Listen to this note:
I always thought I knew Pescadero like the back of my hand, perhaps not a very big one, but certainly significant.
I spent my whole life in this town, getting to know its people, its nature, its make-do attitude. After leaving Pescadero for the city of Irvine for my studies, that's when I realized that I really wasn't as up to date as I thought I was.
It wasn't until I started working as a journalist that I began to see things more clearly, where I realized that just because you get a no, it doesn't mean you should stop fighting, if anything you should use it as an opportunity to move forward with more confidence.
Affordable housing in Pescadero had been said to be a no-go, but little by little the wheel of hope has been accelerating for farmworkers.
With the advocacy coming directly from the mouths of those most in need, the Latino community is amplifying their voice, not only for housing, but also for other needs such as local medical services, clean water, and for the students of Pescadero Middle and High School.
Community support and empathy among neighbors has been the driving force behind breaking a cycle of accepting abuse.
This summer I learned that another door always opens when one closes; maybe it's a window, but you go in anyway.
Many thanks to Peninsula 360 Press for this opportunity and good luck with everything.
More from the author: Young Latino vote: the power and responsibility of choosing
