VOICES Feature: Elaine Galiza Barut Labson

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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Elaine Galiza Barut Labson

Health Equity Director for Little Manila Rising

Interviewed November 21, 2020

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

I was born and raised in Stockton, California. Proud South Stocktonian. I am a Pinay, first-generation college student of hard working immigrant parents. I graduated from Sacramento State where I earned a Health Science degree with an emphasis in Community Health Education. I was given the opportunity to return back home after graduating and work for Little Manila Rising (LMR) with the intent of approaching their existing work and applying new strategies through the lens of Public Health. At the time, I was hired on as their Program Assistant to work on education advocacy (Ethnic Studies) and environmental justice.

LMR is a nonprofit organization that fights for equitable solutions towards a more inclusive and healthy community. We’re focused on social justice in the fields of ethnic studies/education, immigrant rights, environmental justice, public health, historic preservation, and community power building.

Currently, I work as the Health Equity Director for Little Manila Rising. I oversee our Dr. Dawn Mabalon Asthma Initiative (where I work with Youth Advocates to disseminate and educate the community about historical environmental injustices) and our Asthma Mitigation Program: D.A.W.N (Decreasing Asthma Within Neighborhoods).

I have worked on initiatives like California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) Stockton Environmental Justice Initiative. I have led the Little Manila After School Program, an ethnic study after school program that nurtures and mentors new youth leaders. Some workshops I facilitated were centered on the intersection between Ethnic Studies and Public Health, such as teaching youth about the importance of self-care, which is typically not practiced among marginalized communities. My services also go beyond Little Manila as I have co-led St. George’s Youth Group for 13 years in beautiful South Stockton.

To continue my efforts and to bring effective-long lasting change in my community, I decided to pursue higher education to be a part of Sacramento State’s Master in Public Health Program (MPH), a first-year program/cohort that values social justice. Through this program, I will be able to expand my knowledge and capacity to foster and cultivate innovative approaches towards the dissemination of policies affecting Stockton’s most marginalized communities. Additionally, pursuing higher education will allow me to model a way for the next generation to see as an example in pursuing their own pathways for higher education.

On a more personal note, I love cooking, music, my dog Domino, and recently got married to my high school sweetheart this past August.

What inspired you to do the work that you do?

I strive to give back to the community that raised me. My love for the community and drive for positive change motivates me to empower and uplift youth in Stockton. It was ingrained at a young age that when I left Stockton to go on to pursue higher education that I should take my knowledge, resources, and experiences from college/higher education and come back to Stockton to make a difference. I thank my youth minister and mentor, Dillon Delvo (who is currently my Executive Director at LMR) for drilling that into my mind and passions.

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

I think of those who are at the table (men) who typically take up space and do not share space. And I appreciate those who are cognizant of sharing space. Unfortunately, even though I know I can uphold the spaces that I am in because I do have the knowledge and expertise to reinforce the work I do, there are times where I would have imposter syndrome because of the power dynamics (and people who don’t realize their privileges). It becomes intimidating and exhausting to be in those spaces.

I also think as a Pinay in Stockton, there are not a lot of spaces or opportunities to come together, talk, relate to one another, and grow with other Pinxys. Although it is in the early stages, I look forward to growing and cultivating a space with my work wife/best friend Hannah Divino for Pinxys locally.

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

I love to do Yoga and I cook delicious meals for my husband and myself. I also LOVE to go hiking whenever I can. Being able to see nature and God’s natural beautiful creations allow me to appreciate life and find comfort in being in environments like that.

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

Let’s connect and learn from each other! I am always and truly appreciative when people are willing to support in whatever capacity they can with my work and Little Manila Rising’s work.

Connect with and learn more about how to support Little Manila Rising:

Website: Littlemanila.org

Instagram: @LittleManilaStockton

FB: @LittleManilaStockton

Twitter: @littlemanila

Follow their Environmental Justice work:

IG: @LMEnvirohealthjustice

IG: @LMadvocates

(I am not personally active in social media due to watching Social Dilemma and straying off for my mental health as well). But I am on Linkedin 🙂

Anything else you want to share with our newsletter list?

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing me to share a little about myself to the community. I truly feel honored and humbled to be able to have this opportunity. Y’all are amazing and thank you for highlighting powerful womxn in our community!

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