Policy change can be slow, messy, and often discouraging, but Bakersfield advocate Emma De La Rosa has never been more determined. Some people ask for change; De La Rosa organizes, shows up, and demands it, because she’s lived what’s at stake.
Years after she first stepped into public advocacy, De La Rosa’s childhood memories, like helping her mother fill out benefit paperwork, continue to shape her mission. Growing up in affordable housing in East Bakersfield in an apartment complex pressed against train tracks and industrial zones, she remembers learning firsthand how systems often overlook the people who need them most.
“We didn’t know that we had the right to request certain things to be fixed, or the right to stand up for ourselves,” De La Rosa said. “The system works so well to disenfranchise community members that they don’t realize what they’re entitled to. That still drives why I do policy work.”
Now, De La Rosa focuses on land use and transportation advocacy, pushing local and state governments to invest in healthier, more equitable development. Her work is aimed at shifting decision-making away from polluting industries and toward opportunities that support families: grocery stores instead of recycling centers, bike lanes instead of highway expansions, green spaces instead of warehouses.
“In places like East Bakersfield, there’s no reason why, because we’re low income, we should be living next to polluting uses,” she said. “Communities deserve access to opportunity regardless of income level.”
De La Rosa emphasized that advocacy only works when residents themselves are involved.
“We can’t just rely on counties or cities or community organizations. If we don’t work alongside residents, we lose the understanding and perspective that should drive policy change,” she said.
She also stressed the importance of face-to-face engagement, stating that the power of face-to-face interaction can’t be replaced.
“Human interaction is what drives change,” De La Rosa said. “You have to show up, talk to people, and really listen to their experiences.”
De La Rosa acknowledged that working for systemic change can be frustrating.
“Sometimes you hear council members or county supervisors say they’re concerned about child hunger or protecting the community, and then they decide to invest in something else,” she said. “That can be really disappointing.”
Despite this, she draws strength from history and from the community itself as proof that progress is possible.
“There’s always going to be bumps in the road,” she said. “But we all have a responsibility to seek the betterment of our communities. My love for community and my love for justice is what keeps me going.”
Last year, De La Rosa took her commitment a step further by running for a seat on the Bakersfield City School District board. The experience, she said, was both intimidating and empowering for someone who never imagined herself in elected spaces.
“As a first-generation community member without political connections, it was definitely a challenge,” she said. “Growing up, I thought people in office were untouchable. So just having the opportunity to run it was humbling, and I’m grateful for the community members who supported me. It doesn’t matter who we are or where we come from. We all have the right to be in those spaces. Our stories and lived experiences are needed in policy.”
Looking ahead, De La Rosa hopes that the next five years bring tangible improvements for the communities she grew up in: cleaner air, stronger tenant protections, community centers and clinics, reliable access to clean water, and public investment that reflects people’s needs.
“I’d love to see urban greening in areas with polluting land uses, eviction prevention programs for all residents, and expanded access to legal services,” she said. “If the folks who are most vulnerable are lifted up, we can have a thriving community.”
On a broader level, she worries about threats to democracy and hopes local governments, organizations, and residents come together to protect civic participation and the well-being of vulnerable neighbors.
“Community participation doesn’t just happen. It’s something we all need to prioritize and hold our government partners accountable for,” she said. “Even if turnout is low for a general plan meeting, that’s not an excuse; it’s an opportunity to think creatively and involve more people.”
Climate resilience is also central to her work. Transportation and land use decisions, she said, must focus on protecting the planet and ensuring future generations have a livable world.
“We need to protect communities from climate change and ensure a livable world for future generations,” she said. “This is our only world. If we don’t have clean air and water, we don’t survive. That’s something else that drives me.”
Even when the workload feels endless, her resolve remains steady.
“People tell me, ‘You can’t change the world,’” she said. “But even if I’m just one person, I believe we all have a responsibility to protect our community, our world, our future generations.”
