For Juana Carabajal, community organizing has felt like her calling; it has allowed her to connect with those inside and outside of the community. Her force of nature and empathic personality have also given her the space to lead and guide others.
At the age of nine, she finally started attending school because she had to take care of her siblings, prompting her to sacrifice her education early on. She eventually graduated from high school, taking BC classes while working in the fields.
Carabajal’s journey into community organizing began in the fields, where she worked as a grape picker and packager. During her time in the fields, she recalled farm workers having no rights or laws that protected them from heat exhaustion…