March eNews: Every Water Justice Leader Makes a Difference
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Dear Supporter,
Our annual Water Justice Leadership Awards never fails to share community power directly with Sacramento decision makers. Over 45 community members from the Central Valley and the Central Coast met with legislators to educate them on water issues and ensure they support critical bills that move water justice forward. Community partners shared testimonies highlighting the need to extend the SAFER program and why we need affordable drinking water through SB 850 (Durazo).
Martha and Esteban Curiel with Susana De Anda and Abraham Mendoza being recognized as Community Leadership Champions for the Central Valley.
This was followed by a powerful night for celebration and fundraising! We want to thank everyone who joined us for the 2025 Water Justice Leadership Awards. At this inspiring event, we honored people who are advancing the Human Right to Water including: Senator Ben Allen, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, Martha and Esteban Curiel of Woodville, Rosa Carrillo Orozco of the San Jerardo Cooperative, and Central California Environmental Justice Network. We want to provide a special thank you for our sponsors below who made this night possible!
Adelante,
Susana De Anda
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Shaping Solutions in East Orosi
Miriam Sanchez at her official appointment to the East Orosi CSD.
We are excited to see Miriam Sanchez appointed to the East Orosi Community Services District board! This continues the strong momentum for community leadership in the area working to shape drinking water and wastewater solutions. Miriam and her family have a longstanding history of drinking water advocacy. Her mother, Bertha Diaz, is a longtime Vecinos Unidos and an AGUA member advocating for safe drinking water, proper wastewater solutions and transparent billing in the community. Miriam herself was a founder of Youth for AGUA leading the next generation of drinking water advocates.
Miriam joins Carlos Sanchez and Cynthia Ruiz on the board as they plan to work together to move their community in the right direction. This is happening as East Orosi is working towards the implantation of AB 805 (Arambula) to address failing wastewater systems, bringing us closer to solutions to this problem. From the governor’s visit to new local leadership, we are in awe of what the community has achieved so far and are excited to keep supporting this progress.
A Strong Showing for Local Leaders
CWLN members gathered together in Visalia.
The Community Water Leaders Network met and connected with one another to share knowledge in this uplifting space. This was a key opportunity to bridge old members and new members creating an environment where mentorship can happen. Community leaders range from local water board members to city council members meaning there are diverse backgrounds of leadership united in their intention to do right by the community.
The goal of CWLN is to address systemic exclusion of low-income, rural communities of color in water decision making with the aim to build a pipeline of strong community leaders. Through this and continued support we aim to see meaningful community participation in local, regional, and state water policy.
For more information on CWLN, contact Imelda Ramirez at imelda.ramirez@communitywatercenter.org.
State proposes administrator to take over troubled East Orosi sewer system
View all recent media here.
CWC is Hiring
Do you have a passion for environmental and social justice? Are you looking for an opportunity to work alongside those on the frontlines of the movement for safe and affordable drinking water in California?
Community Water Center is hiring:
Human Resources Manager- Visalia Office
Manage day-to-day HR operations, including employee relations, recruiting, onboarding, payroll, benefits, training, and policy implementation.
More information on CWC Careers here!
Community Resources
Guide to Community Drinking Water Advocacy
Visit the Guide to Community Drinking Water Advocacy to find information about your water supply and quality, potential threats to groundwater quality, and how to get involved in local groundwater management decisions among other great information. Visit the guide here!
Thank you to our Generous Donors!
A huge thank you to our sustaining monthly donors! Your ongoing commitment to water justice ensures everyone will have access to safe, clean and affordable drinking water.
Ann Dierks, Bessma Mourad, Bob Simone, Brad Coffey, Carly Yoshida, Claire Sarraille, Claire Wilkens, Elizabeth Callaway, F Thomas Biglione, Herbert G Cattanach, Jelle van Geuns, Jonathan Nelson, Jose Pablo Ortiz Partida, Kat Gilje, Kelsey Hinton, Kirk Demartini, Kjirste Morrell, Kristin Dobbin, Lauren Gordon, Lou Riordan, Margaret Ferguson, Margaret Pedersen, Max Gomberg, Max Meyer, Robert Kimberling, Sandi Matsumoto, Temma Kaplan, Tori Klug, Wendy Hoben
And thank you to our March donors!
Mark A Gold, Hannah Dailey, Kaylon Hammond, Jenny Rempel, Arohi Sharma, Steve Fleischli, Avinash Kar, Patrick Guild, Eddie Valero
Be a water champion and support safe water for all.
