by David Ngô

After delivering a captivating speech at the 96th Annual Conference, Daniel Longoria of Madera Unified Chapter 169 exited stage right and entered his newest stage as 2022 CSEA Activist of the Year.

Longoria's acceptance speech for the award, created in honor of Richard C. Bartlett, captivated the audience that day, but for him, his biggest accomplishment began 25 years ago.

"I celebrated 25 years of being clean and sober this year,” said Longoria, who works as a community support specialist for Madera Unified.

“After being the family antagonist because of substance use and emotionally abusing my seven siblings and mom, I started healing in 1997. Choosing recovery helped me solve mysteries that had created a gulf between my family, and we all got a lot closer every day in the last 25 years.”

Longoria’s heartfelt speech ended with thunderous applause and a standing ovation. But for this celebrated CSEA activist, 25 long years of sobriety has only galvanized how he approaches his union and his job.

“The students know they can confide in him when issues break out at school or at home. He is a very positive influence, not only around students but also staff and teachers.”

- Jerry Chames, Regional Representative, Region 30

“Daniel is a support specialist who works with the most at-risk students in his district,” said Jerry Chames, regional representative for Region 30, who helped nominate Longoria. “The students know they can confide in him when issues break out at school or at home. He is a very positive influence, not only around students but also staff and teachers.”

As a jacketed union steward, chapter secretary, and political action coordinator, Longoria’s organizing skills have been put to the test. In recent months, he has turned in over 100 Victory Club applications from newly joined members.

From chasing Victory Club signups to phone banking and keeping members politically informed – Longoria epitomizes what it means to be a union organizer today.

“I believe that to get the best out of our members you must light a fire within them, not under them.”

- Daniel Longoria, Madera Unified Chapter 169

“It’s one thing to have life experience and work experience, but those characteristics are dysfunctional in a union without training. I attend area educational institutes both in person and virtually,” Longoria said. “I went through all the rigorous training to become a Jacketed Union Steward. I believe that to get the best out of our members you must light a fire within them, not under them.” Longoria’s CSEA trainings led him to connect with members from all over the state, including regional reps and former union presidents. Today, he owes much of his now celebrated union activism to different CSEA leaders who have helped him over the years.

“Josie Zaragosa, who was on Madera Unified Chapter 169’s e-board for 30 years, overheard me questioning the dues when I first joined. She explained that I was asking the wrong people the right questions,” Longoria admitted.

“She explained that if I wanted to have a positive experience with CSEA, I needed to find the similarities between the union and myself rather than the differences.”

At that very moment, the 2022 Activist of the Year realized that wisdom and knowledge were not the same thing. Longoria said, “Experience is knowledge without training. I had to get more involved with CSEA to deliver outcomes I wanted to see.”

After the November 21st passing of his mother, Maria Esther Diaz Aguilar, Longoria says he has grown more inspired to serve his students and his fellow members. He now lives by a simple mantra: your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.

And to those who know him, he puts this mantra into action, every single day.

“I have found Daniel to be honest and straightforward in his approach. He has demonstrated a high degree of loyalty to his students, staff, and membership,” Chames said.

“He demonstrates good judgement in difficult situations. We are very confident in his many roles because he’s so valued and is a great asset to his chapter, region and, most of all, his students.”