About O.L.A. Raza
ORGANIZATION FOR THE LEGAL ADVANCEMENT OF RAZA
Founded in 1974 at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco by a group of Chicano Law Students, including Porterville’s Roberto and Teresa de la Rosa, O.L.A. Raza has a longstanding commitment to empowering immigrants, disadvantaged students, and low-income communities.
Our Mission
To provide legal information, education, and services that help immigrants, disadvantaged students, and low-income communities navigate the legal system and achieve their goals.
Early Achievements
In its first decade, O.L.A. Raza played a pivotal role in increasing the number of public interest lawyers. Through programs like the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) preparation and Summer Legal Studies Institute, they helped thousands of law school applicants from California, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington, and Colorado gain admission to law schools. Additionally, O.L.A. Raza supported these graduates with Bar Exam preparation and placement assistance.
Farmworker Woman Conference 2023
Bakersfield, CA 1978
In 1978, O.L.A. Raza launched its Community Preventive Legal Education Program as a grantee of the Legal Services Corporation, Washington, D.C. It has provided consultant services for LSC programs in California, New Mexico, Colorado, Georgia, and New York.
In response to the need for reliable information, O.L.A. Raza began broadcasting immigration information under its Legal Services Corporation grant in 1978. Today, its weekly radio program Foro Sin Fronteras on Radio Campesina is broadcast by satellite to large audiences in California, Arizona, Sonora, Mexico, and the State of Washington.
O.L.A. Raza Team
Who We Are
Roberto M. de la Rosa, JD
Christopher L. Haberman, ESQ
Supervising Attorney
Roberto M. de la Rosa, JD
Founder & President
Claudia Melendez
Vice President
Carmelo San Mames
Secretary / Treasurer
Javier Gonzalez
Board Member
Victor Almazan
Board Member
Our Projects
O.L.A. Raza’s Immigrants Rights Centers in Bakersfield, Porterville, Visalia, Tulare, and Delano have assisted tens of thousands of families attain the American dream of becoming eligible for United States citizenship. The organization has established a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Project and Children’s Defense and Education Project, a Migrant/Rural Leadership Project, and a Social Justice Institute that operates from Porterville.
“Fiesta Dominguera”
5 de Mayo 2024
