Jose Trinidad Castaneda III is a native Fullertonian and community leader, as well as an affordable housing and environmental champion. Born and raised in Fullerton, Jose's paternal grandparents immigrated from Totolmajac, State of Mexico, Mexico to Anaheim, California in the 1950s. Simultaneously, Jose's maternal grandparents immigrated from El Cargadero, Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico to Anaheim, California. Jose grew up in South and West Fullerton, and regularly visits family across Anaheim, La Habra, Buena Park, and Yorba Linda. Jose and his family attended St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church in Fullerton, St. Boniface Catholic Church in Anaheim, and St. Pius Catholic Church in Buena Park.
Currently, Jose works as the Orange County Climate and Energy Advocate and Organizer with the non-profit environmental policy organization, Climate Action Campaign. He previously worked as the ProAgua Coordinator at the William C. Velasquez Institute in Los Angeles, where he engaged with Spanish-speaking communities to promote civic engagement, social and economic justice, as well as sustainable policies. Due to his extensive knowledge on climate action, Jose played a significant role in the creation of the Los Angeles County Sustainability Master Plan.
Jose served as a municipal commissioner on the City of Fullerton Parks and Recreation Commission, and currently serves on the South Coast Air Quality Management District Youth Leaders Council. As an individual who grew up with asthma and bronchitis, Jose was the voice behind additional air quality sensors in North Orange County to benefit the health of working class communities of color most impacted by respiratory diseases. In 2019, Jose received Certificates of Recognition for Public Service from the City of Fullerton and office of California Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva for his service as a commissioner. In 2018, Jose received the Certificate of Leadership Award from State Senator Josh Newman for organizing the March for Science and People’s Climate March in Orange County. Jose has been volunteering as a Fullerton Fire Department Community Emergency Response Team Member for the past three years.
Jose Trinidad Castaneda earned his Associate’s degrees in Anthropology and Biology from Fullerton College, and his Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from California State University, Los Angeles, and a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. He is a 2019 Fellow of the New Leaders Council Los Angeles Institute, and 2017 Alum of the New American Leaders Project.
Before his work in nonprofit, Jose created after school sustainability leadership programs for middle school students, who have since gone on to lead efforts to build aquaponic farms at their high school. When he isn’t empowering youth, you can find Jose tending to his medicinal garden.