Justice Grows Here: Rooting Healing, Land, and Legacy in San Jose

On June 13, 2025, community members came together in the heart of San Jose for Growing Justice—an evening grounded in food sovereignty, cultural truth, and collective healing. Co-hosted by the City of San Jose’s Art and Climate Programalongside partners like Veggielution, WeCreateGardens, and CIMCC, the gathering in the lush community garden tucked behind a neighborhood church, a garden full of love, resistance, and care.

The evening opened with a moving land acknowledgment offered by Julie Dominguez, Muwekma Ohlone Tribal member and Community Education Chair, alongside fellow Tribal member and Muwekma Ohlone Preservation Foundation Board Member, Corina Arellano. Together, they honored the land’s Indigenous roots and called the community to action: to reaffirm federal recognition for the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, protect sacred and unmarked burial sites, and deepen public understanding of Indigenous sovereignty.

“In that moment—surrounded by sunflowers, arching overhead, affirmation signs, and the laughs of children—I felt the strength of our ancestors in the soil,” Julie shared. “We didn’t just open the event—we opened hearts. Our prayer in Chochenyo echoed through the space, reminding us that justice begins with remembrance.”

Throughout the evening, guests wandered through beds of herbs and vegetables, gathered near the firepit, and found shade beneath tents where stories could be shared. From hands-on gardening to spoken word, food to film, Growing Justice invited everyone to experience the intersection of land, labor, and legacy.

Tucked throughout the space were silent but powerful reminders: painted wooden signs offering peace, fence posts etched with quotes, and rows of plants tenderly cared for by neighbors. The land itself became a teacher, reminding us that justice doesn’t grow on its own—it’s planted, nurtured, and protected.

Before the sun set, Julie and Corina met with organizers to explore what comes next—how partnerships can grow beyond acknowledgment into genuine allyship and action that lifts Indigenous voices and safeguards Native land.

In a world that rarely slows down, Growing Justice offered something rare: a moment to root ourselves in place, listen deeply, and remember what it means to grow together.

-Blog post by Julie Dominguez