Braiding event offers some community care in San Mateo

Valdez — through her organization Rights Over Borders, which hosted the 21-mile protest march from San Mateo to San Francisco last year — organized Saturday’s fundraiser to continue efforts supporting the Latino and immigrant community amid enforcement and fear.

“After the march, we knew we had to keep going and continue,” Valdez said. “We saw how many people are affected by immigration enforcement, whether it’s personally, a friend, a distant family member. We just have to keep it going.” 

Hair braiding is spiritual and healing, Valdez said, and it’s a way for the Latino community to make their presence known. The event echoes those similarly hosted in Los Angeles, by an organization called Ponte Your Moños, which translates to “put on your bows.” Its efforts have been to embolden Latinas to be proud of their heritage and share a beautiful fashion statement.

The event was also special to Valdez, in particular, because of her mother’s dream to be a hairstylist, before coming to the United States. 

“Our parents sacrifice a lot and give a lot for us to have a new life,” Valdez said. 

The goal with any event Valdez organizes has been focused on “community care” and giving back.

“It all truly comes from the fact that one day, I was feeling so hopeless, and I just really wanted to do something,” Valdez said. 

More often than not, people want a way to connect with one another and build a community. In Valdez’s experience, it usually just takes one person to start the movement to inspire others to join in. 

In 2026, Valdez’s motto is “if no one’s gonna do it, I’ll do it.”

“When you take that step and say we should do this, a lot of people will step up,” she said. 

Rights Over Borders is an organization run by Valdez and her cousin, Vanessa Arriaga. While Valdez jokingly said “we’re just two girls,” the events are essentially put on by the community themselves. 

In addition to the braiding, which was done by volunteers and professional hairstylists, vendors were at the event to sell their goods for the cause. Some sold handmade accessories from Oaxaca or hand-poured candles, and others sold traditional Mexican handmade jewelry and artwork prints highlighting resistance. 

To those who feel despair in the current political landscape, or feel there’s little they can do to fight against systems of oppression, Valdez said she’s seen evidence to the contrary. 

“You can get so many types of people or all backgrounds to offer their skills,” Valdez said. “So many people don’t know what to do or how to help, but we want people of all skills. There’s something for any and all of us to do and I hope to amplify that.” 

As a daughter of immigrants raised in San Mateo, Valdez said hosting the first of what will be many trenzas fundraisers in her hometown was important. 

“Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it, but we are here and I think it’s really important to uplift our community here on the Peninsula,” Valdez said. 

That community was seen Saturday afternoon, and the event raised more than $3,000, Valdez said. The intent will be to distribute it to communities in need, including street vendors, legal funds and organizations working in this community. 

Reflecting on the turnout, Valdez said she felt immense pride to organize an event that brought Latinas together. 

Any future events will be posted on social media, @rightsoverborders on Instagram, and likely Valdez’s personal TikTok which has been the driving force in garnering attention from locals.