On Thursday, October 24, Bakersfield residents will gather for a community housing workshop to discuss the city’s housing crisis. Leadership Counsel will host the event at Salon Juarez at 5:30 p.m., focusing on the past, present, and future of housing injustices in the area.
“We invite everyone to join us in person and connect with the community,” said Sandra Melgoza-Plascencia, a policy advocate for Leadership Counsel. “We’ll talk about the history of housing issues in Bakersfield and how we can work together to create a healthier, more resilient city.”
Donato Cruz, who holds a Master of Arts in History from California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB), will present alongside Leadership Counsel. As an archivist and historian, Cruz supports community and student research, processes collections, and organizes exhibits on historical topics.
“I hope this forum encourages residents to get involved in decision-making,” Cruz said. “Every neighborhood voice matters and can make a difference.”
Cruz specializes in the history of housing discrimination and redlining. His research focuses on housing, urban renewal, suburbanization, and eminent domain, all with the goal of educating the public.
“I’m passionate about housing justice because of my research on historical segregation,” Cruz explained. “Housing affects us all—where we live shapes our quality of life.”
During the workshop, Cruz will discuss historical practices like redlining and housing segregation. He will explain how real estate agents, supported by federal home loan programs, segregated communities across the United States.
Attendees will learn how redlining shaped America’s home-buying process, determined which neighborhoods received the best investments, and influenced the development of communities.
“Your voice matters in this process,” Cruz emphasized. “Those who say it doesn’t aren’t telling the truth. We work, live, and pay for this city, and the more silent we are, the less impact we have.”