Engagement with Indigenous Rural Communities
Andy Imparato, Jesse Lara, and Blaz Gutierrez
Session Overview:
Disability Rights California is the largest protection and advocacy agency in the United States and serves people with disabilities across the State, including in the Central Valley and other rural areas. In this workshop, DRC's executive director Andy Imparato and his colleague Jesse Lara, who leads DRC's engagement with Native communities across California, will discuss the strategies and activities that DRC has implemented to build stronger relationships with underserved communities in rural California, including but not limited to Native communities.
Additional Session Materials:
About Your Presenters:
Andy Imparato (he/him)
Andy Imparato has been working in disability advocacy and policy inside and outside government for more than 30 years. He has been the executive director of Disability Rights California since February of 2020. Before that he spent 26 years in DC working in advocacy and policy at the federal level. He has lived experience with bipolar disorder and has worked closely with the independent living movement throughout his career.
Jesse Lara (she/her)
Jesse Lara has worked for Disability Rights California leading their engagement with Indigenous communities and other rural communities for over six years. She is a person with a disability and a parent of a disabled child and a tribal citizen of the Western Band of Mono Peoples. Based in Fresno, she has engaged with the National Congress of American Indians Disability Caucus and serves on the California Truth and Healing Council subcommittees on education and persons with disabilities.
Blaz Gutierrez (he/him)
Blaz Gutierrez is the supervising attorney of Disability Rights California’s Fair Hearing Project, which offers legal representation for monolingual Spanish speakers with developmental disabilities seeking services and supports from the State of California. This new venture adds to DRC’s existing advocacy and seeks to overcome language barriers found throughout the system. The Fair Hearing Project works closely with parent groups and disability justice advocates around the state to educate the public about their rights.
Prior to joining Disability Rights CA, Blaz worked with California Rural Legal Assistance where his advocacy on behalf of farmworkers encompassed a broad range of housing, employment, education, and public benefits issues. He also previously served as Associate General Counsel of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board as Associate General Counsel where he investigated and prosecuted complaints of unfair labor practices.