In this episode of Path Found, Monica talks with Sal Medina—an immigrant, former ESL student, educator, small business owner, and former mayor of Claremont, California.
Sal shares candid stories from his childhood growing up poor in Azusa, wearing hand-me-down clothes, learning English as a second language, and navigating daily bullying at school. He describes his “day-to-day origin story”: not dreaming about careers and titles, but simply trying to survive week to week.
From there, Sal talks about accidentally stumbling into teaching, discovering he loved being in the classroom, and eventually opening a wine shop that became a community hub. He explains why he decided to run for city council and later serve as mayor—especially during a political moment when immigrants and minorities were being described as “criminals” and “negative elements” of society. For Sal, public service is about showing that minorities are a positive force in the community and that small businesses and working families deserve to be seen and appreciated.
Today, Sal represents one of the most diverse and economically vital districts in Claremont. He shares how speaking Spanish with residents, meeting people on their own ground, and putting a human face to city hall changed how people—especially first-gen families—see local government and their own power. This episode is about resilience, representation, and redefining what leadership looks like when you come from the “misfit” side of town.
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