Renee Montelongo: How a First-Time Volunteer is Building Power in Douglas, AZ

Latina's Leading the Change in Rural Arizona

Renee Montelongo never pictured herself leading rallies or organizing protests in her small border town of Douglas, Arizona. A life-long resident and self-declared “introvert,” Renee stepped up when she began seeing the direction her country was headed. She learned that staying silent wasn’t a risk she wanted to keep taking.

Renee Montelongo holding a sign at a local demonstration.

“I was an introvert my whole life,” Renee says. “If someone had asked me to lead [a movement] like this two years ago, I probably would’ve said no.”

During the national protests for George Floyd back in 2020, Renee remembers scrolling online and wondering why no local demonstrations were happening in Douglas. “I was like, ‘Where are the protests? Who's the one organizing these?’ I was looking online, you know, on Facebook, for people younger than me, assuming they were planning one. There was nothing,” she says.

That realization planted a seed in her that would sprout into action just a few years later.

Even without experience in politics or activism, Renee decided she was ready to learn and take action. When the 2024 election cycle began, she reached out to volunteer for a campaign and met Diana Lamar, a local organizer who quickly became both a friend and a mentor. “Diana invited me to help canvass and put up [political] signs,” Renee recalls. “That’s where it all began.”

What started as small acts of volunteering soon grew into something much larger, a movement to help her community find its voice. Together, Renee and Diana helped launch the Douglas chapter of Indivisible, a national grassroots network that empowers everyday people to take action on issues that matter to them.

“At first, it was intimidating,” Renee admits. “It's been a learning experience, but it's doable. You can only do as much as what's in your capacity. Don't burn yourself out trying to do too much.” With the guidance and resources Indivisible offers, she began learning how to organize events and reach out to her neighbors, creating spaces for conversations about local issues.

Through organizing efforts, Renee’s goal is to ensure her small border town does not get left behind in larger conversations. Living in Douglas her entire life, she’s seen how often rural communities are overlooked in statewide conversations and decisions. “Sometimes it feels like people forget about us down here,” she says.

Still, organizing in a rural town hasn’t been easy. “Getting people to come out can be hard,” Renee explains. “People are busy, or they’re fearful about being seen at a rally, especially right now.” At a local protest in Douglas, things even turned frightening when someone made violent threats toward one of her fellow organizers.

As someone who once questioned whether she could be part of a movement herself, Renee has made it a priority to show her community that there’s no one right way to get involved. “There are other ways to be involved, you don't have to come out and [protest]. Let's find something else that you can do from your home. Make phone calls, send postcards, texts.”

Despite the challenges, Renee’s determination continues to grow. Each rally brings new faces, friends, neighbors, and families who once watched from a distance and now show up to participate. “Our very first [protest had about] 50 people,” she recalls. “Then the next one, we had 100. Every time, it gets bigger. So that’s good motivation.”

Her work has also connected her with other local advocates like Lucia Spikes, a longtime organizer with Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), and Tara Clayton, Cochise County Organizer with Rural Arizona Engagement (RAZE), who’ve offered guidance and encouragement along the way. “There are so many amazing people who want to help,” Renee says.

Renee Montelongo (left) and Tara Clayton (right).

As one of the few Latinas involved in her local organizing space, Renee knows how powerful it is to show up, even when you feel out of place. “This is a mostly Hispanic area, but it’s usually not Latinas leading groups like this,” she says. “I hope more Latinas want to be involved. Let’s get the younger crowd out here, too.”

The belief that visibility matters is part of why Renee keeps showing up. Being a leader in your community isn’t about fancy titles or lengthy experience; it’s about showing up for your community, even when you’re unsure, and trusting that your voice belongs in every room you enter.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there’s more support out there than you could even imagine, but you’ll find it all over the place,” she says.

That support has come in many ways. Renee recalls meeting allies in her community who recognize the importance of using their voices to lift up others. “One woman told me, ‘I love to use my old white lady privilege to help you; to help people like you be heard,’” Renee shares. “There are so many people who are willing to help us have our voices heard and who are on our side.”

Renee Montelongo at a local demonstration with fellow organizers.

Renee’s decision to take the lead in organizing around her community wasn’t all about confidence; it was about building up that courage. Through that courage, she’s helping others in her rural border town find theirs, too.

Renee’s story is a reminder that sometimes, you are the person your community has been waiting for.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor Renee Montelongo and the many Latinas across rural Arizona who are creating change in their communities. They do the work not because they have to, but because they care enough to try.