Admin’s Note: The following is a republishing of the CBDIO’s story and mission statement. Please see visit their site and download their Strategic Plan for more information. Our Story | CBDIO 2023. Their story is followed by their latest blog post: Voices of Indigenous Workers in California’s Capital

Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño: Their Story

California’s Campesines are stewards of the land and feed our nation. Many farmworkers come from the Indigenous communities of Southern states in Mexico. As caregivers of the land we are proud of our roots, the care with which we tend to the land, our relationship with the Earth, and the power within our culture. 

Yet, too often, our people and families are left behind due to racist systems that continue to oppress our communities. That’s why in 1993, leaders of the Oaxaqueño community founded CBDIO to support campesines and their families in the Central Valley in California.  As the first community based Indigenous-led organization in the state, we make sure our communities’ culture, languages, and knowledge are recognized and respected by the systems and institutions that impact our lives. 

As a growing movement of Indigenous leaders, we organize to make sure our community is ready to take action in our workplaces, our neighborhoods, and across California to build a better future for our families. For thirty years, Centro has been a bridge to connect the  Indigenous communities with health, legal and other resources.  We created the first Indigenous Interpreters program in California, wrote a Mixteco after school curriculum, supported access to COVID-related resources in multiple Indigenous languages, and mobilized $4.3 million in pandemic solidarity aid to over 3,000 Indigenous families across nine California counties.  

Our team comes from the communities we serve. Collectively we speak six Indigenous languages with 13 unique variants of Mixtec, Zapotec, Tlapaneco, Amuzgo, Chatino, and Triqui. We are organizers, interpreters and connectors to ensure that language and culture aren’t barriers between our community and the resources, services, and support they need. 

​At CBDIO, we tap into our ancestral knowledge and inherent power to build a collective movement for racial and economic justice. We have a network of close to 60,000 Indigenous people in Fresno, Madera, Tulare, and Monterey Counties…and we are growing. At the end of our day, our goal is simple: the self-determination of our Indigenous communities.

Voices of Indigenous Workers in California’s Capital

Jun 15. Originally published at: Voices of Indigenous Workers in California’s Capital

Our Immigrant Community in Action

Central Valley, CA – On May 1, International Workers’ Day, CBDIO staff, in collaboration with other organizations and community members, participated in the Fresno and Madera marches to honor those who have lost their lives under ICE custody and operations, reaffirm the fight for justice, demand better working conditions, and encourage civic engagement in the upcoming elections. Messages in support were shared in multiple languages to ensure that all communities could be heard. 

 In addition, the event commemorated the 20th anniversary of the historic 2006 “A Day Without Immigrants” marches across the United States, in which thousands of workers, students, and families took to the streets in major cities nationwide to highlight the economic and social contributions of immigrant communities, and call for fair and comprehensive immigration reform. Messages of support highlighted the impact that immigration policies and laws have on immigrant families, sowing fear, causing separations, and creating uncertainty in the daily lives of thousands of people. These policies not only affect those who face them directly but also undermine the well-being of our communities. In light of this reality, local authorities were urged to prevent ICE agents from entering courthouses and to promote policies that protect the dignity, safety, and stability of working immigrant families, and recognize their invaluable contribution to the development and strength of our society. 

 The May Day March remains a vital space to remember past struggles, defend hard-won rights, and continue demanding justice, equality, and opportunities for all. Each year, this mobilization strengthens solidarity among workers, immigrants, and allies committed to a more inclusive society.

 The fight continues, and our participation makes all the difference!