Many Monterey County residents will soon have a Watsonville Law Center office closer to them.
"When a farmworker or service employee has to sacrifice a day’s wages and navigate transportation just to access legal help, that is a barrier to justice. By planting roots in Salinas, we are removing that barrier and meeting our community exactly where they are," says Adriana Melgoza, the nonprofit's executive director.
The Watsonville-based organization announced on July 13 that it secured a place in Monterey County. The new location will be at 106 Central Ave., a couple of blocks away from downtown Salinas. Staff started moving in on July 15 and plan to start offering services on Aug. 17, the same day they host a grand opening.
Nearly half of the nonprofit organization’s clients are from Monterey County.
The idea for a new office started two years ago and earlier this year, staff started looking for a location in Salinas.
"Since announcing our plans to open an office in Monterey County, we have been absolutely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, encouragement and solidarity from the community," Melgoza says.
Watsonville Law Center has provided legal services to low-income families in the tri-county area for 25 years, from its office in Watsonville and through clinics in various communities, including Salinas and Soledad.
The organization offers walk-in appointments twice a week in Watsonville; up to 150 people show up for those every week.
Demand has spiked since President Donald Trump was reelected in 2024, Melgoza report. To keep up with demand, the organization hired more employees, increasing staffing from 10 to 16.
Additionally, the organization is rebranding and looking for a new name. “Our current name often leads people and funders to think our services are strictly limited to one town, rather than reflecting the full scope of the legal defense and advocacy work we do,” according to a survey from the organization soliciting suggestions for a new name.
The new identity seeks to reflect the nonprofit's impact in the region. The organization will keep its Lady Justice logo, but it’s looking for a refreshed identity.
People interested in providing input for the rebranding can do so in the online survey in English or Spanish. The last day to fill out the survey is Aug. 15.