In Loving Memory of Pablo Rodriguez (1973 - 2025)
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Pablo Rodriguez, the Founding Executive Director of Communities for a New California (CNC). Pablo was a visionary organizer, a steadfast advocate for working families, and a cherished friend whose leadership helped shape civic engagement across California.
CNC began over a decade ago as a conversation between friends who grew up in the San Joaquin Valley—friends who believed that the people and neighborhoods they loved had been overlooked and discounted for far too long. Together, they committed to add their “granito de arena” to create a better California. From that shared vision, Pablo created CNC and transformed it into a statewide effort rooted in dignity, belonging, and the belief that rural, immigrant, and Latina communities deserve the tools, investment, and political power needed to thrive.
Under Pablo’s leadership, CNC established offices in the Coachella Valley, Fresno, Merced, Sacramento, and Washington, D.C.; built an integrated, year-round organizing model that engaged hundreds of thousands of voters; and facilitated conversations with residents about issues impacting their daily lives.
Pablo mentored generations of organizers, always looking for ways to help people grow personally and professionally. He believed everyone was worth investing in, and he created clear pathways for people to step into leadership. Many of CNC’s current leaders began their journey with him as volunteers or interns. Pablo had a gift for helping people see their own power and use it in the service of their families and neighbors. He championed a vision of “finishing neighborhoods,” recognizing that rural and under-resourced places are beloved homes where families build their lives and deserve the same lasting investments as anywhere else.
He believed deeply in the power of Latinas and women of color, so often excluded from public decision-making, to lead, advocate, and transform their own neighborhoods. He founded Lúcete Latina, a grassroots campaign designed to help Latina residents shine in civic life—promoting visibility, leadership, and meaningful participation in local elections and community decisions. Lúcete Latina grew into a statewide validation of Latina leadership as essential to a just and representative democracy in California and beyond.
Pablo’s life was rooted in a commitment to justice. Early in his life, he was a spoken word artist and a member of the Rudo Revolutionary Front, blending his creativity with his dedication to justice through his art. His organizing roots grew from his family’s long connection to the United Farm Workers, where he learned from and worked alongside leaders advocating for fairness, respect, and justice for farmworker families. These values guided him throughout his life.
Before founding CNC, Pablo served as Director of the Dolores Huerta Community Organizing Institute, training organizers statewide, supporting political action campaigns, and expanding leadership pathways for young people. He also contributed his skills to national policy and organizing efforts as a Public Policy Analyst and Communications Director at JG & Associates.
His commitment to justice and community extended beyond CNC through board service with organizations including Liberation in a Generation, California Calls, Community Water Center Action Fund, Americans for Democratic Action, La Peña Cultural Center, Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project, and California Common Cause.
We are holding Pablo’s family, loved ones, and every member of the CNC family in our hearts during this incredibly difficult time.
Interim Leadership
As we honor Pablo’s memory and continue advancing his life’s work, Melissa Vargas has stepped into the role of Interim Executive Director. Melissa brings committed leadership, organizational knowledge, and a shared resolve to uphold CNC’s mission. Under her interim leadership, CNC remains focused on strengthening community power and advancing just public policy across California.
We are grateful for the foundation Pablo built and the extraordinary team that carries this work forward. His legacy will continue to guide us for generations to come.