ill never forget. The finding
In the late 1960s, CRLA also played a role of the jury means the world to me
in ending the Bracero Program, which because finally, I feel that people
allowed growers to bring in temporary believed what I was saying was true,
foreign workers instead of hiring domestic and it gave me validation as a woman
farmworkers. In Alaniz v. Wirtz, Gary Bellow, to know that they cared about my life,
Marty Glick, Bob Gnaizda, and Sheldon said one of the workers.
Green sued the Department of Labor (DOL)
to stop the certification of over 10,000 This victory tells all women that they can
braceros. The case settled, and the DOL stand up, fight back and demand justice,
agreed that growers were required to make said Blanca.
reasonable efforts to recruit domestic
workers before bringing braceros. The WAGE THEFT
following year, no braceros were brought For over two years, James Shultz worked
into the country for the first time in 25 years. as a tractor driver and maintenance
repairman for Da Silva Dairy. He worked
Today, CRLAs Migrant Program, led at least 10 hours a day, often seven days a
by Blanca A. Bauelos and Esmeralda week. James never got paid his full salary
Zendejas, continues the legacy of or overtime wages. The dairy purposefully
protecting agricultural workers. misclassified James as an independent
contractor, preventing him from receiving
HARASSMENT IN THE FIELDS unemployment benefits. These problems
Two women came to work for a grower led him to CRLA.
in Californias Central Coast to clean, cut,
These companies profit because of
and prepare fresh vegetables. A month
wage theft, and it is appalling how much
into the season, the supervisor of one of
they will take advantage of people,
the workers lured her to an empty barn
said Esmeralda.
and attacked her. She felt ashamed and
embarrassed but found the courage to Esmeralda filed a wage claim on behalf
tell the company about the assault and of James. At the hearing, he received a
harassment. The grower doubted her favorable decision in which the dairy is
story and ignored her. required to pay James $129,000 in wages
and penalties.
The other woman dealt with male
co-workers calling her names, touching Esmeralda also helped to guide and
her, and her supervisor making prepare James to represent himself
Protecting and enforcing the rights of farmworkers is
the heart of CRLA. We will continue to empower
farmworkers to fight for their rights.
Hector de la Rosa

to appeal his denial of unemployment
benefits. Even though the company had
an attorney, James won there, too.
James is an honest man and a hard

worker, who needed someone on his
side to give him the justice he deserved,
said Esmeralda.
FARMWORKER HOUSING
Fidelina Gomez, who lives with her
adopted children, has lived in farmworker
public housing for over 25 years. She Esmeralda Zendejas and James Shultz
worked most of her life in the fields,
packing sheds, until 2010 when she I worked for Angelo Dairy for almost ten
became disabled. years, and I was stunned that I would be
reported to ICE (U.S. Immigration and
Fidelina came to CRLA for help after
Customs Enforcement) just for trying to
receiving a 30-day notice to vacate
make Angelo Dairy follow the law, said
her housing because a majority of
Jos Arias.
her income was no longer coming from
farm labor employment. CRLA represented
Jos when he
It was outrageous! said Blanca. She
sued Angelo
worked as a farmworker up until her
Dairy for labor
disability, and they wanted to kick her
violations. In
and her children out.
his lawsuit, Jos
Blanca represented Fidelina at the hearing also sought civil
and argued that the regulations clearly penalties for his
provide disabled farmworkers the right co-workers. Two
to live in public farmworker housing weeks before the
and that evicting disabled workers from trial started, the Luis Alberto Echeverria
public housing would result in disability dairy companys Melchor
discrimination. The hearing officer agreed, attorney,
and Fidelina and her children were able to
Anthony Raimondo, reported Jos to ICE
stay in their home.
in an attempt to orchestrate his removal
from the US before the trial. The case
IMMIGRANTS FIGHT BACK
ultimately settled favorably for Jos and his
The dairy industry is notorious for abusing its co-workers.
employees, resulting in CRLA recovering over
Represented by CRLA and Legal Aid At
$3.4 million for dairy workers in the last 15
Work (LAAW), Jos filed another lawsuit in
years. It is common to see workers who stand
federal court in 2013, Arias v. Raimondo,
up for themselves only to face retaliation.
against the dairy company and Anthony
Below are examples of workers Raimondo, based on Raimondos actions,
represented by CRLA who have been alleging retaliation under the Fair Labor
subject to retaliation. Standards Act (FLSA). The case was settled

with the dairy but continues against
Raimondo. Recently, the 9th Circuit Court
of Appeals ruled that an employers
attorney could be held liable under the
FLSA for retaliation against an employee.
This case is a victory for workers across
the country, regardless of their immigra
tion status.
I am glad the court agreed that what

the attorney did was wrong, said Jos.
I hope that what happened to me does
Jos Arias, Maria Arias, and Blanca A. Bauelos.
not happen to other workers.
U visas are nonimmigrant visas that are stand up to his employer, Joe Sallabery
set-aside for victims of qualifying crimes. Farms, and demand his wages. Luis
Workers who have stood up for their Alberto was also retaliated against after
rights and have been retaliated against, demanding his wages. He was pulled over
may qualify for U visa if they were victims by an unmarked vehicle and unidentified
men wearing unmarked clothing. These
men drove him for over two hours to a
detention center, where Luis Alberto finally
learned these men were ICE agents. By
the end of the day, he was deported to
Tijuana, Mexico.
Luis Alberto later retained CRLA to

represent him in his U visa application
because he was a victim of witness
tampering and obstruction of justice.
His U visa was granted in October 2016.
Vicente Cajero and Estela Cisneros
CRLA is the first statewide legal aid in
the nation dedicated to farmworkers
of witness tampering and/or obstruction rights, and it will continue to stand with
of justice. Vicente Cajero retained CRLA farmworkers and demand justice.
to help him with his U visa petition.
The labor of the farmworkers feed our
Vicente is a dairy worker who stood families and make California what it is
up to his employer, Hillview Dairy, and today. They deserve respect and dignity
demanded his wages. Vicente was from all, said Esmeralda.
retaliated against for asserting his rights.
Vicente, with the assistance of CRLA, Protecting and enforcing the rights of
demonstrated he had been a victim of farmworkers is the heart of CRLA. We will
witness tampering and obstruction of continue to empower farmworkers to fight
justice and was granted a U visa in 2016. for their rights, said Blanca.
Luis Alberto Echeverria Melchor, another

dairy worker, also had the courage to

I MPACT AT A GLANCE
CRLA provides a wide array of legal services that directly touch tens of thousands low-
income Californians and indirectly impact the lives of many more community members.

2017 Board of Directors and Staff
CRLA BOARD OF Cindy Panuco Luis A. Solis Lupe Quintero, Dir. SALINAS
DIRECTORS Jesus Pelayo David Flores Emanuel Benitez Phyllis Katz, Dir.
Roberto de la Rosa, Jr. Frank Ramirez Carla Diaz Hector de la Rosa
IT DEPARTMENT
Chairperson
Tele Ramirez Joshua Leong, Dir. Rebeca V. Gamboa Maria Elena
Brian Murtha Hernandez
Irene Ramirez Luna Felix Hernandez Maria Guerena
Vice Chair
Jack Carson Revvill Priscilla Valenzuela Irma Huerta-Ramirez
Dee Schilling Marques Varnado
Secretary Esteban Rodriguez Jesus Lopez
PROGRAMS FRESNO
Adrian S. Andrade Jos Rodriguez Ana Vicente
COMMUNITY EQUITY Estella Cisneros, Dir.
Nettie Amey Isidoro Romero SAN LUIS OBISPO
INITIATIVE Ephraim Camacho
Francisco Baeza Susan A Scott Paige Kent, Dir.
Marisol Aguilar, Dir. Anali Cortez
Manuel Barrera Sonia Tuma Myrna Alvarez
INDIGENOUS PROGRAM Dolores Curiel
Ana de Alba Juan Valdovinos Victoria Orcutt
Marisa Lundin, Dir. Juanita Perez
Flavio De Jesus C. Anthony Valladolid
Mariano Alvarez Nora Ramirez SANTA MARIA
Merino Brian Yacker
Antonio Flores Victoria Santillan Corrie Arellano, Dir.
Ignacio de la Rosa Graciela Zavala-
Victoria Santillan Mariah Thompson Sandra Aguila
Alejandro Delgado Garcia
Mariah Thompson Elizabeth Trujillo Nina Meller
Micael Estremera EXECUTIVE STAFF
Richard Fajardo LGBT PROGRAM MADERA Irma Trejo
Jos R. Padilla
Zeferino Fernandez Executive Director Lisa Cisneros, Dir. Baldwin Moy, Dir.
SANTA ROSA
Pablo Fernandez Michael Meuter Gloria Garcia Angelica Cuevas
Jeffery Hoffman, Dir.
Anne Fletcher Deputy Dir. Anna Leah Rick Johanna Torres
Patricia A. Fink
Alicia Gamez Maureen Keffer RURAL EDUCATION MARYSVILLE Monica Guzman
Deputy Dir.
Ausencio Gatica EQUITY PROGRAM Laura C. Ferree, RDA Robert Lotero
Carmen Gibbs Ilene Jacobs Franchesca Verdin,
Dir. of Lit. Advoc.
Candice Coolidge STOCKTON
Adalberto Gomez Dir.
& Training Regina Davidson Stephen A.
Solange Goncalves- Leoda Valenzuela
Cynthia Rice Juanita Garcia Rosenbaum, Dir.
Altman Shannon Walker
Dir. of Lit. Advoc. Julie Hall, Dir. Blanca Bauelos, Dir.
Manuel Gonzalez & Training RURAL HOUSING Jessica Hiller Esmeralda Zendejas,
Roberto Gonzalez Jeff Ponting Christina Teixeira, Bonnye Hughes Dir.
Carole Harper Pro Bono Coord. Dir. Alejandro Morales Javier Castro
Olof Hellen Bill Hoerger Dulce Leal Romero Marisol Elias
Veronica Henderson Of Counsel Sylvia Torres MODESTO
Sylvia Escobar
Donald N. Hubbard Ana Garza Jessica Jewell, RDA
ARVIN Abelardo Lora
Ena Lopez Sylvia Valentine Luis Castillo
Fausto Sanchez Monica Sousa
Anthony LoPresti DEVELOPMENT & Linda Rodriguez
COMMUNICATIONS COACHELLA Rebecca Tinoco VISTA
Luis Magana
Kim Jones Blaz Gutierrez, Dir. Jennifer Bonilla
Javier Maldonado OXNARD
Dir. of Giving Hector Leija Carlos Maldonado
Omar Malfavon Monica de la Hoya,
Dolores Garay Maria Martinez-Diaz Alejandra Magana
Henry Marquez Dir.
Ray Manzo Lorena Martinez Jos Olivera
Craig McCollum Irma Avila-Espinoza
Susan Podesta Carmen L. Rodriguez
Janet McGinnis Christopher de la WATSONVILLE
Vidal Mendoza FINANCE Vega Gretchen
DELANO
Myrna Nateras Robert Sikin Cecilia Flores Regenhardt, RDA
Sahar Durali, Dir.
Interim Controller Abel Lopez Sanchez Liliana Garcia
Gabriela Navarro- Rebecca Buckleystein
Busch Carol Banbury Natalia Ospina Giselle Sanchez
Juanita B. Castro
Marco Nunez Elena Mak Jesus Rocha Irish Tapia
Pauline Lara
Pedro Paez HUMAN RESOURCES Maydole Topete Judy M. Vasquez
Camille Pannu Jacqueline Paytas EL CENTRO Yajaira H. Valdovinos
Dir. of HR Beatriz Garcia, Dir.

DONORS 2016
$50,000 to $25,000 Dino Barajas & Richard Pearl Robert Domingues
Patty Tavera The Plant-Rao Family, Farallone Pacific
Entravision
Communications, Bush Gottlieb Harry Plant & Amy Rao Insurance Services
Walter Ulloa The David Bohnett Ready Foods, Inc., Laura Clauson Ferree
Santos & Michelle Leah Foundation Marco Abarca Robert Fries
Gomez Garcia Hernndez Ramon E. Romero Alicia Gamez
Kazan McClain Partners Sawhney, LLP Sheppard Mullin Eric Gibbs
Foundation Mary Hernndez Gary & Carolyn Soto Martin & Beverly Glick
KXLA 44/ KVMD / KJLA Chris MacFarland Zaitlin-Nienberg Family Arturo & Rosa Gonzalez
LLC., Ron Ulloa Janet McGinnis Fund, Jody Zaitlin
Hon. Yvonne Gonzalez
The Morrison Foerster Jos Miramontes & Rogers & Matthew
Foundation: James Julia Villa-Miramontes $2,499 to $1,000
Rogers
J. Brosnahan, Arturo
OMelveny & Myers LLP Denise Abrams
J. Gonzalez, Jack W. William Hoerger &
Perez & Caballero, Fred Altshuler & Ellen Lake
Londen, Harold L .
Frank Perez Julia Cheever
McElhinny Lisel Holdenried
Gino Squadrito, Alvarado Smith
James C. Hormel
$24,999 to $10,000 Lasercom Design Morris Baller & Christine
Hon. Earl Johnson, Jr.
Alcantra-Santillan LLC Triskeles Foundation Brigagliano
Charles & Evangelina
Andrade Gonzalez, LLP Baltodano & Baltodano
Jones
Fitzpatrick, Spini &
$4,999 to $2,500 Blood, Hurst &
Mary Geissler Lanzone &
Swanston Ackermann & Tilajef, P.C. OReardon LLP
Morgan Kanninen
MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Akin Gump Strauss Boston Common Asset
Law Office of Gladdys
Hauer & Feld LLP Management, LLC
Molly Munger & Uribe
Stephen English Vibiana Andrade Caballero and Gettleman,
Bill Lee & Carolyn Yee
California Employment Jonathan Che
Toms Olmos & Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams
Lawyers Association Gettleman
Dolores Leal LLP
California State California Employment
Robins Kaplan LLP Gene Livingston
University, Fresno Lawyers Association
Shartsis Friese LLP Lubin Olson &
Foundation Canon Solutions America
Small Change Foundation Niewiadomski LLP
Enterprise Holdings Peter & Priscilla Carson
Gilbert Vasquez Foundation Diana Lyons
Roy Cartwright
Frank Fernandez & Hector Martinez
$9,999 to $5,000 Courtney Catalano
Carmen Flores Gonzalo Martinez & Raul
Allred Maroko & Gordon and Judy
Hammond Law Escatel
Goldberg Churchill
Harrington Group Christine Masters
Arnold & Porter, LLP Carlota & Ray del Portillo
Kelly Dermody

David McClain Tom Weathered &
Marianna McClanahan Alice Bussiere
Craig McCollum Wonderful Giving, Bradley

Kroeker
Mexican American Bar
Association
$999 to $500
Miles, Sears & Eanni
George & Christie Aguilar
CRLA WOULD LIKE TO THANK
Jonathan Neustadter
Elena Anaya
the following for their in-kind
Outten & Golden underwritten contributions
Michelle Anderson & Sade
Jos Padilla & Deborah Borghei Lalo Alcaraz
Escobedo
Robert and Maria Andrade Elena Asturias
Camille Pannu
Randall Barkan & Audrey Dino Barajas
Ron Perry & Lori Lewis Barris
Maya Barajas-Tavera
Norman and Beverly Pine Maricela Bermudez
Casa de Chocolates
David Regenhardt, William Bloch
La Jolla Industries, Inc. Franz R. Chavez
Blue Oak Foundation,
John H. Rodgers Holly Myers & Kirk Neely Charles Claver
Mario Rosas Justin Bosl Alberto Coppola
Hon. Alexander & Judith Jeremy Bulow & Rhona Don Pico
Saldamando Mahony Federation San Pablo De Colores
Teresa Santiago & Constance Carpenter Frank Fernandez
Franz Chavez CHISPA Carmen Flores
Susan A. Scott Charles & Maria Claver Sergio Garcia
Shannon Charitable Trust, Clinicas de Salud del Marty Glick
Steven Nunez Pueblo
Ameli Gonzalez
Peter & Ana Silva Carol Cole & David Bassing
Arturo Gonzalez
Valerie E. Sopher Courthouse News Service
Michael Stern & Antonia
Ira Gottlieb
Janean Acevedo Daniels
Hernandez Hidalgo Society
Laura Escobedo
The Walt Disney Company Richard Fajardo Evangelina Jones
Thendara Foundation Barbara Figari Latina Design by Pilar
Marian & Edward Christopher Flores M.D. Dolores Leal
Tiedemann Lucy Mejia
Efrain Fuentes
UBS Matching Gift
Solange Goncalves Altman Dr. Adolfo Murillo
Hon. Juan and Rosalia
Grifols Inc. Toms Olmos
Ulloa
Julie Guthman & Mike Edith Perez
Walter Ulloa
McCormick Laura Rhi
Gladdys Uribe & Ismael
Blaz Gutierrez
Bautista Jr Sandos Finisterra Los Cabos
Carole Harper
Villegas Carrera LLP Carol Ruth Silver
Charles Hey-Maestre
Henry & Doreen Patricia Tavera
Jonathan Hirabayashi
Villanueva, Latina Tequila Alquimia
Designs by Pilar Debra Hurst
Mary Winograd
Vintage Nurseries Carlos Jaureque
Lucas Whelan
Ronald Javor

Janet Jones & David Michael Rawson & Denise Asher Ken & Connie Graham
Marsh Constance de la Vega Noreen L. Barcena Marian & Roger Gray
Mo & Olivia Flores Hon. Cruz Reynoso Rachel Beck Diane Greenberg
Jourdane Vincent A. Ruiz Benevity Community Sheldon Greene
Julia Kazaks David and Jerolyn Impact Fund Rodrigo Guevara
Jennifer Keating Sackman, Queen Armida Helen Brashears Kate Hallward
Christy Virginia Keeny Calafia Publishing
Camaldolese Benedictine Harrington & Ingram
Bruce & Candice Kerns Simon Salinas Monks
Heising-Simons
Pauline Kim & Pauline Rebecca Salinas Rudy Cardenas Foundation, an advised
Lee Robert & Susan Sall Hank Castillo fund of Silicon Valley
Law Offices of Fellom and Jerry & Gloria Santillan Clinton & Suzanne Community Foundation
Solorio Mark & Lucia Savage Churchill Olof Hellen
Barbara & Robert Leidigh Don & Dee Schilling Lisa Cisneros Carol and Bruce Helm
Leonard Carder LLP Shute Mihaly & Shelly Coleman Jos & Maria Hernandez
Libreria Alicias Weinberger Cosper Family Fund Jean K. Hyams
Manufacturers Bank Gail Solo Jeffrey Cummings Aurelio Jauregui
David Martinez Chris Strachwitz Roberto & Teresa de la Angelica Jongco
James Mattesich Hon. Mark Talamantes Rosa Linda Kim
Gary W. Meastas Sylvia & Al Torres Direct Dental Michael Kurlaender
Dennis Moss John M. True III & Claudia Steve & Phyllis Dorsi Lillian & Herbert Laskin
Gabriela Navarro-Busch Wilken Maggie Dunbar Richard Leask & Barbara
Dr. Negrete & Monica Sonia Tuma Victor Elias Means
Negrete C. Anthony Valladolid Ana Escobedo Michael Loeb
Amy Newell Linda Wash Carmen A. Estrada Anthony LoPresti
O.L.A. Raza, Inc., Roberto Ricardo Winkle Robert & Gail Feenstra Loretta Lynch
I. de la Rosa, Jr. Marcy Winograd Kenneth Feldman Victor M. Marquez
Alberto & Mariaelena
Monique Fierro Claudia Martinez &
Ochoa $499 to $250
Delia Franco Elias Portales
Susan Olsen & Michael Aaron Ackermann
Bianca Garcia Gabriel Martinez
Keegan Tarik Adlai
Peter Gelblum Christopher May &
Hon. Richard Paez John Allen Barbara McGraw
Planned Parenthood of Gail Glick & Alexander
Margarita Altamirano Eileen McCarthy &
San Diego & Riverside Krakow
AmazonSmile William Gallaher
The Quinn Family John Good & Janet
Adrian S. Andrade Arnesty Charles McKinley
Foundation

William McNeill & Dr. Joe & Maxine Villarino
Jennifer Bell Gary P. Vincent
Manuel & Patricia Hon. Jeff & Laura Winikow
Medeiros
Graciela Zavala-Garcia &
Metropolitan Area Felix Garcia
Advisory Committee
Steven Zrucky &
Neil Hrushowy & Alexa Roberta Stovitz
Minnis CRLA WOULD LIKE TO THANK
the following for nominating
Phillip Monrad & Molly $249 to $100
Sullivan CRLA for Cy Pres awards in 2016
A Orwig Family Trust
Hon. Ruth & Hoe J. Raul Alcantar Cadena ChurchillLLP
Montenegro FitzpatrickSpini & Swanston
Anna Alexander
Billy Munoz
Susan Alva Santos Gomez
Ricardo & Maria Munoz
Manuel P. Alvarez Kemnitzer,Barron & Krieg, LLP
Michael & Mary Murphy
Alejandra Amaro Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
Michael & Robin Nimkoff
Angelo N. Ancheta Mogin Law Firm
Felicitas Nunez
Adele Andrade-Stadler Pollard | Bailey
Emily Orfanos
Silvia Argueta TheTrueblood Law Firm
Cindy Panco Alicia Armenta Wagner, Jones, Kopfman & Artenian LLP
Gregory Patterson, The Jesse T. Arnold
Advisory Group Zelle LLP
Rosemary Bacy
Jesus Quinonez
Michelle Banta
Frank Ramirez
Peter Barbosa
Enrique Ramirez
Lynne Bassis GIFTS GIVEN IN MEMORY/HONOR OF
Michael & Lisa Rhodes
Jeanne Charn Bellow Ralph Santiago Abascal
Anne J. Rosenzweig
Emanuel Benitez Katherine Andrade
David Saldana
Barbara Berkeley Don Bartletti
Mary Schmidt, Firehorse
Remigia Bermudez
Nonprofit Development Raul Cadena
Diane Bimbaum
Schoenleber & Waltermire Stacey Campbell
Maria Blanco
Diana Selig & Meredith Clare Conk
Frank & Melissa Bloch
Rose Joel Gomberg
John C. & Jennifer B. Boger
John W. Semion Kathie Hardy
Jed Borghei
Jennifer Shin Michael L. Kanninen
Nancy Bonn
Amy Steinfeld Edward R. Murrow
R. Solis & Carlos Bowker
Szekely Family Foundation Jos Padilla
Hon. Larrie & Kathleen
William Tamayo Cruz Reynoso
Brainard
Hon. Sergio Tapia &
Wayne Bremser Mario Rosas
Rosa Fregoso
Berge & Alice Bulbulian Marcela Ruiz
Danielle Thiry-Zaragoza
Michael Bullard Alan Spinks
Lea Ann Tratten
Harvey & Catherine Margaret Villalobos
Marc Van Der Hout
Burgess II
Ina Zaragoza
Yhezel Vargas
Raul Cadena & Kristen
Moises Vazquez Churchill

Victor Calderon Nikki Desjardins Claudia Garcia Alan & Susan
Carmen Carvajal Alan Diamante Eduardo Garcia Houseman
Katherine Castro Nancy Dicenzo Carlos & Maria Garibaldi Vivian Hudson
Yesenia Castro Elena Dineen Marielena Garibaldi John Huerta &

Pamela Byrne
Morris & Doreen Casuto Hon. Donal Donnelly Lila Garrett
George & Peggy Hunt
Councilmember Gilbert Stephen Doutt Margo George &
Cedillo Catherine Karrass George Hurst
Sharon Duggan
Darlene Ceremello & Abby Ginzberg Sigrid Irias
Nadine Dunphy
Jessea Greenman Joe Godwin Jeffrey Isaac
Pedro & Deborah
Hanna Chandoo Echeverria Belen Gomez Ilene Jacobs &
Victor Chavez Thomas Kingsley
Liz Eng & Ben Botts Debra Lynn Gonzales
Madeline Chun Toni Jaramilla
Ken & June Eng Maria Elena Gonzales
Nicole & Ben Clay Luis & Ann Jaramillo
Pierre Epstein Rudy Gonzalez
Community Human Hon. Alan Jaroslovsky
Deborah Escobedo Allison Gordon
Services Kristen Jepsen
Yvonne Estrada John Gorman
George Conk Jewish Community
Patricia Fajardo Allan & Margaret Graf
Consulate General of Federation &
Donald & Rosemary Matthew Green Endowment
Mexico
Farbstein Susan Grossman
Alberto Coppola Marian Johnston
Gregg Farley Cristina Guerrero
Leslie Cordes Dave Jones
Maxine Fasulis William Guy and Ellen
Crail-Johnson Foundation Kim Jones
David & Audrey Fielding Reed
Darlee & Clyde Crockett JustGive
Marianne Fike Martha Hall
Malin da Galindo Marc Kasky &
Patricia Fink Roy & Barbara Herr Catherine Carr
Connie Dadmun Harthorn
Robert Finkelstein & Lisa Norma Kastner-Jauregui
Dr. Douglas & Gisela Chen Les & Linda Hausrath
Daetz Ruth & Anne Katten
Hon. Poli & Mercy Flores Harold & Lilo Heller
Ana de Alba Keri & Aaron Katz
Antonio Flores Michael Heller
Alegria de la Cruz Donald Kelley, Jr.
Michael & Mary Flynn Jesus & Pilar Hernandez
Monica de la Hoya Rosanna Kendrick
William Forthman Irma Herrera & Mark
Roberto de la Rosa David Kirkpatrick
Mary Louise Frampton Levine
Anne & Paul DeCarli Paul Kivel & Mary
David & Edith Frederick Claudia Hevel
Luckey
Lisa Demidovich & Heyman & Associates Inc
Michael Freund June Komar
Jeremy Berzon
Josue Fuentes Bradley J. Hill
Ann Denvir Keya Koul
Hon. Fred Fujioka & Steve Hochman
John Denvir Christina Krasomil
Yasuko Hara Katie Hogan
Desert Alliance Elizabeth Kristen
John & Sharon Funk Vida Holguin
for Community Ron Kurlaender
Empowerment Dolores Garay

La Rondalla Amerindia Brian Murtha
de Aztlan Rick Nahmias
Luis & Lee Lainer Dr. Judy Nakaso
Jane Lane Dr. Howard & Jean Nathan
Nigel Lawrence April Navarro
Charlotte Lerchenmuller Helen Noriega CRLA WOULD LIKE TO THANK
A. Keith Lesar Susan Nunn the following intitutions
Sherman & Allison Lewis Steven Thomas Nutter Arcus Foundation
Sheriff Raymond & Nancy OBrien
Barbara Loera
Blue Shield Foundation
Andrea Ordin
Rudolph Lonke & Lily Spitz Califorina EPA
Hon. Yolanda Orozco
Raymond Lopez California Bar Foundation
Luis Osuna
Paul Lovretovich California Healthcare Foundation
Manuel & Rachel Padilla
Debra L. Loya City of Santa Cruz
Armando & Patricia Padilla
Nancy Lumer City of Yuba County
Chris & Bettina Paige
David & Sandra Lyons County of San Luis Obispo
Richard Peale
Jennifer MacPherson County of Santa Cruz
Brenda Pebley
Emily Maglio
Rosendo & Rosalinda Covered California
Paul Malone Pena, Jr. David Bohnett Foundation
Christina Manalo Perez, Williams, Medina &
Department of Health & Human Services
Arnulfo Manriquez Rodriguez, LLP
Department of Housing and Urban
Ray Manzo Jack & Kathleen Peterson
Development
Lorena Martinez Camellia Pham
Department of Labor
Manuel Martinez Christine Pistel
Mary Ann Massenburg Robert & Norma Placensia
Elder Law & Advocacy
Tom McCammon Mary Louise Pratt Equal Justice Works

Robert & Anne Meagher Carmen E. Quintana Impact Fund
Isa-Kae Meksin Lupe Quintero Imperial County District Attorneys Office
Barbara Menard Manuel Quintero James Irvine Foundation
Miguel & Gabriela Mendez Sean Raffuse Legal Aid Society of San Diego
Michael L. Meuter Irene Ramirez Luna Legal Services Corporation
Simon and Kim Mikhael Oscar & Sara Ramos Monterey County
Thomas C. Mitchell Juanita Rebollar
Rose Foundation
Gabriela Mogrovejo Michelle Reinglass
San Diego County Bar Foundation
Miguel Molina Patricia Reming
Sierra Health Foundation
Senator William Monning Jack Carson Revvill
& Dr. Dana Kent Small Change Foundation
Cynthia L. Rice
Monterey Peninsula State Bar of California
Anne Richardson
Friends Meeting Sunlight Giving
Ronald & Susan Robboy
Miriam Montesinos & The California Endowment
Kari Robinson, Crown
Gresham Savage
Point Jr. Music Academy The California Wellness Foundation
Pia Moriarty & Bob Hurd staff & families
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Dennis Morita Sonia Rodriguez

Carlos Romero Paul Tepper Under $100 Laura & Brian Daly
Barbara & Oren Root Wang Seng Thao Jonathan W McLeod, Gloria de la Rosa
Kate Salazar Tony Tirado Alexande P Saxton Jason DeBord
Irene & Carlos Salazar Trust One Gabriella Dela Riva
Loli Torres
Rosalia Salinas Amelia Alvarez James Denvir & Barbara
Maria & Steve Torres
Yesenia Santacruz Mariano Alvarez Parada
Victor Manuel Torres
Celia Santana Juan & Amy Arambula Camille & William Doane
Jaime Trejo
Daniel P. Santos Christopher Arriola Erasmo & Rochelle Elias
Jennifer Truong
Roy Santos Gloria Olga Artechi Graciela and Peter Engen
David B. Turner
Schwab Charitable Fund Hulett Askew Fidelity Charitable
Shyam Ullal
Hon. Brad Seligman & Cindy Asner Anne Fletcher
Kerri Uyesaka
Sara Campos Joseph Benigno Carol Frank
Juan Valdovinos
Silicon Valley Community Gene Bernardi Jodee Fulton
Michael & Johanna Wald
Foundation Judith Bieler Ines Galindo
Cheryl Walker
Jesse & Gloria Silva Allen Bloom Karen Garson
Gene Weinstein
Carol Ruth Silver Steven & Karen Ronald & Susan
Winston Wheeler
Leonard Simon & Bovarnick Gastelum
Candace Carroll Ellen Widess
Jessie Brainerd Melissa K. Gee
Isabel Solis Robert Wilkinson & Jacqueline Braslow Dolores Giaquinta
Nancy Tholen
Margie Somers Kael Briski Ruth A. Gibson
Stephanie Williams
Peter Sommers Mary Ann Brownstein David Gomez
Dickinson Jason Wojciechowski
Marc Capitelli Manuel Gonzalez
Carolyn Sonfield Andrew Wolff
Rafael Castellanos Theodore Goodwin
Nancy Strohl & Peter Kent & Jai Wong
Angel Castillo Valerie Gorman
Siegel Beth Blossom Wood
Fabiola Cazares Peter & Ann Gregory
Leah Sugarman Elizabeth Zarate
Charlie Channel, Jr. Maki & Christopher
Betsy Temple Peter Zschiesche &
Sarah Clarenbach Hagan
Pamela Clark
Carrie Cota Timothy Hallahan

Earl & Bonnie Hamlin Raul Moreno Alice Rocha Art Stillwell
Susan E. Harloe Elizabeth Morrison Jill & Richard Rodewald Michael Sullivan
John Harris David R. Moss Jos Jesus Rodriguez Fernando Tafoya
Jos L. Hernandez Ana Najera Mendoza Lorraine & James Rogers Frances Taylor & Iris
Ben Hernandez-Stern Melinda & Matthew Florence Roisman Biblowitz
Rachel Hoerger Munoz Martha E. Romero Jennie Temple
Rebecca Johnson Robin J. Nelson Isidoro & Rafaela Romero Betty Thomas
Ted & Diana Jorgensen Daniela Nogueira Margarita & Ray Romo Christine Tokunaga
Myron Jucha Christian Olmos Stephen Rosenbaum & J. Breck & Nancy Tostevin
Carolyn Kameya & Jaime & Joaquin Olmos Aileen Alfandary Mario Trujillo
Kenneth Michisaki Gale Osborn Stefan Rosenzweig & Kathryn Clare Valentine
Bennett Katz Ricardo Padilla Claudia Jackson Jos & Enriqueta
Gary & Ilene Katz Pedro Paez William Rostov Villarreal
Rodney Kingsnorth Christine & Anthony Leah Russin Evelyn & Romeo Virrey
Alfonso Lopez Pagano Marrick E. Sayers Connie Wagner
Miriam Lopez Gerardo Partida Donald Schlotz Nellora Walker
Romulo & Roseanne Riana Pfefferkorn Charles & Ruth Schultz Betty Wang
Lopez Ana & Joseph Phares Adam Schwartz Jennifer Wanis
Cristina Cru Madrid Thomas Phillips & Claire Ann Schwartz Barry Wasserman &
Gabriel Manzo Stephanie Ericson Marta Luisa Sclar, Casa Judith Michalowski
Ceilia Marx Susan Podesta del Libro Seymour Weisberg
Gary McNeil Marcia Power Robin Seigle Beryl & Derek Westwood
Ciara Melancon Bill & Gloria Powers Stephen Selkowitz & Francis Wilkinson
Tele Ramirez Barbara OHare Mary Withington
Becky Mendoza
Dorri & Bernard Raskin Marci B. Seville Russell J. Yamaichi
Michelle Miller
Gayle Regan Robert Sikin Rafael & Virginia Yngojo
Debra Mipos
Elyse Rivas Lawrence Simon
Fred Miramontes
Peter Robrish Deirdre Snyder
Elisa Montes De Oca

THANK YOU Raul Cadena Ana de Alba Bonny Garcia
to our pro California Affordable Carlota Del Portillo Patty Garcia
Housing Law Project Department of Fair Fred Gibbons
bono partners,
California Reinvestment Employment and Marty Glick
volunteers, Coalition Housing
Beverly Glick
co-counsel and Alexandra Camacho Department of Housing
Andrea Gomez
many others Karen Carrera and Urban Development
Santos Gomez
who make Peter Carson Kelly Dermody
Arturo Gonazalez
a difference. Casa de Chocolates Marisa Diaz
Mauricio Gonzalez
Lalo Alcaraz Craig Castellanet Grasielita Diaz
Stephanie Gonzalez
Tanairi Alcaraz Kevin Chase Andrew Dignan
Melissa Gonzalez
Fred Altshuler Ariana Chavez Naveen Dixit
Brittany Gorin
Sean Andrade Franz R. Chavez Jessica Dockstader
Ira Gottlieb
Adrian S. Andrade Julio Chavez-Montar Carlie Domingues
David Grabill
Arnold Porter, LLP Julia Cheever Don Pico
Greater Bakersfield Legal
Elena Asturias Jenny Chu Kristen Alexis Dye
Assistantce Inc.
Tasha Azevedo Churchill Equal Jutice Society
Sheldon Greene
Lisbette Baltazar Tomas Cindy Naomi Eraa
Groovin On Productions
Dino Barajas Charles Claver Cristina Escobedo
Rani Gupta
Maya Barajas-Tavera David Collins Deborah Escobedo
Brad Gustafson
Diana Barba Scott Comerford Catherine Esquivel
Virgina Halden
Abel Barba Daniela Conde Events by One
Harper Fine Arts
Teresa Bardwell Ashley Connolly Frank Fernandez
Ashley Harvey
Ernesto Barreto Alberto Coppola Dorothy Fernandez
Hastings Human
Jeannie Barrett Adalberto Corres Ken Ferree Rights Clinic Desiree
Bay Area Legal Aid Covington & Burling, LLP Monique Fierro Hernandez
George Biko Jacqueline Cremen Sandos Finisterra Mary Hernandez
Father Gregg Boyle Cathy Creswell Jim Fitzpatrick Chris Ho Housing and
Liza Cristol-Deman Carmen Flores Economic Rights
Christopher Brancart
Advocates
Brancart & Brancart Jerolyn Crute FREED Center for
Independent Living Judy Hunter
Gurjeet Brar Austin Cummings
Frog Lady Aprons Jean Hyams
Diana Bravo Melisa Curiel
Josue Fuentes Luis Jaramillo
Yovanna Bravo Davis P. Curtis
Sharla Galindo Harris Ana Jaramillo
Maeve Elisa Brown Kristen Davis
Leticia Garcia Ron Javor
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Julian Davlin
Brenda Garcia Evangelina Jones
Schreck LLP
Mo Jourdane
Berge Bulbulian
Olivia Jourdane
Bush Gottlieb
Mickey Kantor
Joshua Katz

Kemnitzer Garron & Krieg Ramiro Moreno Yanet Rodriguez The Belasco Theater
Dave Kirkpatrick Morrison & Foerster LLP Rey Rodriguez The Latino Film Institute
Steve Kociol Dr. Adolfo Murillo Esteban Rodriguez Youth Cinema Project
Richard Koman Madeline Musante Dianna Rojas Toca Madera Winery
Elizabeth Kristen Huyen Nguyen Carolina C. Romero Juan Torres
Maricuz Ladino Sylvia Olivarez Beth Rosen-Prinz Victor Torres
Latina Designs by Pilar Tomas Olmos Marcela Ruiz Susan Townsend
Donna Lea Brooks Anna Olsen Jerry Ruiz Trio del Alma
Dolores Leal One Justice Miguel A. Ruiz-Rubalcava Ron Ulloa
Legal Aid at Work Victoria Orcutt Rural Community Walter Ulloa
Keith Lesar Jos Don Ordez Assistance Corp. Umberto Beverly Hills
Alberto Saldamando Salon
Carol Livingston Orrick, Herrington &
Sutcliffe LLP Patrick Saldana Gladdys Uribe
Jesus Lopez
Roberto Osorio Vincent Salminen Tony Valladolid
Linda Lucero
Luis O. Osuna Jos Sanchez Armando Valles
Aida Macedo
Carly Pacheco Sandos Finisterra Ernesto Velazquez
Claire Machado
Richard Pearl Los Cabos Ventura County Public
Molly Malavey
Jorge Santana Defenders Office,
Gabriel Manzo Jr. Frank Perez
Juvenile Division
Jennifer Perry Teresa Santiago
Gabriel Manzo Sr.
Stacy Villalobos
Ron Perry Rodrigo Santos
Daniel Marin
Trina Villanueva
Daphne Peterson Peter Schey
Jill Markham
Virginia Villegas
Yohana Pettersen Dee Schilling
David Martinez
Villegas Carrera LLP
Natalie Pierce Maria Serena
Teresa Martinez
Maria Vizzusi
Jonathan Plascencia Carol Ruth Silver
Jim Mattesich
Betty Wang
Michael Plumak Jane Silver
Bill McNeill
Emily Warfield
Douglas Provencher Paul Smith
Matthew McNicholas
Kelsi Wheeler
Provencher & Flatt, LLP Gary Soto
Manuel Medeiros
Lucas Whelan
Public Interest Law Project Claire Spector
Pat Medeiros
William Willford
Lupe Quintero Gino Squadrito
Lucy Mejia
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich
Radio Blingue, Inc. Sandro Squadrito
Jessica Melgar & Rosati
George Ramirez John Stegman
Denise Mendez Marcy Winograd
Ayeesha Rasheed Kevin Stein
Mexican American Bar Yerba Buena Gardens
Assoication Michael Rawson Abigail Stiles
Festival
Judith Meyer Mike Reiss Lucy Stransbury
Blanca Zarazua
Miles, Sears and Eanni Geraldine Reyes Edie Sussman
Noah Zinner
Daniel Mitchell Cruz Reynoso Charles Swanston
Julieta Zubia
Miguel Molina Cynthia R. Rice Sergio Tapia
Elyse Rivas Patty Tavera
Arturo Rodriguez Tequila Alquimia
Sharon Terman

FINANCES
50%
LEGAL SERVICES
2016 REVENUE CORPORATION GRANTS 77% 2016 EXPENSES
PROGRAM SERVICES
& SUPPORT
18%
OTHER
GRANTS
17%
13% MANAGEMENT & GENERAL
5% STATE BAR 14%
OTHER GRANTS DONATIONS
6%
FUNDRAISING
STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITES AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015
TEMPORARILY TEMPORARILY
UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL
REVENUE AND SUPPORT

Grant revenue $150,000 $12,478,191 $12,628,191 $- $12,174,133 $12,174,133
Contributions 1,405,854 125,350 1,531,204 347,288 800 348,088
Attorneys fees and costs recovery 1,000 475,949 476,949 92,556 460,933 553,489
Donated services 328,220 - 328,220 527,466 - 527,466
Other revenue 130,511 84,478 214,989 116,388 44,658 161,046
Special event revenue 322,127 - 322,127 176,220 - 176,220
Net assets released from
program restrictions 12,880,500 (12,629,316) - 12,447,686 (12,447,686) -
Total revenue and support 14,967,028 534,652 15,501,680 13,707,604 232,838 13,940,442
EXPENSES
Program services 10,609,137 - 10,609,137 10,818,493 - 10,818,493
Management and general 2,352,393 - 2,352,393 2,113,157 - 2,113,157
Fundraising 871,269 - 871,269 604,527 - 604,527
Total expenses 14,102,799 - 14,102,799 13,536,177 - 13,536,177
Change in net assets 1,134,229 534,652 1,668,881 171,427 232,838 404,265
NET ASSETS
Beginning of year 1,385,019 479,069 1,864,088 $1,213,592 246,231 1,459,823
End of year $2,519,248 $1,013,721 $3,532,969 $1,385,019 $479,069 $1,864,088
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION December 31, 2016 and 2015

ASSETS 2016 2015 LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS 2016 2015
CRLA is funded in part by the Legal
Services Corporation. As a condition
current assets current liabilities
of the funding it receives from LSC, it
Cash and cash Accounts payable $124,080 $161,329
equivalents $1,659,589 $552,318 Accrued liabilities 657,845 590,144 is restricted from engaging in certain
Grants receivable 708,623 230,034 Current portion of activities in all of its legal work, including
notes payable 90,046 87,825
Pledges receivable 13,800 36,753 work supported by other funding sources.
Total current liabilities 871,971 839,298
Other receivable 72,476 48,404 CRLA may not expend any funds for any
non-current liabilities
activity prohibited by the Legal Services
Prepaid expenses, Client trust funds payable 315,834 326,174
deposits, and Corporation ACT, 42 U.S.C. 2996 et seq.
employee advances 317,056 199,128 Notes payable 1,510,105 1,596,913
or by Public Law 104-134. Public Law
Other assets - 640 Total non-current liabilities 1,825,939 1,923,087
104-134 504(d) requires that notice of
Total current assets $2,771,544 $1,067,277 Total liabilities $2,697,910 $2,762,385 these restrictions be given to all funders
net assets
non-current assets of programs funded by the Legal Services
Unrestricted 1,519,248 653,151
Client trust funds 315,834 326,174 Corporation. For a copy of these laws or
Unrestricted board
Pledges receivable 39,130 48,000 designated 1,000,000 731,868 any other information or clarifications,
Property and equipment 3,104,371 3,185,022 Temporarily restricted 1,013,721 479,069 please contact Kim Jones, Director of
Total net assets 3,532,969 1,864,088 Giving, 213-361-8208.
Total non-current assets 3,459,335 3,559,196
Total liabilities
Total assets $6,230,879 $4,626,473 and net assets $6,230,879 $4,626,473

2017 CRLA OFFICES
OAKLAND MARYSVILLE SALINAS SANTA ROSA
(Administrative Only) Laura Clauson Ferree, RDA. Phyllis Katz, Dir. Jeffery Hoffman, Dir.
Jos R. Padilla, Executive Director 511 D Street 3 Williams Road 1160 N. Dutton Ave, Suite 105
1430 Franklin St., Suite 103 Marysville, CA 95901 Salinas, CA 93905 Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Oakland, CA 94612 TEL (530) 742- 5191 TEL (831) 757-5221 TEL (707) 528-9941
TEL (510) 267-0762 FAX (530) 742-0421 FAX (831) 757-6212 FAX (707) 528-0125
FAX (510) 267-0763
MODESTO SAN LUIS OBISPO STOCKTON
ARVIN Jessica Jewell, RDA. Paige Kent, Dir. Stephen Rosenbaum, Dir.
211 Bear Mountain Blvd. 1111 I Street, Suite 310 175 Santa Rosa Street 145 E. Weber Avenue
Arvin, CA 93203 Modesto, CA 95354 San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 Stockton, CA 95202
TEL (661) 854-3839 TEL (209) 577-3811 TEL (805) 544-7997 TEL (209) 946-0605
FAX (661) 854-3805 FAX (209) 577-1098 FAX (805) 544-3904 FAX (209) 946-5730
COACHELLA SANTA MARIA VISTA
OXNARD
Blaz Gutierrez, Dir. Monica de la Hoya, Dir. Corrie Arellano, Dir. 640 Civic Ctr. Dr., #108
1460 6th Street 338 South A Street 2050 G South Broadway Vista, CA 92084
P.O. Box 35 Oxnard, CA 93030 Santa Maria, CA 93454 TEL (760) 966-0511
Coachella, CA 92236 TEL (805) 922-4563 FAX (760) 966-0291
TEL (760) 398-7261 P.O. Box 1561 FAX (805) 928-0693 WATSONVILLE
FAX (760) 398-1050 Oxnard, CA 93032
SANTA CRUZ Gretchen Regenhardt, RDA.
TEL (805) 483-1068
DELANO 1740 17th Ave 21 Carr Street
Sahar Durali, Dir. FAX (805) 483-0535
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Watsonville, CA 95076
601 High St., Ste C TEL (831) 724-2253 TEL (831) 724-2253
Delano, CA 93215
FAX (831) 724-7530
TEL (661) 725-4350
FAX (661) 725-1062
EL CENTRO
Beatriz Garcia, Dir.
449 Broadway
El Centro, CA 92243
TEL (760) 353-0220
FAX (760) 353-6914
FRESNO
Estella Cisneros, Dir. Marysville
OAKLAND
3747 East Shields Ave.
Fresno, CA 93726 Santa Rosa
TEL (559) 441-8721 SAN FRANCISCO
FAX (559) 441-0724
OAKLAND Stockton
HOLLISTER Modesto
310 4th Street Santa Cruz
Hollister, CA 95023 Hollister
TEL (831) 724-2253 Watsonville Madera
LOS ANGELES Salinas Fresno
(Administrative Only)
714 W. Olympic Blvd.,
Suite 450
Los Angeles, CA 90015
TEL (510) 267-0762
Delano
MADERA
Baldwin Moy, Dir. San Luis Obispo
126 North B Street Arvin
Madera, CA 93638 Santa Maria
TEL (559) 674- 5671
FAX (559) 674- 5674 Oxnard
Los Angeles
CREDITS
Photos: David Bacon and Editors: Dolores Garay,
CRLA archives Kim Jones, Maureen Keffer,
Coachella
and CRLA Staff Printed on Recycled Paper: Vista
Managing Editor: Ray Manzo post consumer waste,
Writers: Ray Manzo and Design & Printing: neutral pH and chlorine
free. Soy based inks. El Centro
CRLA Staff LaserCom Design, Berkeley CA /
Trade Lithography
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
1430 Franklin Street, Suite 103 SAN FRANCISCO CA
Oakland, CA 94612
PERMIT NO. 1904
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. 2016 Annual Report

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. 2016 Annual Report

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE, INC.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

2016 ANNUAL REPORT A

B CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

2016 ANNUAL REPORT I

Reflections of a 57 | Kettleman City

CRLA: The Early Years

24 | Early Board of Directors

26 | CRLAs Inaugural Class

32 | 50th Anniversary Gala

II CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

47 | 2017 Board of Directors

2016 ANNUAL REPORT III

CRLAs founder Jim Lorenz submitted

The approval of the proposal started

IV CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

Blessed are the

Blessed are Twenty per cent of

The United States Senate

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 1

In the words of a folk ballad sung during

So far as the rural poor are concerned, the

The poor man cannot afford to pay a lawyer

The primary reason for establishing [CRLA]

2 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 3

4 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 5

6 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

J im Lorenz, the founder and

8 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

I joined CRLA as Deputy

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 9

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 11

12 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

I joined CRLA at the time

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 13

14 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 15

16 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

C RLA was founded in the 1960s, a time

Chavez led community-based mass I served as Executive Director from

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 17

Photo: Mark Diamond

18 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

Diversity in 1979: 70 CRLA lawyers

80% 10% 10% 50%

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 19

20 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 21

22 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 23

Violet Absher Oscar Gonalzes Daniel M. Luevano Edward O. Reyes

CRLAs First Offices

24 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

In 1968, CRLA started an inter-office

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 25

26 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 27

28 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 29

Joseph I. Castro Hector de la Rosa Luis Megid Adriana Frederick

San Diego La Raza Mario Rosas Councilmember OMelveny &

Reflections of a 57 | Kettleman City

24 | Early Board of Directors

26 | CRLAs Inaugural Class

32 | 50th Anniversary Gala

47 | 2017 Board of Directors