Who hired you, what program/team was it, and what do you remember most about that time period?
Congresswoman Susan Davis hired me in 1991 to be a facilitator for the Aaron Price Fellows program. A family friend referred me to the position because I was a City Heights community member and I had a social work background. I grew so much from the program, and strengthened my own leadership through the amazing experiences, and through the genuineness and authenticity of the leadership and facilitators.
Who had the biggest impact on your experience here, and what did they do that stuck with you?
Robert had the biggest impact on my experience working in City Heights. I have learned from Robert that we need to take risks and that if something doesn’t work, we need to learn from it and try again. It really inspired me to keep learning, growing, and taking chances. Over my 35 years working with Price programs, I have been a youth facilitator, a social worker, a program director, a grant officer, and I have worked with community engagement, the real estate team, and the transportation initiative. It was ever evolving, and I always jumped in and went for it.
Do you have a Sol Price story you can share with us?
Sol would remind us how important our voice was and that we needed to speak up about our community. I often thought of him as I made sure that the community voice was at the table. It’s been a blessing to see so many community leaders over the years share their voice, talents, and culture.
Do you have a Robert Price story you can share with us?
Years ago, I shared with Robert and Allison that I didn’t know how to swim, and they talked to me about how important it was to learn how to swim for my children’s safety. They inspired me to learn and reminded me that it’s never too late to learn new things. When I was 40, I finally learned how to swim and went regularly for a long time.
One funny story is when Robert, Beatriz, and I were at an ice cream store in Israel in 2016. The staff kept giving me free samples so I could try all the different flavors. I tried about 5-6 flavors because they were all so good and I couldn’t pick one, and then Robert made me laugh by saying, “You’re eating all their profits!”
What’s a story you tell friends or family about working here that captures what it is like for you?
I share how our team at Price was like a family who cared about one another, celebrated one another’s successes and life events, and were there for each other during the hard times. We also supported each other with home-cooked meals (Bevolan!) and delicious cookies (Matthew!).
What’s one memory that still makes you smile when you think about your time here?
One of my favorite memories is meeting Rosa Parks in 1997 at the opening of Rosa Parks Elementary School. Rosa Parks shared her story about the civil rights movement and how she was not going to get off the bus. Some of the children and their parents were newcomers and did not know her story, but after listening to her speech, they realized what an extraordinary woman she was. One parent wanted Rosa Parks to hold her baby so that her baby would grow to be a strong woman like Rosa Parks.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience?
I have learned so much from the local nonprofits and the partnerships built with each other to help the community with programs and resources. They listened to the needs on the ground and worked together to provide support, education, and advocacy. Through these partnerships, I have seen the growth in community leadership and engagement, immigration services, community health workers, legal resources, employment assistance, housing, and so much more.
And, finally, what’s the first thing on your retirement bucket list?
One of the first things on my bucket list is traveling to Guadalajara and Guanajuato, Mexico to visit my aunts and cousins.