“I do what I do because I feel that I need to do it. We should all be striving to do our part.” – Omar Gallardo
Xikiyehua in xochitl
Xikiyehua ipan noyolotl
Pampa nimistlasotla
Pampa nimistlasotla
Ika nochi noyolotl
Cuida esta flor
Cuídala en tu corazón
Porque te quiero
Porque te quiero
Con todo mi corazón
We mourn the loss of maestro Omar Gallardo – a beloved community organizer, visionary, and culture bearer – NBOP’s first President, Treasurer, our comrade, our hermano.
Born to immigrant farmworking parents from Michoacán, Omar dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice and liberation for immigrant and working people. As a young, emergent community organizer, Omar joined our founding members and built community power by galvanizing a social movement led by working people, tenants, immigrants, environmentalists, and youth across the North Bay. In 2010, Omar accepted responsibility for the organization and became the founding president of the North Bay Organizing Project. His leadership, sharp political critique, and willingness to be comfortable being uncomfortable set the course for our first campaigns to address immigrant and civil rights, affordable housing, equitable mass transit, living wages.
Omar reconnected Indigenous, immigrant, and Chicano communities to the environment and organized, as a necessary act of courage, to affirm our cultural heritage, spirituality, and relation to the land in our terms. As a maestro of Danza Azteca Xántotl, Omar led dozens of young people back to ceremony – relearning our songs, dance, and prayer.
We honor Omar now by advancing his cultural legacy of reclaiming political power, ensuring access to and stewardship of land as a birthright, and honoring Tonantzin in all we do.
Thank you Omar, for modeling leadership with radical courage and love. We are who we are because of your heart, hands, and vision. Rest in power, brother.
I remember first meeting Omar at NBOP’s Leadership Council. I was there representing MEChA de SRJC as an excited, young, and eager Chicano that was looking to get involved in my community. I got to witness Omar’s sharp political mind and bold vision. To me, Omar was the embodiment of strength and fierce leadership. I would see him lead the series of meetings that culminated in a powerful public meeting with over 900 people, and I would see him show up in full Mexica regalia to bless the May 1st marches with Aztec Danza. Before long he was inviting me to come to Danza Azteca and welcoming me to connect my own journey into leadership with a spiritual path.
When I became NBOP’s youth organizer, we were bringing back life into the Latino Student Congress which was a program that he participated in as a youth in the 90’s. In partnership with Omar and Landpaths, Omar would lead myself and youth I was organizing with on hikes and journeys to foster a love of the land. He would emphasize how it was an act of resistance for youth of color to be accessing and enjoying the beauty of the outdoors.
– Karym Sanchez, Tenant Organizer, North Bay Organizing Project
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