Paso Robles nonprofit founder invited to State of the Union
Yessenia Echevarria.
Yessenia Echevarria will attend as congressional guest
– Yessenia Echevarria, founder and executive director of Mujeres de Acción, attended the State of the Union address on Tuesday as the guest of Congressman Jimmy Panetta.
Echevarria said the invitation recognizes her work with immigrant families and Latino communities on the Central Coast.
“It’s an incredible honor to attend the State of the Union as Congressman Panetta’s guest,” said Echevarria. “At a time when immigrant families face unprecedented threats from federal enforcement, it’s critical that our communities have representation in spaces where our nation’s future is being discussed. I’ll be there representing the thousands of families served by Mujeres de Acción and Paso People’s Action—families who deserve to be seen, heard, and protected.”
Echevarria founded Mujeres de Acción in 2014 after her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis revealed gaps in Spanish-language health care resources. The organization serves Latino families across San Luis Obispo County through health care advocacy, immigration protection, educational advocacy, and cultural programs.
Since January 2025, Echevarria has organized new members in response to immigration enforcement concerns. The organization distributed “red cards” and know-your-rights materials and hosted forums for families to discuss concerns related to deportation.
Her work also includes advocacy that resulted in a U.S. Department of Education civil rights investigation involving Paso Robles Joint Unified School District, which led to expanded Spanish translation services and parent participation. She also created a Mexican Independence Day festival in Paso Robles that later became a city-sponsored Hispanic Heritage celebration.
Echevarria has provided breast cancer awareness education to Latina women for 10 years and co-founded Paso People’s Action, an organization focused on civic participation and local elections. Organizers said her programs have served more than 3,000 families through health care access, immigration assistance, education advocacy, and pandemic-related support.
She received Congressman Salud Carbajal’s Congressional Woman of the Year recognition in 2021 and was named a Women of Influence finalist by the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce in 2024.
Mujeres de Acción was founded in 2014 and serves Latino families across San Luis Obispo County.
