VOICES Feature: Camille Zapata

The Stockton Younger Women’s Task Force works to amplify and uplift the voices of women in Stockton. We share interviews with amazing women who are making a difference in our community on our website, social media, and in our email newsletters.

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Camille Zapata

Creative, Youth Organizer, Campaign Manager

Interviewed January 30, 2021

What do you do? Tell us a little about yourself and your work.

My name is Camille Zapata (she/her) and I am a creative at heart. I enjoy creating art, shooting photography, writing, and traveling. I was born and raised in Stockton with my brother, Aaron. I am also a youth organizer and experienced campaign manager with an expertise in creative digital communications. Recently, I managed a race for Dr. Susan Talamantes Eggman, the first openly LGBTQ+ Latinx woman elected to the CA Senate. I have managed local, state, and federal races and previously worked in the nonprofit sector advocating for equitable education policy in CA. I am a first generation graduate of UC Santa Cruz, where I received a BA in Cultural Anthropology.

Currently, I am on the board of California Women’s List, a 527 Political Action Committee dedicated to fundraising for, supporting, and electing pro-choice Democratic women to office in California. I am an elected representative of Board of Supervisors District 2 to the San Joaquin County Democratic Party and the elected Treasurer to the Young Democrats of San Joaquin.

What inspired you to do the work that you do?

I found a niche in local community and electoral organizing in 2018 through the support of Central Valley women leaders including Renee Elliott, Candelaria Vargas, Dr. Nancy Huante-Tzintzun, Rebecca Rashid, Dr. Susan Talamantes Eggman, and Kimberly Warmsley to name a few. Through engaging in Stockton community organizing efforts, I gained the understanding of the importance of strong elected leadership paired with uncompromised moral clarity. I found myself at an intersection of pushing outside and inside. After meeting an abundance of phenomenal, justice-driven youth, I am inspired to help translate a pipeline of progressive Central Valley youth activists into political power.

Collectively, I am inspired by the women in my family, fearless youth, and the tribe of womxn, LGBTQ+ educators and community leaders who center racial, environmental, and economic justice for their communities. I stand on the shoulders of many, many dedicated community leaders.

What are some of the barriers, challenges, or issues that women in Stockton face that you want to highlight?

From my vantage point, women’s access to a strong economic floor and higher education attainment are foundational issues for women. I understand it well within my family, and more broadly, historically disenfranchised communities across California. Women are often unsupported or discouraged (directly or indirectly), from pursuing higher education, entrepreneurial endeavors, or independence outside of the family household. This environment creates intersectional issues and outcomes: lack of access to sex education/birth control/prenatal care, domestic violence, gender wage gap, low college attainment rates, work place exploitation and therefore large disparities in leadership, political representation, and long term economic stability for working class families.

What do you do to treat yourself? Any self-care recommendations to share with other women?

My self care comes from liberating/healing conversations and quality time with my close friends and partner. Being in space with people that I can be my whole self is important to my spiritual health and keeps me grounded. I want to highlight that the movement building work that BIPOC consistently engage in takes an unseen toll on the body and mind. I appreciate YWTF for creating this space to share, because oftentimes we are experiencing the daily brunt of coalition building, leadership roles, and on-the-ground work in isolation.

I have faced neoliberalism and misogyny head on– sometimes sharp and apparent and other times in the form of slow violence where its impacts go undetected until it appears as a bodily sign of stress or trauma. I have learned, and am still learning, how to navigate a society that upholds white patriarchal norms, that often distrusts womxn’s intellectual capacity or judgement with decision making power. As a young woman of color, my best self-care recommendation is to build a squad of people you trust to bear witness to your journey and for you to lean on as you work to build power for your community.

What can people do to support and get involved in your work?

Reach out to me! I am also excited at the prospect of meeting new people. Follow me on IG, FB, Twitter, & TikTok @hicamillezapata. You can check out my website czapata.com for professional inquiries.

If you would like to help California Women’s List build a pipeline of bold, truth-telling women leaders in elected office and care about sustaining progressive energy, please consider taking action by donating. By donating $50 or $5 a month at cawomenslist.us/camille, you will be a part of CWL’s Grace Society, an energetic coalition of donors committed to supporting women in their run for office statewide (shout out to Central Valley candidates).

Anything else you want to share with our newsletter list?

Don’t be scared to be bold and step into your power. It’s an intersectional womxn’s movement— tell them to get on board.

Thank you for everything you do for our community, Camille!