Join us for our first Womxn in the Spotlight event with a Merced community leader, 99Rootz Director Crisantema Gallardo.
Daughter of immigrants from Oaxaca and Guanajuato, Crisantema was born in South Central Los Angeles and has now lived most of her life in California’sheartland, the Central Valley. Crissy loves and considers Merced her home.The youngest of three children, she was the first in her family to attendcollege. Crisantema graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Peace andConflict Studies with a concentration on Culture and Identity. Seeing herparents struggle as campesinos, motivated her to return to Merced andcontinue organizing for racial justice and immigrant rights. Crisantemabelieves that all youth are the promise of transforming communities, which is why she is part of establishing 99Rootz.
Womxn in the Spotlight is a biannual series in which womxn discuss insights about their careers, workplace challenges and work-life balance.