Marty Estrada has spent his career in service of the most vulnerable members of southern Santa Clara County. As the Program Coordinator for the Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy and Services (CARAS), Estrada provides a bullhorn to address his community’s needs, primarily focusing on the region’s Latinx community.
Prior to joining CARAS, Estrada worked as the Homeless Outreach Coordinator for St. Joseph’s Family Center, where he connected unhoused families to critical support resources.
Estrada is particularly focused on mitigating extreme heat risks for southern Santa Clara County’s climate-vulnerable farmworkers and youth. As a lifelong resident of Gilroy and through his work, he has seen the impact of climate change as it relates to the livelihoods of the region’s agricultural workers, who are predominantly Latinx.
In the face of rising temperatures, Estrada advocates for climate resilience efforts like additional cooling centers to provide respite to Gilroy residents. He also promotes greening measures that will reduce urban heat island effects to ensure that Gilroy farmworkers are equipped to adapt and thrive.