Maria del Rubi was born and raised in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. In her home country, she worked in the fields harvesting corn, beans, tomatoes, and hibiscus. After having her first daughter and seeing that there were few opportunities for her, Maria del Rubi and her husband decided to migrate to the U.S. While here, she ended up living in District 11, California and later had 2 more children. There she lived with her family for 5 years until she was evicted in 2014 and had to move to live in the Bayview. In 2016, a promotora gave her information on the street and that’s when she started getting involved and helping the community. She was hired by PODER as a promotora, and a few years later she got an opportunity with MEDA and Excelsior Works to give information about affordable housing. In late 2019, she worked with Excelsior Strong to support families impacted by COVID-19. Today, Maria de Rubi continues to work hard for the Latinx community and is a Promotora with PODER.
San Francisco, CA
Amid the gentrification that has swept through San Francisco’s Mission District since the tech boom, the cultural heritage of this historically Latinx neighborhood is at risk. Yet, in the face of these challenges, a beacon of innovation has emerged: Casa Adelante at 2060 Folsom. This green, affordable housing project—built on a formerly abandoned parking lot—is more than just a residence. It’s a community hub, complete with a center, office space, playground, and park, all designed through a community-led process. Years of grassroots organizing, spearheaded by People Organizing To Demand Environmental & Economic Rights (PODER SF) and their member leaders, culminated in Casa Adelante, creating not only a sanctuary for Latinx families but also a model for climate-friendly, affordable living. This project is a testament to the power of local leadership and presents an inspiring blueprint for sustainable urban development.
Learn more: https://podersf.org