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“Emi” Emiliano Cruz J.D. L.L.M.

@emi_jd_llm

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Community Organizer with 2 law degrees
Founder of HOLS
In service of the California Bear. 🐻
“Do what nature demands.” — M. Aurelius

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A huge night for Democrats across the region and a strong way to close out months of work in Escondido.

Serving as Business Policy and Field Director for Anthony DiMartino’s campaign meant getting to know the city from the ground up. We spent time with the Chamber and local businesses, hearing directly about what it takes to operate in Escondido, what gets in the way, and how the city can continue to grow while retaining the small businesses that give it so much of its character.

Representing Anthony also gave me the opportunity to spend time with the Fire Department and Police Department, talk about public safety, look at how utilities and resources are being distributed, and better understand what housing, homelessness, infrastructure, and other programs are reaching Escondido — and where more can be done.

We canvassed neighborhoods, went to street fairs, local events, community gatherings, and parties, and kept the conversation going wherever people were. That grassroots approach gave us a much better sense of what residents were actually experiencing and what they wanted from their local government.

The most important part of the job was being able to connect those conversations — hearing concerns directly from residents, understanding what resources and programs already exist, identifying where the gaps are, and looking for practical solutions. That kind of reciprocal relationship between a community and the people who represent it is what local government should be built around.

Our campaign was also part of a much broader effort. We were glad to support the CTA, work closely with the Elias Velasquez campaign and local school board campaigns, collaborate with Escondido Democrats, and work alongside the Marnie von Wilpert campaign.

It was a huge night across the region, and there are still plenty of votes left to count. Excited to keep watching them come in.

#Escondido #AnthonyDiMartino #EliasVelasquez #MarnieVonWilpert #EscondidoDemocrats SanDiegoPolitics Election2026 CommunityOrganizing by @emi_jd_llm

Looking back, the through line has always been there.

In 2016, I served as Student Government Comptroller, helped make school supplies and snacks more affordable, and co-founded our school’s first LGBTQ+ club.

In 2018, I coordinated homeless outreach through the Mustard Seed Project at UCSD, an experience that would eventually inspire the Homeless Outreach Legal Society (HOLS).

In 2020, I continued that commitment through Democratic organizing, first as an intern for Scott Peters & Raul Campillo and then as an organizer on Sara Jacobs’ congressional campaign. Since then, I've worked on more campaigns, public policy, community advocacy, and building HOLS into a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access and opportunity.

The titles have changed, but the values haven’t: affordability, inclusion, public service, and the belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to succeed.

I’ve always believed in showing up for the communities that raised us and making the path a little easier for the next generation.

Different rooms. Same values. Same direction.

#PublicService #CommunityOrganizing #DemocraticOrganizing #GrassrootsLeadership #CivicEngagement EqualOpportunity CommunityAdvocacy SanDiego HOLS UCSD by @emi_jd_llm

Anthony DiMartino, Marni von Wilpert, Elias Velazquez, Vanessa Valenzuela, and I stood with Escondido neighbors who refuse to let fear define our community. Behind every sign is a family, a neighbor, a child—people who deserve to feel safe in the place they call home. No one should have to wonder whether their city stands with them.
@dimartinoforescondido
@eli4mayor
@marni_von_wilpert
@vanessaforescondido

#Escondido #CommunitySafety #ImmigrantRights #KeepFamiliesTogether by @emi_jd_llm

One of the highlights of this campaign cycle has been getting to know and working alongside Elias Velazquez. Between our time on the campaign trail, conversations about public policy, and meeting the people of Escondido, it’s been a genuine pleasure to exchange ideas and learn from one another.

I’ve particularly appreciated our conversations about homelessness and his emphasis on Housing First, connecting Escondido with existing state and federal programs, and strengthening partnerships with nonprofit organizations. These priorities also align closely with the approach we’ve been advocating through Anthony DiMartino’s campaign for Escondido City Council District 2.

Having worked with nonprofits and underserved communities myself, I know firsthand how often good programs struggle because of fragmented resources, limited coordination, or a lack of institutional support. We don’t always need to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes, the most effective approach is ensuring that existing programs are accessible, that government agencies work together, and that nonprofit partners have the resources necessary to serve those who need them most.

What I’ve especially appreciated about these discussions is the recognition that homelessness cannot be addressed in isolation. By pursuing Housing First, leveraging available state and federal resources, and diversifying nonprofit partnerships, the objective is to provide meaningful assistance to our displaced neighbors without unnecessarily increasing the financial burden on everyday residents.

And that, to me, is the larger point. Addressing homelessness is not only about improving the lives of our displaced community, but about the betterment of Escondido as a whole.

I’m grateful to have met Elias and to have had the opportunity to work alongside him throughout this campaign cycle. I sincerely hope that the conversations, partnerships, and efforts we’ve shared translate into lasting progress for the people of Escondido.

Whatever the outcome, campaigns come and go, but the relationships we build, the ideas we exchange, and the communities we serve are what make public service worthwhile.

@eli4mayor
#escondido #dimartino by @emi_jd_llm

⚖️ HOLS & HOSA Leadership!

A great evening celebrating our collaboration at Thomas Jefferson School of Law!

Pictured are Emiliano Cruz, President and Founder of HOLS; Ricky Marin, Vice President of HOLS; and Joshua Tanner, President and Founder of HOSA at USD School of Law.

Although our California Western School of Law leadership couldn’t join us for the photo, we’re proud of the growing collaboration between our law school chapters.

It’s especially exciting to see the increasing student involvement and growth of HOSA at USD Law. Together, we’re building a community of future legal professionals committed to public service, legal education, and meaningful community engagement.

Looking forward to continuing this momentum and expanding our student-led initiatives across San Diego’s law schools!

#HOLS #HOSA #USDLaw #CaliforniaWestern #LawStudents LegalEducation CommunityService SanDiego by @emi_jd_llm

🎓⚖️ Know Your Rights | Thomas Jefferson School of Law

A look back at an evening dedicated to education, empowerment, and the protection of our civil liberties!

The Homeless Outreach Legal Society (HOLS) was proud to bring together an exceptional lineup of legal professionals and community advocates from Alliance San Diego, AIPG Law, Marin Law Group, and the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program to discuss immigration rights, constitutional protections, tenant rights, and access to legal resources.

Our sincere gratitude to Thomas Jefferson School of Law for graciously hosting our program, to our distinguished panelists for sharing their time and expertise, and to everyone who joined us in making this event possible.

Our rights are not privileges. They belong to all of us, and understanding them is essential to protecting ourselves.

This is what community education looks like, and we’re just getting started!

#KnowYourRights #HOLS #ThomasJeffersonSchoolOfLaw #CivilLiberties #CommunityEmpowerment SanDiego LegalEducation by @emi_jd_llm

A successful Know Your Rights program at Thomas Jefferson School of Law!

Our rights and civil liberties are not privileges. They belong to all of us, and understanding them is essential to protecting ourselves and empowering our communities.

A special thank you to Thomas Jefferson School of Law for graciously hosting us and to our distinguished panelists for sharing their expertise:

⚖️ Hector Oviedo — Alliance San Diego: Immigration rights and encounters with ICE.

⚖️ Binh Bui — AIPG Law: Tenant rights and housing protections.

⚖️ Ricardo Marin III, Esq. — Marin Law Group: Constitutional rights and civil liberties.

⚖️ Matt Baker, Esq. — San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program: Civil rights and legal resources for immigrant and refugee crime victims.

On behalf of the Homeless Outreach Legal Society (HOLS), we extend our sincere gratitude to our speakers, our hosts, and everyone who joined us for an evening dedicated to making legal knowledge more accessible to our communities.

Knowing your rights is the first step toward protecting them.

#KnowYourRights #HOLS #ThomasJeffersonSchoolOfLaw #CivilRights #CivilLiberties AllianceSanDiego SanDiego by @emi_jd_llm

Building stronger partnerships for Escondido!

Anthony DiMartino was proud to join local and state leaders at a gathering with Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel, Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, and California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas.

Strong communities are built through collaboration, thoughtful leadership, and a shared commitment to delivering results for residents.

Anthony remains focused on bringing that same spirit of cooperation to Escondido—supporting local businesses, strengthening public safety, and building a more prosperous future for our city.

#AnthonyDiMartino #Escondido #EscondidoD2 #CommunityLeadership #CaliforniaAssembly by @emi_jd_llm

Go Prop 40! 🐻❤️

One million minutes ago, Joe Biden was president. One billion minutes ago, Emperor Hadrian ruled Rome, while Marcus Aurelius was still decades away from ascending the imperial throne.

As historian Sarah Paine of the U.S. Naval War College has argued, fiscal weakness is a geopolitical vulnerability.

And if we take “Make America Great Again” at face value, perhaps we should remember the America of 1945: an economic and geopolitical powerhouse.

I believe that at the heart of America’s rise was the sweeping fiscal restructuring of the New Deal, followed by the expansion of taxation and industrial mobilization during WWII. Together with wartime borrowing, these transformations strengthened the federal government’s capacity to marshal resources, raise enormous armies, and project American power across the globe.

Perhaps the question is: whether we’re willing to undertake the fiscal restructuring necessary to build the next century.

Proposition 40 offers an opportunity to examine what meaningful fiscal change could accomplish in California, and how we might strengthen our capacity to meet tomorrow’s obligations alongside the unforeseen emergencies and tragedies that history inevitably brings.

Because health is never guaranteed, and access to healthcare in this country is even less certain, too many of our neighbors face an impossible choice between their physical well-being and their financial security. When illness strikes, even the most responsible individuals can find themselves confronting circumstances beyond their control.

At what point must we acknowledge that personal responsibility alone cannot compensate for systemic failures in our healthcare system?

One proposition cannot reverse an entire nation’s fiscal mismanagement. But perhaps a successful outcome for Proposition 40 could represent an early turning point in a much longer effort to reconsider the fiscal foundations of our government.

To put it in Churchillian terms:

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

— Winston Churchill

#Prop40 #FiscalPolicy #EconomicDevelopment #CaliforniaPolitics #fdr by @emi_jd_llm

⚖️ KNOW YOUR RIGHTS | COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION FORUM

Join us on October 21 for an evening of legal education, community engagement, and meaningful discussion!

H.O.L.S. is proud to bring together legal professionals and community organizations to help San Diego residents better understand their rights and the resources available to them.

🎤 Meet Our Panelists:

🔹 Hector Oviedo | Alliance San Diego — Immigration rights and encounters with ICE.

🔹 Binh Bui, Esq. — Tenant rights, housing protections, and habitability.

🔹 Ricky Marin, Esq. | Marin Law Group — Constitutional rights and everyday legal protections.

🔹 Matt Baker, Esq. | San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program — Civil legal rights and resources for immigrant and refugee crime victims.

📅 Wednesday, October 21, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Thomas Jefferson School of Law
701 B Street, Suite 110, San Diego, CA 92101

Whether you’re a student, community advocate, or simply interested in understanding your rights, we invite you to join us!

🎟️ Register through the QR code on our flyer!

#KnowYourRights #HOLS #SanDiego #LegalEducation #CommunityEmpowerment AccessToJustice AllianceSanDiego SDVLP ThomasJeffersonSchoolOfLaw by @emi_jd_llm

⚖️ Looking Back at September 28 | A Pre-Law & Law Student Reception

At HOLS, we envisioned this event with a simple goal: to make the journey into the legal profession more accessible by connecting aspiring law students with the institutions, resources, and people who can help them achieve their dreams.

We were delighted to partner with the San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA) and bring together participating law schools, affinity bar associations, AccessLex, and members of our legal community.

A special thank you to Deputy District Attorney Agustín Peña, whose inspiring remarks shed light on the adversities that can accompany the journey into legal practice. His message reminded us that, regardless of the obstacles one may face, the dream of becoming an attorney remains achievable through perseverance, determination, and opportunity.

That message was at the heart of what we hoped to accomplish: demonstrating that the path to the legal profession may be challenging, but it is not beyond reach.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to the District Attorney’s Academy for its participation and support, along with every law school, affinity bar association, speaker, and organization that helped bring this program to life.

Above all, we hope the evening was a fruitful experience for everyone who joined us, providing meaningful connections, valuable guidance, and renewed encouragement to pursue their aspirations.

Here’s to opening doors and making the legal profession more accessible to the next generation!

#HOLS #SDCBA #PreLaw #LawSchool #LegalEducation FutureLawyers SanDiego by @emi_jd_llm

Great seeing Congresswoman Sara Jacobs out supporting Marni von Wilpert in the race for California’s 48th Congressional District. Always good to see San Diego leaders showing up for one another and for the work ahead.

Plus, fun fact I also had the privilege to work on her Congregational campaign back in 2020.

#SaraJacobs #MarniVonWilpert #CA48 #SanDiego #CaliforniaPolitics PublicService by @emi_jd_llm