I believe local government should reflect community values. For me, that means working on policies and programs aimed at maintaining and improving our parks and open spaces; increasing the number of affordable units to be built in new developments; protections for renters; living wage jobs; and critical supportive services for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. As we navigate the challenging road of dual public health and economic crises, our public servants must provide leadership in this critical turning point. Now is the time to meaningfully engage with the public about recovery and rebuilding.

My approach to public service is motivated by my lifelong commitment to advancing the goals of economic democracy, sustainability, and social justice. Growing up, my family struggled – we moved a lot and I was on my own by 15. When I landed in Santa Cruz at 17 I knew it would be my home.

At UCSC, many professors inspired me to think critically about social and environmental problems. They helped me understand that politics are everywhere, that we must vigorously work to achieve social change, and that this change only happens through collective action. I spent a decade as a community-labor organizer with the Community Action Board and Monterey Bay Central Labor Council. While at UC Berkeley pursuing my doctorate in Geography, my research on farm labor took me from California’s strawberry fields to cooperative banana farms and plantations in Ecuador, Columbia, and Peru.

Grad school gave me a chance to read, write, and think deeply about justice and sustainability while keeping my feet firmly planted on the ground at Swanton Berry Farm, the first unionized, organic strawberry farm in the country. I’ve taught Geography, Public Affairs, and now American Studies at San Jose State University, always with the intention to inspire students to ask critical questions and to work for social and environmental justice wherever they go in the world.

I’ve been fortunate to call Santa Cruz my home for the past 30 years and experience the compassion, collaboration, and natural beauty this place holds. That being said, I’ve also become keenly aware that business as usual is not working for the majority of people in our town. Housing is unaffordable for most, local wages remain low, and many people are struggling under the weight of all the crises we are living through. Trickle down approaches to economic recovery will not get us back on track, much less address the big challenges we already face. We need to invest in efforts to stabilize our economy and community, and support those who are most in need.

My 2016 campaign motto was “Santa Cruz for All of Us”. It is in this spirit that I ask for your vote this year.

 

Having immigrated from Iran as a child in 1985, my story and my family’s story includes experiences with gender, class, and religious injustices. My unique perspective will help ensure the decisions we make at City Council provide for everyone living in our community. I have had the fortune to call Santa Cruz my home for the last two decades. Here in Santa Cruz, I am a mom, an immigrant, a wife, a neighbor, a small business owner and a social change leader.  For the last 15 years, I have secured over $30 million dolars competitive grant funds to address public health and social issues in our communities including immigration rights, mental health and substance use, youth homelessness, and more. Today our City is facing a number of challenging issues that cannot be ignored. Whether it’s staying safe during a global pandemic; finding important ways to address racial inequality; economic recovery for our locally owned businesses; providing affordable housing or addressing homelessness in a sustainable manner, we stand at a crossroads unlike any time in our history. These events, while simultaneously threatening our well-being, provide never-before seen opportunities for breakthrough solutions. That’s why I’ve decided to run for Santa Cruz City Council and ask for your support.  Solving these important issues will require leaders with broad perspective and experience.  My life experiences as an immigrant and my career in social change have taught me the importance of community and service. While I don’t propose simple solutions to our city’s challenging problems, I know that I have the skills, pragmatic mind, and compassionate heart to contribute to our city. I will work to unite, activate and uplift our community so that we may build a future in which all Santa Cruz residents live with equity and dignity.

I am a problem solver and doer. I get things done by focusing on what matters most – people and planet. 

For over 20 years, I have developed practical solutions that improve people’s lives. I have worked with governments, corporations, nonprofits, and policy makers across the world, U.S., California, and in our region. I have raised $2.7 million in COVID-19 relief aid in four months, established Santa Cruz SEEDS to provide newborns with college savings accounts, provided technical assistance to entrepreneurs, worked to increase affordable housing, created internship programs for youth of color, and launched a housing program for children aging out of foster care.

I envision a Santa Cruz with thriving locally owned businesses, affordable housing, living wage jobs, and strong public transit. I will work regionally and with the State and Federal governments to bring resources to our city.  

I will ensure that the diverse lived experiences of our residents inform city decisions. As a single mom, Executive Director of Santa Cruz Community Ventures, a Latina, and a proud resident of Santa Cruz for almost ten years, this is personal to me. 

I look forward to working with you to build a #SantaCruz4All.  

 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Soy una persona trabajadora que sabe resolver problemas. Hago mis decisiones con un enfoque en el pueblo y el planeta.

Por más de 20 años, he desarrollado soluciones prácticas que mejoran la comunidad. He trabajado con gobiernos, corporaciones, organizaciones sin fines de lucro y formuladores de políticas a nivel mundial, en Estados Unidos, California y nuestra región. He recaudado US$2.7 millones para ayudar con el impacto de la pandemia, establecí Semillitas un programa que proporciona una cuenta de ahorros para los estudios universitarios de los recién nacidos, he ofrecido ayuda técnica a empresarios, aumente la vivienda asequible, y establecí programas para jóvenes.

Imagino a Santa Cruz como una ciudad con negocios locales, viviendas asequibles, empleos con salarios dignos y transporte público. Trabajaré regionalmente y con los gobiernos estatales y federales para atraer recursos a nuestra ciudad.

Me aseguraré de que las diversas experiencias de nuestros residentes informen las decisiones de la ciudad. Como madre soltera, directora ejecutiva de Santa Cruz Community Ventures, inquilina, latina, y orgullosa residente de Santa Cruz durante casi diez años, esto es importante para mí.

 Espero trabajar con ustedes para construir una ciudad para todos.

For over two decades I have worked to support all families so that they may thrive where they live and work. I get things done by focusing on what matters most - people and planet.

​I have worked with governments, small businesses, workers, nonprofits, and policy makers across the U.S., California, and in our region to thoughtfully develop practical and equitable solutions that actually work to improve people's lives.

My recent work includes founding UndocuFund Monterey Bay, a collaborative effort  leading relief efforts to support undocumented workers impacted by the pandemic. Under my leadership Santa Cruz Community Ventures launched Santa Cruz SEEDS, creating a college savings account program for newborns in Santa Cruz County and worked to strengthen our local economy in ways that support locally owned businesses and working families in Santa Cruz. 

I fought against 9/11 racial backlash in my role as Associate Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin. We supported Muslim and Latino immigrant communities who were being targeted under intensified deportation raids. I worked closely with health and government partners to advocate for domestic partner benefits and environmental justice issues facing the City of Milwaukee.

During my tenure as the Executive Director of the Cream City Foundation, the second oldest LGBTQ+ foundation in the country, we developed new housing units for LGBTQ+ youth aging out of foster care, worked on a racial equity initiative across the country, and led efforts to adopt LGBTQ+ friendly policies at major corporations like Harley Davidson, Manpower, and Northwestern Mutual. While at the Cream City Foundation, I also led a 3 year bilingual public education campaign educating citizens about LGBTQ+ families like mine.

As Driscoll's Senior Community Involvement Manager, where I worked in partnerships between government, education, and corporate sponsors across the Americas to create career pipelines that would allow economic mobility for farmworkers.

Santa Cruz has been my home for almost 10 years. This is the city where my daughter learned to ride her bike. Today, we are being called to step up as friends and neighbors to write the next chapter for the city we love. We are being called on to lead our recovery and rebuilding in ways that re-imagine and demonstrate that all are valued, valuable, and worthy. ​Let's make sure that Santa Cruz is a city where people from all backgrounds belong, are welcomed, and have the opportunity to thrive. ​

I am running for Santa Cruz City Council out of love for our city and to continue to serve families. Let's build a #SantaCruz4All.   Maria Cadenas is not a career politician. She is a mother, an immigrant, a renter, and a proud resident of Santa Cruz. She believes in leadership that flows from compassion and care for one another, putting people and planet first.