Mujeres de Acción is a grassroots community organization located in San Luis Obispo County and founded by local resident Yessenia Echevarria. Founded in 2014, our mission is to help local Latinos acquire the resources and knowledge to successfully navigate challenges including breast cancer, acclimating to the United States, and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yessenia’s interest in starting Mujeres de Acción began in her own family, when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. Appalled by the lack of resources available to the Latino community, Yessenia founded Mujeres de Éxito (women of success) where she brought community members and businesses together to offer education, empowerment, and support. With the awareness that Latinos lacked adequate information and resources in other areas, the organization soon expanded into new topics such as cultural awareness and mentorship.

2020 soon brought another pivot, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to ravage San Luis Obispo County, hitting Latinos in the service and agricultural industries hardest. During these times, Mujeres de Acción has taken the lead for Latinos, developing a COVID-19 Facebook group to provide translated materials and lobbying local/city officials in Paso Robles for more help and funding.

With new challenges ahead, the organization also sought to change its name from Mujeres de Éxito to Mujeres de Acción—citing a focus on community advocacy, ongoing needs, and inclusiveness. We hope you join us in our efforts.