CRLAF's Executive Director, Amagda Pérez, recognized as 2026 Change Maker

'For Amagda Pérez, her career began with a childhood question: Why couldn’t everyone have the “magical papers” that made people safe?

Growing up in Kelseyville as the daughter of immigrant farmworkers, Pérez watched undocumented workers in her community live in fear of immigration enforcement. The experience inspired her to learn about a legal system she once believed held special protections.

More than 30 years later, Pérez has become a leading advocate for California’s immigrant, farmworker and low-income communities.

She began her career at California Rural Legal Assistance and joined the CRLA Foundation in 1996. There, she developed citizenship and legal services programs that helped thousands navigate the legal system.

As executive director of the CRLA Foundation, Pérez expanded the organization’s reach through legal representation, education, litigation, leadership development and policy advocacy. She later became co-director of the UC Davis Immigration Law Clinic, where she strengthened community partnerships and helped train the next generation of public-interest lawyers.

Her work has expanded access to justice in underserved communities, addressed gaps in rural legal services and earned numerous awards and honors.

Despite those accomplishments, students and colleagues often point to her humility. Pérez said, in a soft tone with a calm yet controlled manner, that humility comes from staying grounded in her identity, history and community.

“Don’t mistake kindness for weakness,” she recalled reading on a card she received years ago — a message that has stayed with her throughout her career.

Pérez said she challenges stereotypes of lawyers as loud and aggressive.

“For me, some of the most effective lawyers have been those that really work with kindness and justice and respect for everyone,” she said. “I think these are the qualities that really resonate with me and are true to who I am.” '

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