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Female students talk politics at conference
By MARTÍN E. MARTÍNEZ / Vida En El Valle
(Published Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 09:00AM)
SACRAMENTO -- Gloria Conde is concerned and upset about the current anti-immigrant climate that prevails in the country, especially because her family has lived it firsthand.
Conde was born in California but her parents are from Durango, México. Although they have already lived here for a long time, she has many relatives in México who often come to visit them.
"Very often a family member from México comes to visit us and they talk about the hard situation that they currently face to cross the border. Generally the people at the border treat them badly, with discrimination and that really make me feel bad, upset," said Conde, 18.
For this reason she already knows what she wants to study to help her people: in six years she wants to be a lawyer, specializing in immigration.
She does not agree with the way many lawyers carry out the immigration paperwork. Sshe wants to contribute by changing the current system.
"There are many lawyers who take years to fix the papers of individuals and, in many cases, never fix anything and they just take money. This really bothers me and I want to become a good lawyer to help these people," she said.
Although she just graduated from Golden Valley High School in Modesto, she want to take action right now.
Conde was one of the 50 participants at 'Women in Politics' event, which took place over four days last week in Sacramento and was organized by the California Center for Civic Participation.
The objective of this event was to bring together the 50 most outstanding high school women from across the state interested in being involved in politics.
During the four days, which took place in several locations in Sacramento, the young women met with experts from different topics such as health, reproductive health, violence against women, women and corrections, foster care and social services.
Daniela Reynoso, policy analyst of Latino Health Alliance, participated in the meeting and spoke with students about the health services the state provides.
"We know that Latino community has the lowest level access to health care in the state so it is important that young women be aware of this situation for in the future, when they complete their career, they can do something positive in their communities," said Reynoso.
The young women also had the opportunity to go to the capitol where they met with personalities of local goverment.
This opportunity to talk with politicians was very helpful for Conde, who now knows what is involved to get a bill approved in the legislature.
"I want to be involved in the political process because it's going to help me in my career. Knowing how a bill is processed helps me to understand the role of politics in the lives of the people, and I can learn how to help the people so that one day, I can support them," said Conde.
Assemblymember Bonnie García, R-Cathedral City, was one of the female lawmakers who participated in the event. She talked with the students about how to make laws and also her own experience of getting a position in the legislature.
"It's important that young people know that this career requires a lot of dedication and responsibility. In order to reach a position in local politics it's necessary to start from the bottom, knowing the process of how to make a law, because one day you're going to be here doing these duties," said García.
García also said there is great disparity regarding the number of female politicians who occupy a public position and therefore invited the girls to strive to change that situation.
Currently there are 32 women in the legislature but, according to García, by the end of this year, 10 of them will finish their terms and that will seriously affect the female representation.
"We need more women at all levels. In fact, with the current numbers, we are so far below the rate required for parity," said García.
Eduardo Aguilar, program director for involving women in politics of the California Center for Civic Participation, said one of the tasks of this organization is to increase the number of women in politics and recognized that much remains to be done.
