On Feb 28th, 2026 about 100 to 150 people came together representing about 20 to 30 organizations that dot the Sacramento area. The theme was “Moving Forward Toward a Common Vision.
The composition was for the most part if not all nonprofit organization leadership activists. On top of that most were older roughly from the ages of early 40’s to the 70’s. There was not a significant presence of younger activists.
There were several speakers representing several political activists from an elected council member to
THE METHOD THE FORUM ORGANIZED THE DISCUSSIONS
There were three presentations. One in the form of a report by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and two panel discussions. Afterwards each table (14 tables)
1) Hispanic Economic Report given by the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. This report was full of economic data related to the economic factors related to the Latino community in terms of jobs, tax generated, income and spending to the local economy, future growth, demographics regarding our workforce and so on. This report was not only very informative but from the data conclusion could be drawn for example the data showed that as the Latino community’s contribution lifts entire sections of the overall economy so that as our community does well, it lifts other sections as a domino effect.
The report and research clearly show that absolute importance of tapping into our researchers, academicians and intellectual sectors to use their skills to equip our movement with the data needed to be able to chart a direction be it for future economic growth or to understand how to leverage our economic power as a weapon to fight for reform. The report is available online.
2) Panel Discuson: Immigration, affordability and economic development (five panelists)
This panel presented views on these topics in an informal style with questions being posed and the panel would answer them. The objective of this discusion seemed to be to get the attendees thinking on these topics as their role was to field questions that the panelist would answer.
3) Panel Discussion: Health, Environment and Education (five panelists)
Again, this panel fielded questions related to the topic and each one gave their views.
This panel was the most interesting and dynamic. The speaker that stood out was a research consultant that gave a presentation of how the economics determine the nature of the life of our community, what part of town we live in, the types of resources or lack of resources, ability to obtain loans or buy a home, the types of jobs we get, even the environmental quality, types of schools, etc. This was very specific to Sacramento and the panelist was able to show concretely how for example the building of a major freeway, split the area into two distinct areas one wealthier than the other which translated into the factors mentioned already. Again, it demonstrates clearly how analysts are a critical part of our movement by presenting us with concrete proof of how the city has manipulated our community creating a wealth gap and subsequently two distinct qualities of life factors.
THE REAL MEAT OF THE FORUM WAS IN THE “BREAK OUT” GROUPS
After the panel discussions each table was given three questions to answer.
A) What is our current reality?
B) What is or vision?
C) What are our next steps?
I won’t go into the details of how each of the 14 tables answered these questions only to say that they all had similar responses as described above.
GENERAL SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
This forum was organized primarily by the nonprofit sector and it showed in the style and content of the forum. The majority of the people present were in the range of mid 40’s through the 70’s, definitely representing the older generations. The objective of this forum was to begin the process of unifying the wide variety of organizations and activists in the Sacramento area. For too long the social justice efforts have remained scattered and their leadership fragmented. This forum proposed to begin the process of turning a new leaf.
For example, the nature of the discussion brought up such things as a) the community not being aware of what resources were available and the need to do better outreach or b) The fact that money is available that organizations are not aware of and the need to share this information and tap into these sources or c) The need to get the youth involved or d) The need to hold city, county and state officials and legislators accountable or e) The need for living wages and safe homes for our elders to age with dignity, f) The need to establish a private foundation to finance community reform efforts , g) The need to establish a centralized information hub so resources can be tapped into.
Ideas also emerged with a more visionary viewpoint. Such as:
a) The need to get rid of private money that influences elections
b) The lack of data for activists to be able to make informed decisions
c) Lack of a common agenda
d) Continuing the fight for social and environmental justice
e) Prepare local communities to brace for economic impact and the hardship it will create
f) The need to develop a mentality of people taking care of one another
THE FORUM REPRESENTS A HISTORICAL STEP FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY
This forum was a positive, constructive move. The state of fragmentation and dispersed nature of our social justice movement required a move towards uniting the forces working for the benefit of the Latino community. This forum was step in that direction.
This forum helped bring people of political and social influence together as a first step and thus is an overall positive development as now a new working relationship have emerged. The real question will be what the following steps will be taken by the leadership to continue this momentum?
THE NEXT FORUM SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE A WIDER VISION
While this first forum was a first step and a call to unite, there are things that in my opinion should be included in the next round of meetings. Such things for example as:
1) Why did half of our voting community vote for trump?
2) Why is there a disconnect between our citizen sector and our immigrant sector and how are we to heal that gap?
3) How do we draw forward our youth to take their places in this fight as equals and peers?
4) Why are we unable to counter the outright lies of the mainstream puts out 24/7 to our community about our community to the general population?
5) What will it take to harness the power of our cultural and artistic sector to throw their weight into the fight and begin to help point a way forward for our community?
6) How do we prepare our community for the extreme hardship and repression that is just around the corner as we are being turned into the scapegoats for the ills of our country?
These are only a sampling of the great puzzle that must be solved in moving our community to begin to assume control of its own destiny. The first step has already been taken from which there will be no turning back.
Tony Herrera is a 75-year-old San Francisco native whose coming of age during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 70s set the course for a lifetime of activism. A career welder by trade, he has channeled the same commitment into the fight for social justice, from union organizing and tenants rights to immigrant advocacy and anti-racism work. He now serves on the organizing committee of OCCI’s community preparation campaign.