April 6, 2025 • 21 mins
State Representative Julio Cortez joins Abe Cortez on the Suave Powerhouse podcast to share his inspirational journey from Mexico City to the Washington State Legislature. Julio discusses his family's immigration story, his dedication to serving the Latino community, and his transformative work in youth advocacy and public relations. This episode delves into the challenges facing immigrant communities and the importance of cultural representation and offers insights into Julio's commitment to fighting for the rights and welfare of all Washingtonians. Tune in for an empowering conversation about leadership, resilience, and community impact.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the Swabi Powerhouse Podcast where style meets strategy
and charismas will success. Hosted by producer A Portees, this
is the show for those who crave insights, inspiration, and
both conversations. Whether you're building your empire, redefining your goals,
or just looking to upgrade your swagger, you've co meet
(00:25):
to the right blass. Each episode we bring you Powerhouse guests,
thought provoking topics and actionable tips to help you conquer
your ambitions while staying effortlesslie Swabe, So sit back, turn
up the volume, and get ready to elevate your game.
This is a swavit powerhouse podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Let's get started, Hey, and welcome to the Powerhouse Podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Live out of the Pacific Northwest is the only podcast
stayed out of the Seattle metro area. We're located at
the Pualla. Disrupt the studios with Bill and I'm gonna
go ahead and introduce our guests, the one and only
state Representative District thirty eight. Julio Cortez said, how you
doing good? Good?
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Thanks, I appreciate the time. Musad a key.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
To the end. Oh yeah, no, no, no, Welcome to the podcast.
And I've just got to let everybody know that's listening.
If you're a representative of state, senator, community leader, business owner.
The main goal of this thing is to get discussions
going to be to let the Latino community know what's
going on, and at the same time be an outlet
(01:44):
for the community by the community representative courtes let the
people know a little bit about yourself, where you grew
up and how you became the state rep for ever area,
it's it's the Everett community.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Yeah, yeah, every district thirty eight.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Beautiful area, by the way. I have a lot of
friends that love out there.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Oh yeah, I love it up there. It's like not
too big, it's not too small, you know, it's it's
a nice vibe for sure.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
Well again, you know, thank you for the time today.
But you know, my story began in Mexico City. I'm
a Chilango. My parents met in Mexico City.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Beautiful city. The way I remember going there on vacation,
a phenomenal Oh yeah, how many people are in that town?
Speaker 5 (02:25):
Yeah, that little town has about twenty two million people.
Probably eighty percent of my family are still there. You know,
we're we're a big group of Chilangos. My mom is
from Eacha Khan, my dad is from Morellos. They you know,
they went to the big city to find a job.
They found a job and each other and here I
am now, right, So I was born in eighty five,
so I'm an eighties baby. But when I was about
(02:46):
six years old, my dad did across the desert in
Arizona to get to the US to start working pretty
much right, And about four months later, my mom joined
them over here in the US, and my sister and
I actually stayed in Mexicool with my grandma until they
were able to kind of generate funds by working in
(03:07):
the fields in La to go and come and grab us.
And so when I was six years old is when
my sister and I came over to the US. And
I remember a very vivid memory of being in a
Greyhound station when I woke up in the US, and
I remember looking up and seeing all these people talking,
but I didn't understand the word that they were saying.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
So, you know, my parents didn't really talk to my
sister and I about what was going to happen.
Speaker 5 (03:30):
They kind of just got us from my grandma's house
and brought over and a few months later, we came
up to Washington State in Wabito. It's on the east
side of the state, really close to Yaka, about ten
minutes southeast of Yako.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Oh yeah, beautiful town. I've been there. Real nice, you know,
east of Washington.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Yeah, it's an immigrant community.
Speaker 5 (03:50):
You know that most folks there are working in the
Yakima agriculture scene.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
So my parents were immigrant farm workers.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
They picked you know, at wolves, pears, feagus, all that stuff.
Oh yeah, man, it was nuts. Once I got to
you know, high school, I was a little bit stronger.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
I joined them, and I was a field worker for
a couple of summers. But it opens your eyes.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Man.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
You know, sixteen hour days, hot sun. It's not easy work.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
So I think that was a little bit of a motivator,
along with like, you know, just my family supporting me
and giving me love to do something bigger. So thankfully
I had a good BATA and I got a scholarship
to play soccer in wahllah Walla, and two years in
more wall I transferred over to Western Washington University in Bellingham,
and yeah, graduated in twenty ten with journalism and public
(04:42):
relations degree.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Oh that's phenomenal. That's cool. Okay, oh yeah it was.
It was fun. My whole thing, honestly, mister Cortes, is
to have an out left for the Latino community. I mean,
I have my career. I'm a social worker. I've been
doing that probably twenty thirty years plus. But on the
flip side, you know, this is my artistic outletting nice
to people like Bill. I'm able to continue this. What's
(05:05):
the podcast? I do, video media, suave ATV, you know,
all that different things. But once you got out of Bellingham,
then did you move to Everett or did you start
living over there in Bellingham or Yeah?
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Well I lived in Bellingham for a little bit, but
you know, I was a busser at a restaurant there,
and then I did an internship with Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Walkham County.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Oh.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Through that work, yeah, I got involved with Oasis teen Shelter.
So I became the homeless prevention specialist for the Oasis
teen Shelter. It was just an overnight shelter where you know,
homeless kiddos can just come in and get a bite
to eat, stay somewhere warm, and get connected to services.
And I did that about a year and then I
moved down to Everett to work for Cocoon House, which
(05:48):
is a non problem that stirs I risk and homeless
youth and families throughout still Hoomis County.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
And I was a bilingual by cultural advocate.
Speaker 5 (05:55):
So I had thirty to thirty five young fool between
twelve and seventeen years old that we supported, Like, you know,
if they need an idea, I would help them get
an idea. If they needed to get off drugs and alcohol,
I connected them to services, If they needed to get
reconnected to family, we connected them with the family. So
I did that direct service for about four years. Then
because of my background in school in pr they asked
(06:17):
me to become the public relations manager and I did
that for like another six years, and in twenty eighteen,
the CEO of Cocoon House, Cassie Franklin, ran for mayor.
She won the mayor's race and then asked me to
be her communications director for the city of Ever And
so the last six years, that's what I've been doing,
is a lot of economic development and communications work for
(06:39):
the city.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
She's still a mayor there.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Yeah, she's still the mayor there.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
She's actually running for reelection this year. And yeah, I'm
still working at the city, so all right.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
So I think, you know, doing that direct service work with.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
Ariskint Homer's families for ten years and then doing some
economic development work, I think, you know, rounded me out
pretty well. And I started joining some you know, nonprofit boards.
I was part of like five boards at one time.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
And in twenty twenty two.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
The state representative rehired and the other representative, because there's
two per district, decided not to run again. So then
there was two vacant seats, and you know, folks started
giving me a call and saying, hey, you're you're really
involved in the community, sounds like you like the work.
Would you consider running for an elected position? You know,
to be one hundred percent honest? Hey, I told them
absolutely not. Politics has never been part of my plan.
(07:33):
I don't really even like politics very much. And so
I said, thank you, but no thing. And I did
that for about a week, and you know, I got
a few more calls and ended up just talking with
family and decided, you know what, I can do it,
And so I went to work.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
You know, I worked hard to get elected.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
And after a few months of doorbelling, knocking on people's
doors and talking to a community group.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
Thankfully, I won the race and became me state representative.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
And last year was my first relations campaign and I
got a ton of great sport and I'm, you know,
incredibly proud to be, uh you know, a Mexican immigrant
in the like nature that represents for our people.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, because I got to say about by doing that, man,
you're like, you're bigger than a boxer. Man, You're a
product of the people. Yeahs kind of a role model,
you know. That's what I'm doing. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
No, And you know, my dad named me after Julius.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
That's a Chavis.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
So I'm trying to make my own name, right, So
maybe somebody will be named after Julius one day or something.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
I got to say. When I was a kid, man,
those guys were my idols.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Oh yeah, I grew up watching them and it was fun.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
I remember meeting Oscar the Lahea when I grew up.
I was able to meet him, and I can want
to why am I waiting forever to to talk to
this guy? But once he got there, I'm like, Okay,
I see, I see why now. But it's incredible and
down to earth. When he was real young he was, Yeah, yeah,
for sure.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
I mean, you know, I I think that as far
as being up here in politics and you have to
stay down earth man. You got to stay connected Tykomunidad
and make sure that you're available to folks. And that's
something I really pride myself in, is like people can
reach out to me in Spanish or English and I
can speak their language and respond to their questions or
concerns in their own language. And I'm something I'm gonna
I really try to hew for it.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
So I got to ask this man, and I mean,
I'm not trying to put you on the spot, but
part of the show. I mean, how do you feel?
I mean, what's your honest opinion? If you don't have one,
I understand want to put you there and make it man,
But how do you feel about this situation going on
with the Latinos and the immigration system. And because I've
(09:36):
had to answer Field Field a lot of questions about
that myself, like like town hall means, you know, with
the mayor and different people, chief of police, but what's
your opinion of this whole situation going on? And how
can you can you educate people? Because there's a lot
of misconception about what's really going on.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
Yeah, well, you know, it's definitely it's incredibly concerning, and
it's incredibly sad because you know, the Latinos in our
communities are like vibrant parts of our communities, right they're working,
they're like not only contributing to our economy, but they're
contributing to the culture of our cities and our towns.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
And so, you know, absolutely have some strong opinions about this.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
I think that you know, the federal government is doing
things in an incredibly scary, wrong, unprecedented way, and they're
not realizing the impacts to not just again our economy,
but our culture that it's going to have by creating
all this fear in our communities, and you know, they're
they're causing a lot of harm to some o the
(10:37):
most vulnerable communities. They're by by freezing funds, by closing agencies,
and by taking actions that are putting people in fear,
that are stopping kids that are Latino from going to
schools because they're scared that they're not going to see
their parents again. So it's incredibly devastating to all of
our communities, not just the Latino community, right, there's a
lot of immigrant communities that have been impact. Did you know,
(11:00):
I've read Canadian citizens and people from England two reasons
that they that they've gotten picked up by IO. It's
something that we here as a state. As a state representative,
I've committed to fighting as much as I can against
the federal government when they're doing things that are going
to be hurting Washington people all and so you know,
(11:21):
we're working pretty closely with the governor, with the Attorney
General Nick Brown to make sure that we're providing information
to them to make sure that we're combating any federal
overreach that is coming to watching the state.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
So I'm committed to doing that.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
I'm going to keep on fighting for our people, and
they don't have to be in my district. I'm going
to be fighting for all Washington.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Yeah, I got to say this, and Trump kind of
ran into this because that's the per personal pretty much
did all that's going. But he's starting to see in
certain situations are United farm workers, farm workers, people that
have to work, like like he said, sixteen hour days.
If it's not the Mechicano or the Latino, even the
Chicano and the Chicino doesn't have nothing to worry about.
(12:05):
By the way, anybody listening to this, when I said chicano,
that means a Mexican American, there's just no other way
to say it, but chicano. That's actually a political type statement.
But what I'm saying is Trump had to look at
wait a minute, if we had deport all these people here,
who's going to work? Yeah, I mean, they flat out
in United farm Workers said, look, we will let we
(12:27):
will allow anybody to put in their application and work.
And you know, some college students took a dare and
did it, and they flat out came out and said, man,
we couldn't even last a day. They lasted a day,
And I mean I think at the end of the
day some of those guys went to sleep in their car.
They were so exhausted. You know. So I got to say, before,
(12:47):
before we ship everybody out of here, we got to
think of our workers, the people putting in all this work.
I mean, because I mean, I'm sorry Colthuda, your culture
where you grew up in Texas like as a kid
until I came to Washington State. I came here in
ninety five, my mom passed away and my sister was
(13:07):
going to the school here and she got a scholarship
to go to U. Doub Law School, and I think
c LU and she said, look, little brother, you need
to come down here. And I was doing okay in
Austin because there was a music count, I was a
promoter and all that, I had a public TV show.
But when I came up here, I seen the opportunities
and I seen the cartuda. As a matter of fact,
(13:30):
at one point I worked with the Commission on the Hispanic
Affairs out of Olympia to go and do outreach out there.
I remember it was Marysville, in an area called Smokey Point.
We did outreach and we did like a little video
about the farm workers, and I remember those guys looked
at us and so they said, you young college people, man,
(13:51):
I'll tell you what keep going. You don't want to
end up like us. And I'm like, no, thank you
for your hard work. But I was able to see
firsthand from the video the work that the people do, man,
And you never forget that. Yeah, absolutes in the back
of my mind, seeing the hard work and tears of
pure pain that people were in working from morning six
(14:14):
five or six in the morning you at tortilla was
pretty old as it was delicious all the way until
the night where they couldn't even see anymore. So you're
talking six in the morning until straight seven eight at night. Yeah,
you know, and then they got on top of that
they're not getting paid anything. So I thought, if they
can do that, I could do sixteen our days standing around. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
He definitely motivates you, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
So I remember people came up to me one time said, hey, Qartez, Man,
why do you work like this? I said, you know,
honestly man, compared to farm workers and the medicanos. But
I set up program and they didn't understand what I meant.
They go, what is that? And by the time you
explain it, it's frustrating because they don't. They have no idea.
The whittles, Like I said, there's people that work hard man,
(15:02):
just to sum it up farm work. Oh yeah, I said,
you know apples, you know all that? Oh yeah, they
gets imagine us doing that. They're gonna know they would
it wouldn't happen. So that will go with me until
I'm six feet under. Because I remember going going to
our little motels and saying man, it'd be nice to
(15:23):
actually went went back over there and told the john,
you know what, man, you guys can come in here
and use this shower. Because they didn't even hardly even
have a place to shower. I said, oh, you ten
guys here. Man, I'm gonna go somewhere and I'm gonna eat.
And I spent like two or three hours on purpose,
so that way they could take a shower. I told
a couple of them go and lay down, because I
(15:45):
remember booking into the motel and they gave me and
two of the guys like four beds in there. I said, man,
you know what, man, for once we can sleep on
the floor. Let them sleep on this thing. You know,
you never forget that.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
That's how we got to stick together.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Man. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. That's why I say
it's all about building unity in the community. So anyway,
is there any anybody out there, missus Cortez, that inspired
you like when you were coming up, you know, because
it seemed like you went to college, you played soccer,
you were I did soccer too when I was in
high school. One hell of a sport Walla Walla, by
(16:21):
the way, has to be one of the number one
colleges in the whole state of Washington, because I remember
being in the Students of Color Conference when I went
to Evergreen Olympia and the Tacoma and they had a
football team that was at the Students of Color Conference
in yakam On. It was it was like pretty estime.
I'm like a man, where do you guys come from?
(16:42):
They go, oh, we're part of the Walla Walla community, Cousin,
that's a great program over there.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
For Yeah, it was awesome.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
So do you want to send a shout out or
hello like you said the mayor anybody who inspired you
and motivated you.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
Maria Cortes and my sister Claudia Cortez, like all three
of them are incredibly huge parts of my life and
the reason why I am where I am today, like
one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Man Like they motivated.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Me through just me watching them and how hard they work.
And you know how a priority.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
For like respecting our cultures to do that for all
of them and make sure that we never forget where
it came from. So I see that, man, my my mom, Maria,
Maria Cortez, my dad, or my sister Clauda Cortez. They're
all a huge They were all the hugeest versions to
me to get to where I am today, and they
continue to be the hugest version for me to continue
to do this work.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
And I got to say this, if you're out there
listening Rassa Mahicano Latinos, please watch Suave TV on the
row Cool system. If you buy a TV a Walmart,
eighty percent of the TVs have the row Cool system,
which is a purple logo. It's our OKAYU and it's
the Suave TV channel. And I've got three shows. I'll
(17:59):
show a kind of a powerhouse entertainment that's Latin hip
hop in suave a TV, the original show that I
did for twenty years, and that's Low Riders Latin. You
know events that I've done. And basically, if you want
to entertain yourself and you want music entertainment later on,
(18:19):
I'm gonna go ahead and tell you right now. In
the future of mister Cortez, I wanted to do an
interview and profile of like how you grow Up because
I want to start doing role model profiles on that
channel because I think we need that. We have nothing
in our public school systems in our libraries where we
have people that have succeeded. I mean, we even have
(18:41):
a Supreme Court I should say Supreme Court justice that
some of the young teenagers like my grandchildren who are
party connels, they don't even know who he is. You know,
this is a judge. Yeah, and it's important. Man, let
me know how I can help.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
I'm always I'm always willing to talk to a younger generation.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
I'll tell you what, man, you being a role model.
It's critical because I'm sorry the stuff that Choppo the
drug dealer and all that. I mean, that guy got
so much publicity, but I'm sorry, is not a role model.
Speaker 5 (19:11):
Yeah, and you know what, if you need to help
with Chief Justice gonzalaz Lett me know, man, I'm sure.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
I get he connected.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
If you can help me reach out to that man,
that's important because I got to say this. One of
my role models was my brother in law, which was
I think the first check at Second Chicano. We're both
from Texas. But he ended up marrying my sister. It's
a long story, but she took over his campaign. He
was gonna lose and she calls me, she goes, little brother.
You know how you work we grew up in Austin
(19:40):
and you worked on campaigns. I'm like, yeah, she goes.
I ran into this man. I think he likes me.
I'm not into that little didn't that was gonna end
up being her husband. She likes me. Blah blah blah.
But he's gonna lose. I went in there and nothing
is organized. Can you do the sound trucks? Can you
do the hanging up the signs? I'm like, yeah, I'll
(20:01):
get my So I was going to TCC to come
to community college, and I had like twenty strong people
as part of the Latino Club. We said, okay, we're
gonna go help my brother in law. Within a weekend,
we hung out. We hung up anywhere from two hundred
to four hundred signs. Thanks you from a fire department,
you know, putting them together. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Well we have a lot of work and a lot
of connections.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Yeah. We helped him win though. But his name was
Judge set Hero out of meho and he was Pierce
County Superior Court. Very cool.
Speaker 5 (20:32):
Yeah, man, well you know now he's some of you
that motivates a lot of young people too.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Oh yeah, Unfortunately he got three years ago through you know,
health issues. But i'd say, what mister Gonzalez, the new
Superior Supreme Court guy, that'd be so important to get him.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Yeah, well, thank David. You know, I am out of
times if I got.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
To head up to my next meeting, but I appreciate
the time, and yeah, let's say connect it. Appreciate you
offering this to the people that RASTA that are listening.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Yes, sir, and I'll be saying, I'll send you some
Texas on my stuff, and ladies and gentlemen, I gotta
thank the one and only go ahead and let them
get give me your officional title and everything.
Speaker 5 (21:09):
They represented who look or test by the said orally RASA,
do your thing and and have a good day, sir
Speaker 3 (21:21):
H
Welcome to the Swabi Powerhouse Podcast where style meets strategy
and charismas will success. Hosted by producer A Portees, this
is the show for those who crave insights, inspiration, and
both conversations. Whether you're building your empire, redefining your goals,
or just looking to upgrade your swagger, you've co meet
(00:25):
to the right blass. Each episode we bring you Powerhouse guests,
thought provoking topics and actionable tips to help you conquer
your ambitions while staying effortlesslie Swabe, So sit back, turn
up the volume, and get ready to elevate your game.
This is a swavit powerhouse podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Let's get started, Hey, and welcome to the Powerhouse Podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Live out of the Pacific Northwest is the only podcast
stayed out of the Seattle metro area. We're located at
the Pualla. Disrupt the studios with Bill and I'm gonna
go ahead and introduce our guests, the one and only
state Representative District thirty eight. Julio Cortez said, how you
doing good? Good?
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Thanks, I appreciate the time. Musad a key.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
To the end. Oh yeah, no, no, no, Welcome to the podcast.
And I've just got to let everybody know that's listening.
If you're a representative of state, senator, community leader, business owner.
The main goal of this thing is to get discussions
going to be to let the Latino community know what's
going on, and at the same time be an outlet
(01:44):
for the community by the community representative courtes let the
people know a little bit about yourself, where you grew
up and how you became the state rep for ever area,
it's it's the Everett community.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Yeah, yeah, every district thirty eight.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Beautiful area, by the way. I have a lot of
friends that love out there.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Oh yeah, I love it up there. It's like not
too big, it's not too small, you know, it's it's
a nice vibe for sure.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
Well again, you know, thank you for the time today.
But you know, my story began in Mexico City. I'm
a Chilango. My parents met in Mexico City.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Beautiful city. The way I remember going there on vacation,
a phenomenal Oh yeah, how many people are in that town?
Speaker 5 (02:25):
Yeah, that little town has about twenty two million people.
Probably eighty percent of my family are still there. You know,
we're we're a big group of Chilangos. My mom is
from Eacha Khan, my dad is from Morellos. They you know,
they went to the big city to find a job.
They found a job and each other and here I
am now, right, So I was born in eighty five,
so I'm an eighties baby. But when I was about
(02:46):
six years old, my dad did across the desert in
Arizona to get to the US to start working pretty
much right, And about four months later, my mom joined
them over here in the US, and my sister and
I actually stayed in Mexicool with my grandma until they
were able to kind of generate funds by working in
(03:07):
the fields in La to go and come and grab us.
And so when I was six years old is when
my sister and I came over to the US. And
I remember a very vivid memory of being in a
Greyhound station when I woke up in the US, and
I remember looking up and seeing all these people talking,
but I didn't understand the word that they were saying.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
So, you know, my parents didn't really talk to my
sister and I about what was going to happen.
Speaker 5 (03:30):
They kind of just got us from my grandma's house
and brought over and a few months later, we came
up to Washington State in Wabito. It's on the east
side of the state, really close to Yaka, about ten
minutes southeast of Yako.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Oh yeah, beautiful town. I've been there. Real nice, you know,
east of Washington.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Yeah, it's an immigrant community.
Speaker 5 (03:50):
You know that most folks there are working in the
Yakima agriculture scene.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
So my parents were immigrant farm workers.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
They picked you know, at wolves, pears, feagus, all that stuff.
Oh yeah, man, it was nuts. Once I got to
you know, high school, I was a little bit stronger.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
I joined them, and I was a field worker for
a couple of summers. But it opens your eyes.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Man.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
You know, sixteen hour days, hot sun. It's not easy work.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
So I think that was a little bit of a motivator,
along with like, you know, just my family supporting me
and giving me love to do something bigger. So thankfully
I had a good BATA and I got a scholarship
to play soccer in wahllah Walla, and two years in
more wall I transferred over to Western Washington University in Bellingham,
and yeah, graduated in twenty ten with journalism and public
(04:42):
relations degree.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Oh that's phenomenal. That's cool. Okay, oh yeah it was.
It was fun. My whole thing, honestly, mister Cortes, is
to have an out left for the Latino community. I mean,
I have my career. I'm a social worker. I've been
doing that probably twenty thirty years plus. But on the
flip side, you know, this is my artistic outletting nice
to people like Bill. I'm able to continue this. What's
(05:05):
the podcast? I do, video media, suave ATV, you know,
all that different things. But once you got out of Bellingham,
then did you move to Everett or did you start
living over there in Bellingham or Yeah?
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Well I lived in Bellingham for a little bit, but
you know, I was a busser at a restaurant there,
and then I did an internship with Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Walkham County.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Oh.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Through that work, yeah, I got involved with Oasis teen Shelter.
So I became the homeless prevention specialist for the Oasis
teen Shelter. It was just an overnight shelter where you know,
homeless kiddos can just come in and get a bite
to eat, stay somewhere warm, and get connected to services.
And I did that about a year and then I
moved down to Everett to work for Cocoon House, which
(05:48):
is a non problem that stirs I risk and homeless
youth and families throughout still Hoomis County.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
And I was a bilingual by cultural advocate.
Speaker 5 (05:55):
So I had thirty to thirty five young fool between
twelve and seventeen years old that we supported, Like, you know,
if they need an idea, I would help them get
an idea. If they needed to get off drugs and alcohol,
I connected them to services, If they needed to get
reconnected to family, we connected them with the family. So
I did that direct service for about four years. Then
because of my background in school in pr they asked
(06:17):
me to become the public relations manager and I did
that for like another six years, and in twenty eighteen,
the CEO of Cocoon House, Cassie Franklin, ran for mayor.
She won the mayor's race and then asked me to
be her communications director for the city of Ever And
so the last six years, that's what I've been doing,
is a lot of economic development and communications work for
(06:39):
the city.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
She's still a mayor there.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Yeah, she's still the mayor there.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
She's actually running for reelection this year. And yeah, I'm
still working at the city, so all right.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
So I think, you know, doing that direct service work with.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
Ariskint Homer's families for ten years and then doing some
economic development work, I think, you know, rounded me out
pretty well. And I started joining some you know, nonprofit boards.
I was part of like five boards at one time.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
And in twenty twenty two.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
The state representative rehired and the other representative, because there's
two per district, decided not to run again. So then
there was two vacant seats, and you know, folks started
giving me a call and saying, hey, you're you're really
involved in the community, sounds like you like the work.
Would you consider running for an elected position? You know,
to be one hundred percent honest? Hey, I told them
absolutely not. Politics has never been part of my plan.
(07:33):
I don't really even like politics very much. And so
I said, thank you, but no thing. And I did
that for about a week, and you know, I got
a few more calls and ended up just talking with
family and decided, you know what, I can do it,
And so I went to work.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
You know, I worked hard to get elected.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
And after a few months of doorbelling, knocking on people's
doors and talking to a community group.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
Thankfully, I won the race and became me state representative.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
And last year was my first relations campaign and I
got a ton of great sport and I'm, you know,
incredibly proud to be, uh you know, a Mexican immigrant
in the like nature that represents for our people.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, because I got to say about by doing that, man,
you're like, you're bigger than a boxer. Man, You're a
product of the people. Yeahs kind of a role model,
you know. That's what I'm doing. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
No, And you know, my dad named me after Julius.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
That's a Chavis.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
So I'm trying to make my own name, right, So
maybe somebody will be named after Julius one day or something.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
I got to say. When I was a kid, man,
those guys were my idols.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Oh yeah, I grew up watching them and it was fun.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
I remember meeting Oscar the Lahea when I grew up.
I was able to meet him, and I can want
to why am I waiting forever to to talk to
this guy? But once he got there, I'm like, Okay,
I see, I see why now. But it's incredible and
down to earth. When he was real young he was, Yeah, yeah,
for sure.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
I mean, you know, I I think that as far
as being up here in politics and you have to
stay down earth man. You got to stay connected Tykomunidad
and make sure that you're available to folks. And that's
something I really pride myself in, is like people can
reach out to me in Spanish or English and I
can speak their language and respond to their questions or
concerns in their own language. And I'm something I'm gonna
I really try to hew for it.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
So I got to ask this man, and I mean,
I'm not trying to put you on the spot, but
part of the show. I mean, how do you feel?
I mean, what's your honest opinion? If you don't have one,
I understand want to put you there and make it man,
But how do you feel about this situation going on
with the Latinos and the immigration system. And because I've
(09:36):
had to answer Field Field a lot of questions about
that myself, like like town hall means, you know, with
the mayor and different people, chief of police, but what's
your opinion of this whole situation going on? And how
can you can you educate people? Because there's a lot
of misconception about what's really going on.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
Yeah, well, you know, it's definitely it's incredibly concerning, and
it's incredibly sad because you know, the Latinos in our
communities are like vibrant parts of our communities, right they're working,
they're like not only contributing to our economy, but they're
contributing to the culture of our cities and our towns.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
And so, you know, absolutely have some strong opinions about this.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
I think that you know, the federal government is doing
things in an incredibly scary, wrong, unprecedented way, and they're
not realizing the impacts to not just again our economy,
but our culture that it's going to have by creating
all this fear in our communities, and you know, they're
they're causing a lot of harm to some o the
(10:37):
most vulnerable communities. They're by by freezing funds, by closing agencies,
and by taking actions that are putting people in fear,
that are stopping kids that are Latino from going to
schools because they're scared that they're not going to see
their parents again. So it's incredibly devastating to all of
our communities, not just the Latino community, right, there's a
lot of immigrant communities that have been impact. Did you know,
(11:00):
I've read Canadian citizens and people from England two reasons
that they that they've gotten picked up by IO. It's
something that we here as a state. As a state representative,
I've committed to fighting as much as I can against
the federal government when they're doing things that are going
to be hurting Washington people all and so you know,
(11:21):
we're working pretty closely with the governor, with the Attorney
General Nick Brown to make sure that we're providing information
to them to make sure that we're combating any federal
overreach that is coming to watching the state.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
So I'm committed to doing that.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
I'm going to keep on fighting for our people, and
they don't have to be in my district. I'm going
to be fighting for all Washington.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Yeah, I got to say this, and Trump kind of
ran into this because that's the per personal pretty much
did all that's going. But he's starting to see in
certain situations are United farm workers, farm workers, people that
have to work, like like he said, sixteen hour days.
If it's not the Mechicano or the Latino, even the
Chicano and the Chicino doesn't have nothing to worry about.
(12:05):
By the way, anybody listening to this, when I said chicano,
that means a Mexican American, there's just no other way
to say it, but chicano. That's actually a political type statement.
But what I'm saying is Trump had to look at
wait a minute, if we had deport all these people here,
who's going to work? Yeah, I mean, they flat out
in United farm Workers said, look, we will let we
(12:27):
will allow anybody to put in their application and work.
And you know, some college students took a dare and
did it, and they flat out came out and said, man,
we couldn't even last a day. They lasted a day,
And I mean I think at the end of the
day some of those guys went to sleep in their car.
They were so exhausted. You know. So I got to say, before,
(12:47):
before we ship everybody out of here, we got to
think of our workers, the people putting in all this work.
I mean, because I mean, I'm sorry Colthuda, your culture
where you grew up in Texas like as a kid
until I came to Washington State. I came here in
ninety five, my mom passed away and my sister was
(13:07):
going to the school here and she got a scholarship
to go to U. Doub Law School, and I think
c LU and she said, look, little brother, you need
to come down here. And I was doing okay in
Austin because there was a music count, I was a
promoter and all that, I had a public TV show.
But when I came up here, I seen the opportunities
and I seen the cartuda. As a matter of fact,
(13:30):
at one point I worked with the Commission on the Hispanic
Affairs out of Olympia to go and do outreach out there.
I remember it was Marysville, in an area called Smokey Point.
We did outreach and we did like a little video
about the farm workers, and I remember those guys looked
at us and so they said, you young college people, man,
(13:51):
I'll tell you what keep going. You don't want to
end up like us. And I'm like, no, thank you
for your hard work. But I was able to see
firsthand from the video the work that the people do, man,
And you never forget that. Yeah, absolutes in the back
of my mind, seeing the hard work and tears of
pure pain that people were in working from morning six
(14:14):
five or six in the morning you at tortilla was
pretty old as it was delicious all the way until
the night where they couldn't even see anymore. So you're
talking six in the morning until straight seven eight at night. Yeah,
you know, and then they got on top of that
they're not getting paid anything. So I thought, if they
can do that, I could do sixteen our days standing around. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
He definitely motivates you, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
So I remember people came up to me one time said, hey, Qartez, Man,
why do you work like this? I said, you know,
honestly man, compared to farm workers and the medicanos. But
I set up program and they didn't understand what I meant.
They go, what is that? And by the time you
explain it, it's frustrating because they don't. They have no idea.
The whittles, Like I said, there's people that work hard man,
(15:02):
just to sum it up farm work. Oh yeah, I said,
you know apples, you know all that? Oh yeah, they
gets imagine us doing that. They're gonna know they would
it wouldn't happen. So that will go with me until
I'm six feet under. Because I remember going going to
our little motels and saying man, it'd be nice to
(15:23):
actually went went back over there and told the john,
you know what, man, you guys can come in here
and use this shower. Because they didn't even hardly even
have a place to shower. I said, oh, you ten
guys here. Man, I'm gonna go somewhere and I'm gonna eat.
And I spent like two or three hours on purpose,
so that way they could take a shower. I told
a couple of them go and lay down, because I
(15:45):
remember booking into the motel and they gave me and
two of the guys like four beds in there. I said, man,
you know what, man, for once we can sleep on
the floor. Let them sleep on this thing. You know,
you never forget that.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
That's how we got to stick together.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Man. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. That's why I say
it's all about building unity in the community. So anyway,
is there any anybody out there, missus Cortez, that inspired
you like when you were coming up, you know, because
it seemed like you went to college, you played soccer,
you were I did soccer too when I was in
high school. One hell of a sport Walla Walla, by
(16:21):
the way, has to be one of the number one
colleges in the whole state of Washington, because I remember
being in the Students of Color Conference when I went
to Evergreen Olympia and the Tacoma and they had a
football team that was at the Students of Color Conference
in yakam On. It was it was like pretty estime.
I'm like a man, where do you guys come from?
(16:42):
They go, oh, we're part of the Walla Walla community, Cousin,
that's a great program over there.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
For Yeah, it was awesome.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
So do you want to send a shout out or
hello like you said the mayor anybody who inspired you
and motivated you.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
Maria Cortes and my sister Claudia Cortez, like all three
of them are incredibly huge parts of my life and
the reason why I am where I am today, like
one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Man Like they motivated.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Me through just me watching them and how hard they work.
And you know how a priority.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
For like respecting our cultures to do that for all
of them and make sure that we never forget where
it came from. So I see that, man, my my mom, Maria,
Maria Cortez, my dad, or my sister Clauda Cortez. They're
all a huge They were all the hugeest versions to
me to get to where I am today, and they
continue to be the hugest version for me to continue
to do this work.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
And I got to say this, if you're out there
listening Rassa Mahicano Latinos, please watch Suave TV on the
row Cool system. If you buy a TV a Walmart,
eighty percent of the TVs have the row Cool system,
which is a purple logo. It's our OKAYU and it's
the Suave TV channel. And I've got three shows. I'll
(17:59):
show a kind of a powerhouse entertainment that's Latin hip
hop in suave a TV, the original show that I
did for twenty years, and that's Low Riders Latin. You
know events that I've done. And basically, if you want
to entertain yourself and you want music entertainment later on,
(18:19):
I'm gonna go ahead and tell you right now. In
the future of mister Cortez, I wanted to do an
interview and profile of like how you grow Up because
I want to start doing role model profiles on that
channel because I think we need that. We have nothing
in our public school systems in our libraries where we
have people that have succeeded. I mean, we even have
(18:41):
a Supreme Court I should say Supreme Court justice that
some of the young teenagers like my grandchildren who are
party connels, they don't even know who he is. You know,
this is a judge. Yeah, and it's important. Man, let
me know how I can help.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
I'm always I'm always willing to talk to a younger generation.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
I'll tell you what, man, you being a role model.
It's critical because I'm sorry the stuff that Choppo the
drug dealer and all that. I mean, that guy got
so much publicity, but I'm sorry, is not a role model.
Speaker 5 (19:11):
Yeah, and you know what, if you need to help
with Chief Justice gonzalaz Lett me know, man, I'm sure.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
I get he connected.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
If you can help me reach out to that man,
that's important because I got to say this. One of
my role models was my brother in law, which was
I think the first check at Second Chicano. We're both
from Texas. But he ended up marrying my sister. It's
a long story, but she took over his campaign. He
was gonna lose and she calls me, she goes, little brother.
You know how you work we grew up in Austin
(19:40):
and you worked on campaigns. I'm like, yeah, she goes.
I ran into this man. I think he likes me.
I'm not into that little didn't that was gonna end
up being her husband. She likes me. Blah blah blah.
But he's gonna lose. I went in there and nothing
is organized. Can you do the sound trucks? Can you
do the hanging up the signs? I'm like, yeah, I'll
(20:01):
get my So I was going to TCC to come
to community college, and I had like twenty strong people
as part of the Latino Club. We said, okay, we're
gonna go help my brother in law. Within a weekend,
we hung out. We hung up anywhere from two hundred
to four hundred signs. Thanks you from a fire department,
you know, putting them together. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Well we have a lot of work and a lot
of connections.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Yeah. We helped him win though. But his name was
Judge set Hero out of meho and he was Pierce
County Superior Court. Very cool.
Speaker 5 (20:32):
Yeah, man, well you know now he's some of you
that motivates a lot of young people too.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Oh yeah, Unfortunately he got three years ago through you know,
health issues. But i'd say, what mister Gonzalez, the new
Superior Supreme Court guy, that'd be so important to get him.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Yeah, well, thank David. You know, I am out of
times if I got.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
To head up to my next meeting, but I appreciate
the time, and yeah, let's say connect it. Appreciate you
offering this to the people that RASTA that are listening.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Yes, sir, and I'll be saying, I'll send you some
Texas on my stuff, and ladies and gentlemen, I gotta
thank the one and only go ahead and let them
get give me your officional title and everything.
Speaker 5 (21:09):
They represented who look or test by the said orally RASA,
do your thing and and have a good day, sir
Speaker 3 (21:21):
H
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