About UNIDOS Network

We’re going door-to-door in unincorporated communities across the Central Valley to listen directly to residents — not guess about their needs.

This program collects critical information about housing, health, and environmental conditions so we can expose the realities rural families face and advocate for change backed by real data.

It’s about closing the information gap — and opening the door to stronger, healthier communities.

For too long, Kettleman City has been denied the right to govern itself. As an unincorporated community, critical decisions about public services, infrastructure, and economic development are made by county officials who don’t live here — and rarely prioritize us.

We’re organizing to change that. Through the fight for incorporation, UNIDOS is helping Kettleman City take the first steps toward self-governance, local accountability, and long-overdue investment in the community’s future.

In December 2024, Waste Management applied to renew the permit for the Kettleman Hills hazardous waste landfill — one of the largest in the nation, located right next to our community.

But Kettleman City residents, supported by UNIDOS, showed up in force. Together, we delivered powerful public testimony that forced California regulators to delay their decision until 2026. Because of this victory, state officials must now:

• Conduct a cumulative health impact review
• Require biological testing of the area
• Analyze the landfill’s economic impact on our community

This win proves the power of organized communities to protect their health, environment, and future. UNIDOS will keep pushing to make sure Kettleman City’s voice leads every step of the way.

Air pollution is one of the biggest threats facing rural communities like Kettleman City — especially those surrounded by industrial sites, diesel truck routes, and pesticide-heavy agriculture.

UNIDOS Network is partnering with Aclima to launch a cutting-edge mobile air monitoring project, powered by local knowledge and driven by community leadership. 

What makes this different:

• Community in control: Residents choose where monitors go and what they measure — so the data reflects real concerns
• High-tech and mobile: Sensors mounted on an electric vehicle track pollution in real time across the community
• Open data = real power: All results will be shared publicly to demand cleaner air and influence policy

This project puts science in the hands of the people, helping us fight for clean air, better health, and accountability from polluters and regulators alike.

For too long, rural communities have lived with the toxic health impacts of diesel pollution from heavy machinery, semi-trucks, and farm equipment. These emissions contribute to asthma, heart disease, and cancer—especially in communities already overburdened by environmental harm.

UNIDOS Network is taking action to change that. We're leading a local push to replace diesel-powered machines with zero-emission electric alternatives.

Why this matters:

• Cleaner air, healthier communities: Switching to electric equipment means fewer toxic emissions and immediate public health benefits
• Jobs in the clean energy economy: This transition opens up training and employment opportunities for local workers in a growing industry
• Policy change from the ground up: We're collaborating with government and industry leaders to create incentives and policies that make clean technology the new standard

We believe rural communities shouldn’t be the last to benefit from clean energy—they should lead the way. And with your support, we’ll make sure they do.