Hundreds of Promotoras gather to celebrate union and strengthen their skills to work in the communities

For more than a decade, Ana Guzman and Jessica Cortez have been helping their communities in South and East L.A.. First as volunteers, then as paid employees. 

Both of them are community Promotoras and said the job doesn’t feel like work when it’s done from the heart. Promotoras are liaisons between their communities and health and social service providers. 

Both women attended the 23rd annual Vision y Compromiso conference in Anaheim, Calif. The event, held on Thursday and Friday, hosted nearly 1,000 participants interested in advancing equity, well-being and community justice. 

In a moment of turmoil, where immigration is front and center of the current administration, the conference focused on celebrating, but also recognizing the hard work by fearless Promotoras and Promotores across the nation. 

 Guzman and Cortez said they have gone above and beyond to help their communities by providing resources, from access to food, to health, education and other social services. 

Guzman said a moment of accomplishment for her doesn’t come from public recognition, but mainly from the “thank yous” she receives from families. For example, after they learn how to access food or health services.

“I like this job because when I needed help, somebody helped me, and it’s always better to give than to receive,” Guzman said. 

Cortez said in order to be a good Promotora you need to have empathy for the people you are helping and understand your community. 

“We offer our help in schools, clinics. We even go to homes. Wherever they need us,” she said. 

The leadership must continue

During the plenary, “The Promotora Movement as an Act of Resistance,” the speakers encouraged the Promotoras to continue inviting younger generations to participate in their communities.

Emma Torres, executive director with Campesinos sin Fronteras, a nonprofit in Yuma, Ariz. said they have several programs serving more than 1,500 youth. This helps because once the youth learn leadership skills, they in turn help their communities. 

Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles (CHIRLA) Executive Director Angelica Salas said that since 1999, they have been working with the youth. Currently, they have a presence in at least 18 high schools, teaching students how to organize. The youth learn how to advocate for themselves and obtain higher education and many have even returned to work as CHIRLA’s staff. 

“This is an intergenerational movement. We are learning from them and they have a different perspective,” she said. 

Advocacy during difficult times

Vision y Compromiso states that Promotores may be volunteers or paid workers, and are also known as patient liaison, peer educator, health advocate, family educator, outreach worker or system navigator. They build and maintain relationships of trust and respect within their communities, and understand the reality of how people live and the obstacles that keep them from success.

Maria Lemus, Vision y Compromiso executive director, said the fight to recognize the work is finally paying off in many cases. She said before they were getting “paid” with gift cards or stipends, but now the fight for the Promotoras is to continue getting paid with average salaries, retirement funds and social security.

“That is our right as Promotoras. We have to advocate for that,” she said. “Now everybody wants a Promotora but they don’t want to pay for their services.”

Lemus said it is also true that under the current situation, many Promotoras who are immigrants are concerned of the possibility of being detained, but that’s why it is important to train them and provide them with a toolbox on how to respond in certain situations. 

“Whether you are undocumented, green card [holder]or citizen, it doesn't matter,” she said. “Even me, who is native born, I walk around with my passport because they are really targeting a person more than a status.”

She said that’s why it’s important to hold events such as the conference, where they also encourage the wellness and well-being of the Promotoras.