Region & Members
Rural Communities Rising is committed to ensuring that all 36 rural communities in West Fresno County are fully represented. Our board of directors, which is currently being built, will be represented by 10 community clusters and filled with 21 diverse members, including the four founding board members. This transparent process invites participation from across the region, and we encourage residents to take our survey, attend our meetings, and potentially step up to become a leader. Board members will be officially elected and confirmed at the inaugural Rural Communities Rising Summit in April 2025, and we encourage rural residents and leaders from all 36 communities to get involved and help shape the future of our communities.
HOW COMMUNITIES CAN JOIN
| 10 Geographic Community Clusters + At-Large Founders | Representing Specific Cities and Unincorporated Communities | Number of Board Positions | Board Members | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Firebaugh Cluster 1 city & 6 communities | Firebaugh, Benito, Cromir, Broadview Farms, Oro Loma, Oxalis, Russell Avenue Community | 3 | Anissa Perez (Firebaugh); Roberto Orozco (Firebaugh); Luz Puebla (Firebaugh) |
| 2 | Mendota Cluster 1 city & 4 communities | Mendota, Ingle, Murietta Farm, Pilibos Ranch, La Jolla Ranch | 2 | Karina Beltran (Mendota); Ofelia Ochoa (Mendota) |
| 3 | Kerman Cluster 1 city & 4 communities | Kerman, Church-Floyd Avenue Community, Madera Avenue Community, Butte-Central Avenue Neighborhood, Yuba Avenue Community | 2 | Victor Diaz (Kerman); Maria Diaz (Kerman) |
| 4 | Caruthers Cluster 5 communities | Caruthers, Cornelia-Floral Avenue, Raisin City, Hayes Rd.-Perrin Colony, Hughes/Magnolia Ave. | 2 | Maria Hernandez (Hayes Rd.-Perrin Colony); Laura Garcia (Raisin City) |
| 5 | Lanare-Riverdale Cluster 5 communities | Lanare, Riverdale, Burrel Community, Camden, Laton | 2 | Lucia Rodriguez (Burrel Community); Pedro Curiel (Riverdale) |
| 6 | San Joaquin Cluster 1 city & 2 communities | San Joaquin, Tranquility, Helm | 2 | Rosy Ramirez (San Joaquin); Eva Luna (San Joaquin) |
| 7 | Five Points Cluster 2 communities | Five Points, O’Neil Farms-Westside | 1 | Roberto Damian (Five Points) |
| 8 | Huron Cluster 1 city | Huron City/Neighborhoods | 1 | Emma Cortez (Huron) |
| 9 | Coalinga Cluster 1 city | Coalinga City/Neighborhoods | 1 | Emma Cabrera (Coalinga) |
| 10 | Cantua Creek Cluster 2 communities | Cantua Creek-Three Rocks/El Porvenir | 1 | Alvaro Saldana Puentes (Cantua Creek) |
| 11 | At-Large 501c3 Founding Board | Felipe Perez, Eliseo Gamino, Eva Gutierrez, Espi Sandoval | 4 | Felipe Perez, Board President (Firebaugh); Eliseo Gamino, Board Vice-President (Firebaugh); Eva Gutierrez, Member (Kerman); Espi Sandoval, Member (Kerman) |
| Totals | 36 communities represented + At-Large 501c3 Founding Board Members | 21 Board Positions |
Once the full 21-member board is seated in April 2025 and a regular schedule of board meetings is published, a request can be made by an organized unincorporated rural community to be placed on an agenda for consideration.
Our Region
Rural Communities Rising serves 36 rural communities and 10 community clusters across West Fresno County, including small cities and unincorporated areas most impacted by clean energy development. Explore our map and view the region that represents the heart of our work.
The 36 communities are shown on the map as orange dots. You may see the name of that community by clicking on each one. You can view the communities that are a part of a cluster by hovering over the cluster names (Firebaugh Cluster, for example). You can also see the communities included in the cluster by clicking the cluster name if you are using a mobile device. You may turn on and off the various layers using the buttons on the bottom left of the map.
Board Members
(Cantua Creek)
(Firebaugh)
(Firebaugh)
(Coalinga)
(Huron)
(Kerman)
(Kerman)
(San Joaquin)
(Firebaugh)
(Mendota)
(Raisin City)
(Burrel Community)
(Firebaugh)
(Kerman)
(Hayes Rd.-Perrin Colony)
(Mendota)
(Riverdale)
(Five Points)
(Firebaugh)
(San Joaquin)
(Kerman)