[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 138 (Friday, August 15, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING LA LUZ CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 15, 2025

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor La Luz 
Center, which is celebrating 40 years of supporting the Latino 
community of Sonoma Valley. This non-profit organization has provided a 
variety of essential services from community engagement, family 
support, youth education, professional development and more to our 
Sonoma Valley's most vulnerable families.
  La Luz was founded by activist Ligia Booker in 1985, during a time 
when most of our Sonoma Latino population was composed of seasonal 
workers who would return to their native countries once the harvest 
concluded. Originally offering seasonal housing for harvest workers, La 
Luz has expanded into a beacon of cultural resilience in our Sonoma 
Valley. The organization now works year-round, serving over 2,000 
individuals and families accounting for over 80 percent of the Latino 
population of Sonoma. La Luz has undoubtedly become a significant 
resource for families seeking assistance with immigration, small 
business support and learning development.
  While the organization has expanded, La Luz's mission to advance 
immigrant safety and wellbeing has remained the same. La Luz aids those 
who are in dire need of human services with immediate support including 
legal assistance and access to food and health care. In addition to 
providing emergency services to our vulnerable communities, La Luz also 
offers resources to our community to increase school readiness of local 
Latino children. The group supports professional development, offering 
several trainings and workshops in finance and computer literacy to 
help our Latino community members thrive.
  In 2016, the La Luz Center was rebuilt in the heart of Boyes Hot 
Springs to be able to provide in-person assistance and host community 
events. Following its humble beginnings in a shared office space, the 
new La Luz Center proudly hosts annual events such as Cinco de Mayo, 
Dia de los Muertos, Noche de Luna and many others for our community to 
come together and celebrate Latino culture through traditional music, 
dance and food.
  Mr Speaker, La Luz is greatly appreciated for their 40 years of 
service to our Sonoma Valley community. Their noble dream of 
establishing a safe place for new immigrants to receive support remains 
alive and well in our region to this day. Therefore, it is fitting and 
proper that we honor La Luz Center here today.

                          ____________________