Natalia Quezada

“It’s gonna be up to [the students], really, to continue sharing these stories … and really, making sure that individuals who deserve their flowers get those flowers,” Nancy Hernandez said.

Editor’s Note: This article has been translated into Spanish by El Eco Copy Editor Danessi Valiente. You can find the Spanish version here.

Fillmore Mayor Albert Mendez shared his journey from growing up in La Colonia, a small predominately Latino neighborhood in Oxnard, to becoming a leader in public service with California Lutheran University students on Wednesday, April 8. 

Mendez visited students in adjunct professor Nancy Hernandez’s Latinx Media in the U.S. class for her speaker series, “Latinx Champions.” The initiative brings professionals and community leaders into the classroom to expose her students to live interviewing, preparing them for their final project, Hernandez said. 

“The ‘Latinx Champions’ series is actually part of my students’ final,” Hernandez said. “[Students will] conduct an oral history interview. They get to choose a person in their life, a person in the community, in entertainment, who they get to interview, … bring them into the iCLU [Radio] production studio … and collect stories.”

Hernandez said the goal of the project is to highlight Latinx voices, who have historically been forgotten.

“If it’s not documented, it’s almost like we didn’t exist,” Hernandez said. 

Growing up in La Colonia, Mendez said he was often labeled “the kid raised from the other side of the tracks” and was surrounded by a stigma of crime, gangs and poverty.

Raised by his mother and grandmother, Mendez said he spent his childhood without a strong male role model. He said his family did not push education, instead opting for him to work in the fields as a farm worker.

Despite these challenges, Mendez said small moments throughout his life helped shape his path. One of the most significant milestones came in high school, when a government teacher and baseball coach sparked his interest in civic affairs.

“He was the kind [of teacher] that engaged with the class and made it fun to learn. [Government] was my first class that I really started to excel in [at] high school.” Mendez said. “I didn’t know it at the time, but that’s where it led me into public service.

Still, Mendez said his journey was not direct. After high school, he worked for the Department of the Navy for about 10 years until feeling “lost” and unsure of his direction. He said it wasn’t until he started to take classes at Oxnard College that he began to find clarity, build connections and become involved in advocacy. 

“I got introduced to student government, and that’s where I really started taking off, because, to me, I love learning,” Mendez said. “I wanted to be a lifelong learner. I wanted to spend all my time on campus.”

Mendez said he was part of the first graduating class at California State University, Channel Islands, and held different finance and accounting jobs after obtaining a degree in business.

“I have never been the type of person that was afraid of changes,” Mendez said. “I saw it as an opportunity to open new doors.”

Years later, Mendez said he moved to the city of Fillmore, located about 20 miles from Cal Lutheran’s main campus, to give his children a stable life. He said relocating was one of his “best decisions” since the city is very community-driven.

His path into public service began at the local level, Mendez said, when he joined the Fillmore Planning Commission to advocate for his community. From there, he ran for city council through a grassroots campaign by walking through neighborhoods, speaking with residents and listening to their concerns.

Mendez said he ultimately won the election by just 15 votes. 

“I want to encourage our young students to be advocates for their community and to be a voice,” Mendez said. 

Jackie Cruz, a senior criminology and criminal justice major, said she felt a strong connection to his background, since she is also from La Colonia. 

“I felt really represented in his speech and the things he was talking about because I can kind of relate to [his stories],” Cruz said.

Cruz said that hearing from someone with a similar upbringing made leadership feel more achievable. 

“That makes me feel like there is a possibility, if I ever wanted to become mayor or run for a political position, I could, even if I come from a place where there’s a lot of stigma,” Cruz said.

Hernandez said her goal with the series is to create an oral history library at Pearson Library. By showcasing individuals who are “inspiring, empowering, or mentoring others,” she said she hopes students feel encouraged to share stories within their communities. 

“It’s gonna be up to [the students], really, to continue sharing these stories … and really, making sure that individuals who deserve their flowers get those flowers,” Hernandez said. “If we don’t highlight these individuals, things fall through the cracks.”