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An Untold Victory In August

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On October 13th, dozens of CLI supporters packed the Woodburn City Council Hall to show their support for creating an ordinance that would allow for the public display of murals in Woodburn. Young adults, artists, and civic leaders provided testimony in hopes to sway the city council to support the ordinance. Ultimately those young adults, artists, and civic leaders prevailed in their mission in changing the mural ordinance.

What began as an effort in fall of 2011 to ask the city for permission to paint the outside walls of the CLI, turned into a year-long campaign that has now become known as the CLI Mural Civic Engagement Campaign.  The CLI focused a yearlong campaign that would address several needs: 1) Ultimately paint a mural that would reflect the contributions of the farmworker community (Original goal), 2) Work with farmworker families to engage the Woodburn City Council to change its city ordinance, 3) Bring in a well-rounded muralist in Juanishi Orosco, who painted PCUN’s mural (see below), to paint the CLI mural and be a mentor for young artists, 4) Foster a community  building activity that would bring together the Woodburn community and facilitate a dialogue about farmworker contributions.

PCUN Mural by Juanishi Orosco

Young emerging leaders like Aldo Solano distributed petitions in the farmworker community that was ultimately submitted to the city council. TURNista Julissa Ramirez, from CLI’s Youth Leadership program, offered a testimony that argued how Woodburn would be stronger with an ordinance. Maria Andrade, a young adult who testified at the city council meeting remarked how she wanted to get involved with shaping her city and hopes to vote when she is eligible.

Maria Andrade, Nuevo Amanacer resident (farmworker housing unit), testifies in strong support of a Woodburn Mural Ordinance.

Despite the victory, community members and the CLI are very far away from being able to paint the mural; The city still has to create an arts advisory board, which would require the CLI to submit an application and pay a permit fee.

Though the CLI and farmworker families won a victory in the passage of the mural ordinance, and in the process developed new leaders who now engage with the city council, the CLI is far from being able to make the first brushstrokes to paint a mural. The next phase for the CLI Mural Civic Engagement Campaign, is to have farmworker families engaged with the city in shaping the arts advisory board by crafting the procedures and making recommendations of community members to sit in the art advisory board.

The Doors Are Open!

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On August 25th, 2012 the CAPACES Leadership Institute celebrated the grand opening of its sustainably-built, passive house designed, debt-free, volunteer-driven building.

Joining for the celebration were over 250 attendees that included community leaders from Oregon and across the country, farmworker families, and special guest such as Irasema Garza, Senior Counselor to US Secretary of Labor Hilda Soli, Anthony Chavez, grandson of Cesar Chavez; and City of Woodburn’s Mayor, Kathy Figley.

The event program was led by emerging young leaders who graduated from CLI’s own leadership classes, Vicky Falcon and Hugo Nicolas. Folklorico musical Duo Piel Canela, from Vera Cruz, Mexico, opened up the festivities which were then followed by speeches from our invited guests.

“This Institute and this community have taken on the challenges of cultivating a new generation of leaders,” said Irasema Garza.

Laura Isiordia, the CLI’s Executive Director wrapped up the program by leading the ribbon cutting ceremony. “It was really impactful to see people not only excited about the building, but what’s going to be happening inside,” reflected Laura. “I felt the energy of support. It was quite reassuring to know that we have a common vision in growing new leaders.”

The grand opening festivities concluded with tours of the CLI led by Gene Wixson that included photo displays of each of the phases of the building’s construction.

The grand opening was preceded by a Strategic Gathering on August 24th. The gathering brought together over 50 key supporter and key leaders of our movement to shape the thinking that will guide the CLI’s programs, communications strategies, and the organization’s long-term vision.

Thank you for making the Grand Opening a reality!

Watch video of the CLI’s Grand Opening and the events that led up to it

A REASON TO CELEBRATE AND GIVE

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(Photo taken by Abel Valladares) Julizza Ramirez, TURNista, in front of the CLI

The CLI’s first year of operation has produced many successes thanks to you and our many partners across the country. One of those partners is the Universalist Unitarian Veatch Program at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, New York. Veatch has been a major contributor to our movement generally, and, in particular, to establishing the CLI.

The Universalist Unitarian Veatch Program is so excited about our work underway that they’ve offered the CLI a $5,000 matching grant. Their match offer is motivated by their desire to see the CLI get off to a powerful start in its new home and they’re calling on others to help make that a sure thing. Can you help us?

Your support will help us continue to develop leaders like Julizza Ramirez, a 16 year old from Woodburn, Oregon. “There are a lot of issues in my community I want to help change. I want to learn to organize, engage with city leaders and create the changes necessary to make our city healthy and vibrant, “said Julizza.

Julizza is one of several youth enrolled in the CLI’s TURNO Program. TURNO is a new initiative that’s creating a path for capable and motivated youth to embrace and prepare for long-term movement leadership. Despite joining TURNO only a few months ago, Julizza has wasted no time putting in practice her leadership skills. Julizza and several of her peers are leading a campaign to change the City of Woodburn’s sign ordinance to allow for publicly displayed murals. The law change would allow the CLI to paint a mural on the building wall looking at Young Street and on other parts of the Institute exterior.    

 “It is stories of young leaders like Julizza’s that inspire us to support organizations like the CLI. They are in the front line cultivating leaders to create positive change in their communities,” said Victor Quintana, the senior Program Officer at the Universalist Unitarian Veatch Program.

To receive the grant from the Universalist Unitarian Veatch Program we need to raise the matching $5,000 dollars by August 25th, 2012, the CLI’s Grand Opening date. We hope you can help us meet our goal. Thank you.

Here are the two ways you can make a tax-deductible donation to support the CLI:

  1. Send a check payable to “Willamette Valley Law Project” to 300 Young St., Woodburn, OR 97071
  2. Go to www.pcun.org/getinvolved/donate and make an online contribution to WVLP
  3. Or Click on the green “donate” button on the top right half of the page.

In unity and with gratitude,

 

Laura Isiordia
Executive Director
CAPACES Leadership Institute
laura@capacesleadership.org

 

P.S- You are invited to our Grand Opening on Saturday, August 25th. The ceremony begins at 5:00 PM and will take place in 356 Young St., Woodburn, Oregon. To RSVP please contact Dalila Ortiz at dalilao@capacesleadership.org, (503)980-5724 or online: www.eventbrite.com/event/3777719260

Year One: Steady As She Grows…

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(From Left to right) Abel Valladares, Dalila Ortiz, Laura Isiordia (Exec. Dir.), Maricela Andrade, Jaime Arredondo, and Ranfis Villatoro

One year ago, today, the CAPACES Leadership Institute was “born” as an independent entity.

Since we gathered on July 13, 2011 in PCUN’s Risberg Hall to sign the articles of non-profit incorporation, the Institute’s staff has taken shape.  Laura Isiordia became Executive Director in August and by February, the staff numbered five, two full-time and three part-time

On July 1st, a Jaime Arredondo joined the CLI staff as the third full-timer.  He brings to the Institute his seven years of community organizing and fundraising experience at Farmworker Housing Development Corporation (a CAPACES network organization), as well as his deep commitment to the farmworker struggle.  Jaime came to Oregon from Michoacan, Mexico when he was eight.  He worked in the fields with his parents and siblings where he first encountered PCUN.  His parents are long-time PCUN members and, today, Jaime serves on PCUN’s board.

Jaime will co-lead the Institute’s “Foro de Liderazgo” or “Leadership Forum,” a sort of test kitchen for leadership recipes.  He’ll also be front and center at the Institute’s upcoming supporter gathering in Oakland, August 12th at the East Side Arts Alliance.  If you live in the Bay Area and would like more information—or know someone there who might take interest in the Institute, please email Abel Valladares (abel@capacesleadership.org).

Jaime, Abel and PCUN Vice President Brenda Mendoza will be in the Bay Area then to present at the “GIFT” conference, organized by the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training.  The conference brings together hundreds nationwide to explore the intersections of fundraising and grassroots social change.  Our team will share lessons learned from the successful CLI capital campaign and from PCUN’s quarter century of membership dues and services which have generated over $2,000,000 from farmworkers to support their union.

Have you RSVPed yet for the CLI Grand Opening at 5:00 PM on August 25th?  If not, decide today that you’ll join us, and email Dalila Ortiz at dalilao@capacesleadership.org.

Jaime—and the rest of us—promise that the Grand Opening will be a celebration you won’t want to miss!