June 11, 2025 • 19 mins
Inspiring story of growing up in Grandview, working in various agricultural jobs, and eventually leading community-centric initiatives aimed at uplifting farm workers. Throughout the conversation, the focus remains on Gloria Mendoza's dedication to community development and empowerment. Her transition from the agricultural fields to the political arena exemplifies resilience, and her work with the GMC Training Institute underscores a commitment to education and vocational training. Gloria's insights into the affordability crisis, the challenges faced by senior citizens, and her active approach to bilingual training in the agricultural sector are central themes, providing listeners with a comprehensive view of her impact and vision for District 14. Abe Cortez and Gloria also discuss potential collaborative efforts for community unity and empowerment, setting the stage for future initiatives aimed at fostering solidarity.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to the Powerhouse Entertainment with your hosts, Hey Cord Television,
where we shine a spotlight immunity with trail blazers, change
makers and visionaries who embody the heartbeat of Latin culture.
Through candidate interviews, shared memories, and then told stories. We
explore it not just where we've been, but where we're
(00:24):
headed as a community. Whether it's art, activism, InnoVision or tradition,
each voice tells a powerful tale of braziliance and creativity.
Now here's a codes.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
We're welcome to the Suave ATV podcast Lucky Suave TV
Powerhouse Podcast and this is only podcasts that features leaders
in Washington State, Oregon and Thuauta the area all the
way from Texas from the two five to three to
the five one two and I'm here with representative from
(00:58):
eastern Washington, the one and only Claudium and Thoz Colmos.
How you doing.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
May and the Olympia And so I just want to
say thank you. It's been a pleasure representing our district
here in Olympia and thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, and in the future, I want to put you
on my TV show. And I'm working with some marketing people.
As we speak, Chuko said to tell you, Hi, that's
the gentleman. You know who Chuko is. He builds a
I do.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
I know Chuko very well. I have worked with him,
and I did not know he was watching right now.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Well, no, yeah, we're gonna be uh, we're going to
be team teaming up and he's going to be doing
the show. I have a channel on the Roku system
and it's called the Suave TV channel, and I have
the Suave a TV show and another show, and he's
going to be doing his own show from Easter Washington.
And we're going to connect in two weeks and write
(01:59):
a plan of attack and try to get some shows
for La USA out there for eastern Washington.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
That's great, I can hear the slave yall.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Oh yeah yeah, So real quick, if you don't mind
me asking, Glodia, if you can tell the people, because
we're all role models, you're really a role model, tell
us a little bit about yourself and how did you
get to where you're at right now? Did you start
in the community or how'd you get going because you
made it pretty far.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Yeah. Well, well, first of all, thank you again a
for having me. It's a pleasure of meeting you, even
if we're not in person. I look forward to hopefully
sitting down with you in person very soon. It's just well,
let me just kind of share that I grew up
in the city of Grand View and my family is
from me track on, so we you know, my parents
(02:52):
erased us on a farm worker budget. We came straight
to work in everything that pit and cut in our
side of the state. I did it. I started cutting asparaga.
We would go into picking cherries and innie napples. I
have done it all. There is no job that I
(03:13):
have not done on that side of the state, from
even working in the hops. I used to my sister
and I used to cut the vines at the bottom
because the tractor had to go and they needed to
lay it on the truck. So I did all that.
I know the farmworker industry very well, and like most,
(03:33):
I ended up dropping out of school because I was
a full time farm worker. And when my class graduated,
I finally told Dad, Hey, I think I need to
go back to school. And I didn't realize because when
he told us that we needed to leave, I was
that kid that was ready to leave school for some reason.
I did not think I was a good student, but
(03:56):
once I saw my class graduate, I thought I need
to I like I needed to go back for my family.
I was the first to graduate, so I was fortunate
that I was able to graduate. I was selected to
I found out that I was smarter than I thought.
I was selected to do the presentation for my class,
(04:16):
and I was a straight A student. When I went
to college again, to my surprise, I was doing very
well and and so I just started working. In fact,
my very first job outside of farm work was working
for Radio Carena and Central Campesino, who had Campetino. I
(04:37):
did all that and and really just found that I
wanted to serve my community. And starting for a nonprofit
working for a nonprofit organization for eight years, which is
Inspired and the you know Inspired had you know, head
start centers, but they also had other ants. And I
(05:00):
was fortunate that I got to work for an employment
and training program and I really just saw how many
of our people were looking for more opportunities outside of
egg UH and so I became the manager of that
program very soon, and so I learned just how to
(05:23):
you know, develop curriculum for training. I was fortunate that
I was able to start the CDO program for when
inspired had the homeworker training funds real funds, And so
that's kind of, in a in a nutshell, just how
I got started in in the you know, outside of
(05:46):
farm work, and I started. I found out there was
a need for private vocational training, and I started GMC
Training Institute. So I've been I've had a private vocational
school that primarily serves farm workers. Uh, and I've been
doing that for twenty five years.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Ag wow, So tell us a little bit a little
bit about that school. In the vocational school, what do
you guys train students?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Then, yes, well, GMC Training Institute started in ninety nine
with the idea of offering different vocational trainings. One of
them was the CDL program truck driving. We also did forklift,
we do forklift certification, but at the beginning, those were
the programs I started with. And computer training we did GEDSL.
(06:33):
We are now most recognized for our truck driving program.
So I've been h I would say probably was one
of the few CDL schools that provided bilingual training. So
all of my instructors are bilingual. And so I know
a lot of people struggle with hiring uh, you know,
(06:54):
bilingual instructors. I have never had that problem in my area.
I think everyone. Majority of our people in our area
are bilingual and and a lot that are still monolingual.
So it's been an honor for me to be able
to serve our community. But we have people of all backgrounds.
(07:16):
We have a lot of farmers that come to us
because we are a flexible vocational school that understands the
farm worker agriculture industry. So we tend to give a
lot of evening uh schedules, also part time schedule and
so that's what that's what I did before I got
(07:37):
into the you know what I'm doing now and serving
as a as a council member, mayor and now serving
as representative.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Oh how great? Where are you a council member at
what city?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
So I actually was encouraged by the first Latina woman
that served as a council member in the city of
Grandview to run for city council. I had no idea.
This was in two I think twenty two that she
(08:13):
came to me and I had just started the business.
So I was saved by the bell I was. I
was not able to get into that seat because I
had just moved back into my district, into our city,
so you have to have a two year residency in
order to serve. But eighteen years later, I had a
second woman come and invite me to run for city council.
(08:37):
At that time, Pam Horner invited me, and I thought,
you know, I know how hard Amelia Gasa had to
fight to get into that seat, being the first Latina
to get into that seat. And I just thought, you know,
here I have a second woman coming to ask to serve,
and I just felt like I needed to and it
(08:59):
was my time. I served for three years and became
the first female mayor in our city and served as
mayor for five years. I think what helped me to
get into the mayor role was that my business background.
I really felt like I could do a better job
helping the you know, the just the council lead its goals.
(09:26):
We had very good ideas and the timing was perfect
because our mayor ran for county commissioner and he got elected,
so I didn't have to fight for the seat at
the time. They were going to vote someone in for
a year before we needed to run an election, and
(09:47):
so I was by our entire Council to be to
take his seat after he left, and then I had
to run for election and was elected for one.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Wow, that's good to hear. And I got to say
in this age from Jimmy Matta, who became the first
mayor of Bery in Washington, which just a city just
outside of Seattle. It is like a Chicano town. But
it's so important. Honestly, I'm proud that you're doing what
you're doing because growing up in Texas as a kid,
it's critical to have your elected officials and leaders that
(10:24):
really helped me out, you know, to do it.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
And I was also anytime you say the word Chicano.
I remember when I was at Yakama Valley Community College,
we had a Mecha club and so I did not
really know what mecha stood for for a long time,
moving me in plus tost and uh, and so that
was always kind of, you know, an interesting word because
(10:52):
you know how Mechicano's Chicanos everybody kind of refers themselves.
So I just, uh, but I can tell you that
organization or that club really was a big part of
my leadership skills I became. I mean, I was elected
(11:12):
to be on the board at the time, and so
I was president for a few years and I had
to prespend in front of thousands of students, and so
that's kind of where I got some of my initial
public speaking, which was nice. But I was able to
do it around my peers, people my age, because nobody
(11:34):
was really worried about how you sounded up on stage.
I think I remember once even singing a song to
open up to you know how in college everything goes,
so it was it was a fun time, So I
appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
So I mean, what initially got you to be a
state rep? How'd that opportunity open up for you? Because
I know you said the city council and before that
the business owner, and so I'm just curious like that
somebody ask you or did you just see the need,
because I know there's always a need.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Yes, Well, after eight years of service at the local level,
you get to know a lot of the state representatives,
whether they're in your district or not. I used to
travel to Olympia all the time as mayor. I know
a lot of mayors don't, but I'm going to take
this opportunity to tell mayors, especially in small communities, if
(12:28):
you have not made it a priority to come to
Olympia during session. You should, it's very beneficial for you
to need the state representatives, especially the ones that represent you.
But I actually had a lot of support from people
that weren't even in my district. Galax Ibarra, who is
(12:50):
in District thirteen, used to come to my city just
because we met here. I had a lot of other
representatives that I was able to, uh to meet. And
so when when I was no longer mayor, I was
taking some time off and uh and I think, you know,
(13:12):
state representatives found out that I was that I was
just enjoying life uh and and spending me you know time.
I really enjoyed business. I thought, I get to spend
time with my kids and and so, yes, to answer
your question, I was invited to run by several of
our state representatives that were not even in my district.
(13:35):
And I had originally said it's just uh, I just
thought there was you know, going to be you know,
other people that stepped up to you know, to the responsibility.
And and yes, I was very concerned. I think, you know,
after the redistricting happened, because there was a redistrict that
(13:58):
took me out of my district. I was just uh
in District fifteen. I became District fourteen, and I started
just seeing that, you know, maybe we would end up
with a representative that didn't really understand our district as
well as I understand our district, and so I did
(14:18):
feel a sense of responsibility. You know, I'm very fortunate
that I speak both languages, and you know how important
that is in some areas. But at the same time,
I also understand how, you know, just the affordability prices
that we're in where people can afford to, you know,
(14:39):
to buy groceries and uh, and you know, the gas
prices are you know, just in my opinion, way too
high for some people, especially in District fourteen, which is
we rely on agriculture works. So the most impacted are
most individuals that are farm workers. Farm Workers only work seasonal,
(15:01):
so you have only six seven months that some of
our you know, farm workers are able to work. And
we know that farm workers can't just say well, in
the winter, I'll go work in retail because if there's
a language barrier, it's not an easy job that they
can just transition into other things. And so that was
(15:24):
one of my biggest concerns senior citizens. As mayor, I was,
I'm very supportive of our senior citizens. I think they've
worked hard to help us, you know, get to where
we are at. We have a lot of teachers and
you know, just people that have gone before us, and
you know how that is. And you know, I would
(15:46):
hear from our senior citizens that the just life was
getting so expensive that they just couldn't afford to do
the things that they were able to do in retirement,
such as and simple things life going and enjoying a
nice lunch at you know, in the community where they
(16:07):
can visit with other community members. They just felt like
they really had to put themselves on a budget because
property taxes had gotten so high. Gas and food and
you know, just things were a lot more expensive, and
they were just not really enjoying their retirement as much. So, yes,
(16:31):
I did feel a sense of responsibility, you know, to
be able to be representing our district.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
That's so good to hear. And I got to hold
you to this because Chuco really spoke about you a
lot of leaders. And I used to be part of
lu LAC several years ago. I started that probably six
seven years ago, and I was a third council and
by the time I got through, there was like ten councils.
And I don't do it anymore. I passed it on
(16:59):
to somebody else. I just wanted to get it started
because growing up in that has Lulac was a big deal.
So you know, you helped to let you advocate for
a lot of people. So I know what you're talking about.
But one of the things that I want to work
with you in the future is to do it like
a day of unity or unity in the community for
all because of the whole immigration thing going on, to
(17:21):
bring people together. Because I was talking to Chuco and
that would be good to do something, maybe a car
show for young people, for the older community, bring out
the handoband but try to do something to under your
guidance and other Chicano leaders and Latino leaders to do
something for the people out there in that area, in
Grand View, Yakama, that whole area.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I it would be an honorary for me to work
with you. I have attended many car shows that they're
very popular in our district, and so I just I
think it's important for us to really poke us on
our district and being able to you know work. I
agree with you. I think that we need to be
(18:05):
able to work together to to just really focus on
some of the needs of our district. I always have
to remind you know, individuals of that side of the
state because I think a lot of the decisions that
happen in Olympia forget some of our small communities like Sunnyside, Grandview, Crosser,
(18:27):
Granger and you know, I really want Sunnyside. And of
course I'm I'm not sure how familiar you are with
h you know, with our district, but our district runs
from click Attat, who had extended uh you know our
district for over four hours of drive and I go
from crick Attat, Yakama, Benton all the way to Franklin,
(18:51):
which is perfect. I know our district very well. I
used to travel to click Attat and I had a
radio program, and you in Franklin County and Pasco. So
I I love our district. I think then O, I
definitely enjoy working from one side uh of our district
(19:12):
to the other. So I look forward to you visiting
us in District fourteen. Abe. I would be an honor
to do a program with you and Chruco at once,
so that would be great. So I thank you for your.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Time, yes, ma'am, and once again this is right here
on the Poro Powerhouse Podcast with the one and only
Glaudia Mendoza, State Rep and Grand View for that whole area.
Like you said, all the way from click a test
to Franklin and it's all about building unity in the community.
He has me and Portante Latinos, meganos a Chicanos, those
(19:44):
semo some egos save Powerhouse Podcastally, you have a beautiful day,
Gladia Mendoza, make it, make it real totally. That's yes.
Welcome to the Powerhouse Entertainment with your hosts, Hey Cord Television,
where we shine a spotlight immunity with trail blazers, change
makers and visionaries who embody the heartbeat of Latin culture.
Through candidate interviews, shared memories, and then told stories. We
explore it not just where we've been, but where we're
(00:24):
headed as a community. Whether it's art, activism, InnoVision or tradition,
each voice tells a powerful tale of braziliance and creativity.
Now here's a codes.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
We're welcome to the Suave ATV podcast Lucky Suave TV
Powerhouse Podcast and this is only podcasts that features leaders
in Washington State, Oregon and Thuauta the area all the
way from Texas from the two five to three to
the five one two and I'm here with representative from
(00:58):
eastern Washington, the one and only Claudium and Thoz Colmos.
How you doing.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
May and the Olympia And so I just want to
say thank you. It's been a pleasure representing our district
here in Olympia and thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, and in the future, I want to put you
on my TV show. And I'm working with some marketing people.
As we speak, Chuko said to tell you, Hi, that's
the gentleman. You know who Chuko is. He builds a
I do.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
I know Chuko very well. I have worked with him,
and I did not know he was watching right now.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Well, no, yeah, we're gonna be uh, we're going to
be team teaming up and he's going to be doing
the show. I have a channel on the Roku system
and it's called the Suave TV channel, and I have
the Suave a TV show and another show, and he's
going to be doing his own show from Easter Washington.
And we're going to connect in two weeks and write
(01:59):
a plan of attack and try to get some shows
for La USA out there for eastern Washington.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
That's great, I can hear the slave yall.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Oh yeah yeah, So real quick, if you don't mind
me asking, Glodia, if you can tell the people, because
we're all role models, you're really a role model, tell
us a little bit about yourself and how did you
get to where you're at right now? Did you start
in the community or how'd you get going because you
made it pretty far.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Yeah. Well, well, first of all, thank you again a
for having me. It's a pleasure of meeting you, even
if we're not in person. I look forward to hopefully
sitting down with you in person very soon. It's just well,
let me just kind of share that I grew up
in the city of Grand View and my family is
from me track on, so we you know, my parents
(02:52):
erased us on a farm worker budget. We came straight
to work in everything that pit and cut in our
side of the state. I did it. I started cutting asparaga.
We would go into picking cherries and innie napples. I
have done it all. There is no job that I
(03:13):
have not done on that side of the state, from
even working in the hops. I used to my sister
and I used to cut the vines at the bottom
because the tractor had to go and they needed to
lay it on the truck. So I did all that.
I know the farmworker industry very well, and like most,
(03:33):
I ended up dropping out of school because I was
a full time farm worker. And when my class graduated,
I finally told Dad, Hey, I think I need to
go back to school. And I didn't realize because when
he told us that we needed to leave, I was
that kid that was ready to leave school for some reason.
I did not think I was a good student, but
(03:56):
once I saw my class graduate, I thought I need
to I like I needed to go back for my family.
I was the first to graduate, so I was fortunate
that I was able to graduate. I was selected to
I found out that I was smarter than I thought.
I was selected to do the presentation for my class,
(04:16):
and I was a straight A student. When I went
to college again, to my surprise, I was doing very
well and and so I just started working. In fact,
my very first job outside of farm work was working
for Radio Carena and Central Campesino, who had Campetino. I
(04:37):
did all that and and really just found that I
wanted to serve my community. And starting for a nonprofit
working for a nonprofit organization for eight years, which is
Inspired and the you know Inspired had you know, head
start centers, but they also had other ants. And I
(05:00):
was fortunate that I got to work for an employment
and training program and I really just saw how many
of our people were looking for more opportunities outside of
egg UH and so I became the manager of that
program very soon, and so I learned just how to
(05:23):
you know, develop curriculum for training. I was fortunate that
I was able to start the CDO program for when
inspired had the homeworker training funds real funds, And so
that's kind of, in a in a nutshell, just how
I got started in in the you know, outside of
(05:46):
farm work, and I started. I found out there was
a need for private vocational training, and I started GMC
Training Institute. So I've been I've had a private vocational
school that primarily serves farm workers. Uh, and I've been
doing that for twenty five years.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Ag wow, So tell us a little bit a little
bit about that school. In the vocational school, what do
you guys train students?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Then, yes, well, GMC Training Institute started in ninety nine
with the idea of offering different vocational trainings. One of
them was the CDL program truck driving. We also did forklift,
we do forklift certification, but at the beginning, those were
the programs I started with. And computer training we did GEDSL.
(06:33):
We are now most recognized for our truck driving program.
So I've been h I would say probably was one
of the few CDL schools that provided bilingual training. So
all of my instructors are bilingual. And so I know
a lot of people struggle with hiring uh, you know,
(06:54):
bilingual instructors. I have never had that problem in my area.
I think everyone. Majority of our people in our area
are bilingual and and a lot that are still monolingual.
So it's been an honor for me to be able
to serve our community. But we have people of all backgrounds.
(07:16):
We have a lot of farmers that come to us
because we are a flexible vocational school that understands the
farm worker agriculture industry. So we tend to give a
lot of evening uh schedules, also part time schedule and
so that's what that's what I did before I got
(07:37):
into the you know what I'm doing now and serving
as a as a council member, mayor and now serving
as representative.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Oh how great? Where are you a council member at
what city?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
So I actually was encouraged by the first Latina woman
that served as a council member in the city of
Grandview to run for city council. I had no idea.
This was in two I think twenty two that she
(08:13):
came to me and I had just started the business.
So I was saved by the bell I was. I
was not able to get into that seat because I
had just moved back into my district, into our city,
so you have to have a two year residency in
order to serve. But eighteen years later, I had a
second woman come and invite me to run for city council.
(08:37):
At that time, Pam Horner invited me, and I thought,
you know, I know how hard Amelia Gasa had to
fight to get into that seat, being the first Latina
to get into that seat. And I just thought, you know,
here I have a second woman coming to ask to serve,
and I just felt like I needed to and it
(08:59):
was my time. I served for three years and became
the first female mayor in our city and served as
mayor for five years. I think what helped me to
get into the mayor role was that my business background.
I really felt like I could do a better job
helping the you know, the just the council lead its goals.
(09:26):
We had very good ideas and the timing was perfect
because our mayor ran for county commissioner and he got elected,
so I didn't have to fight for the seat at
the time. They were going to vote someone in for
a year before we needed to run an election, and
(09:47):
so I was by our entire Council to be to
take his seat after he left, and then I had
to run for election and was elected for one.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Wow, that's good to hear. And I got to say
in this age from Jimmy Matta, who became the first
mayor of Bery in Washington, which just a city just
outside of Seattle. It is like a Chicano town. But
it's so important. Honestly, I'm proud that you're doing what
you're doing because growing up in Texas as a kid,
it's critical to have your elected officials and leaders that
(10:24):
really helped me out, you know, to do it.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
And I was also anytime you say the word Chicano.
I remember when I was at Yakama Valley Community College,
we had a Mecha club and so I did not
really know what mecha stood for for a long time,
moving me in plus tost and uh, and so that
was always kind of, you know, an interesting word because
(10:52):
you know how Mechicano's Chicanos everybody kind of refers themselves.
So I just, uh, but I can tell you that
organization or that club really was a big part of
my leadership skills I became. I mean, I was elected
(11:12):
to be on the board at the time, and so
I was president for a few years and I had
to prespend in front of thousands of students, and so
that's kind of where I got some of my initial
public speaking, which was nice. But I was able to
do it around my peers, people my age, because nobody
(11:34):
was really worried about how you sounded up on stage.
I think I remember once even singing a song to
open up to you know how in college everything goes,
so it was it was a fun time, So I
appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
So I mean, what initially got you to be a
state rep? How'd that opportunity open up for you? Because
I know you said the city council and before that
the business owner, and so I'm just curious like that
somebody ask you or did you just see the need,
because I know there's always a need.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Yes, Well, after eight years of service at the local level,
you get to know a lot of the state representatives,
whether they're in your district or not. I used to
travel to Olympia all the time as mayor. I know
a lot of mayors don't, but I'm going to take
this opportunity to tell mayors, especially in small communities, if
(12:28):
you have not made it a priority to come to
Olympia during session. You should, it's very beneficial for you
to need the state representatives, especially the ones that represent you.
But I actually had a lot of support from people
that weren't even in my district. Galax Ibarra, who is
(12:50):
in District thirteen, used to come to my city just
because we met here. I had a lot of other
representatives that I was able to, uh to meet. And
so when when I was no longer mayor, I was
taking some time off and uh and I think, you know,
(13:12):
state representatives found out that I was that I was
just enjoying life uh and and spending me you know time.
I really enjoyed business. I thought, I get to spend
time with my kids and and so, yes, to answer
your question, I was invited to run by several of
our state representatives that were not even in my district.
(13:35):
And I had originally said it's just uh, I just
thought there was you know, going to be you know,
other people that stepped up to you know, to the responsibility.
And and yes, I was very concerned. I think, you know,
after the redistricting happened, because there was a redistrict that
(13:58):
took me out of my district. I was just uh
in District fifteen. I became District fourteen, and I started
just seeing that, you know, maybe we would end up
with a representative that didn't really understand our district as
well as I understand our district, and so I did
(14:18):
feel a sense of responsibility. You know, I'm very fortunate
that I speak both languages, and you know how important
that is in some areas. But at the same time,
I also understand how, you know, just the affordability prices
that we're in where people can afford to, you know,
(14:39):
to buy groceries and uh, and you know, the gas
prices are you know, just in my opinion, way too
high for some people, especially in District fourteen, which is
we rely on agriculture works. So the most impacted are
most individuals that are farm workers. Farm Workers only work seasonal,
(15:01):
so you have only six seven months that some of
our you know, farm workers are able to work. And
we know that farm workers can't just say well, in
the winter, I'll go work in retail because if there's
a language barrier, it's not an easy job that they
can just transition into other things. And so that was
(15:24):
one of my biggest concerns senior citizens. As mayor, I was,
I'm very supportive of our senior citizens. I think they've
worked hard to help us, you know, get to where
we are at. We have a lot of teachers and
you know, just people that have gone before us, and
you know how that is. And you know, I would
(15:46):
hear from our senior citizens that the just life was
getting so expensive that they just couldn't afford to do
the things that they were able to do in retirement,
such as and simple things life going and enjoying a
nice lunch at you know, in the community where they
(16:07):
can visit with other community members. They just felt like
they really had to put themselves on a budget because
property taxes had gotten so high. Gas and food and
you know, just things were a lot more expensive, and
they were just not really enjoying their retirement as much. So, yes,
(16:31):
I did feel a sense of responsibility, you know, to
be able to be representing our district.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
That's so good to hear. And I got to hold
you to this because Chuco really spoke about you a
lot of leaders. And I used to be part of
lu LAC several years ago. I started that probably six
seven years ago, and I was a third council and
by the time I got through, there was like ten councils.
And I don't do it anymore. I passed it on
(16:59):
to somebody else. I just wanted to get it started
because growing up in that has Lulac was a big deal.
So you know, you helped to let you advocate for
a lot of people. So I know what you're talking about.
But one of the things that I want to work
with you in the future is to do it like
a day of unity or unity in the community for
all because of the whole immigration thing going on, to
(17:21):
bring people together. Because I was talking to Chuco and
that would be good to do something, maybe a car
show for young people, for the older community, bring out
the handoband but try to do something to under your
guidance and other Chicano leaders and Latino leaders to do
something for the people out there in that area, in
Grand View, Yakama, that whole area.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I it would be an honorary for me to work
with you. I have attended many car shows that they're
very popular in our district, and so I just I
think it's important for us to really poke us on
our district and being able to you know work. I
agree with you. I think that we need to be
(18:05):
able to work together to to just really focus on
some of the needs of our district. I always have
to remind you know, individuals of that side of the
state because I think a lot of the decisions that
happen in Olympia forget some of our small communities like Sunnyside, Grandview, Crosser,
(18:27):
Granger and you know, I really want Sunnyside. And of
course I'm I'm not sure how familiar you are with
h you know, with our district, but our district runs
from click Attat, who had extended uh you know our
district for over four hours of drive and I go
from crick Attat, Yakama, Benton all the way to Franklin,
(18:51):
which is perfect. I know our district very well. I
used to travel to click Attat and I had a
radio program, and you in Franklin County and Pasco. So
I I love our district. I think then O, I
definitely enjoy working from one side uh of our district
(19:12):
to the other. So I look forward to you visiting
us in District fourteen. Abe. I would be an honor
to do a program with you and Chruco at once,
so that would be great. So I thank you for your.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Time, yes, ma'am, and once again this is right here
on the Poro Powerhouse Podcast with the one and only
Glaudia Mendoza, State Rep and Grand View for that whole area.
Like you said, all the way from click a test
to Franklin and it's all about building unity in the community.
He has me and Portante Latinos, meganos a Chicanos, those
(19:44):
semo some egos save Powerhouse Podcastally, you have a beautiful day,
Gladia Mendoza, make it, make it real totally. That's yes.
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