In May, the Central Valley Empowerment Alliance (CVEA), a grassroots organization based in Poplar, California, received an eviction notice from the Poplar Community Service District to remove its belongings from the Larry Itilong Center in town. The notice gave the CVEA approximately 60 days, July 11, to vacate the building. The eviction notice comes as a surprise to its founders.
The building they use had been abandoned for over 20 years and was previously a fire station in the community. Since the CVEA entered into a lease agreement with the District, they have spent almost $90,000 on renovations to the building from 2023-2024, according to co-founder and executive director Arturo Rodriguez.
The local organization has served the community of Poplar since May 19, 2020, during the pandemic, filling gaps for its residents in need. Serving over five counties, CVEA remains a staple for many Poplar residents and its youth, from raising funds to build a community park to beginning an internship program for youth, a community garden, and more.
Mari Perez-Ruiz, co-founder and executive director of the CVEA, expressed that she was devastated upon receiving the notice. Perez-Ruiz noted that “the eviction notice came out of the blue. It came out, it was very sudden.”
Both Perez-Ruiz and Rodriguez added that the CVEA was never contacted by members of the grand jury or the Poplar Community Services District prior to the notice being posted on the building.
“They never contacted us. You know, there was one conversation saying, ” Hey, we’re gonna take a look at the lease,” and that was it,” said Rodriguez.
According to Rachel Alcantar, District Board President, the basis for the eviction notice to CVEA was the lease agreement, which requires CVEA to make repairs to the facility within one year of signing. The written agreement suggests that renovations to the building were to be made in July of last year for $209,769. In turn, the CVEA is to obtain and secure the proper funding for these repairs, in exchange for a long-term lease.
“CVEA did not hold their end of the agreement. We have given them more than enough time to come to the board and plead their case. We have even told them that as long as we have an appraiser to let us know how much of the repairs that were made can suffice as rent,” said Alcantar.
Alcantar added that, although they believe CVEA has disregarded the agreement to make those renovations, they are willing to negotiate with the organization.
“All it is is come up with a number that we can take back to the grand jury and say, ‘Hey, will this be fair market value? ‘, and even then, we are willing to talk to the grand jury,” added Alcantar.
Alcantar further explained that although they are aware that the CVEA has stated spending about $83,000 in repairs to the facility, nothing has been provided to the district to support this.
“We’ve asked you know well where were the invoices, where are the receipts you know give us something so we can take back to the grand jury and they haven’t provided anything. We’re willing to work with them but we’re not getting what we’re requesting,” said Alcantar.
However, Perez-Ruiz suggests that the District has made no partnership efforts and that, though they want to revisit the agreement, they want CVEA to pay rent to continue using the facility. Perez-Ruiz expressed her concern and frustration that if this is the case, they will no longer be able to serve the community and advocate for the inequalities they face in Poplar.
“They said, well, just give us money, give us rent,” she said. “We’re thinking well, you’re asking us to give you the money that we have and use to buy food that we distribute.”
She noted that many other organizations with lease contracts, including a few for-profit companies, primarily dairy and fruit growers, have not received any notice.
“We had an agreement, you want to break it, and you’re asking us to pay,.” said Perez-Ruiz
CVEA purchases its food from the Central California Valley Food Bank to feed almost 400 community members from Poplar. The cost to purchase from the food bank ranges from $0.00 to $ 0.19 per pound for donated goods; typically included in that cost are storage, freight, and distribution operations.
Aside from the food distribution they have provided, they also have multiple programs from Lupes Promise, the Community Garden, Legal Clinics, and Internships. CVEA’s absence will have a drastic impact on the community. They previously housed twelve families whose homes were destroyed during one of the fires in Poplar and helped five businesses that were left with nothing and had no insurance.
In the programs they provide, community members are welcome to join each other to acquire the skills they offer. The community garden also provides jobs for many elders in the community who can no longer do hard labor. The youth, along with program coordinators, also do wellness checks on elders and families across town.
CVEA Summer Interns pictured with community elders and the vegetable garden they planted for them.
Alison Bautista, an incoming junior and CVEA summer intern, has been with the organization for a little over two months and has shared the impact it has had on her. Bautista currently resides in Tipton but is originally from Mexico and travels every day of the week to be part of the community over at CVEA.
“This organization has helped me feel secure within myself because there were many other organizations that didn’t care about me because I don’t speak much English. When I got here, the first thing they did was support me and remind me that I shouldn’t feel less about myself because of that,” said Bautista.
She added that, though there might be language barriers between her peers and instructors, they make an effort to help her succeed.
“Now I don’t even want to leave; it’s fun, the things we do here. I enjoy how much they help the community. I like helping people, especially those who don’t have money. I feel that if I were rich, I would give money to those in need, and that’s what this program is about,” said Bautista.
One specific memory that Bautista holds to heart is how the CVEA welcomed her with open arms and support when others had already seen her as different.
For Rykel Pagno, the CVEA internship is his first job, but has helped him develop his social skills.
“It has, I guess, worked on my social skills. I have been more open to sharing my ideas and opinions with other people, especially the youth and other members,” stated Pagno.
He went on to add that his favorite thing about this program is that it offers him a safe space to share and voice his ideas.
When asked how the closure of the CVEA would impact him, Pagno emphasized that he would not be the only one impacted, but rather those in the community.
“So I think it would be devastating for the people,” said Pagno.
