Volunteer Promotoras support Gilroy expansion through community outreach
Promotoras pose with family members and Catholic Charities staff in Gilroy.
Two years after the launch of Catholic Charities expanded outreach in Gilroy, the number of individuals served through our anti-poverty initiatives there has quadrupled. A key component of successfully connecting Gilroy residents to the resources they need are highly trained volunteers from within the community called “promotoras.” This dedicated group of women works alongside Catholic Charities staff to help families determine their goals and then connect them with the appropriate resources. The promotoras model dates back to the late 1960s and was originally deployed to increase access to health care for low-income individuals.
At a recent meeting of the promotoras in Gilroy, it was evident all of the women share a passion and dedication to making their community better for their own families and their neighbors. Currently, there are 13 trained promotoras working with CCSCC staff within the Gilroy community and much of their time is spent at public events to hand out flyers and give information.
While group members are long-time South County residents, some said they themselves weren’t aware of Catholic Charities services before they became a promotora. Also, they heard from many community members who said they did not realize people of all faiths and beliefs – not just Catholics – can receive help through Catholic Charities. In overcoming these service barriers, the promotoras are ideally positioned to communicate person-to-person – and neighbor-to neighbor – on what services are available and invite people to attend events and workshops.
“Really listening to people and what they need is the most important part of being a promotora,” said Maricruz Acuna, who has lived in Gilroy for 14 years. She and her husband, Ignacio, are the parents of four children ranging in age from 12 to 20.
In addition to employment support, immigration legal services, food distribution and other services in South County, outreach has also included a laptop computer giveaway, financial and digital literacy training, and distribution of toys and books where families can “shop” for what they want.
Recent workshops and projects for the promotoras have included:
• Understanding the college application process and how to access financial aid.
• Supporting the Compassion Center distributing food to the unhoused.
• Distributing information related to health care and MediCal registration, and emergency and disaster preparedness.
• Learning self-care and healthy habits like taking group walks and hikes.
• Painting and weaving class to promote family engagement in a fun setting.
Maricruz adds: “We are promotoras, we are friends and we are a very strong group! I hope many more people will participate because this way they will learn about their rights and that they have a voice.”
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Increasing Gilroy-based resources for children and families is part of our long-range plan to provide even more options to address the multi-faceted aspects of achieving economic mobility. Started in Gilroy in early 2022 in partnership with St. Mary’s Parish, “Footsteps: Pathways to Self-Sufficiency” builds on Catholic Charities' more than 60-year history serving South Santa Clara County. Footsteps is a highly strategic, neighborhood-based approach to change the lives of hundreds of families, empower entire communities, transform our service model, and scale and expand to more sites throughout the county.
