CCEDA regularly features our members, clients, and partners through website and social media spotlights.
“At the heart of CAB’s 60 years is a simple truth—lasting change happens when people come together with courage and compassion. This anniversary is not only about looking back at what we’ve achieved, but about imagining what is possible when we continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our community. Our work is fueled by love, resilience, and the unshakable belief that every person deserves the chance to thrive.” – MariaElena De La Garza, CEO
For sixty years, the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Inc. (CAB) has been a pillar of strength and a catalyst for change—standing alongside community members in their struggles, their resilience, and their triumphs. Since their founding in 1965, they have been rooted in the fight against poverty and guided by the values of dignity, hope and collective action. Today, that legacy continues as they serve nearly 13,000 participants each year through programs that provide critical safety-net services—homelessness and housing support, youth and adult employment, immigration legal services, youth development, and emergency response.
As they celebrate six decades of impact, they also look forward with renewed vision. CAB is preparing to launch bold new initiatives that reflect their enduring promise to meet the evolving needs of their community. Among them is Recursos de Fuerza/Tiny Homes Project, a low-barrier navigation center that will provide temporary housing and a path forward for those displaced by the construction of the Pajaro River levee project after the devastating 2023 floods. This effort embodies the spirit of innovation and compassion that has defined their work for sixty years.
CAB’s 60th Anniversary Gala will be both a joyful and powerful moment—a celebration of six decades of service, advocacy, and community transformation. Taking place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Cocoanut Grove in Santa Cruz, this historic evening will feature a keynote address by Dolores Huerta, Founder & President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation and Co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America with Cesar Chavez. Together, we will honor our past, celebrate our present, and commit to a future where equity and opportunity are within reach for all.
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