Early Journey
There is a reason why I am advocating for people who have been systematically excluded, and why I am so passionate about leading communities into a more equitable future. I believe that we need to use a social justice lens to unite and organize our systems. We all have different perspectives, and sharing these diverse positionalities creates an environment where we can learn from one another and thrive.
This need to implement systemic change was instilled in me when I was a little boy as I watched my mother fight every day for a better life for her family. She innovated to accomplish what seemed impossible, and my youthful eyes were inspired by the determination and passion for providing for her family despite the barriers she faced. There was nothing that could stop her from providing us with a better future, and I have inherited that same drive.
My courageous mother immigrated to the United States alone, leaving me with my great-grandparents when I was in second grade. At the time, I didn’t understand her reasons for leaving, but after I had joined her in San Diego a couple of years later, I began to realize the sacrifices she had made. Cleaning house after house to put bread on the table, she regularly left me in charge of my little sister. This is when the leader in me was born.
I felt the need to protect my mother, as well as my little sister, to fight the system in order to provide them with a just and hopeful future. I took my mother’s incredible drive and used it as fuel to embark on a journey that would eventually compel me to devote my life to work for systems that give people like me and my sister access to a quality of life that was once only available to those born with privilege. The journey wasn’t easy, and I faced obstacles the whole way through. Yes, I stumbled, yet I never gave up – learning lessons of persistence and resilience that today I am proud to share with those around me: If you keep going, you will arrive at a better future, but to get there, you must keep going.
My first step toward this better future was to attend a community college; however, as an undocumented student I was not able to afford college and had to pause my education. Of course, my mother could not pay for it with what she made cleaning houses, and there was no structure in place for financial aid for students such as myself. I almost felt like giving up, but then a miracle happened: my child was born.
I became a very young father, and realized the need to return to college in order to increase my employment opportunities. I relocated to Oregon to provide a better life for my child, and switched jobs frequently. Standing outside El Centro Cultural, I took any day labor job, working for anyone who needed me and who wouldn’t ask about my immigration status
During my early struggles in Oregon, I found stability and received my work permit, and finally my green card. Soon after, I enrolled at Portland Community College and eventually transferred to Portland State University. However, my challenging journey did not stop there; life had more obstacles to throw my way. As a single parent trying to graduate from college, I lacked the proper funding and support to graduate.
I was fortunate enough to meet educators and other individuals through the United States Marine Corps. They saw my drive and persistence and rewarded it with support– something that today, I embrace and use to help others in similar positions. Through my service with the Marine Corps, I earned my U.S. citizenship and worked multiple jobs while completing my Bachelors in Anthropology and Masters in Postsecondary Adult and Continuing Education.
The skills and the worldview that I developed throughout those difficult years is something that informs my person today. It empowers me to amplify marginalized voices and advocate for human rights and equality. I am an example of how, with the right support, people can harness their own inner power. Those struggles solidified my identity, and education and the labor movement were key factors that both provided me with support and also nurtured my desire to help others. Though my journey was intense, I am now richer in experience. I am committed to work for equitable opportunities for you, members of my community.