CVM's newest grassroots group: Delano Guardians
Delano Guardians is the fourth grassroots group chosen for funding by CVM. Founded in 2013 as a nonpartisan organization, its mission is to organize and empower marginalized communities in Delano, northern Kern County and Tulare County to advocate for their needs. A key goal is to elect officials who are responsive to those needs. That means getting people to vote.
Low voter turnout is an issue. Delano Guardians believes low voter turnout is due to lack of education and information on how voting can make a difference in people’s lives. They may not connect voting with the kitchen table issues they care about most: getting subsidized housing, health care for grandparents and pre-K programs for children. In the June primary, “We believe Latinos sat this one out,” said Yolanda Chacon-Serna, a leader and organizer for Delano Guardians.
Also, with all the misinformation circulating, “There is lots of mistrust at this time,” said Guadalupe Martinez, also a leader and organizer for the group. “When we did canvassing, people believed it was sort of a scam. So many doors were not opened….”
Delano Guardians works to overcome these perceptions, especially in Delano (population 52,173) and smaller cities in CD-22—McFarland, Wasco, Shafter and more. “The region where we focus is home to the largest number of potential voters in CD-22,” the group leaders said.
With CVM funding this spring, Delano Guardians reached 1,500 potential voters and delivered 500 ballots to be counted in the June primary. With more funding from CVM, they will be able to expand their efforts for the fall elections.
How does the group do this? With a lot of outreach: your donations at work!
Delano Guardians trains volunteers to talk to people about what matters to them. The group uses in-depth conversations, a “family and friends” plan, to create widening circles of people who, in turn, talk with their families and friends. It’s similar to peer-to- peer and relational organizing: all the most effective tools. Many of these volunteers are high school students – so they know their communities.
Delano Guardians educates voters: many people don’t know how to fill out a mail-in ballot or where to deposit it. Drop boxes are new, especially in Kern County. And there is mistrust about whether votes will really be counted. The group’s canvassers are there to help and give facts.
This fall, the group plans to continue its multi-pronged approach. They will train and organize volunteers to educate about voting. They’ll go door to door, talking with people and leaving leaflets when no one is home. They’ll hand out flyers in public spaces, post banners and even do “human billboarding” to encourage voting.
They also plan to hold workshops and produce public service announcements…all to reach more and more potential voters.
Delano Guardians has seen firsthand the victories, large and small, that come with this challenging work. “We have a woman who became a citizen just because she wanted to be able to vote,” said Chacon-Serna. “This is her second time voting. This was a big deal to her, to become a citizen so she can vote.”
