“[Because] of a lack of awareness, many times we limit ourselves [or don’t know how] to make changes for our communities. For many years I was advocating with a group of residents for a pedestrian crosswalk in our area- the area around Susan B Anthony [Elementary School].
Now that I am in this program, I know exactly what the process is that I have to follow to guide other leaders so they can advocate for the development of our communities.”
Juana Iris Meza
What is Land Use?
“Almost everything that deals with land use is relevant to our everyday lives,” says Ivan Paz, ENP’s Community Land Use Academy Project Manager. In fact, housing, health, and economic disparities in a city are often directly tied to land use decisions.
“Land use” is a term used to describe the human use of land in a city. Land use addresses questions like:
- What should be done with this abandoned building?
- Does this intersection need a stop light?
- Who do we contact to advocate for more green space for the kids in our neighborhood?
Everyday citizens must be educated about the policies surrounding the use of land in our city so they can rally together and advocate for changes in their city. However, many people in our community who are most impacted by land use decisions do not have the resources or education to speak into these policies.
Equipping Spanish-Speakers to Influence Fresno’s Land Use Decisions
“[Because] of a lack of awareness, many times we limit ourselves [or don’t know how] to make changes for our communities,” says Juana Iris Meza, a community organizer with The Children’s Movement.
Over the last two decades, the Latino population in Fresno County has grown 54%. 63% of these individuals primarily speak Spanish at home. While Latinos make up over half of the county’s population and have a strong rate of participation in the community’s labor force, over a third do not have a high school diploma and almost 25% live in poverty.
Latinos in Fresno County experience significant educational and wage disparities compared to their peers of other racial and ethnic groups. Given their high propensity to work and significant contributions to the county’s population growth over the last two decades, the need to improve Latino well-being in Fresno County will only continue to grow. ~ Latino Data Hub
What does this mean? As Fresno Latinos and Spanish-speakers are equipped to make positive changes in their own neighborhoods, our city will see radical transformation. This is why ENP has asked our partners and staff to help us develop an educational Land Use program specifically for our Spanish-speaking community.
Community Land Use Academy (CLUA) Para Nosotros
Earlier this year, ENP partnered with a local nonprofit organization, The Children’s Movement of Fresno, to launch a version of our new Community Land Use Academy (CLUA) for Spanish-speakers called CLUA Para Nosotros.
CLUA Para Nosotros is an 8-week bootcamp designed for local Spanish-speaking residents and community builders who want to be involved in Fresno’s land use policies and development decisions to improve their neighborhoods. Thanks to a grant from the Kresge Foundation and with technical support from the Urban Institute, ENP has launched this new city-wide initiative.
“For many years I was advocating with a group of residents for a pedestrian crosswalk in our area- the area around Susan B Anthony [Elementary School],” says Juana Iris Meza. “Now that I am in this program, I know exactly what the process is that I have to follow to guide other leaders so they can advocate for the development of our communities. I am very grateful to be a part of this academy.”
Since her participation in CLUA Para Nosotros, Juana has now helped lead others through the program as a teacher and mentor!
Are you interested in learning more about ENP’s Community Land Use Academy? Email Ivan Paz at ivan@everyneighborhood.org or visit the webpages below!
Leave a Reply